10-Nights The Elegant Art of Italy: Lake Como to Rome - Land Journey

10 nights from: $11,290

When you think of Italy... you evoke thoughts of leisurely cruises on picturesque lakes lined with villas against the backdrop of the Italian Alps... the Byzantine grandeur of San Marco and serenades aboard gondolas in the age-old canals of Venice... Florentine art and architecture that sing of life in the Renaissance, and a stroll in the garden where opera was born... a glass of Chianti in a sidewalk café in hilltop Siena... the haunting ruins of Imperial Rome... hand-painted frescoes whose eloquence is most poignantly experienced in the Sistine Chapel... From Michelangelo's masterpieces to the glories of Ancient Rome, the art and drama of the ages inspire our journeys in Italy including Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Siena and Rome. View the inspiring treasures of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel and view the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. In Venice, stay at a top award-winning hotel on a private island in the Venetian Lagoon, and explore St. Mark's Basilica and Square. Visit the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Take a high-speed train to Florence.  And of course, you'll also have ample time to pursue what interests you most in Venice, Florence, and Rome...

Menaggio is a large and busy village situated on a small peninsula on the western shore of Lake Como, 23 mi/37 km north of Como. It's dominated by the ruins of an old castle that was destroyed by the Swiss in 1523. Its surroundings may be somewhat blighted by a noisy bypass road, but its historic, almost traffic-free center—with its lovely central Piazza Garibaldi, busy colorful harbor and flower-adorned Lungolago Benedetto Castelli—are enchanting. Free Menaggio Travel
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There's a reason why Menaggio is so popular with painters and artists from all over the world, and yet, even in high season, the place never seems overrun with tourists. Have a look at the Baroque church Santo Stefano, which has Romanesque origins, and the church of Santa Marta on Via Calvi, whose facade shows the gravestone of a Roman noble, Lucio Minicio Exorato. Market in Menaggio is on the second and fourth Friday of the month.

Menaggio offers many excursion opportunities. Just a stroll away (40 minutes) is Nobiallo, which has a leaning Romanesque belltower. From the hamlet Croce, you can easily reach the Crocetta a Specchi, which will reward you with a lovely view of the lake and the mountains. For an even grander panorama, you can climb the Sasso di San Martino in about one hour.

If you prefer to drive, Porlezza, on the beautiful eastern arm of Lake Lugano, is only a scenic 30 minutes away from Menaggio. On the way, you can stop at small, reedy Lago Piano, a protected nature reserve and breeding place for water birds. From Menaggio, you can also follow a serpentine road to Plesio and Breglia. Visit the small church Madonna di Breglia and enjoy the view from the Belvedere San Domenico. Ambitious hikers can reach the summit of Monte Bregnano (7,000 ft/2,107 m) in six hours. Less energetic walkers may call it quits at the Rifugio Menaggio hut at 4,500 ft/1,383 m (http://www.rifugiomenaggio.eu).

Nearby viewpoint Pizza Coppa offers a fabulous view over Lake Como, Lake Lugano and Val Menaggio. Breglia is also the starting point for Il Sentiero delle Quattro Valli, a classic three-day mountain walk of about 31 mi/50 km, which links Lake Como to Lake Lugano. Get the free booklet Lake Como Trekking at the tourist office or download it online. http://www.menaggio.com.