Treasures of Milan and Gardens of Lake Maggiore
Leonardo's Last Supper remains Milan's most famous artistic landmark and the most important work of this archetypal Renaissance genius.
Consequently, most visitors barely pause to admire Bramante's majestic church of Santa Maria della Grazie adjoining the Last Supper, the delightful frescoes by Leonardo's star pupil Bernardino Luini, or the treasures of the Brera Museum and the Ambrosiana Library, containing masterpieces by Raphael, Mantegna, Piero della Francesca and Caravaggio.
Outside the city we are heading for Lake Maggiore, famed for its beautiful gardens. Pride of place goes to Isola Bella, whose terraced gardens, laid out by the Borromeo family, possess the magical quality of a ship floating in the middle of the lake. We are extremely fortunate that Robin Lane Fox, celebrated gardening correspondent of the Financial Times and Emeritus Fellow of New College, Oxford, will be leading us round these gardens, some of them privately owned. We end the tour with a visit to the charming and little-known Lake Orta.
Hotel: The first two nights of our tour will be at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Milan. This luxurious contemporary hotel, in a quiet cul de sac in the hear t of the city, has a spa and chic outdoor spaces for dining and relaxing. W e then move for a further four nights to Villa e Palazzo Aminta, a 5 star hotel at Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore where opulent interiors offer breathtaking views of the beautiful Borr omean islands. There is an outdoor swimming pool. All our rooms have a view of the lake.
Lecturer: Charles FitzRoy
Tour Leaders: Charles FitzRoy and Jane Rae