Italy
La Dolce Vita: The Italian Lakes of Como, Garda and Maggiore
Program No. 16740RJ
Learn the story of the Italian Lakes Region as you voyage to iconic islands, savor renowned cuisine, visit the museum home of "Oetzi the Iceman," and explore unique villas and gardens.
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 9 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
4,849Sep 23 - Oct 6, 2024
Starting at
4,849Oct 7 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
4,749DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 9 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
5,739Sep 23 - Oct 6, 2024
Starting at
5,739Oct 21 - Nov 3, 2024
Starting at
5,669May 19 - Jun 1, 2025
Starting at
6,399Not seeing the date you're looking for?
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14 days
13 nights
29 meals
12B 8L 9D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrive Riva, Check-in, Welcome Reception & Dinner
Riva del Garda
3
Orientation, Museo Civico, Local History & Cuisine
Riva del Garda
4
Trento, Winery Field Trip
Riva del Garda
5
Dolomites, Bolzano, Ice Man Museum, Free Time
Riva del Garda
6
Malcesine Ferry, Free Time, Republic of Salò Lecture
Riva del Garda
At a Glance
Since the days of Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE), the stunning Lakes Region of Italy has attracted the world’s rich and famous, who built glorious villas along its shores against a backdrop of rugged Alps. Venture to three of the region’s lakes — Como, Garda, and Maggiore —and uncover a wealth of human achievement and natural beauty, from aristocratic villas and castles to serene waters, snow-capped mountains, and breathtaking waterfalls.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles a day. Sheltered waiting areas may not be available at docks. Extended standing during site visits with limited or no public seating. Uneven terrain, limited public handrails, unavoidable stairs, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones, steep inclines, loose gravel, dirt paths. Program-related travel and transfers will be via bus, boat, and funicular.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Explore the remarkable villas and gardens that grace the shores of the Italian lakes region with a local expert.
- View the Bronze Age "Oetzi the Iceman."
- Savor delectable dishes and wines of the Trentino Alto Adige, Piemonte, and Lombardia as you explore the lake regions of Northern Italy.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Patrizia Spini
Patrizia Spini graduated from the University of Milan with a degree in Political Science. As a local expert, she has led explorations throughout all European countries, but now prefers to showcase the Lakes of Lombardy where she was born and resides today with her husband and two children.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Patrizia Spini
View biography
Patrizia Spini graduated from the University of Milan with a degree in Political Science. As a local expert, she has led explorations throughout all European countries, but now prefers to showcase the Lakes of Lombardy where she was born and resides today with her husband and two children.
Lorenza Scorti
View biography
Lorenza Scorti earned her degree in literature and art history from the Università degli Studi di Milano, and uses her expertise to work as a licensed group leader in the city of Milan and the region of Lombardy for the past twenty years. Currently a resident of Milan, Lorenza is especially proud to showcase her hometown of Como, where she especially likes showing visitors the villages around Lake Como where she was born and raised.
Mara Mori
View biography
Mara Mori was born and raised in the Reggio Emilia region of Italy. She currently lives in Lombardy with her family who own a restaurant in the area. Mara earned a doctorate in modern history from the University of Bologna and wrote her thesis on ancient maps and drawings of the Po River. She has published numerous essays and articles on gastronomy, wine and winemaking, and travel. She also taught history and geography at an Italian high school.
Daniela Marini
View biography
Daniela Marini is a licensed professional guide in the city and province of Trento. She holds a degree in English Language and Literature from the Università degli Studi di Padova. For more than 15 years, Daniela taught both English and German in a secondary school in Trento, and has now shifted her career focus to working exclusively as an exploration leader. She speaks Italian, English, and German.
Suggested Reading List
(23 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
La Dolce Vita: The Italian Lakes of Como, Garda and Maggiore
Program Number: 16740
The Italian Summer: Golf, Food, and Family at Lake Como
Merullo shares this congenial account of a summer with his family in Italy and Switzerland, offering delicious descriptions of wonderful meals, colorful characters -- and rounds of golf at some of the most beautiful courses in Europe. He is a golf fanatic.
Eyewitness Guide Milan and the Lakes
A superb guide to Milan and the Italian lakes featuring color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the area's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
D.H. Lawrence and Italy
This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places, his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia.
Cadogan Guide Lombardy & the Italian Lakes
Cadogan brings travelers Lombardy and the Italian Lakes in all their glory, from the powerhouse of Milan to the idyllic beauty and tranquility of Lake Garda and the Renaissance cities of the Lombard Plain.
