Sample Itinerary - Design Your Own! Questions? Call 706-362-0565
Our tours are designed so that the only decision you’ll have to make will be whether to play golf, or enjoy a special tour, shopping destination, or other alternative. You can play as a single, couple or not at all. The choice is yours!
This exciting 11 day tour includes our popular Lakes of Lombardy tour with the addition of Piedmont cooking, culture and golf. Featured destinations include Lake Maggiore,Lake Como, Milan, Sirmione, Turin, Piedmont wine region and much more!
The Northern Piedmont and Lombardy areas have been the connection between the Mediterranean Sea and continental Europe. This region was originally settled by the Romans and later by the Longobards and Franks. The region emerged in the Middle- Ages and its’ Castles, Monasteries, and churches flourished. Lake Maggiore, the most westerly of the three largest lakes (Maggiore, Como, and Garda), is surrounded by the pre-Alps of Piedmont, and the year round mild climate allows for the production of beautiful gardens with rare and exotic plants.
Day 1 (D)
ARRIVE: MILAN, ITALY
Arrive in Milan, Italy, (Malpansa Airport) by 1:00 PM. Your English speaking driver will greet you upon arrival at the airport and transport you to Baveno to check in at the Grand Hotel Dino or comparable. You will have the balance of the afternoon to relax and refresh after your flight.
Your guide will join you later at the hotel for an aperitif and a welcoming dinner. (D)
Day 2 (B)
GOLFERS: ROUND 1
In the morning a driver will transport the golfers to play Isles des Borromees - 500 meters above the lake. This challenging course, with its' dramatic views, winds through an endless variety of trees and floral vegetation and is home to many Italian tournaments. www.golfdesilesborromees.com.
The non-golfers along with their guide will depart to Stressa to ride the Mottarone cable car. The cable car climbs to the top of Mount Mottarone about 1500 meters above Lake Maggiore and provides a 360° view of the seven lakes of the region, mount Rosa, and the nearby Swiss Alps. Enjoy hiking the easy walking trails around the top and lounging in the restaurant, then take the car back down to the mid station to visit the “Giardino Botanico Alpina" gardens with acres of endless varieties of plants and flowers.
Both the golfers and non-golfers will return to Baveno and be free to relax and enjoy the hotel pool and lakeside activities.
Dinner tonight is on your own at the hotel or in Baveno (B)
Day 3 (B)
Today after breakfast, your group will be transported to Stressa where you and your guide will board a ferry for the short ride to the Borromean Isles of "Isola Bello", "Isola Madre" and "Isola Pesertori".
Isola Bella - "The beautiful Island" showcases a Baroque Palace with artistic themed rooms and terraced majestic gardens. These 17th Century "Italian" gardens contain rare exotic plants, pairs of strolling peacocks, an open theatre, and statues depicting "the four elements".
Isola Madre - "The Mother Island" Here you will discover the Villa Barromeo, a 16th century palace home with rooms containing various collections of period furnishings, dolls, and even a marionette theater. This palace is surrounded by informal botanical gardens that in addition to the special fauna are filled with parrots, pheasants, and peacocks.
Isola Pesertori - "The Fisherman's Island" is the only Isola that is inhabited year round. A promenade circles the island and a street running along the center spine is flanked by cobblestone alleys. On these streets and along the waterfront you will find interesting shops and restaurants.
After the days visit to the islands you will return to Baveno to relax and have dinner on your own in one of the great village restaurants. (B)
Day 4 (B)
GOLFERS: ROUND 2After breakfast the golfers will join their driver for a short trip to Golf Club Castel Conturbia. Dating back to 1898, the current layout, one of Robert Trent Jones, Sr.'s best designs, winds through trees, over streams, around ponds and has been the venue for the Italian Open.
www.castelconturbia.it.This morning your guide will transport the non-golfers to Arona, a wonderful lakeside village. You will have time to stroll the promenade and small streets filled with shops and restaurants or visit La Rocca-Castle Park and a small 1492 Church featuring paintings of the Virgin Mary. While you are on the promenade, look across the lake at the imposing "Rocco Borromeo".
