Stresa & Lake Maggiore

Meet at our St Pancras Departure Office and board the Eurostar
to Paris, continuing to Colmar for the night.

Please Note: For departures STL2004 &
STL2005 you will overnight in Strasbourg

Leaving Colmar, we journey through the beautiful Italian
countryside to the pretty town of Stresa, on the shores of Lake
Maggiore. Our base here for 7 nights is the 4-Star Grand Hotel
Bristol. One of the finest hotels in Stresa, the 4-Star Grand Hotel
Bristol enjoys a stunning location on the shores of the lake.

Today you have the chance to explore Stresa at your own pace. An
ideal way to get your bearings is to enjoy a walk along the
attractive, flower-filled promenade, lined with impressive villas
and neatly terraced gardens. You may wish to take a boat to the
colourful botanical gardens of Villa Taranto and the Sanctuary of
Santa Caterina del Sasso, nestled in a rocky overhang on the lake.
Alternatively, perhaps travel by cable car from Stresa up Mount
Mottarone - the journey offers an amazing panorama, and on a clear
day, your views from the snow-dusted peak include seven lakes as
well as the Italian and Swiss Alps.

Today we discover two of the beautiful Borromean Islands, set in
the shimmering waters of Lake Maggiore. We leave Stresa by boat and
cruise to the Isola Bella for a guided visit to the sumptuous
Borromeo Palace. The magnificent Baroque structure dominates the
island, and after a tour of its lavish rooms we explore the
alluring Italian-style gardens.

The spectacular gardens are on ten terraces and include an
open-air theatre with geometrically designed hedging, water-lilies
and citrus trees, the Azalea Garden and the 'Piano della Canfora',
which is named for the 150-year-old laurel tree growing there. In
the English garden, there are lotus flowers, whilst at the highest
point of the garden there is a great unicorn, the symbol of the
Borromeo family.

Our next stop is the tiny Isola dei Pescatori, a
permanently-inhabited island - by fewer than a hundred people - of
narrow cobbled alleyways and pretty buildings. It boasts a fine
selection of restaurants in which to enjoy lunch, with many menus
loyal to the island's rich fishing heritage. We enjoy an afternoon
exploring the charming island before cruising back to Stresa.

You have another opportunity to explore Stresa at your leisure.
Today the town is transformed for Market Day, and the bustling,
colourful stalls are well worth a visit. Should you wish to venture
further afield, why not visit vibrant Milan, the capital of
northern Italy? Perhaps visit the incredible Duomo - the largest
Gothic cathedral in the world, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a
19th century glass-roofed shopping arcade, or Teatro alla Scala,
the beautiful opera house.

The stunning 2,800-seat opera theatre welcomed its premier
performance in August 1778, with Antonio Salieri's Europa
Riconosciuta, having been built to replace another theatre on the
site, which was lost to a fire. Designed by Giuseppe Piermarini,
the Teatro alla Scala is known for its sumptuous gilt and crimson
interiors, as well as a rich history as the home of opera and
ballet in Milan. For those feeling less energetic, you can make use
of the excellent facilities at the hotel for a thoroughly relaxing
day.

Our full-day excursion by coach takes us into the rolling
countryside of the Monferrato wine region, famous for its vineyards
stretching over hills interspersed with unspoilt villages.
Monferrato is particularly important in the sparkling wine
industry, and our day begins with a visit to a local wine producer
where we have a tour of the vineyards, followed by a tasting. We
continue to an 'agriturismo' farm and enjoy a four-course farmhouse
lunch of local specialities and a chance to sample some of the
delicious locally produced wine.

Today's full-day excursion takes us on one of Europe's most
scenic railways, the narrow-gauge Centovalli Railway, on an
excursion to Locarno in Switzerland. The line threads its way
across 'a hundred valleys' that give the railway its name, all the
while passing through outstanding scenery of idyllic landscapes. We
pass over deep ravines and gushing waterfalls, and alongside thick
forests and through sleepy villages during the journey.

On arrival in Locarno, you are free to have lunch and explore at
your leisure. As well as a picturesque Old Town, Locarno has
beautiful subtropical gardens filled with palm trees and exotic
flowers, lakeside promenades and great shopping under the arcades
of the Piazza Grande. Later we cruise back down Lake Maggiore to
Stresa - a splendid way to take in your surroundings on the
homeward journey.

After a leisurely morning, we set off for Lake Orta, Lake
Maggiore's smaller but no less enchanting neighbour. We enjoy a
private boat cruise to the stunning Isola San Giulio, a tiny island
dominated by its impressive basilica, before returning to explore
the delightful Orta San Giulio, the atmospheric town known as the
'Jewel of the Lake'.

Situated on a tiny promontory against the dramatic backdrop of
the Alps, this lovely town is truly a gem, with cobbled streets and
a piazza overlooking the lake's sparkling waters. We return in good
time for our dinner this evening.

We depart Stresa in the morning by trainto Dijon, where we
overnight. Tonight we enjoy our final dinner together in the hotel.
On Day 10 we return to London by rail.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature
the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown
above.

Why not extend your holiday spending seven nights gently
cruising home from Basel on our exclusive 5-Star Rhine cruise, from
only £995 per person.

Please call for further information