Here's an overview of our trip. It started in Milan...
Besides this page, I've done a longer page with notes on each day's activities.
The general map, above, is "correct"... but it doesn't really convey all that we did.
It only shows where our hotels were.
On my page with a blow-by-blow account of our itinerary, there is a link to a more complex map, which tells the story more fully.
The tour operator was Odysseys Unlimited. They have done an excellent job for me many times. I am very grateful to the friend who introduced me to them.
Odysseys Unlimited often set things up so that you don't have to change hotels every day. You go to someplace nice, and go out from there by the day. (They also often restrict the group size.)
I like their approach!
Here's a sketch of the trip. Details and photos are given on my already mentioned more detailed account. This sketch concentrates on highlights. There was never a day with not much happening. Some of the things we did are not listed in the highlights below.
Flew to Milan. Visited duomo. Spent night in Milan. Arrangements so far made by myself, not Odysseys.
By car to Stresa, lovely resort town on Lake Maggiore. Began three night stay at La Plama Hotel.
Came under the care of an excellent tour director upon arrival in late afternoon.
Visited Isola Bella with it's Palazzo Borromeo. A small island not far from Stresa.
Visited medieval lakeside town of Orta San Giulio. Out to an island. Hiked up significant hill to "The Sacred Mount"
Drove to seaside town, Santa Margherita. Began three nights at Hotel Metropole.
En route, visited Barolo, home of a good wine. Excellent visit to the winery.
Train to Vernazza at the northern end of the Cinque Terre. Ferry rides along the coast, visiting some of the seaside towns in the exquisite setting. Our private coach back to Santa Margherita.
Visited Portofino.
Drove to Radda-in-Chianti. Began three night stay at Palazzo Leopoldo
En route, visited substantial town of Lucca with very clear Roman roots and a magnificent city wall, intact across 360 degrees, from medieval times.
Radda-in-Chianti is a delightful tiny Tuscan hilltop town, too small to be ruined by tourists.
Day trip to Florence. The Bargello as splendid as ever.
Day trip to Sienna.
Piazza del Campo. Duomo.
Drove to Bolzano. Began two night stay at Hotel Scala Stiegl
Visited Verona, en route. Nearly caught by torrential downpour... with hail!... but were under an extensive portico at the time. The only inclement weather we encountered on the trip.
Entered magnificent mountains via an historically significant route. (It was the last connection to Germany in the last days of WW II, and many died heroically in a fiercely contested retreat by the army of that despicable regime.)
Visited inhabited plateau above Bolzano. Wonderful cable car ride. Visited Otzi.
In the evening, in time set aside for us to use as we chose, I had a wonderful treat... dinner with someone I taught over fifty years ago. Hadn't seen him in the intervening years, but we remembered each other well.
Coach and boat to Venice Began two night stay at Palazzo Veneziano.
Glorious drive to Venice. Crossed over to the Venice itself from the mainland by a comfortable enclosed water taxi.
Concert at La Fenice.
Everyone should see Venice. The experience cannot be described adequately.
Guided tour in morning. Afternoon to explore as we wished.
Banquet in evening, to celebrate a wonderful trip.
The end, sadly. Easy transfer to airport at at a sensible hour, thence home!
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