After this brief stop you will depart to Angera and the "Rocco Barromeo" recently selected as one of Italy's most beautiful castles. The "Rocco", a perfectly preserved 14th Century medieval castle sits high on a cliff with an imposing view of the lake below and is approached through a forest of lovely chestnut trees. It is surrounded by replica medieval gardens complete with crops, a 17th Century wine press, and contains many historical rooms including a children's fashion museum, the hall of Justice, a room full of automota mechanical toys, but is most famous as the home of the "Museo della Bambola"-doll museum. There are 12 rooms filled with over 200 years of doll history, one of the largest collections of dolls, costumes, furniture, board games, etc. in all of Europe. Take in the view of the Alps from the tower Castellana or have lunch in the lovely caffetteria overlooking the lake.Later you will rejoin the golfers at the hotel and will be free to relax and have dinner on your own. (B)
Day 5 (B)
GOLFERS: ROUND 3After breakfast everyone will check out of the hotel and depart with your guide. The golfers will be dropped off at "Circolo Golf Villa d'Este. This club, built in 1926 with its' incomparable natural beauty of fairways cut out of the birch and chestnut forest, features strategic bunkering around the greens. Throughout the years it has been the golf venue for the rich and famous and has been the site of the Italian Open and many Italian Amateur and match play events.
www.golfvilladeste.com.The non-golfers will continue on with their guide to Como to check in at The Lakefront Hotel Metropole Suisse or comparable. Today you can stroll through the historic Como city center, along the waterfront promenade to Villa Olmo Park, or perhaps visit the 14th Century Cathedral, the Basilica St. Abbondio, the Castello Baradello, or maybe the Broletto, Como's ancient town hall.The golfers will join you in the afternoon and you will be free to continue exploring the town and have dinner on your own. (B)
Day 6 (B)
Today brings a wonderful adventure. You will depart with your guide by boat to Bellagio, the Pearl of Lake Como! As you motor along the lakeshore of the glacier lake you'll take in the vistas of the mountains, villas, and villages. Bellagro is a maze of small stone lanes, alley ways, and stairways filled with shops, gelato bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Visit the Villa Menzi that features the Romanesque San Gia Como Church and a museum, a neo classical church and gardens, or enjoy the great lake views from Villa Serbelloni Park. Stroll, relax, and enjoy the fresh fruit gelato and the distinct smells of Italian cooking.
After lunch your boat ride will continue on to Tremezzo, the location of Villa Carlotta museum and Botanical Garden. You will tour the restored Villa with its' art masterpieces, the agricultural tools museum, the gardens with the centuries old cedars, sequoias, tropical plants, rock garden, and fern valley.
Once again you will board your boat to travel back to Como for the evening and dinner on your own. (B)
Day 7 (B)
Today after breakfast and checkout you will depart with your guide for a tour of the Italian financial and international fashion capital-Milan.
Milan is famous for fashion but also showcases many historic buildings. Among these are the Piazza del Dresama, anchored by the Duoma, one of the grandest Gothic Cathedrals in all of Europe, and the Duomo museum and museum of Contemporary Art. Check out the historic La Scola Opera House or the Galleria Vittoria Emanuel, glamorous shopping covered by a domed glass roof. Nearby you will find the Sforza Castle with its' palace artifacts, the 4th Century Basilica of St. Ambrogio, and the covenant Church Santa Maria Della Grazie, home of Leonardo De Vinci's "The Last Supper".
After the city tour your group will continue on to Sirmioni on Lake Garda sitting on the end of the Sirmione Peninsula with its' entrance guarded by the "Rocco Scaligero”. You will check in at the 4* Hotel Eden or comparable. Tonight you will be free to relax and have dinner on your own. (B)
Day 8 (B)
GOLFERS: ROUND 4After breakfast a driver will transport the golfers to play either Arzaga Golf Club or Garda Golf and Country Club. The course selection will be determined by any Italian tournament that may be underway on either course. The beautiful Arzaga Golf Club, with two 18 hole courses designed by Jack Nicholas II and Gary Player, plays against a backdrop of the towering Alps and the nearby Palazzo.
www.pallazzoarzaga.com.Garda Golf and Country Club has 27 holes that wind through the olive and cypress trees. There are many water features and strategically placed traps. This course has been the site of many men and women's Italian Opens.
www.garda-golf.comThe non-golfers will have the day to wonder through historic Sirmioni. Sirmioni has been a village since the Stone Age and was a popular holiday spot for rich Romans throughout the turbulent history of Italian invasions and expansions. Since the fall of the Venetian Empire its' people have settled in to enjoy fishing, fruit orchards, olive groves and vineyards. The three best known historical land marks of Sirmione are:• The Grotto de Cattulo, an unique ruin of a large three story villa built around 150 AD. You can roam through the expansive ruins to view the exhibits and architectural reconstructions that depict life during that era.• Castello Rocco Scaligero, surrounded by water, was part of a 12th Century Veronese defensive network and later served the Venetian Republic.
