Tailormade tour Three Italian Lakes and Venice fly-drive touring holiday Italy

Arrive in Milan on your first day of this touring holiday of the Italian Lakes and collect your hire car. Drive north onto the central promontory in the lake and the stunning lakeside village of Bellagio. The central piazza, the Piazza San Giacomo, is the point from which to begin your exploration of Bellagio town. From here, explore the Romanesque Basilica di San Giacomo, with its beautiful frescoes, statues, bell-tower and apse. The pretty fountain at the centre of the square was commissioned for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. From the small garden at the very tip of the promontory, take the ten-minute walk to the picturesque fishing hamlet of Pescallo. Walk on from Pescallo to see a collection of agricultural ruins, as well as the abandoned Villa Giulia. Walk along Villa Giulia’s Vialone to the waterside settlement of San Giovanni, at the centre of which sits a grotto dedicated to the Madonna of Lourdes. San Giovanni is also the site of a quirky museum of navigational instruments. In nearby Loppia, a traditional old village church is enclosed in the gardens of the Villa Trivulzio Gerli. From Bellagio, take a boat to one of the other lakeside towns and villages, such as Varenna, home to a small beach and gardens including the Villa Monastero, In the other direction are the lakeside towns of Cadenabbia and Tremezzo. At Tremezzo visit the beautiful grounds of the Villa Carlotta. In the evenings, relax with an ‘apertivo’ in one of the cafes or restaurants under the arcade back in Bellagio.

On your way from Lake Como to Lake Iseo, stop off in Bergamo to witness the architecture of this town, from the basilica and baptistery, to the vast convents and aqueducts. The area is dotted with defensive castles that used to divide the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan. The town’s streets are lined with the palaces and towers of old nobility. Lake Iseo and Erbusco where you will stay is at the heart of the Franciacorta wine area. Franciacorta wine is known for being a highly refined sparkling wine, produced according to champagne methods. The wineries are housed in many of the historic buildings in the area, most open for wine-tasting sessions. For example, the Terra Moretti in Erbusco is a particularly popular spot, but the wine routes can be toured more fully using Brescia as a starting point. Lake Iseo, however, has a wealth of charm and history. The best way to experience the water and its secrets is on a boat trip from one of the lakeside towns. Sail across to Monte Isola, the largest lake island in the whole of Italy, and dominated by the eponymous mountain. At the very top of this island sits a beautiful castle with breath-taking views. In contrast, the Isola di Loreto is the smallest island on the lake. Privately owned, it cannot be visited by tourists, but the majesty of its historic castle can still be appreciated from the water. Back on either Monte Isola or the mainland, take advantage of the many cycling, climbing, and walking trails that vein the landscape. Monasteries, churches, and Roman ruins punctuate the shoreline. Take part in some of the water sports, such as sailing, diving, and kite surfing, or simply relax on one of the small lakeside beaches. Your hotel is renowned for its gastronomy, so pre-booking a table is essential.

It is an easy drive of about an hour from Erbusco to Lake Garda on the motorway but you could take a longer, country route over the hills. On Lake Garda there are numerous visits and activities that are possible. One highly recommended excursion is to take a tour of Il Vittorale degli Italiani, a villa complex designed by Gabriele D’Annunzio as a self-tribute. Make sure to book a tour in advance to avoid disappointment. The scale of the complex makes it more akin to a small town, with its uncountable eccentric buildings, its squares, avenues, and fountains. The complex also features a vintage car museum, a war museum, a Greco-Roman theatre, and the opportunity to have dinner in the low lights of the lakeside, making Il Vittorale even more of a desirable day-out. Drive to nearby Salò, seat of the Fascist government, and famous for its long promenade. Try the remarkable produce of the lemons at Limone sul Garda, particularly the citrus desserts. Take a boat trip out to Isola del Garda to explore the stunning Neo-Gothic villa and its Italianate gardens. Or visit Peschiera del Garda, a town surrounded by canals, once a centre-point for Garda defence, as can be seen in its 15th century pentagonal fortress. Sirmione is now referred to as the ‘Pearl of Garda’. Upon entry to the town, tour the 13th century Rocca Scagliera fortress, and then make your way through to the Grotte di Catullo on the waterfront, reputedly previously owned by the Roman poet Catullus. As a spa town, the hot springs under the town feed the many spas that offer luxury treatments throughout the town. Take a lake tour to glimpse the stately homes and glorious estates of the stars and elite that live on the banks. The small village of Riva del Garda hosts an atmospheric classical music festival in July.

Break up the short journey from the Gardone Riviera to Venice with a brief stop in Verona. Known to the Ancient Romans as ‘Little Rome,’ the streets still bare the evidence of their important past, from the Roman Forum, to the palaces and Renaissance architecture. Pass under the Arco della Costa, separating the Piazza delle Erbe from the Piazza della Signoria, from which hangs a whale bone that will reputedly fall when someone righteous enough walks underneath. Also worth a visit is Verona’s Civico Museo d’Arte, one of the most important Art museums in Italy. You reach Venice by driving across the causeway and then you leave your car in the Piazzale Roma, and from here we will arrange for you to be collected by a private water taxi (so long as we know the time of your arrival). The water taxi will navigate along the canals to your hotel. The city of Venice itself is comprised of 117 islands and 150 canals, making it a veritable maze to navigate. For a more authentic experience of Venetian life, visit the Eberia and Pescheria local markets, situated across the Rialto Bridge, before visiting the major tourist locations, such as the glass museum, and the San Giorgio Maggoire. The Chiesi dei Frari houses art by Titian and Bellini, among others, as well as the tomb of Italian neoclassical sculptor, Canova. The work of Il Furioso himself, Tintoretto, is housed in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Similarly, it is possible to see the tombs of 25 doges in the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paulo. The magnificently maintained Ca’ Rezzonico allows visitors to witness what an 18th century palazzo interior would have looked like, with all the splendour and elaborate eccentricity of the height of Venetian culture and design. The Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, originally built in 1748, was converted into one of the best art galleries in Italy, the Guggenheim Museum, and displays a vast array of 20th century masterpieces. Head out to the distant island of Torcello, a far-cry from the busy Venetian town centre, to see the Byzantine Duomo and the 16th century ghetto. For a taste of traditional Venetian cuisine, look out for dishes based on the combination of polenta with beef stew or dried fish, as well as dishes of liver and onions.

We will arrange for a private water taxi to take you back to Venice Marco Polo airport for your flight back to London.