Private tour of Lake Maggiore and Milan between water and sky

Only a few days at your disposal for a short-holiday? But would you like to exploit your time and visit something special and unforgettable? This tour between the calm of water and the endless of the sky is just for you! From Lake Maggiore, where you will enjoy the Borromean Gulf with its isles and you will sail towards the silence of the Hermitage of St. Catherine, to the white pinnacles of Milan Cathedral. Then on to the Sforza Castle and a walk along its crenellations.

DAY 1 – MILAN
Landing at the airport and transfer to MILAN by private car. Accommodation at the hotel. Time at your leisure for individual activities and relax. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

DAY 2 – MILAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with your qualified multilingual-speaking tourist guide for an unusual bird’s eye view visit of the Lombard chief town. You will climb onto the round bays of SFORZESCO CASTLE to walk among its battlemented towers and to venture on the guards’ rooms. It will be a unique way to live the golden age of Milan Dukedom again and to enjoy a view overlooking the city, which also Leonardo da Vinci described. Then on to the DUOMO – Cathedral. After admiring and recalling its history, you will get to its terraces and have a walk among its spires and pinnacles, and so you will discover its marvelous marble intaglios, which tell the history of art from the Gothic to the …neo – Gothic periods. Aperitif/light lunch at a panoramic terrace in the historical centre. In the afternoon time at your leisure for individual activities and shopping. Back to the hotel late in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

DAY 3 – ANGERA, LAKE MAGGIORE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Leggiuno by private car. Meeting with your qualified multilingual-speaking tourist guide for a visit to the striking HERMITAGE OF SANTA CATERINA, linked with the legendary figure of the Blessed Soul Alberto Besozzi, the whole monastery was built in XIV century and enlarged, over the centuries, up to its present size: southern monastery, courtyard of the press, small monastery and sanctuary. The monument is extraordinary for its location: perched on a rock near the deepest zone in Lake Maggiore.  Transfer to Angera and time at your leisure for individual lunch. In the afternoon visit to ROCCA BORROMEO, a stronghold perched on a rocky spur, overlooking Lake Maggiore. Built by some Milan archbishops in XII century, the Torriani and the Visconti noble families competed for it for a long time. The Room of Justice, which houses a cycle of XIII century frescoes by an anonymous painter, is extraordinarily beautiful. The stronghold houses the Museum of the Doll and of the Toy. Back to the hotel late in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

DAY 4 – BORROMEAN ISLES
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with your qualified multilingual-speaking tourist guide. Transfer to ISOLA MADRE by taxi-boat and guided visit to the biggest isle in the Borromean Gulf. Fully covered by a botanical garden, renowned for its marvelous bloom of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and wisteria pergolas. Visit to XVI century palace, rich in furniture coming from the Borromeo Family’s historic residences, and where a collection of puppet theatre is kept. Transfer to ISOLA DEI PESCATORI. Lunch at a restaurant. In the afternoon transfer and guided visit to ISOLA BELLA. The construction of the Baroque Palace started in 1632 thanks to Carlo III Borromeo, who dedicated it to Isabella d’Adda, his wife. Their son Vitaliano carried on the project and he wanted the magnificent setting of its blooming terraced gardens. The palace boasts a precious collection of painting and rooms rich in tapestries, furniture and objects of art. Time at your leisure for shopping along “Vicolo del Fornello”, with some prestigious brands of the so-called Made in Italy. Back to the hotel late in the afternoon. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

DAY 5 – LAKE MAGGIORE – AIRPORT
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport by private car

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