Verona & Lake Ledro + Opera Night 2010

Over the August bank holiday we explore Lake Ledro (& Garda) with original city of lovers, Verona. The setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Verona is a very cosmopolitan city, and this tour is a must for anyone with a love for opera.

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a magical trip to Verona's magnificent and imposing Roman amphitheatre to see the performance of "Il Trovatore" on Sat 28 August 2010. Located in the heart of the city, the amphitheatre has a capacity of 22,000, giving you two truly unique and unforgettable night at the opera.

The Italian lake district is located in the very north of Italy close to the Swiss border and just south of the Alps.

Blessed with a location on the sunny side of the Alps the lake enjoys many sun filled days. The plants here are very Mediterranean. An ideal location for a few days rest, not far from Verona or Milan approx 1 hour and a half away.

Several day trips will be on offer from near by Riva, giving you the chance to sample this beautiful region and the city of Venice at extra £99 pp.

The price of the holiday is of £717 per person for front lake views. If you are more on a budget, don't worry as Mountain View rooms are available at a holiday rate of £647 pp... just ask. And this year all inclusive prices are inclusive with no extras! Your itinerary will also include Ryanair flights (from Stansted - Bristol- East Midlands - Liverpool). (NB: at £100 pp, should the Airline charge any more we will pass this on to you).

Airport transfers included where possible to and from the hotel. A dedicated bus to Verona for your Opera experience, your Verona Gay night or the opportunity to shop in the wonderful boutiques, enjoy the delicious food and wine, or just take in the sights and sounds of a wonderful place - city, rich with character, style and history. A full day excursion to Mantua city of Virgilio and painter Andrea Mantegna, the Palazzo Ducale" 14th century residence of the Gonzaga's family who lived here from 1328 al 1707. Four hundred roms, court yards and gardens, a magnificent palace. Your opera seat on selected stone steps.

If you would rather have the opportunity to tailor your holiday exactly to your needs. Upon booking you will be given the choice of purchasing a wider choice of seats, which range in price from £85 to £126 (£28 included).

Our tours are priced with the downturn in mind.

Alternative arrangements can be made for British Airways flights which will give you a shorter transfer. In this case your tour only cost alone is of £547 with transfer supplement of £100 each way "which can be shared".

Extended stays option available.

Clear Water Paradise

Resort: Lake Ledro lies in Trentino a northern region of Italy, to the west of Lake Garda. The hotel is in an Alpine village on the northern shore of the lake. The lake and valley (Lago di Ledro and Valle di Ledro) are surrounded by magnificent forested alpine peaks. Blessed with a location on the sunny side of the Alps the lake enjoys many sun filled days. The plants here are very Mediterranean. An ideal location for a few days rest, not far from Verona or Milan approx 1 hour and a half away. Lake Garda is located 8 miles away from Lake Ledro, whilst one hour and a half away is Verona, famous beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city with Breathtaking basilicas, landscaped gardens and some of within her fortified medieval walls, and its Arena and open-air opera and home to Romeo & Juliet balcony.

Special Highlights

• Swim, or rent a boat in the sumptuous Lake Ledro.
• Enjoy nature.
• A family run real Italian athmosphere with great food.
• Attend an Opera "Il Trovatore".
• Enjoy excursions to verona, Venice, Mantua & the Palazzo Ducale, Lake Garda & the Dolomites.
• Plus why not go for A night at Romeo's Verona's Gay night club & Sauna?

Opera

Opera Tickets: Opera "IL TROVATORE" £28 Tickets (Unnumbered seats on the Steps) are included in your holiday price.

More Opera tickets: are subject to availability and should be confirmed at the time of booking. The cost of these tickets is not included in the cost of the holiday. 50% of the ticket price is required when booking the opera. The deposit for the ticket is non -refundable, even in the event that you should cancel your holiday. The transport to the Opera is included in the price of the holiday.

Cost of tickets:
b) Poltrone – In the centre of the arena, facing the stage booked numbered chairs = £ 85
c) Poltronissime - In the centre of the arena, facing the stage booked numbered large velvet chairs = £ 126

Tour Itinerary

Wednesday: August 25, 2010

• Head to the airport for flight: London Stansted to Milan Bergamo: 18:45-21:40
• We'll meet you on arrival for transfer to the Hotel with evening at leisure. Expected late arrival around 00.30 hrs.

Thursday: August 26, 2010

• Breakfast
• Day at leisure.
• Join us for our "Bonding walk", a introductory gentle walk around Lake Ledro (12km)
• Half board accommodation,
• 3 course dinner with local wine and water included

Friday: August 27, 2010

• 3 course lunch or dinner at the Hotel
• 15:00 Optional Tour of Lake Garda with boat & dinner with aperitif included (Extra €68/£62 per person)

"Lake Garda is Italy's sparkling aquatic jewel, perhaps the most beautiful and the most spectacular lake in all of Europe. Its waters are incredibly blue, the blue of mountain spring water. Its romantic shores have inspired poets and painters since the Roman era, and the beautiful lakeside town around Lake Garda have captivated foreign visitors for centuries. For the ancient Romans, the area was a luxury summer retreat The palatial hotels, the exotically palm tree-lined esplanades, and slender cypress and lemon groves have long bestowed upon this enchanting place a strong Mediterranean feel.

