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, Michelin stars 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 a picturesque Alta Badia village. There’s a homely Alpine chic to each room and suite (none more so than the two private cabins, 2,000 metres up in the clouds), with roaring fires, stunning terrace views and an air of total relaxation. Settle in with a treatment at the hotel’s sublime spa and dinner at the Michelin-starred Restaurant St Hubertus – and, perhaps, a sneak peek into its kitchen, courtesy of the chef.
Overnight: Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina
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: Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina
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. Tonight, consider staying in one of Rosa Alpina’s ravishing, secluded cabins – one has only limited electricity and cold water, but the sole interruptions will be the delivery of dinner and breakfast, before you descend on mountain bikes in the morning.
Overnight: Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina
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 | $ 6,307 |
| Low | £ 3,420 | $ 5,064 |
| Mid | £ 3,995 | $ 5,915 |
| £££ | Great quality at competitive prices |
| ££££ | Excellent accommodation at a moderate to higher price level |
| £££££ | The very best in class and priced accordingly |
