Wine tasting, Italian Lakes, Verona

If you fancy taking an unforgettable vacation to the Italian lakes in the company of other like-minded gay & lesbian tourists, your search is over. We look forward to giving you the holiday of a lifetime!

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.

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. Lake Garda is located 8 miles away from Lake Ledro, whilst one hour and a half away is the old city of Verona, famous for its Arena and open-air opera and home to Romeo & Juliet balcony.

Tour Itinerary

Monday: June 8, 2009

• London Stansted Bergamo Flight: 15:50-18:45
• Transfer to the Hotel with evening at leisure, expected late arrival around 22:00 hrs.

Tuesday: June 9, 2009

• Resort presentation meeting after breakfast.
• Day at leisure
• Half board accommodation dinner around 20:00

Wednesday: June 10, 2009

• Day at leisure, Dinner on half board accommodation
• Optional Tour of the Italian Alps "Dolomites" (Extra £22 per person)

Dolomites Tour

OPTIONAL EXCURSION £22 (or €29) per person

NOTE: A minimum number of persons is required for the excursion to go ahead.

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.

Thursday: June 11, 2009

• Day at leasure
• Dinner at the Hotel

Friday: June 12, 2009

• Day at leisure with half board accommodation
• Optional Tour to Lake Garda with stop at Gay Beach (Extra £22 per person)
• Evening dinner at the hotel

Italian Lakes Tour

OPTIONAL EXCURSION £22 (or €29) per person

NOTE: A minimum number of persons is required for the excursion to go ahead.

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.

Saturday: June 13, 2009

• Day at leasure
• Dinner at the Hotel

Sunday: June 14, 2009

• Optional Tour of Verona & Visit the Cantine of Villa Novare for Amarone/Valpolicella wine tasting and lunch. (Extra &22 per person lunch not included)
• Evening dinner at the hotel

Verona Opera Tour

OPTIONAL EXCURSION £22 (or €29) per person

NOTE: A minimum number of persons is required for the excursion to go ahead.

We visit the wonderful city of Verona taking in the main highlights by coach on our transport to the opera. Free time to explore independently.

Verona is one of the richest and most prosperous cities in the North of Italy, when you get to Verona you can see this everywhere: streets are clean, people wear elegant and expensive clothes, restaurants and shops are chic.

There will be free time to explore independently, see the magnificent Roman Amphitheatre, setting for the famous Verona Opera. It is one of the biggest and best preserved amphitheatres from Roman times. There's place for more than 22,000 spectators. Unfortunately only part of the original facade remains. World famous operas are performed in the arena every Summer.

In front of the Arena sits the vast 'Piazza Bra'. On this huge square there are many bars, restaurants and souvenir shops and many interesting buildings.

Off Piazza Bra is Via Mazzini, a pedestrian only street. Here you will find some of the most fashionable shops in Italy, where you can buy the best Italian designer clothes, jewellery and perfumes. Linked to 'Piazza Bra' by Via Mazzini is 'Piazza delle Erbe' - one of the most picturesque squares in Italy.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet's love story took place in Verona. You can see the real home of Juliet's family (the Capuleti) with her balcony. The building dates from the 13th century and is a major tourist attraction. Romeo's house is called 'Casa Montecchi'. Unfortunately the building isn't open to the public.

'Piazza dei Signori' stands not far from Piazza della Erbe. In this aristocratic square you'll find some interesting buildings: 'The Captain Palace', with its 16th century facade and its Sanmicheli gate. 'The Palazzo Comune', a Romanesque building with its Renaissance modified facade has recently been completely restored to its original splendour.

'The Scaligeri Palace', originally from the 12th century which has suffered many modifications; inside this Palace Dante found refuge, as he stated in some of his books. You can see his statue here.

Monday: June 15, 2009

• Breakfast
• Departure from hotel at 10:00
• Transfer to Bergamo Airport with stop for lunch (lunch not included) and then to the Airport for Flight: 19:15 Milan 20:15 London Stansted

*Please note if not taking any of the optional Tours, dinner will allways be provided at the Hotel. Lunches (not included) but on request with the restaurant manager.

* Excursions cost based on a minimum participants.

Accommodation

Hotel Rivalago - 3 Stars

Three star hotel situated in the Trentino Region of Italy, on the pretty lakeshore of Lake Ledro, surrounded by breath-taking scenery of the mountains; the hotel is typically Tyrolean in style & decor. Chosen for its friendly welcome & comfortable ambience, a family run hotel that gives that personal touch to your stay.

Bedrooms are comfortably appointed and have direct-dial telephone, satellite TV, safe, and hairdryer; several have a balcony with views of the lake (allocated on a first come first served basis).

There is a swimming pool, bar, and a large terrace overlooking the lake... perfect for pre-dinner drinks. 5 nights accommodation is reserved on a Half-Board basis, inclusive of 1/4 wine and mineral water with evening meals.

Breakfast is Continental style. Free mineral water & wine with evening meals.