LAST THREE ROOMS REMAINING
We return to beautiful lakeside setting of the Hotel Stella d'Italia, Valsolda in late September for our ever-popular Maestro! Food & Music on Lake Lugano.
Two of our musical highlights of the week are top price seats for Donizetti's light-hearted L'elisir d'amore at the magnificent Teatro Sociale, Como, and the season-opening concert of Orchestra della Svizzera italiana with star cellist Sol Gabetta and the noted Polish Maestro Krzysztof Urbański (Lutosławski Cello Concerto & Shostakovich Symphony No. 5) at the LAC Concert Hall in Lugano.
During our week we will also have a concert with musicians from our own Filarmonica di Valsolda and a performance by the young artists of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana. Our organised sightseeing includes visits to the beautiful Villa Carlotta on Lake Como, Villa Fogazzaro on Lake Lugano, the lakeside towns of Bellagio & Menaggio on Como and the city of Lugano itself. We also include three dinners, three suppers and two lunches (all with wines included).
Lake Lugano is 70% in Switzerland and 30% in Italy. We stay on the Italian shore of the lake at a hotel that has become a firm favourite with Maestro clients over the past twenty years, the enchanting Albergo Stella d'Italia situated on the lakeside in San Mamete, one of the seven little villages that make up ‘Valsolda’.
“Piccolo Mondo Antico” (“Little old-fashioned world”) is how Italian author Antonio Fogazzaro described Valsolda in his novel of 1895 and little has changed since! The ‘Stella’ opened in 1910 and remains owned and managed by the Ortelli family. It is unique in our experience of Italian lakeside hotels in that ALL rooms face the lake and the only difference between 'standard', 'superior' and ‘deluxe’ is really the decor and size of the room. It has an idyllic setting besides the lake just 2km from the Swiss border and 7km from the centre of Lugano. San Mamete is a small lakeside hamlet with just one square but has a bank, baker, general store, pharmacy and hair-dresser as well as a few bars & cafes.
The hotel and its charming garden invite you to relax and enjoy the lake. You can even have a swim in the lake from the hotel's own lido. While we have several days of sightseeing included, we also plan to allow time for you to relax and enjoy the beautiful lakeside setting. If you want to explore independently a bus runs several times a day between Lugano and Menaggio on Lake Como, stopping outside the hotel in each direction.
Flights from Manchester are with Ryanair and Gatwick with Easyjet inc. 1 checked bag (20kg with Ryanair, 23kg with Easyjet) and a small carry on item. We also include fast-track security at Manchester, Gatwick and Milan to ensure a smooth journey. Flights may also be possible from other airports - please indicate this on your Booking Form and we will come back to you with a confirmed cost.
Flight times:
Friday 26th September
Manchester - Milan Malpensa 1130 - 1440 (Ryanair)
Gatwick - Milan Malpensa 1320 - 1620 (Easyjet)
Heathrow - Milan Linate 1025 - 1325 (BA) supplement £150 per person which includes a private transfer to the hotel on arrival.
Edinburgh - Milan Malpensa 1035 - 1410 (Easyjet) supplement £190 per person which includes a private transfer to Milan Linate for the return flight.
For Birmingham, London City, Heathrow or other airports please indicate this on your Booking Form and we will come back with a confirmed cost before you are commited to the holiday.
Friday 3rd October
Milan Malpensa - Manchester 1505 - 1615 (Ryanair)
Milan Malpensa - Gatwick 1650 - 1750 (Easyjet)
Milan Linate - Heathrow 1555 - 1700 (BA)
Milan Linate - Edinburgh 1200 - 1340 (Easyjet)
