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Walk &; Discover: The Italian Lakes

Resort:Walk & Discover: The Italian Lakes
Operator: Riviera Travel
Destination: Europe, Italy
Price From: £1499.00

Overview

Its difficult to describe the flawless beauty of the Italian lakes, yet viewing them youll immediately understand why so many artists, composers and writers have sought inspiration here. The heady mix of serene waters, forest-clad hillsides, medieval villages, orange-blossom-scented warm air and delicious food make them an irresistible destination.

It was the arrival of the British during the days of the Grand Tour that first brought fame to the sublime Italian lakes and helped to create the sophisticated villages nestling like pearls on a string along the verbena-clad shores. This wonderful combination of magnificent Swiss mountain scenery and Italys tranquil, crystal-clear lakes creates a stunning visual montage that cries out to be explored.

Lake Maggiore straddles both Italy and Switzerland and we stay in Stresa, a typically stylish Italian town that was once a favourite haunt of Hemingway, Chaplin and many others. We explore not only Lake Maggiore but also the equally beautiful Lake Como and lesser-known Lake Orta, one of the most spellbinding places youll ever visit. With the arc of the imposing Alps stretching out along the horizon, youll enjoy arguably the finest mountain scenery on the planet during your visits to Switzerland dramatic Zermatt, nestled at the base of the worlds most mesmerising peak, the mighty Matterhorn. Then there are the delightful lost valleys, tumbling glacier streams and classic chalet scenes that, when blended together, offer a truly inspirational tour.

Itinerary Details

DAY 1ARRIVAL IN STRESA

ARRIVAL IN STRESA

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Milan. We transfer by coach to the captivating town of Stresa on the peaceful shores of Lake Maggiore. Walking the cobbled streets of Stresas old town is like winding back in time to the elegance of a largely bygone era. There are many restaurant and caf options in the main square, while modern and more traditionally minded shops sit side by side. Youll stay in the historic four-star Grand Hotel Bristol for seven nights, with breakfast and dinner.

Situated amid beautiful manicured gardens looking out to the Borromean Islands on the lakeside promenade, the hotel has a chic marbled lobby and lounge area, which features glass chandeliers and fine frescoes leading to an atmospheric bar and winter garden. The large outdoor swimming pool is set in the grounds, while the spa centre includes an indoor pool and all the rooms are decorated in classic styles.

Stresa Stresa

DAY 2WALK: LAKE MAGGIORE

WALK: LAKE MAGGIORE

Your first full day in Lake Maggiore includes a wonderful walk through the balcony of Lake Maggiore, a beautiful area with superb views of the lake below. You have a choice of an easy hike or a moderate one that covers a longer route.

Easy walkDuration: 2 hours (2.5 miles)Altitude gain: 460 feetTerrain: mix of mule tracks, and earth and gravel paths

Our easy walk begins at Carmine Inferiore, a small hamlet on the shore of Lake Maggiore, and takes us up to Carmine Superior, a beautifully preserved medieval village nestled on a rocky outcrop. Standing in front of the handsome Romanesque church, youll see breathtaking views over the lake and surrounding mountains. We continue to a beautiful viewpoint and catch glimpses of the legendary castles of Cannero Riviera. Emerging on twin fortified islets, the fortress was once seized by bandit brothers, who terrorised the coastal population with their roguish exploits until a siege forced their surrender. Before long, we reach a lovely garden known for its numerous species of camellias.

Moderate walkDuration: 3 hours (4.6 miles)Altitude gain: 1,115 feetTerrain: mix of mule tracks, and earth and gravel paths

The moderate walk starts in the delightfully quaint town of Cannobio, just a few miles south of the Swiss border. We walk up an old mule track through tiny hamlets and a hillside chestnut forest until we reach Carmine Superiore. Take in the spectacular views of Lake Maggiore and the majestic mountains before we continue our hike. During our descent, we are treated to views of the ruined castles of Cannero Riviera, built by the noble Borromeo family. Soon we see a pretty camellia garden and arrive in the town of Cannero Riviera itself. Theres time for a stroll along the lakeside promenade to the citrus park, where its lovely to walk among the rows of brightly coloured lemons, oranges and grapefruit.

Cannobio Cannobio

DAY 3DISCOVER: BORROMEAN ISLANDS

DISCOVER: BORROMEAN ISLANDS

Unmistakably Mediterranean in character, Lake Maggiores shores are lined with oleanders, palms and aromatic verbena, with its tranquil waters reflecting the azure sky. Just offshore are the fascinating Borromean Islands, which take their name from a Milanese family who once owned the four rocky outcrops and, in the 17th century, commissioned the finest architects and landscape gardeners to craft luxurious residences on them.

Pride of place goes to the amazing Baroque palazzo on Isola Bella, which we visit on a fascinating morning guided tour. Its resplendent rooms feature refined furniture, sculptures and paintings, with intricate parquet flooring and pastel-coloured plasterwork; underground youll find elaborate shell-adorned grottoes. Even more impressive are the exquisite grounds featuring terraces imaginatively planted with orange and lemon trees, magnolias and a host of other fragrant and colourful shrubs and plants. Marble statues and unique white peacocks add the final touches to this dramatic display. Previous distinguished visitors to the palace include Napoleon and Josephine, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

The second island we visit, Isola dei Pescatori, is a complete contrast. Its cobbled streets, picturesque harbour and charming buildings, which are ideal for strolling around, reflect its 10th-century origins and the ancient fishing tradition after which it is named. This is the perfect place for a relaxing fish lunch in one of the excellent lakeside restaurants many with enchanting secluded terraces before we cruise back to Stresa this afternoon.

