This new tour exploring the northern lakes of Italy offers a blend of experiences not easily captured anywhere else in one week. The scenery is spectacular - the brilliant blue of Italy's largest lake framed by snow-capped mountains. The climate is balmy - groves of lemon trees dot the southern shore. The wines are superb - the Valpolicella area produces world-class wines. Lake Garda offers all the benefits of the more famous Lake Como without the volume of tourism and crowds.

The week is carefully planned to include a diverse sampling of all the area offers - guided visit of Verona, famous wineries, olive oil cooperative, cable car ride up Mount Baldo, glass blowing demonstration, fishing excursion following the local Garda fisherman, tour of the lake in a private boat, and exploring ancient castles and villages. The lodging is a small hotel in the village of Garda on the quiet, eastern shore of the lake. Meals feature delectable regional dishes.

The nearest airport is Verona, which is the most convenient location to connect with the tour. Another option is to fly into Milan or Venice and take the train to Verona.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Day.
Transfer to a small hotel in the center of Garda. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 - Verona/ Soave/Wine Tasting
After breakfast, explore the city of Verona with an English-speaking local guide. Visit the large Piazza Bra, the favorite promenade of locals and tourists, which curves around the well-preserved Roman Arena, home to the summer opera season. Walk along Via Mazzini, the first street in Italy to ban cars, to the core of medieval and Roman Verona, the Piazza delle Erbe. Also included are visits to sites made famous in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as well as the civic center of Verona, the Piazza dei Signori. Free time to enjoy a relaxing lunch or shopping. In the afternoon, travel to the fortified city of Soave. Visit the castle and taste its celebrated wine in a cellar in the old part of the city. Return to Garda for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - Lake Iseo/ Wine Tasting/ Moreniche Hills
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit of Lake Iseo, the seventh largest lake in Italy located west of Lake Garda. The villages around the lake have retained their medieval character with well-preserved buildings dating to the 14th century. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit the traditional wine cellar of Franciacorta and enjoy a wine tasting. Travel to the Moreniche Hills along Lake Garda and the village of Borgo dei Mulini. Dinner and tasting of the famous tortellini of this area. Return to the hotel and overnight.


Day 4 - Olive Oil Mill/ Mount Baldo
After breakfast, travel along a scenic lake drive to Torri del Benaco to admire the lemon groves next to the Scaligero Castle. Continue to Castalletto di Brenzone to visit a cooperative of Lake Garda olive oil producers and enjoy an olive oil tasting. Continue to Malcesine for a brief visit to another Scaligero Castle is the city center and lunch on your own. In the afternoon, take the cable cars to the top of Mount Baldo for a spectacular view of the area and a guided tour with an alpine guide. Stop at a traditional "baita" to taste the area's famous mountain cheese. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - La Valpolicella/ Wine Tasting
After breakfast, travel to the one of Italy's most famous wine producing areas, Valpolicella. Visit to the first settlement in this area, the Pieve Romanica di San Giorgio, with its splendid panoramic view. Continue on to the Villa of the Valpolicella to enjoy a tasting of famous local wines (Valpolicella, Amarone, Recioto) and typical local foods in the ancient wine cellar. Next, a visit to the Officina del Vetro, a studio of master artisans, to see a glass-blowing demonstration. Just a few glass blowers of this skill level continue to practice in Italy today. Return to the hotel, free time, dinner and overnight.

Day 6 - Lake Garda Fishing
After breakfast, free time for relaxation, shopping, or exploring the village of Garda. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, board a typical wooden boat for a fishing excursion which will follow the local fisherman in their boats. These fisherman are considered the authentic fishermen of Garda and have been given special privileges to fish the area, privileges that have their roots in the Middle Ages. On board, enjoy a tasting of traditional snacks which include carefully selected products from Lake Garda's Fishing Cooperative. Return to the hotel before meeting at the Piazza of Garda for a brief cooking demonstration and dinner featuring fish specialties of the area. Return to the hotel and overnight.


Day 7 - Southern Lake Garda
After breakfast, board a private boat to visit San Vigilo, a famous fairytale celebrity vacation spot, and Garda Island, a beautiful island still privately owned. Next stop is Sirmione, a peninsula on the southern lake shore that was first developed as a vacation spot by the ancient Romans. Walk through the town's historical center to see the Rocca Scaligera, a castle built in the 13th century as a fortress to defend the lake, and the thermal spas. Next stop is Bardolino. A natural harbour that was originally a prehistoric settlement with two early medieval churches. Enjoy a glass of the famous local wine at Enoteca on the shores of the lake before returning to Garda by boat. Free time for lunch and relaxation. Farewell dinner and overnight. Reboard the boat to visit the Grotte di Catullo, the huge Roman villa built on the peninsula in the 1st century. Farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 8 - Departure day
Transfer to the airport and departure.

GROUP SIZE LIMITED TO 14 PARTICIPANTS

13 JUNE 2009 ONLY DEPARTURE

Package price based on current exchange rate, subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to cancel the tour because of lack of participants or circumstances beyond our control. In that case, a full refund of all payments will be made.

Gabriele's Travels to Italy continually strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If improvements can be made or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itinerary excursions and to substitute hotels and restaurants.

Final documents and paperwork, sent out three weeks before departure, will include an updated itinerary.

Gabriele's Travels to Italy is not responsible for typing mistakes and descriptions of tour places.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL 1-888-287-8733

Tour booking code #GT09