• The Thermal Baths, "Terme di Catallo", take advantage of the natural hot water that bubbles out of Lake Garda. There are two main thermal baths and spas on the peninsula.
The golfers and non-golfers will join together in the afternoon to relax and spend the evening wondering this quaint and wonderful village and choose dinner on your own. (B)
Day 9 (BLD)
After breakfast and check out you will depart with your guide and travel through the Piedmont Barbaresco wine region. This aristocratic red wine is grown in limestone rich marl soil on south facing pre-alpine slopes, here you will enjoy a wine tasting and cellar tour.
Your group will continue on to visit the hilltop castle of “Grinzane Cavour” home of the first Prime Minister of Italy and a fanciful 14th century fortress famous for the regions wine and truffles.
After this tour you will continue on to Montorte d’ Alba and check in at the agricultural Relais Ugo Chiola or comparable. (BLD)
Day 10 (BD)
GOLFER'S: ROUND 5Today the golfers will be driven to play Royal Park I Roveri plunged inside an age- old forest and surrounded by the Olympic Mountains. There are two courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and Michael Hurdzan. It was voted "Best Italian Course" and has hosted the Italian Open 4 times.
www.royalparkgolf.it/en/The non-golfers will join their guide for a tour of Turin. This vibrant city with its' Baroque architecture museums and promenades is a great city for wandering and exploring. Some of the best attractions are the Squares of Piazza Castello and Plazzao Reale, The tower or Mole Antonelliana with its' expansive views, Palazzo Carignano with the Museo Risorgi Mento and Royal Armory, the Piazzo San Carlo "the drawing room of Turin", the Royal Palace, or the famous “Shroud of Turin” housed in the Turin Cathedral but on display only every 10 years.After the city tour you will join the golfers back at the Relais to relax and have dinner at the resort (BD)
Day 11 (BD)
Today there are two adventures. First your guide will take you though the countryside to visit the area famous for "Barolo" wine. You will visit a historical wine cellar and a small corkscrew museum showcasing the history of various wine opening tools.
Your group will then return to the Relais for a fun Italian cooking class followed by a farewell dinner. (BD)
Day 12 (B)
Today your driver will transport you back to the Malpensa Airport to continue your European travels or return home. (B)
Tour Dates & Prices
Contact Us for Available Tour Dates
*Price per person in double room (ppdo)
• For 6-8 Passengers): €3540
• Single Supplement (USD): $1140
• Golf Supplement €985 for five first class rounds as described in the tour
The minimum number of passengers for this tour is 6-8 persons, the maximum number is 16 persons. Discounts are available for groups of 12-16 persons
This price is based on 6-8 persons and 2015 hotel prices.
*Current USD, Pound and Yen rates may be viewed by visiting our Currency Converter in the upper right section of this page.
Payment:
- 20% deposit at the time of booking
- 40% due 90 days before the start of the tour
- 40% balance of payment due 45 days before the start of the tour.
Refunds:
- 20% deposit is non-refundable
- from 75-36 days before departure 40% is refundable
- from 35 days or less 100% is non-refundable
It is recommended that you purchase travel insurance.
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For additional information and Tour booking
Whats Included
Included
• 11 nights accommodation in 4* hotels including breakfast
• 4 dinners, 3 lunch w/wine, 2 wine tastings
• Transportation type with driver determined by the size of the group
• English speaking guides throughout the program
• Transfers to and from the airport
• Entrance fees to:
• Borromees Islands Tour
• Mottarone Cable car
• Lake Como Bellagio and Villa Carlotta Excursion
• Turin City Tour with Royal Palace and Panoramic Tour
• Arona and Angera Castle Tour with Doll Museum
• Milan City Tour
• Grinzane Cavour Castle Tour
• Cooking Class
Not included:
• Personal costs such as telephone calls, travel insurance, dry cleaning
• Other not mentioned services
• Gratuities for driver/guide (if satisfactory)
• Tickets and Taxes
• Baggage handling at the airport or in hotels
• Parts of program weather permitting
Tour Partners
With Corporte Partners Offices throughout Europe, Unique European Travel guarantees opportunities to experience people and places never imagined!
• Zagreb, Croatia
• Prague, Czech Republic
• Sofia, Bulgaria
• Arles, France
• Terni, Italy
• Coleraine, Ireland
• Vilamoura, Portugal
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Zvolen, Slovakia
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Montgomery, Wales
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