Isola Bella Isola Bella

DAY 4WALK: LAKE COMO

WALK: LAKE COMO

Lake Como has a rich history as an important trade hub, a battlefield for the ambitious, and a holiday destination for the affluent. Strolling along the lakeside promenade, it is easy to forget that navigating the lakes was once a challenge. The many mule tracks and makeshift roads of yesteryear that crisscross the hillside have been carefully restored and make wonderful walking paths today.

Take an easy walk along part of the Greenway del Lago, a delightful hiking path that hugs the lakeshore, or choose the moderate option, which follows the same route but continues all the way to Cadenabbia on foot.

Easy walkDuration: 2 hours (3.5 miles)Altitude gain: 462 feetTerrain: mix of mule tracks and tarmac roads

We begin in Sala Comacina, a colourful fishing village with fantastic views of Lake Como and Isola Comacina, the only inhabited island on the lake. We walk through a string of charming hamlets and villages along cypress-lined paths, seeing medieval churches, historic buildings and grand villas with manicured gardens everywhere you look is another wonderful photo opportunity. Our walk concludes near the magnificent Villa Carlotta, famous for its botanical gardens. We transfer by coach to Cadenabbia, a lovely hamlet where the mountains descend to the lake. You have free time for lunch or perhaps a boat trip to Bellagio.

Moderate walkDuration: 2 hours 45 minutes (5 miles)Altitude gain: 1,010 feetTerrain: mix of mule tracks and tarmac roads

For the more energetic, we continue on the final section of the Greenway past more opulent villas and superb gardens. As we approach Cadenabbia, the striped faade of the Anglican Church of Ascension stands out against the rocky hillside. Cadenabbia was a favourite destination of the English in the 19th century, and author Mary Shelley wrote about her stay here in her book, Rambles in Germany and Italy.

DAY 5FREE DAY

FREE DAY

Today you can choose to relax in your hotel or explore Stresas numerous delights. Enjoying a coffee in the Piazza Cadorna is a preferred pastime for many, but theres also a cable car to the summit of Mount Mottarone, taking in alpine gardens en route. Alternatively, boat trips to Isola Madre with its botanical gardens, or Pallanza, a charming Roman town, offer wondrous views. The Maggiore lakeside exudes an ambience of gentility that has its origins in the days of the Grand Tour when Europes aristocracy, having crossed the border from Switzerland, experienced their first taste of Italy. Aficionados of literature may fancy a drink at the bar of the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, featured in Hemingways A Farewell to Arms and frequented by the likes of George Bernard Shaw and Charlie Chaplin.

Mount Mottarone cable car (optional) Mount Mottarone cable car (optional)

DAY 6WALK: LAKE ORTA

WALK: LAKE ORTA

Today you can choose to hike the same path at either an easy or moderate pace. We start in the leafy village of Armeno and gently descend through a chestnut wood, passing charming country houses and the villages of Carcegna and Miasino. We explore Miasinos cobbled lanes and admire its elegant buildings, such as Villa Nigra, which today hosts concerts and exhibitions. Walking downhill toward Lake Orta, the last thing youd expect to see is a Moorish palace, yet there is enchanting Villa Crespi with its minaret-like tower, surrounded by verdant gardens.

Our walk ends in picturesque Orta San Giulio, where you have free time to wander its pebble-studded lanes and stepped alleys lined with traditional food shops. Youll adore the medieval architecture of handsome buildings with shuttered windows in typically Italian shades of ochre, magenta and light blue.

Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours (3.7 miles)Altitude gain: 380 feetTerrain: mix of mule tracks, woodland paths and tarmac roads

View of Orta San Giulio View of Orta San Giulio

DAY 7DISCOVER: ZERMATT & THE MATTERHORN

DISCOVER: ZERMATT & THE MATTERHORN

You can expect some truly breathtaking mountain vistas today as we climb the foothills of the Alps, cross the Swiss frontier and head into the high Alps themselves. We take the Simplon Pass, an ancient traders and smugglers route that didnt have a vehicular road until Napoleon had one constructed in the early 19th century. The scenery becomes ever more spectacular, with wildflower-covered meadows studded with tiny shepherds shelters and forests crowned by snowy peaks glistening in the sun. You could be lucky and catch a glimpse of an ibex, a chamois or even a golden eagle soaring above. Youll marvel at the engineering feats required to build the road as it traverses towering viaducts and jaw-dropping precipices, passing countless mountain streams and tumbling waterfalls before we arrive at the legendary village of Zermatt.

Nestled at the foot of the mighty, iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt is classic Switzerland, a car-free jumble of chalets and old wooden buildings strewn along a valley floor of pastures alive with the sound of cowbells, while cable cars and soaring footpaths weave ever upwards to the majestic amphitheatre of the surrounding lofty summits.

The ultimate alpine peak, the Matterhorn is relatively unobtrusive until you reach the end of the village and turn a corner, when the Swiss national symbol is revealed in its magnificent splendour the sight is truly one of lifes wow moments! For an even better view, take the cog railway up 10,000 feet to Gornergrat, the awe-inspiring mountain wonderland of glaciers and summits. Alternatively, relax in one of Zermatts many cosy cafs or take a gentle ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Zermatt Zermatt

DAY 8RETURN FLIGHT

RETURN FLIGHT

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.