november-2011

PHOTOS GETTY, CORBIS, KATHRYN TOMASETTI
Top: Lake Garda’s winding roads
reveal treasures such as Limone
sul Garda (above). Right: Andrea
Palladio’s Villa Rotonda, Vicenza
Fly to Milan, drive to Lake Garda
Italy’s largest lake is tailor-made for exploring
independently. Motor past its picturesque perched
villages, through mountain tunnels and along its
waterside lanes. Careful on the curves, though:
a driver on Bond movie Quantum Of Solace
dropped a £134,000 Aston Martin DBS into
the drink a few years back.
Recommended stops include Limone sul Garda,
whose 700-year-old gardens were home to the first
imported Chinese lemon trees. Hop out at Garda or
Bardolino: an easy watery walkway skirts the lake
shores between the two towns.
To the south, the super-skinny peninsula of
Sirmione stretches out into the water. History
buffs will love delving into the medieval town’s
labyrinthine alleyways and the Grotto of Catullus,
a crumbling collection of Roman ruins. Sirmione
is also renowned for its thermal springs. At Terme
di Sirmione’s Aquaria spa (1 Piazza Virgilio,
termedisirmione.com), five-hour passes (from
around £30) offer unlimited access to the facilities
plus a free cocktail. James Bond would approve.
FLIGHTS FROM £31.99 CITY PACKAGES FROM £199
SCENIC ROUTES
Fly to Venice, drive to Vicenza
Far off northern Italy’s tourist path, Vicenza is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its
unique architecture. Local 16th-century architect
Andrea Palladio designed a whopping 23 of
Vicenza’s beautiful buildings, each one influenced by
classical Roman techniques. Visit one of Palladio’s
masterpieces, such as the opulent Teatro Olimpico
(11 Piazza Matteotti, teatrolimpicovicenza.it) or the
Villa Rotonda (45 Via della Rotonda, villalarotonda.
it), inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.
Ancient history not your style? Raise a glass
instead. Vicenza is in the heart of wine country
and dotted with top-notch vineyards. Visitors are
welcome to drop in for free tastings at any of them,
although after sipping and swilling it’s presumed
that you’ll purchase a bottle or two. Both the
organic Ca’ Bruzzo (7 Via Cavallo, San Germano
Motor past picturesque
perched villages, through
mountain tunnels and
along waterside lanes
dei Berici 36040, cabruzzo.com) and family-run
Costalunga (39 Via Fontana Fozze, Castegnero
36020, costalunga.com) speak English. Keep an eye
out for Tocai (ruby-tinged red and almond-scented
white) and white Garganega, wines unique to the
region. The bilingual website colliberici.it maps out
some charming drives through the region.
FLIGHTS FROM £36.99 CITY PACKAGES FROM £239
Jet2.com 57