Day 1 - Travel to your overnight stay in Metz.
Day 2 - Continue your journey through Switzerland, arriving in Riva del Garda in the evening.
Day 3 - Riva
Today
is at leisure. Riva is a prosperous town on the northernmost shore of Lake
Garda, with medieval towers, Renaissance churches and narrow cobblestone streets,
which lead you to squares that bustle with tourists and locals alike. In town,
the views to the mountains and lake are utterly beautiful, so time should be
spent simply taking them in as you enjoy an ice cream or sip an espresso in
one of the many cafés.
Day 4 - Venice
Depart early this morning for a fantastic
day in Venice, parking at Tronchetto and taking a boat transfer to the centre.
Visit some of the most famous sights in the world - St Mark’s Square,
the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs.
Day 5 - Verona and Sirmione
First stop
is the beautiful Roman city of Verona, located on the Adige River. Visit the
vast, impressive amphitheatre in the centre and Juliette’s house, a beacon
for romantics everywhere. Return via Sirmione, which sits on a peninsula on
the south side of the lake. Souvenir shops and restaurants are plentiful and
there are also many lakeside promenades and pleasant beaches. The moated Scaligero
Castle, built in the 13th century, marks the only landside entrance to the
old town and visitors should climb the towers to indulge in some fantastic
views of the area.
Day 6 - Dolomites
Spend a full day in the Dolomite Mountains, (the highest of which stands at
6,445 feet) stretching north along the Adige Valley. Dramatic views are in
store as the mountains soar into blue skies above and the whole experience
today will feel as if you have entered a different country altogether. Most
of the Dolomites and Südtirol actually belonged to Austria until the regions
were given to Italy at the end of World War I. In the pretty villages of Merano
and Bolzano, visitors will notice that the food has a strong Austrian influence
and locals may even be heard speaking a German-based dialect in preference
to Italian. Leisure Breaks can book a guide for this day, please ask for details.
Day 7 - Depart today and drive to your return overnight stay in the Metz area.
Day 8 - Continue homeward today via your short sea crossing from Calais.
Detailed itinerary will be supplied on confirmation