The charming Lake Garda and the Opera House of Verona

Transcription

1 The charming Lake Garda and the Opera House of Verona Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel , Fax info@tasteandslowitaly.com

2 Day 01 Arrival at the airport in Bergamo or Milano. Meeting with the tour leader and transfer to Desenzano del Garda (or another village on Lake Garda) by private bus. Desenzano del Garda Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 02 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Malcesine by private boat: you will visit this small but evocative village and the mountain that stands above it, Monte Baldo. Get to the top of the mountain and enjoy a spectacular view of the light blue water, the green trees and the grey rock. Lunch in Malcesine. Malcesine Developed around the ancient Castello Scaligero and Palazzo dei Capitani, Malcesine still preserves its old aspect of a medieval village protected by fortified walls. As well as other villages on the Lake Garda, it has very old origins that date back to prehistory. Visit of the castle. Return to Desenzano del Garda at 6,00 p.m. Free time. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

3 Day 03 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader and the private bus to Mantova, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Enter the city through a peculiar bridge, meet a local guide and visit the magnificent Castle of St. George and Palazzo Ducale famous residence of the Gonzaga family consisting of 500 rooms. Mantova In the afternoon, departure to Sabbioneta. Guided tour. Situated in the Po s valley, Sabbioneta is a real Renaissance jewel. By surrounding it by walls and bastions, Vespasiano Gonzaga turned a small rural centre into an ideal city, an exceptional testimony of city planning with a great artistic content. Today Sabbioneta is still surrounded by the ancient walls. Return to Desenzano sul Garda at 7,30 p.m. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Sabbioneta Day 04 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach the Franciacorta area by private bus. Taste one of the best products of Italy: the Franciacorta wine. Lago d Iseo Stop at Rodengo Saiano for a visit to the Abbey of St. Nicholas, one of the most stately and rich building of the North of Italy.

4 Visit to a local farm that produces Franciacorta wine and light lunch with degustation session. In the afternoon, tour of Lake Iseo by private boat. You will have the opportunity to visit Clusane with its wonderful historical centre and Monte Isola, the mountain which divides the lake in two parts. Return to Desenzano sul Garda at 7,30 p.m. Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 05 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Gardone Riviera by private bus. Visit to the shrine of Italian victories, a monumental citadel built by poet Gabriele D Annunzio. It consists of a series of buildings, streets, squares, theatres, gardens and watercourses realized in memory of the exploits of the Italians during the 1st World War. In the afternoon departure to Sirmione. Guided tour of the town and visit of the Grotto of Catullus. Il Vittoriale Then visit of Lazise together with the remains of the ancient village and the Scaliger Castle. Return to Desenzano sul Garda. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 06 After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Brescia by private bus. Meeting with a local guide and visit of the city: admire the Capitolium, the Roman Theatre, the Domus dell Ortaglia, the Broletto, Piazza della Loggia, the Torre della Pallata, the Old Cathedral and the Castle with its museum of ancient arms -the most important in Europe. Brescia The monastery complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of a group of seven inscribed as Longobards in Italy. Places of the power ( A.D.). Free time for shopping. Return to Desenzano sul Garda.

5 Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 07 After breakfast, free time for shopping in Desenzano sul Garda. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon departure to Verona. Meeting with a local guide and tour of this enchanting city. Dinner ot your leisure. At 7.30 p.m. you will have the opportunity to attend an opera at the Arena of Verona, the ancient roman amphitheatre situated right in the historical centre. Arrival at the hotel at 1,30 a.m. and overnight stay. Arena di Verona After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Bergamo by private bus. Day 08 Bergamo is one of the most artistic sites of Lombardy. It is divided into two parts, the upper and the lower town, connected via a nice and very old cableway. Built in the Middle Ages, the upper town (Città Alta) is still surrounded by Venetian walls Bergamo has been under the control of Venezia for many years- and it contains important historical remains. The lower town (Città Bassa) houses different valuable historical testimonies, too. The division between the upper and lower town is not so recent: it seems that it dates back to the Roman time, when the upper part was called Civitas and the lower part Suburbia. Guided tour of the city. In the afternoon transfer to the airport in Bergamo or Milano. Bergamo

6 End of the services. Tour information: The tour will be available with a minimum of 16 paying partecipants. The tour can be changed according to airport and flights schedule The half board can include lunch or dinner not necessarily at the hotel. Round trip flights reservation available Booking cancellations insurance available Services Included: 8 days, 7 nights in a 3/ 4 star hotel HB Tour leader for the whole duration of the tour Local guide to visit : Mantova, Sabbioneta, Sirmione, Lazzise, Brescia, Verona, Bergamo Private bus with driver for the whole duration of the tour Private boat for the tour of Lake Iseo lake Lyrics Opera at the Verona Theatre Not included: Anything which is not expressly mentioned in the list above Travel health insurance Baggage insurance Entrance fees to the museums Tips and personal expenses DAY ITINERARY MEALS 1 Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Desenzano del Garda D 2 Visit of Malcesine and Monte Baldo B - D 3 Guided tour of Mantova and Sabbioneta B - D 4 Wine tasting of Franciacorta, tour on the Iseo Lake B - L 5 Visit the Vittoriale in Gardone Riviera, and Catullus Grotto in Sirmione, Lazise tour B - D 6 Guided tour of Brescia B - D 7 Guided tour of Verona and entrance to the Opera house at the Arena B - L 8 Guided tour of Bergamo, end of services B B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel , Fax info@tasteandslowitaly.com