Village Life ~ Italian Lake District

in
Sep 15 2012 - Sep 23 2012

Download the brochure for Village Life in the Italian Lake District!

From approximately $3,395 per person based on double occupancy, air and VAT not included
Operated by Thomas P. Gohagan & Company

View photos from last year's trip

Overview
Experience the true essence of life in northern Italy’s fabled Lake District for one full week in Cernobbio, a picturesque village overlooking Lake Como. Stay in lake-view rooms in the charming HOTEL REGINA OLGA. Enjoy private boat cruises on Lake Como and Lake Maggiore and see how this unique setting has inspired poets, composers, musicians, artists and philosophers for centuries. Explore the artistic and architectural treasures left by Roman patricians, medieval lords and Renaissance princes during expert-guided excursions to Varenna, Bellagio, Villa del Balbianello, the Borromean Islands and Stresa. Enriching lectures and the exclusive VILLAGE FORUM™ with local residents bring you personal perspectives of the region’s modern life and cultural heritage. This comprehensive itinerary also features an optional excursion to stunning Lugano, Switzerland, a historic city with a distinctive Swiss culture. Two-night Milan Pre-Program, featuring a viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, offered. An exceptional value, this exclusive travel program offers not only one of the world’s most enchanting destinations, but also the convenience of unpacking just once and continues to sell out quickly.

ITINERARY
Day 1     Depart from the U.S. or Canada
Day 2     Milan, Italy/Cernobbio
Day 3     Cernobbio/Como
Day 4     Cernobbio/Bellagio/Villa del Balbianello
Day 5     Cernobbio/Como (optional)
Day 6     Cernobbio/Stresa/Lake Maggiore/Borromean Islands
Day 7     Cernobbio/Lugano, Switzerland (optional)
Day 8     Cernobbio
Day 9     Cernobbio/Milan/Return to the U.S. or Canada

Activity Level
Moderately Active

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the true essence of life in northern Italy’s fabled Lake District for one full week in Cernobbio, a picturesque village overlooking Lake Como.
  • Stay in lake-view rooms in the charming HOTEL REGINA OLGA.
  • Experience some of the most stunning scenery in Italy during a private cruise across Lake Como to Varenna and the fairy-tale village of Bellagio.
  • Explore one of Italy’s most beautiful estates on a special tour of the Villa del Balbianello.
  • Cruise across Lake Maggiore to the enchanting Borromean Islands.
  • Learn about the age-old culture and way of life in the Lake District during an exclusive VILLAGE FORUMTM with local residents.
  • Hear 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.
  • Savor authentic Italian cuisine and participate in a special hands-on cooking class on an optional excursion to the Gianni Brera Culinary Institute.
  • Become acquainted with the meticulous process of preserving and restoring Italy’s priceless Renaissance heritage during gatherings with faculty and students on the optional excursion to Como’s Aldo Galli Academy of Fine Arts, one of Europe’s preeminent centers of art restoration.
  • Experience distinctive Swiss lake culture on the optional excursion to nearby Lugano, Switzerland.
  • Marvel at the artistic genius of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan’s magnificent 14th-century Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie on the Milan Pre-Program Option.

HOTEL REGINA OLGA

  • Overlooking Lake Como in the charming village of Cernobbio, just outside of Como, the lovely HOTEL REGINA OLGA combines traditional Italian ambiance with modern facilities, exceptional service and comfortable, stylish accommodations.
  • Most rooms feature views of Lake Como and are furnished with a full complement of amenities including private bath, air conditioning, direct-dial telephone, cable television, minibar, hair dryer and ample closet space.
  • The HOTEL REGINA OLGA has two dining rooms serving northern Italian cuisine in elegant but informal settings, while the bar, coffee lounge and cocktail terrace bar are ideal for enjoying light refreshments. Table wines are complimentary with included dinners. The hotel also features a variety of recreational opportunities, including an outdoor swimming pool set amid the property’s beautifully landscaped gardens.

INCLUDED FEATURES
IN CERNOBBIO

  • Seven nights in the charming HOTEL REGINA OLGA in a room overlooking Lake Como.
  • Full breakfast each morning.
  • Most dinners included, featuring northern Italian specialties served with house wine.
  • Welcome reception featuring Prosecco, northern Italy’s famous sparkling wine.

TOURS AND EXCURSIONS, 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, one of the most scenic towns in Italy.
  • Specially arranged tour of the legendary Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como.
  • Full-day scenic tour of Lake Maggiore, featuring a boat cruise to the Borromean Islands, famous for their magnificent palaces and gardens, and free time in the charming town of Stresa.

EXCLUSIVE CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS

  • Engaging lectures and presentations by local experts about regional culture and history, including the “Parliamo Italiano!” language and customs presentation and “Como: From Roman Ruins to Medieval Walls to the Present,” presented by local scholar and Como native Fabio Cani.
  • A discussion of contemporary cultural and social topics led by local residents during the specially arranged VILLAGE FORUMTM.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL SERVICES

  • All transfers and luggage handling abroad for all participants who have purchased their international air tickets through Gohagan & Company and whose arrival(s)/departure(s) coincide with the scheduled group transfer(s).
  • Gratuities for local guides and drivers on included excursions and transfers.
  • Experienced Program Director to accompany you throughout the travel program.
  • Hospitality desk in the hotel.
  • Travel document wallet, name badge and pre-departure information.
  • Automatic $250,000 flight insurance policy for each participant ticketed on flights by Gohagan & Company.

MILAN PRE-PROGRAM OPTION
Extend your Italian experience with two nights in a deluxe hotel in Milan, Italy’s second city, a moveable feast of fashion, finance, fine food, art and architecture. Visit the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to see Leonardo da Vinci’s hauntingly entrancing The Last Supper, a mural painted on plaster between 1495 and 1498. Stroll through the elaborate 19th-century shopping arcades of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. See the famous Teatro alla Scala, which was inaugurated in 1778 and saw the premieres of Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi. Admire the towering spires, exquisite sculptures and vast interior of the Duomo, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. And, walk around the exterior of the 14th-century Castello Sforzesco, a historic monument that weathered periods of French, Spanish and Austrian domination. Option available at additional cost. Complete details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

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