Walking in the Italian Lakes 2003

TRIP PREVIEW - 6 days/7 nights > Departs and returns on a Saturday

Here, the zest of northern Italy and the tranquility of nearby Switzerland come together in a dramatic and vast landscape with a unique blend of stunning lakes, soaring mountains, and lush rolling hills. Romantic towns, little fishing villages and beautiful 17-18th Century villas are scattered around the lakeside while above are pastoral alpine meadows and rocky peaks.

Terrain:
The walking in the mountains is easy to moderate with some fabulous high ridge walks as well as through beautiful Beech woods. There is plenty of opportunity to vary the routes and more challenging or longer options for the intrepid. Elevation gains in the region of 200-350 metres.

Climate: Alpine: warm days, cool nights. Can be misty and humid with odd showers.

Daily Distance: 5 - 9 miles in mountains: 3 - 5 around the lakeside.

Trip start and end: Milan, Malpensa Airport

DAY 1 Milan
You will be met at Milan airport and transfer to the hotel. The late afternoon and early evening will be spent exploring this dynamic city with an evening meal in a typically Milanese restaurant.
Hotel Antica Locanda dei Mercanti, D

DAY 2 Milan - San Fedele 4 miles
This morning we will transfer by train/coach to the edge of Lake Lugano where we will then board the cog railway to the top of Mount Generoso - 5.100 feet. The views from the top are superb, and our walking trail starts among scenery straight out of 'The Sound of Music'. We walk across the border into Italy and wander through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers. Only the gentle tinkling of cowbells disturbs the silence. At the restaurant 'Baita Orimento' we will be ready to try mountain specialities, such as 'polenta and gorgonzola or 'pizzocheri', a typical dish from the 'Valtelina' north of Lake Como. After lunch we descend to San Fedele, and the Villa Simplicitas, where we are greeted by the charming Signora Ulla for an 'aperitivo' and dinner.
Villa Simplicitas, B, L, D

DAY 3 San Fedele 7 miles
Today we will walk through Beech wood and across meadows to Prabello: it's quite a long walk, but delightful. It is part of the 'Via dei Monti Lariani'. Lario being the ancient name of Lake Como, a hiking trail stretching out over an average height of 1000 metres. From it we can see some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Italy. We will pass many old icehouses and ponds on our way and finally arrive at the 'Rifuggio Prabello' beneath the rocky peak of Sasso Gordona for another typical lunch. After a rest in the afternoon we will stroll down to Casasco a characteristic little village from where we take a minibus back to the Villa Simplicitas. Tonight we dine across the valley in a local restaurant.
Villa Simplicitas, B, L, D

DAY 4 San Fedele 5 miles (optional 4 extra - mostly downhill!)
A different walk today in which we drive to a high pastoral watering place and then stride out along wartime tracks through the magnificent mountains that separate the two lakes of Como and Lugano. We climb up to walk along a high ridge towards Monte di Tremezzo and then on to Monte Crocione, the view from here over Lake Como and Bellagio is simply sublime. We retrace our steps to the 'Rifuggio Boffalora' for lunch. Later, the energetic may wish to walk back down through Beech woods to San Fedele, where you can visit the village before walking back to Villa Simplicitas for dinner. This evening, if the weather is fine, we may take a ride up to the 'Sighignola', the balcony of Italy, to enjoy a wonderful nighttime view of Lake Lugano and Switzerland.
Villa Simplicitas, B, L, D

DAY 5 San Fedele - Lenno 3 miles
It's time to leave the mountains and descend to the lake - the most romantic of the Italian lakes - Lake Como. Today we are taken by minibus to Lenno, a beautiful corner, in a secluded bay, where we check in at the Hotel San Giorgio, which has a superb garden on the lake front, ideal for relaxing after a day spent walking. Then we will take a boat across to Bellagio, the pearl of Lake Como. A visit of this little gem is a MUST and we may want to do a little shopping in the shops; there is a small silk industry here, and many of the shops sell pretty silk scarves and attractive ties. We then walk to the small fishing village of Loppia on the western side of the promontory and lunch on lake caught fish. A post lunch walk takes us to the eastern side of the promontory enjoying the views of both sides of the lake, before returning to Bellagio to wander the narrow streets and alleyways or visit the gardens of the Villa Melzi. Return to Lenno at your leisure and the Hotel San Giorgio for dinner.
Hotel San Giorgio, B, L, D

DAY 6 Lenno 4 miles
From Lenno, the 'Gulf of Venus' this walk takes us above the village to the 'Sanctuary of the Madonna del Socorsso', built in the 16th Century to house a statue of 'Our Lady', and discovered by a deaf mute girl. Along the trail there are 14 shrines dedicated to 'Our Lady'. At the top we will enjoy a picnic lunch and in the afternoon a rest in the garden of the hotel. Later, those who wish may then take a half an hour walk to visit the beautiful 'Villa Balbianello' belonging to the Italian National Trust, which holds many valuable objects, collected by the last owner, Count Guido Monzino, a famous Italian mountaineer. The 'green garden' and Roman style library wrapped in creeping fig is quite otherworldly. This evening we will enjoy a relaxing meal on the waterfront overlooking the lake.
Hotel San Giorgio, B, P

DAY 7 Lenno
Today is a free day in Como. After a short walk to the jetty, you begin on the water with a leisurely cruise to Como admiring the many villas that sit elegantly beside the water. In Como wander at leisure and enjoy the works of the maestri comanici (master masons) who spread the Lombardy style of architecture throughout Italy and Europe. The magnificent 14C Duomo (Cathedral), the Church of San Fedele, and the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio are superb examples of Romanesque Lombardy building. The hydrofoil is a faster alternative for the return voyage and this evening we celebrate our last evening with a meal in a truly wonderful Italian setting.
Hotel San Giorgio, B, L, D

DAY 8 Lenno
We breakfast at the hotel before a transfer to Milan for the flight home.