Travel to Lake of Garda, Italy

“Lake of Garda Experience”

Food, Wine and Cultural Tour to the Lake of Garda Italy

Marco Avigo, accredited professional sommelier, and restaurateur for 20 years on the Lake of Garda, will be your host to the gastronomic paradise of Lake of Garda in Lombardy, northern Italy. One of Italy’s most unspoiled regions. We will be dining in world-renowned restaurants, typical Trattoria’s and Osteria’s. We will visit Vineyards and Cheese producers.

In addition, we will tour across the Lake and surrounding region. We will visit such places as the peninsula of Sirmione and we will reach the top of Mt Baldo, almost 6,000 feet, with a cable car from the beautiful village of Malcesine. We will also visit the city of Verona, a typical open market in Salo’ village and the Valpolicella region for a great Amarone tasting.

The Lake itself covers an entire region with the west shore in Lombardy, the eastern side in Veneto and the north in Trentino. The tour will take us to the southern port of the Lake. Our home away from home will be the “Hotel Nazionale” located in Desenzano. From here, we will embark each day to visit the sites, revel in the beauty and indulge in the local food and wine. We will also visit a typical open market in Salo’ village.
Our daily sojourns will not begin until 10 or 10:30 am so you will have plenty of time to relax. This tour has been designed by Marco to be fun, informative and especially relaxing and tasty!!

Buon Viaggio e buon divertimento

Lake Garda Italy Verona and Venice

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Lake of Garda, Italy Tour Program

Upcoming Dates
Spring / Fall 2024

Maximum size group 14 people

Day 1 On Thursday morning, Marco will meet you at the airport. From there, you will transfer to private auto bus to our Hotel in Desenzano del Garda. After settling into your room, we will drive to Centenaro village for a light lunch in a typical trattoria, After lunch we will return to the hotel. Later in the afternoon we will depart with our private auto bus for a visit to the small historical village Borghetto (1393 AC). In the evening we will enjoy a fabulous dining experience in a restaurant in Valeggio, well known as one of the capitals of “tortellini” known in this area as “the Knot of love”.

Day 2 Breakfast in the hotel. At 10:30 am we will depart to visit Ottella Vineyard in Lugana. There, we will learn about the production of wine, and taste great wines from the Lake region with a light lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive to the village of Sirmione and we will return to Desenzano with the Ferry Boat. In the evening we will transfer to the village of Pozzolengo for our dinner at a typical “Osteria”.

Day 3
Breakfast in the Hotel. At 9:30 am we will depart to visit the village of Salo’, and we will stroll the open-air market. We will luncheon in a local Trattoria. In the afternoon we will have some relaxing time walking through the pedestrian area of Salo’ for some shopping. We will return to the hotel to freshen up. At 7:00 pm we will depart to have our dinner at a restaurant in the village of Polpenazze.

Day 4 Breakfast in the hotel. At 11:00 am we will take a short walk in Desenzano for an aperitif in Malvezzi Square. At 12:30 pm we will transfer with our private auto bus on the hills of San Michele. We will have lunch at a “Trattoria” where we will be dining on the typical dish from this area called “Spiedo”. In the afternoon we will return to Desenzano. You will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 5 Breakfast in the Hotel. At 10:00 am, we will transfer to Manerba, to visit the “Avanzi Vineyard”. There, we will have a wine tasting, an olive oil tasting and a light lunch. In the afternoon we will all relax at the spa “TermeGarda” in Calvagese. The spa will provide towels, bathrobes and slippers. Don’t forget your swimsuit. Swimming pool, Sauna, and Steam room included. Additional services are available for an extra charge. After a short break in our hotel, we will have a special seafood dinner in the village of Peschiera.

Day 6 Breakfast in the Hotel. At 9:30 am, we will depart with our private minibus to visit a Cheese Factory. There we will learn about the production of cheese, from the milk to the final product, and taste some particular cheeses from this area. In the afternoon, we will transfer to Verona city where we will visit Juliet Balcony (Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet), the Arena, Piazza delle erbe, We will end our visit to Verona having “cicchetti” and wine in a local osteria. Later, we will transfer to a winery on the Valpolicella Hills for a nice wine tasting with Valpolicella and Amarone wines. We will end the day having a nice rustic dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 7 Breakfast in the Hotel. At 10:30 am we will transfer with our minibus to the village of Maderno. Here we will cross the lake with the ferry boat. With our minibus will arrive at the village of Malcesine and we will ride the cable car to reach the top of the monte Baldo at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Later in the afternoon we will have a nice aperitif at Punta San Vigilio, one of the most romantic place on the lake. We will end our day, having dinner at a typical agriturismo.

Day 8 Breakfast in the hotel. Morning at your leisure. At noon (12:00 pm), we will depart to visit “Costaripa Vineyard” in Moniga del Garda. There we will learn about the production of wine, and taste great wines and champagne along with a light snack. Later, we will return to the hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Around 7:00 pm we will depart to the village of Soiano del lago for our last Wine dinner.

Day 9 After Breakfast in the Hotel, we will drive to the airport for your departure to USA.

Visit Desenzano, Borghetto and sample some Tortellini di Valeggio

Visit a vineyard in Lugana, village of Sirmione, Desenzano and the village of Pozzolengo

Visit the village of Salo, have lunch in a typical Osteria followed by shopping and dinner at Taverna Picedo in the village of Polpenazze

Visit Verona city where we will see Juliet Balcony from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

Learn about the production of cheese in Italy

Visit Costaripa Vineyard in Moniga del Garda and relax at the spa Monastero in Soiano del Garda.

Breakfast in the Hotel, we will drive to the airport for your depart to USA

What is included:

Accommodation at Hotel Nazionale, Desenzano del Garda
Continental Breakfast throughout the trip
Private air-conditioned minivan for trips, transfer and excursions
Cable cars and Ferry Boats
Three lunches
Seven gourmet dinner’s
Small bites at the wineries and at the cheese factory and at Verona
Excursions to Verona, and around the Lake of Garda
Visit to four Wineries with wine tasting
Visit to a Cheese factory
Visit to a Olive oil factory
One afternoon at the “spa and Wellness”
All tips and taxes when included with the group
Portage of maximum of two pieces of luggage per person (one medium – one small)
Marco Avigo will personally host you through your entire tour

What is not included:

Flight
Personal items, such as additional food and beverage orders, telephone, room service and laundry service, special arrangements before and after the program; service charges, taxes, insurance, and others items not specifically mentioned as included
Insurance for trip cancellations, luggage loss or damage, medical and accident insurance is not included but is strongly recommended

COST AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Cost = $4,900 per person based on double occupancy

Payment schedule

$1,000. with application is due 120 days prior to departure (50% not refundable)
Balance of payment is due 60 days prior to departure

Reserve your place today!
To reserve your place, please fill out the Reservation Form, sign it and return it as soon as possible with your deposit of $1,000.00

Please make payment to:

Marco Avigo Tours
8311 Strahle Place
Philadelphia, PA 19111