THE NORTHERN LAKES: MAGGIORE, COMO AND MILAN

1° Day Milan – Lago Maggiore

Your group arrives in Milan in the late morning, and you may have luch where you wish. In the afternoon a tour of Milan and its magnificent Dome. Next destination somewhere on Lake Maggiore, arrival at hotel, evening meal and accommodation.

2° Day Lago Maggiore – Isole Borromee

After breakfast in the hotel, departure for Stresa. Embarkation for the famous Borromee Islands in the inlet along the coast between Stresa, Baveno and Pallanza. The most famous is Isola Bella, with its elegant palace and splendid, Baroque style garden. Nearby is the Isola dei Pescatori, inhabited even today by fishing families. A little further north we have the Isola Madre, with its botanical garden rich in exotic plants, and a doll museum. Lunch in a restaurant during the tour of the Islands. Return to hotel, evening meal and accommodation.

3° Day Lago di Como

After breakfast in the hotel, departure for Lake Como. A magnificent sub Alpine basin, totally in Lombardia, fully deserving its fame as regards Italian natural environments. It is also called Lario. It is at the bottom of a valley hollowed out from the ancient glacier of the river Adda, and is divided into three courses: Colico in the north, Como in the south west, and Lecco in the south east (mentioned by Manzoni in his “Promessi Sposi”, “The Betrothed”). Its main affluent is the Adda, that carries down from the north the water from the Valtellina, with its effluent in the southernmost part of the lake, where Lecco is. Although very variable depending on the area, the climate is usually mild, above all in the central part of the lake where the three basins meet; many Mediterranean and exotic plants grow along the banks and in the gardens of the villas. Famous mountains like Grigne, Resegone and Legnone tower above the banks, all popular tourist resorts, especially the Como basin and the centre of the Lake, where, holding the three courses together, the peninsula of Bellagio is. Next destination Tremezzo with a visit of Villa Cortona and its botanical garden. Lunch in a restaurant.