Summer at the Lake
Set on the shores of Lake Como, this romantic novel centers on three characters whose love lives are entangled with the enchanting place -- Floriana, whose former lover is getting married there, Esme who first fell in love there and Adam, who heads there when his girlfriend leaves him.
A Farewell to Arms
Set in snowy Switzerland and the rainy Italian Lake Country during WWI, this semi-autobiographical novel chronicles the romance between a British nurse and an American ambulance driver. This edition collects all of the alternate endings, along with early drafts of other essential passages
Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook
A handy, palm-sized guide to pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
History of Contemporary Italy
From Amazon: "From a war-torn and poverty-stricken country, regional and predominantly agrarian, to the success story of recent years, Italy has witnessed the most profound transformation--economic, social and demographic--in its entire history. Yet the other recurrent theme of the period has been the overwhelming need for political reform--and the repeated failure to achieve it. Professor Ginsborg's authoritative work--the first to combine social and political perspectives--is concerned with both the tremendous achievements of contemporary Italy and the continuities of its history that have not been easily set aside."
The Italians
Italy correspondent for The Economist Hooper explores Italy -- its baffling contradictions, unique character and contemporary culture -- in this illuminating portrait.
Italian Journey
Reports on his travels to Italy from 1786-1788 (first published in 1817). Look for: From Brenner to Verona via Bolzano, Trento, Torbole, Malcesine (the itinerary during our stay in Riva del Garda)
Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier
The complete story of the discovery of and controversy surrounding the frozen corpse of a prehistoric man found in the Tyrolian Alps.
Culture Smart! Italy
A concise, no-nonsense guide to Italian customs, etiquette and culture along with helpful travel advice.
Walking in the Dolomites
A comprehensive walker's guide to the Dolomites geared to a wide variety of difficulty levels. Illustrated with photographs and maps.
Italian Lakes Map
A detailed map of the Italian Lakes region, including Orta, Lugano, Como and Maggiore, at the excellent scale of 1:1000,000, produced in Italy
On the Making of Gardens
A handsome edition of Sitwell's 1909 meditation on the Renaissance gardens of Tuscany, Rome and the Lake District. It's not a handbook but rather an inspiring analysis of the transformation -- and magic -- of gardens.
Italy: A Short History
From Amazon: "Intended for the student of Italian history and culture as well as the general reader, this new edition presents a clear and concise account of the principal developments in Italian history from the Ice Age to the present day. Dr. Jonathan Morris has updated the late Professor Hearder's long-established and highly successful work with an authoritative account of development in Italy over the past decade."
La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
Italians themselves love this guide to the Italian character, which addresses their never-ending passion for beauty, disorder and high emotion. The book opens with a snapshot of Malpensa Airport, then moves on to Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sardinia.
Italian Lakes Map
A detailed map of the Italian lakes region, including Orta, Lugano, Como and Maggiore, at the excellent scale of 1:100,000, produced in Italy.
Italianissimo
Divertingly illustrated, this A-to-Z guide profiles 50 very Italian customs and concepts from the notion of beauty (bellisimo) to the Italian disregard for lines (Fare La Coda).
The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919
The book vividly portrays the harrowing experiences of Italian soldiers who fought in the brutal and unforgiving mountainous terrain of the Alps during World War I. Thompson masterfully weaves together personal stories, military strategy, and the political backdrop of the conflict, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the Italian Front. With meticulous attention to detail, he explores the challenges of warfare in extreme conditions, the toll it took on soldiers and civilians, and the complex dynamics between Italy, Austria-Hungary, and the other major powers involved.
The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi
"The Betrothed," originally titled "I Promessi Sposi" in Italian, is set amid the backdrop of the social and political upheaval of 17th-century Italy. The story follows the plight of two young lovers, Renzo and Lucia, who are separated by the oppressive powers of their time. Their journey is fraught with challenges, including the interference of a powerful and ruthless nobleman, Don Rodrigo, who desires Lucia for himself. Against famine, disease, and social injustice, the novel explores themes of love, faith, and resilience. Manzoni's work is not only celebrated for its compelling narrative but also for its significant role in shaping the modern Italian language. "The Betrothed" is considered a masterpiece of Italian literature and a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction and the cultural history of Italy.
Luigi Barzini
Although Barzini wrote this excellent portrait of the Italians in the 1960s the book still presents valid insight into Italians today
Medusa, An Aurelio Zen Mystery
In this ninth book in the thoroughly enjoyable Aurelio Zen series, our worldly detective investigates a mysterious corpse in a long-abandoned military tunnel in the Dolomites.