Saturday: August 28, 2010

• Day at leisure
• 15:00 Optional tour to Verona with a visit to Opera "IL TROVATORE", 21:00 start (£28 Opera Tickets included).
• Or enjoy a visit of a romantic city.
• Or ... an Italian Gay night at local "Romeo Gay club & Sauna", either take advantage of our bus transport back to the Hotel (at and no later than 1.00 am) or make your own way back by local taxi.

Sunday: August 29, 2010

• Day at leisure
• Half Board Accommodation
• Lunch or dinner at the Hotel, 3 course dinner with local wine and water included
• Enjoy local walks & excursions, lake views, or paddle on the lake with a pedalow.

Monday: August 30, 2010

• Half Board Accommodation.
• Included Tour (10.00 to 19.00) of: "Mantua & it's Palazzo Ducale" the 14th century residence of the Gonzaga's family who lived here from 1328 al 1707. Four hundred roms, cort yards and gardens, a magnificent palace.
• On our way home we'll stop at the Sigurta' Gardens. Lunch is payable extra.
• Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday: August 31, 2010

• Day at leisure
• Enjoy local walks, lake views, or paddle on the Lake with a pedalow, take a bus to Riva del Garda
• Half Board Accommodation
• Dinner at the Hotel 3 course dinner with local wine and water included.
• Good bye party, free drinks.

Wednesday: September 1, 2010

• Breakfast and lunch at the hotel
• Before departure from hotel at 13:00
• Transfer included to Bergamo Airport for flight: 17:15-18:15 to London.

Selected excursions

Verona
Admire one of Europe's largest amphi-theatres.Learn more about Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and the medieval squares of Verona

Lake of Garda with boat & dinner
Three provinces, three landscapes,three cultures,all in one day, in a confortable boat-bus combination. Discover Lake Garda and it's Gay beach. (Half day from £62/ €68)

Italian Lakes Tour

You will visit lakes Garda and Ledro, which are some of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.

Our gay & lesbian tour will also include Malcesine, Desenzano, a delightful little medieval town by the lake, with a gay beach and Limone before heading back to the hotel at 6:30pm getting ready for dinner at 8pm.

Riva has an attractive mixture of ancient and modern. In its well-defined 'old town', tall buildings enclose narrow, winding cobbled streets, speckled with tempting cafes and souvenir shops.

At one side of the old town is the little harbour, from where you can take boat rides to other towns and villages around the shore of Lake Garda.

Dolomites the Pink Alps
0...1,000...2,000 mts...always higher and higher.Taste the air of the marvellous mountains called the Dolomites. (Full day from £72 / €78)

Dolomites Tour

Tour around Italy's fantastic and spectacular Dolomites, visiting several of picturesque alpine villages.

Named after French Dr Dolomieu who identified the unique rock which the mountains are formed. The Dolomites stretch from Austria in the north to the Venetian plains in the south.

Amongst the many mountain villages along the Italian chain of Dolomites you will find a mix of Austrian and Italian cultures, food, architecture and even language.

Wine Tour
Half day tour to experience one of Italy's most famous products: wine.Visit to a local wine cellar to discover the Trentino Region. (Half day from £65 / €71)

Venice
Full day tour to experience one of Italy's most famous cities. (Full day from £90 / €98)

Some excursions are subjet to a minimum number of takers.

Accommodation

Gay Friendly 3 Stars Hotel Mezzolago

You will stay at the wonderful and gay-friendly Hotel Mezzolago. The hotel is situated on the shores of Lake Ledro, nestled in the mountains of Northern Italy; where it's never too hot; the rooms offer some spectacular views. A morning dip in the lake is highly recommended!

The service and quality of food at this three generations family run hotel are excellent, and all meals are delicious with homemade dishes & quarter litre of local wine per person inclusive.

The Mezzolago provides the perfect setting to relax and unwind after the excitement of the opera or an exiting night out in the near by capital of the north, Riva del Garda.

Our clients will enjoy a Double Front Lake View room for single use at no supplement. There will also be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wonderful local surroundings Lake Ledro is a stunning oasis in the mountains of north-eastern Italy. This is one of the cleanest and most picturesque lakes of Trentino, its crystal turquoise water surrounded by the green scenery of meadows and woods. The lakeside beaches are to die for, unspoilt genuine clear water.

You will feel compelled to splash into the shallow warm waters of this breathtaking feature, which is at the heart of local Italians only. There is an abundance of watersports to enjoy, including kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, yachting, and canyoning. There is a stimulating variety of activities for all. What more could you wish for?