EXCURSIONS

MONDAY 
MACUGNAGA MOUNT ROSA
 Half day

A scenic drive up the rugged valley of the Anza. Through charming villages built in stone, past winding rivers, and waterfalls towards the village of Macugnaga, once famous for its gold mines. Macugnaga lies at the foot of the Mount Rosa range, the second highest in the alps (15.200ft). Free time to explore the village and take the chair lift (optional) to admire the peaks and glaciers. A stroll in the meadows to see the wild flowers, then perhaps a “fil de fer” in the local café before returning down the valley and back to Lake Maggiore.

TUESDAY
THE THREE LAKES TOUR
Full day

Three of Europe’s most beautiful lakes in one day! Following the road around Lake Maggiore we enter Switzerlandand make our first stop in Ascona for one hour to explore this delightful little artists paradise full of character.Then we bypass Locarno and over the Magadine Plain, over Monte Ceneri to fashionable Lugano, set on its own lake , partly in Italy and party in Switzerland. Here we stop for about two and a half hours, for lunch, sightseeing and shopping. Afterwards we pass by the Swiss Miniature village of Melide, then over the bridge which divides Lake Lugano, through Chiasso to Como, which is the chief town on Lake Como and the heart of the silk industry. We stop for one hour to visit the beautiful Cathedral, the old walled town and its shopping area. We return via the motorway, arriving at the southern tip of Lake Maggiore, with a beautiful view of the Castle of Angera, completing our circular route, arriving at the Borromean Bay in good time for dinner .

WEDNESDAY
MILAN CITY TOUR
Full day

An interesting drive to the capital of Lombardy, Milan – a thriving industrial city. On arrival we meet our official city guide to visit the city on foot and by coach to see the modern town rebuilt after the war and the historic town including the Sforza Castle, La Scala Opera House, the Monumental Cemetery where Toscanini was buried, the Arch of Peace (sister to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris), the famous arcade “La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II”, and the Cathederal which is the centre of Milan and a pedestrian area where there are also some elegant shops. Free time to wander around the shops or an optional visit to La Scala Opera House and museum before joining the coach and returning to Lake Maggiore. 

THURSDAY
LAKE ORTA
Half day - afternoon

Almost at once we leave Lake Maggiore and after a short drive we arrive at the northern tip of Lake Orta. Optional boat ride of about 40 minutes to Orta at the southern end of the Lake, stopping at the little island of Saint Julius to visit the Church. Then over to the the Medieval village of Ortato explore this delightful place with its tiny streets and sacred hillside with many chapels dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.Orta is nicknamed “Venice without water!” After free time we board the coach and pass through pretty countryside until we come to Arona at the southern end of Lake Maggiore.Here we stop to see the statue of Saint Charles Borromeo, the second largest in the world, with beautiful views of Lake Maggiore. We return through the Vergante Hills to Stresa, Baveno and Pallanza.

FRIDAY
ZERMATT AND THE MATTERHORN
Full day

A drive along the Ossola Valley through Domodossola along the Simplon road through some very impressive scenery into Switzerland. The tour continues along Napoleon’s road and up and over the Simplon Pass.At the Belvedere view point a stop is made for photos and coffee. Then down to Brig with its Stockalper Castle, through Visp and up the Matter valley as far as Taesch. Here we take the little mountain rack-railway train (included) into Zermatt. The whole village is a pedestrian precinct and from the main street we see the famous Matterhorn standing majestically on its own – rightly named “Queen of the Alps”. Free time for exploring this beautiful elegant resort, take a walk to the Gorner Gorge waterfall, the train to the higher plateau or just stroll in the meadows to see the wild flowers.For lunch (optional) you can taste the local dishes such as raclette or fondue. Time perhaps to take a horse drawn carriage around the old town, a little shopping and then return to the coach by the rack railway. The return journey is again through magnificent alpine scenery with the sun at a different angle, over the simplon Pass and back to Lake Maggiore in time for dinner.

For further information:

Verbano Viaggi
Corso Garibaldi, 27 - Baveno
Telefono 0323 - 923196
Fax 0323 - 922303
http://www.verbanoviaggi.com
vbviaggi@tin.it