Lake Como - La Dolce Vita
European Collection

Welcome to Italy! Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel on Lake Como.

This evening we will join our fellow travellers and enjoy a fabulous Italian welcome over dinner together, to meet your Tour Direcotr and travel companions.

THis morning we head up the western side of Lake Como with our local expert guide. The first stop is at the impressive 17th century village of Tremezzo. here we will take in the views and the architecture before making a visit to the Villa Carlotta. This 16th century home, built by the Clerici family, is now an important museum filled with statues, paintings and neo-classic furniture. In the garden one can admire trees and plants that come from all parts of the world: pergolas of vines, imposing camellia bushes, Australian trees, palms, tropical plants and rare conifers. From the gardens and terraces of the villa there are the amazing views over the center of the lake, to Bellagio, le Grigne and il Legnone.
You will have time for lunch at leisure before we arrive to spend the afternoon at another lakeside village,
Menaggio. Menaggio is located on the western shore of Lake Como, with a beautiful panoramic position overlooking the mountaind and the river as it heads towards Switzerland. The pleasant climate has made this a popular reort for more than a century.

Return to Como Town for the evening, with dinner and evening at leisure

THis morning we experience what it might be like to live here, heading  out from the hotel on foot to walk the short distance to the Port of Como to take the local boat. WE motor for a couple of hours in the company of a local guide, beore arriving at Bellagio for a guided walking tour of this charming little lakeside town.

It is no mistake that Bellagio is known as the "pearl" of Lake Como. For centuries, its scenic location has enchanted artists and writers, not only from Italy, but also from abroad. It is situated on the tip of a headland that divides the lake into the two legs of Como and Lecco. Bring your camera- from here you will get a good view of the whole lake. On a particularly clear day, one can make out the Alps, from Mont Blanc to the Ortles, and even the Madonnina on top of the Duomo of Milan!

Explore together the Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio. Built in 1605 in the high part of the town, it is actually the property of the Rockefeller Foundation which uses it as a study and conference center. The villa igardens have 12 miles of pathways, bordered with cypress and olive trees and with geometrically designed plants. The panorama overlooks two branches of the lake with views of extraordinary beauty.

WE will enjoy lunch together today before taking aother ferry to picturesque Varenna on the eastern bank of Lake Como. WE will walk off our italian dinig experience with a guided walking tour before taking the hydrofoil to return to Como for an evenning at leisure.

Milan is the regional capital of Lombardy and the largest city in Italy- bring your walking shoes today. People have been livig here for the last 2,600 years, so there is a lot to take in. We will enjoy a panoramic tour and walking exploration, taking in piazzas and galleries, impressive Milanese architecture and much, much more. 

We enjoy lunch together today at an excellent restaurant for a classic Milanese tasting meal before a visit to the Pinacoteca di Brera- one Italy's most important art galleries which an especially impressive collection of paintings by Italian masters from the fourteenth to the twentieth century.

We will return to Como Town with dinner and evening at leisure.

We head out on foot again today to walk the short distance round to the cable-car station in Piazza de Gasperi.
We will take the 500 metre cable-car up to the picturesque hill-top village of Brunate. With a maximum gradient of 55%, the ascent takes just over 6 minutes.  Brunate village is 750 metres above sea level and is known as the ‘balcony of the Alps’. It has an enviable position offering views of Como, the lake, the plains of Lombardy, the Appennines, the Alps, Mount Monviso and Mount Rosa.

After enjoying the beautiful location, our coach will take us to enjoy a cookery course experience of either pizza or pasta making, making our own lunches today in traditonal style. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a walking tour of Como Town with a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta before dinner and evening spent at leisure.

Today we spend the day aboard a classic wooden boat. Our captain will guide us through the hidden gems of the Larian landscape. Starting from Como Town, we will see iconic landmarks and get unique perspectives on Villa del Balbianello, Villa Cassinella, and Villa Oleandra (George Clooney’s residence) as well as reach wonderful coves and bays that can only be accessed by boat. Exclusive stops can be scheduled in out-of-the-way spots for swimming in crystal-clear waters, sightseeing in picturesque villages, or to get the very best photo opportunities.

Lunch is at leisure in one of the lakeside stops before returning to Como Town in the afternoon.

This evening we enjoy a fine dining Farewell Dinner together at one of Como’s finest restaurants to reminisce one final time.

Sadly, it's time to say goodbye.  You will be transferred to the airport for onward travel.