
GARDENS & VILLAS OF THE ITALIAN LAKES
Maggiore, Garda, Como & Orta
Explore Northern Italy’s Renaissance villas, extraordinary baroque gardens and stunning alpine scenery.
TOUR STATUS
Final Places | Maximum 16
TOUR DATES
Month 9-23, 2026 | 15 Days
TOUR LEADER
Deborah Trentham | View Bio
snapshot
-
-
The tour starts at 10.00am on Thursday 9 April, at Milan’s Malpensa Airport for our group transfer to Varese.
The tour ends at 8.30am on Thursday 23 April, with a group transfer to Malpensa Airport or Milan train station.
-
Grade Two. This tour is designed for people who lead active lives.
-
14 nights’ accommodation in centrally located 4 and 5-star hotels. Airport-Hotel transfers as indicated. All breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners. Services of an expert tour leader and an experienced tour manager throughout. All ground transport, entrance fees and tipping.
-
$14,970 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$3,290 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel roomA $1,000 AUD non-refundable deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour
-
Final Places. 2 places remaining
OVERVIEW
Spring is a spectacular time in and around the lakes of Italy’s pre-Alpine region. The villas that populate the landscape epitomise elegance and refinement, offering unrivalled glimpses into the style and values of the period while often expressing the unique personality of their owners.
With the flowers and foliage at their seasonal best, this new 15-day tour, led by Deborah Trentham, takes us to some of the finest gardens and villas of the region. Beginning and ending in Milan, we travel to Varese and the stunning Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore, before heading to Cremona and the Veneto, where we admire the legacy of Andrea Palladio, one of the great architects of the Renaissance. From Verona we circle back to Lake Garda and Lake Como, once the playground of European aristocracy, and finish at Lake Orta, a tranquil place of contemplation.
The tour is paced to allow you to enjoy the everyday elegance of provincial Italian life, with busy days interspersed with quieter ones and free time to explore and relax.
Key Gardens VisiteD
Across 15-days, visit over 20 elegant villas and gardens in the stunning northern Italian lakes.
deborah trentham
your expert tour leader
Deborah holds a BA in the History of Art and an MA in Country House Studies. She has worked at the National Gallery (London) for a decade, has taught garden history for over 20 years at Birkbeck College, University of London, Imperial College, and KLC School of Design in Chelsea.
Deborah is also the author of ‘Botanic Gardens of the World: Tales of extraordinary plants, botanical history and scientific discovery’, selected as one of the Sunday Times best gardening books of 2023.
Accompanied by an Experienced Tour Manager
Alongside your expert tour leader, an experienced tour manager will accompany for the entirety of the tour. They oversee logistics, ensure your comfort and safety, and provide friendly support – whether offering tips for free time, sharing a chat over dinner, or giving you space to relax.
tour ITINERARY
Varese (4 nights), Cremona (2 nights), Asolo (3 nights), Verona (2 nights), Stresa (3 nights)
Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D
Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are a comfortable four-star standard.
Tour Accommodation
Varese, Palace Grand Hotel | 4 Nights
Cremona, Dellearti Design Hotel | 2 Nights
Asolo, Albergo al Sole | 3 Nights
Verona, Hotel Indigo | 2 Nights
Stresa, Regina Palace Hotel | 3 Nights
tour booking
$14,970 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$3,290 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room
A $1,000 deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour. This deposit is non-refundable.
Final Places Available
Please request your place(s) by submitting the form below.
Please note, final places on tour are subject to availability and will be allocated in the order requests are received. A tour deposit will also be required to confirm your booking.
your tour consultant
The consultant for this tour is Lucy Yeates. For further information or to discuss the tour, please call 9235 0023 (Sydney) or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email lucy@academytravel.com.au
have you thought about?
Academy Travel is more than just a tour operator. We are also a full-service travel agency who can assist you with all aspects of your travel, including flights, transfers, pre-tour arrival, additional travel and comprehensive travel insurance.
can’t make this departure?
If these dates don't work for you, register to hear about the next tour.