LAKE AND MOUNTAINS
Day 1: Arrival on Lake Maggiore, accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay
Day 2. Vigezzo Valley: Valley of the painters.
By bus from the hotel heading north towards Domodossola, an ancient commercial hub on the Swiss border, and on to the Vigezzo Valley, better known as the Painters' Valley. The painter Giovanni Maria Rossetti returned to Italy after a long period in France and founded the 'Rossetti Valentini School of Fine Arts' in 1878. Here, famous Vigezzo painters such as Ciolina, Fornara, Peretti Jr. and Restellini had the opportunity to undertake their artistic training at the end of the 19th century. Today, the school is still open and offers painting and drawing courses, activities and temporary exhibitions.
Guided tour of the school and the masterpieces on display here and continuation to the centre of Santa Maria Maggiore with the small square, the richly frescoed church, the perfume house and the Chimney Sweep Museum. Last stop in Re, a place of pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sangue, with its majestic church and splendid stained glass windows.
Day 3: Art in the Borromeo gulf.
The day begins with a visit to the Isola Bella, Particular attention will be paid to the Berthier Gallery, a collection of approx. 130 paintings, united and arranged on the walls of the room, almost wallpapering them, following the 17th century exhibition spirit. Among others, works by Procaccini and Crespi as well as copies of works by great classics such as Raphael, Correggio and Guido Reni. The visit continues in the rooms of the palace, with its splendid furnishings, antique tapestries and a walk through the lush and Italian-style garden, with splendid views of the surrounding landscape. After the visit, we continue with a cruise to Pallanza. Here you will find Palazzo Viani Dugnani, home to the Museo del Paesaggio, founded in 1909 and distributed among the rooms housing the gipsoteca a plaster casts gallery, the sculpture collection, the picture gallery and spaces dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Of great importance are the plaster works by the impressionist sculptor Paolo Troubetzkoy, paintings by Fornara, Ranzoni, Rastellini and sculptures by Branca and Martini. Not to be forgotten are the canvases by Veronese recently rediscovered, restored and only recently exhibited to the public. Stroll through the centre and return to the hotel by bus.
Day 4: Lake Orta: ancient and modern, Sacro Monte and Legro, the 'Painted Country'.
Breakfast and departure by bus to Lake Orta, a small lake with mystical and romantic features. First stop at Legro, a hamlet of Orta San Giulio. To be reached by electric train, this hamlet has become part of the "Painted Villages" circuit, featuring around 60 works on the facades of its buildings, i.e. murals reproducing scenes from famous films, some of which are set in this area. Following this, a visit to Holy Mount, dedicated to the life of St Francis and depicted in the chapels built in a panoramic position on the hill behind the lake. Descent to the centre, visit to the quiet village of medieval origin and possibility to visit the precious basilica on the small island of San Giulio, with its crypt and the beautiful serpentine pulpit from Oira. Return to Orta, free time to enjoy the atmosphere of the lake before returning to the hotel.
Day 5. Breackfast and departure.
Price starting from Euro 339,00 per person / minimum 25 participants
Duration: 5 days/ 4 nights
The package includes:
- N. 4 nights with half board in a good 3* hotel in the Lake Maggiore area
- N. 3 full day guide services
- Entrance ticket to Fondazione Rossetti Valentini, Museo del Paesaggio, palace and gardens of Isola Bella
- Motorboat transfer Stresa-Isola Bella-Pallanza
- Touristic train to Legro and Orta Holy Mount
- Return motorboat transfer Orta-San Giulio Island
