Beauty is all around on this northern Italy road trip: from Venetian architecture and historic waterways, to the rocky heights of the Dolomites and Lake Como's glittering charm.
For nine days you will drive, taste or simply stroll your way through these captivating destinations, with spas, exquisite cuisine and plenty of fresh air along the way. By night, sleep peacefully at three characterful hotels that shine a spotlight on the finest in Italian service.
Venice is a city of flawless delights. Arrive in style from the airport by a private water taxi along the Grand Canal, where your hotel for the next two nights – Venice Ca’Sagredo – sits between the Rialto Bridge and the ornate floral Gothic façade of the Ca d’Oro palace. Filled with 17th and 18th-century artworks, frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo, marble staircases and majestic Italian glamour, Venice Ca’Sagredo is an exquisite 15th-century palazzo that verges on museum, but is indeed a hotel of the most lavish quality. As far as welcomes go, this one is certainly not lacking in luxury.
Overnight: Venice Ca'Sagredo
Thousands of gondolas roamed Venice’s waterways in the 17th and 18th century. Just a few hundred remain now. Today, visit one of the gondola boatyards and workshops that still stand to see how these romantic wooden boats are made and maintained. Follow this with a stroll around the impressive Castello and its Arsenal, where the city’s naval power once reigned supreme. Later, explore the bustling San Marco and Rialto districts for the finest Venetian architecture; the world-class art galleries in Dorsoduro; or Venice’s top film locations used in Casino Royale and Don’t Look Now. In the evening, take to the countless bacari (wine bars) for cicchetti and a few memorable Aperol spritz.
Overnight: Venice Ca'Sagredo
Make your way to Italy's lofty, northernmost reaches - the Dolomites - where your luxury lodge for the next couple of nights lies in picturesque Alta Badia, close to San Cassiano. A foodie haven, the family-run Ciasa Salares is furnished in a warm and welcoming style, typical of Tyrolean mountain chalets, and is a superbly located for enjoying the wealth of outdoor pursuits in the area.
Overnight: Ciasa Salares
Fuelled by fresh mountain air, spend the day walking, riding or cycling through this UNESCO-protected idyll. Take sign-posted routes, the advice of an expert guide or simply follow your feet: wherever you go, flora, fauna and breathtaking rock formations will be all around.
Overnight: Ciasa Salares
Venture to Cortina, in the middle of the Ampezzo valley, for market day. Discover local delicacies and amble through pretty streets with a fascinating First World War history.
Overnight: Ciasa Salares
Drive at leisure to the enchanting Italian Lakes, past Garda and Iseo, to Lake Como – almost at the Swiss border. Stop in the town of Como itself and wander streets lined with smart boutiques, before continuing 15 minutes along the western shore, where your hotel delivers a lakeside oasis of art nouveau glamour. Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s palatial exterior and 100-year-old gardens overlook charming Bellagio on the lake’s opposite shore, while every room presents glorious period furniture and scenic views. Unwind on the terrace and take a dip in one of two outdoor pools.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Take the lake in your stride – or sails – today, with a boat trip at your own pace. Admire the 18th-century Villa del Balbianello (a former Franciscan monastery from the 13th century), and Tremezzo’s own Villa Carlotta, with its wonderful azalea and rhododendron-lined botanical garden. Hop over to Bellagio to discover shops down secret cobbled lanes and some of the lake’s best gelato. And sail past fishermen’s villages, stopping for a freshly caught dish of white fish.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Relax by the pool or play tennis on clay courts amid Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s fragrant gardens. For something more adventurous, go wakeboarding or waterskiing on the lake, with a former champion as your instructor.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Tremezzo
A tough decision to make today: fly home, or extend your stay to take in more Italian mountain air.
| High | £ 4,260 | $ 5,542 |
| Low | £ 3,420 | $ 4,449 |
| Mid | £ 3,995 | $ 5,197 |
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