Italy - Lake Como

ITINERARY

Wednesday - Very early morning departure from Dorset for channel crossing to Calais and onwards to hotel near Saarbrucken in Germany for dinner, overnight stay and breakfast.

Thursday - Southwards through France and across Switzerland to Lecco on Lake Como. A welcome drink while the bags are portered and after settling in enjoy a 3 course dinner in the restaurant.

Friday - Experience one of the great European railway journeys on the Bernina Express. Drive to Tirano and join the famous train which scales the Bernina Pass - the highest railway line in Europe at 2330 metres. View the snow-capped glaciers of the Swiss Engadin Alps with thrilling twists, turns, tunnels and views from towering viaducts - it really is beyond words. The amazing 2½ hour ride brings us to the chic resort of St. Moritz, meeting point of the rich and famous with time for lunch and sightseeing. This afternoon tour past Lake Sils and over the Maloja Pass to Chiavenna, then back to Como.

Saturday- Todays journey will provide memories for a lifetime - a boat cruise on Lake Como to take in the prettiest villages and some of its strangest places with breath-taking views of the waterside scenery. We shall visit the Pearls of Como - the towns of Varenna, with its brightly coloured houses festooned in flowers, and Bellagio, which sits at the intersection of the three branches of the lake. Finally Menaggio with its lakeside promenade and romantic narrow alleyways of the old town.

Sunday - First stop is the city of Como, located on the western branch of the lake and an ancient centre for silk production. The promenade is a great place to take photos but equally the medieval centre will captivate and delight. It has little piazzas surrounded by cafes and shops - the narrow streets will inevitably lead you to the cathedral with its adjacent bell tower and old town hall.
Later we recommend you ride the funicular railway from Como up to the village of Brunate, a town overlooking Como at 715 metres high. The views from the station alone are incredible, but just take a 20 minute stroll to the Volta Lighthouse and you will be speechless (there is a local bus service). The chuch of St. Agostino in Brunate was founded in 1300 and contains preserved frescos from the 16th century.

Monday - A chance to relax in Lecco, It was once a fortified hamlet and still has parts of the old walls - here are several museums, monuments, open squares with cafes and trendy shops - all are overlooked by the bell tower of the Basilica of San Nicolo at 96 metres tall the same as Big Ben.

Tuesday - A fond farewell from our hosts as we leave Como and head back across the Swiss Alps into France for dinner and overnight at hotel in Saarbrucken..

Wednesday - Across France to Calais for afternoon channel crossing to Folkestone and return to Dorset that evening.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner