Andiamo! | Citalia Magazine Volume 1 2024

A Waterworld
of Villas & Gardens
The Italian Lakes are famed for their charming and impressive villas and gardens.
What easier way to explore them than with our new Small Group Escorted Tour?
We showcase the best attractions with an expert guide in an intimate and hassle-free way!
Our new Villas & Gardens of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore
Small Group Escorted Tour is completely exclusive to Citalia -
so you won’t find it anywhere else.
To ensure our escorted tours feel intimate and personal,
we limit the group size to a minimum of six and maximum
of 18 people, which makes them ideal for couples or guests
travelling solo or with friends. We also build in ample free
time, so that the pace never feels rushed.
DAY 1
Begin your adventure in Lake Como where, like Queen Victoria
before you, you’ll check into the historic four-star Hotel Royal
Victoria in the elegant lakeside town of Varenna.
You’ll have the afternoon to acquaint yourself with your new
sparkling surroundings. You might like to get ahead on your
local knowledge with a trip to Villa Cipressi. Holding a series of
buildings that were built between the 15th and 19th century,
today it’s a hotel primarily owned by the municipality.
DAY 2
After breakfast, you’ll meet your local guide and the rest of
your small group. Wander to the nearby dock to board a local
ferry that takes you to the imposing Villa Carlotta and its
world-famous gardens. Discover an Italian garden that evokes
the era of Enlightenment with citrus tunnels and camelias, as
well as the romantic garden with a very pretty collection of
hydrangeas, roses, and azaleas, to name a few.
Afterwards, you’ll board a private boat to Lake Como’s most
iconic lakeside residence, Villa Balbianello. You might recognise
it from the big screen, as both Casino Royale, and Star Wars:
Episode II - Attack of the Clones were filmed here.
In the evening, you can enjoy a group dinner back at the hotel.
Villa Balbianello
Spend your evening trying some new flavours in a local
trattoria before a restful sleep.
Villa Cipressi
DAY 3
Today you'll head to what’s dubbed
the Pearl of Lake Como, the
atmospheric pre-Roman town
of Bellagio.
Villa Melzi
Spend time with your guide
unearthing the 18th century Villa
Melzi and gardens, before having
time to yourself exploring Bellagio’s
pretty streets, boutique shops, and
waterfront cafés and bars.
Returning to Varenna by private
boat, you then have the rest of your
afternoon and evening at leisure.
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