Village Life in the Italian Lake District (2009)

Download the Village Life in the Italian Lake District Brochure

From $2795.00, per person, plus airfare and V.A.T., based on double occupancy.

Operated by Thomas P. Gohagan & Company

Savor la dolce vita – “the sweet life” – in Italy’s legendary Lake District for one week while discovering the renowned art, magnificent architecture and storied history of a region whose beautiful and romantic alpine setting has inspired some of Western Civilization’s greatest creative minds from Virgil to Hemingway.  While spending seven nights in the lakeside village of Cernobbio in the charming Hotel Regina Olga, explore the rich historical and cultural heritage of Lombardy and the Lake District through educational lectures, meetings with local citizens and specially arranged guided tours. 

From Lake Como, take a private cruise to the charming town of Bellagio; witness the stunning beauty of the Villa Balbianello; and walk through the world famous gardens of the Borromean Islands on legendary Lake Maggiore.  In Milan, stroll through one of the world’s most famous shopping districts and marvel at the genius of Leonardo da Vinci’s magnificent Last Supper. You will also meet with local citizens at the exclusive VILLAGE FORUM and learn the secrets to preparing authentic Italian cuisine during a hands-on culinary class and meal at the Centro Studi Alberghiero Casnati cooking school.

Day 1
Depart for Milan, Italy.

Day 2
Arrive in Milan. Transfer to the village of Cernobbio on the shores of Lake Como and check into the charming Hotel Regina Olga.

Following a relaxing afternoon, attend a private welcome reception and dinner.

Day 3
On a morning tour, encounter the treasures of the ancient lakeside town of Como, including the impressive 14th-century marble Duomo, the 12th-century church of San Fedele and Porta Vittoria, a medieval gate with five tiers of arches.

Gather with local citizens in the evening for a discussion on life in the Italian Lake District, followed by dinner.

Day 4
Set out on a private cruise across Lake Como to three of the area’s greatest treasures—Varenna, Bellagio, and the Villa del Balbianello. In Varenna, stroll through the halls and gardens of the Villa Monastero.

Continue on to Bellagio, renowned for its unparalleled setting along the water and take a private tour of the Villa del Balbianello, renowned for its beautiful formal gardens, antique furnishings, and spectacular setting.

Day 5
Learn about Como’s rich tradition of silk-making during a curator-led tour of the Silk Museum.

This afternoon, visit the prestigious Aldo Galli Academy of Fine Arts, Italy’s preeminent center for Renaissance fresco and canvas restoration.

Attend a specially arranged hands-on culinary class in the evening at the Centro Studi Alberghiero Casnati cooking school, followed by a dinner of regional specialties

Day 6
Enjoy a spectacular full-day tour of scenic Lake Maggiore, including a cruise to Isola Bella and free time in the picturesque town of Stresa.

On a special tour, discover Isola Bella’s magnificent ensemble of Baroque palaces, seashell-encrusted grottoes and the immaculately terraced gardens complete with Chinese peacocks.

Then take some time on your own to stroll through the streets of Stresa, where a young Ernest Hemingway recuperated from wounds suffered in World War I, an experience that inspired his romantic masterpiece, A Farewell to Arms.

Day 7
Set out this morning for Milan to see the towering Duomo, one of the most striking churches in the world, and the Castello Sforzesco, a 14th-century fortress. At the Church of Santa Maria del Grazie, see Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Last Supper.

Day 8
The day is at leisure to independently the charms of Lake Como, including the traditional weekly open-air market in Como.

Day 9
Transfer to Milan and return to the U.S.

Included Features

In Cernobbio

• Seven nights in the charming, four-star Hotel Regina Olga on the banks of Lake Como in the picturesque village of Cernobbio.
• Full breakfast each morning.
• Most dinners included, featuring northern  Italian specialties served with complimentary house wine.
• Welcome reception featuring Prosecco, a special sparkling wine produced in northern Italy.
• All tours and excursions below are led by expert local guides.
• Walking tour of historic Como, a classic Italian town more than 2,000 years old and the center of the European silk industry for centuries.
• Private boat cruise across Lake Como to Varenna and Bellagio, two of the most scenic towns in Italy.  
• Specially arranged tour of the legendaryVilla Balbianello on Lake Como.
• Spectacular, full-day scenic tour of Lake Maggiore, featuring a cruise to the Borromean Islands, famous for their magnificent palaces and gardens, and free time in the charming town of Stresa.
• Tour of Milan, including the opportunity to see Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper and the Duomo, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. 

A full program of educational and cultural enrichment including: 

• Engaging lectures and presentations by local experts about regional culture and history, including “Como: From Roman Ruins to Medieval Walls to the Present” presented by local scholar and Como native, Fabio Cani. 
• Private visit to Como’s Aldo Galli Academy of Fine Arts, which specializes in restoration of historic art, with expert presentations, demonstrations and interaction with students. 
• Exclusive Village Forum with local residents. 
• Specially arranged culinary demonstration at the Centro Studi Alberghiero Casnati cooking school.

YOUR NORTHWESTERN HOST

Aspasia Apostolakis Miller (GC94), Director of Career Services, Students and Young Alumni, Northwestern Alumni Association, received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University and her graduate degree in communication from Northwestern. She serves as the chair on the Metropolitan Family Services community board for Evanston/Skokie Valley.