A Season Away

Lakes District Excursions

There is much to see and do in and around the Italian Lakes District from a client’s villa base. These range from more traditional tours, to more unique offerings. Below is a small sampling of more unique offerings A Season Away can arrange for clients in the region.



Traditional/Non-Traditional Touring - Artisanal Visits - Food and Wine
Traditional/Non-Traditional Touring

Traditional/Non-Traditional Touring

  • Enjoy a unique evening in the company of Count Gherardo Scapinelli and his wonderful wife in their beautiful villa on the shores of Lake Como. A truly unique evening awaits you in the home of one of Italy’s most important and noble families with the count, owner of one of the three most important silk factories in Italy.
  • Private touring with Ferraris and other vintage cars in and around Lake Maggiore.
  • Go to musical and artistic performances throughout the region, especially opera at La Scala in Milan (but also including symphony, ballet, jazz, and more). A Season Away can not only get hard-to-find opera tickets in Milan, but can also let clients know about local performances worth attending.
  • Have a personal make-over in Milan of body, hair or clothing (or all of the above)!
  • Visit some of the top fashion & design schools in Milan.
  • Hot air balloon rides around the lakes and Piedmonte.
  • Take in a Formula 1 race outside of Milan (in season at Monza).
  • Rent a boat to see the lakeside villas up close (including George Clooney’s villa, which can only really be seen from the water).
  • On Lake Maggiore take the “Lake Express” to see the many towns along the lake from Stresa to Locarno in Switzerland, returning via a mountain train with breathtaking views.
  • Take a seaplane tour of Lake Como, taking off and landing in the lake!
  • Visit Lugano in Switzerland during one of its many music festivals, from classic to jazz.
  • Take private painting and pastel lessons.
  • Consider driving over the “hill” north of Lake Como (the Swiss Alps) to St. Moritz for lunch or skiing (for much of the year).
  • Learn to speak Italian with private lessons for individuals or the entire family. Lessons are less out of a book than fun practical lessons such as visiting local markets to learn to shop, going to restaurants to learn to order from an Italian menu, etc.
  • See the lakes on foot with a variety of hikes throughout the region from mild to strenuous.
  • Attend Italian football (soccer matches), on a local and professional level, including one at the oftenraucous San Siro stadium in Milan.
  • Take private tours of some of Italy’s most elaborate villas and gardens, many open to the public, especially on Lake Como. These include:
    – In Bellagio: Villa Serbelloni and its park, Villa Melzi D’Eril and its gardens, Villa Trivulzio, Villa Trotti and Villa Giulia.
    – In Tremezzo: Villa Carlotta with its Botanical Gardens and amazing azaleas in the Spring.
    – In Lenno: Villa del Balbianello, one of the most outstanding villas on the lake.
    – In Ossuccio: Villa Maria and Villa La Carlia.
    – In Varenna: Villa Cipressi and the artistic Villa Monastero.
> Lakes District Traditional/Non-Traditional Touring (PDF)

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Artisanal Visits

Artisanal Visits

  • Guided visits to some of the most important fashion showrooms in Milan.
  • Visits to some of the best jewelry makers in Milan.
  • See how silk is made and printed, visiting some of the factories in the city of Como and then having the chance to buy at some of the factory outlets there.
> Lakes District Artisanal Visits (PDF)

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Food and Wine

Food and Wine

  • Spend an afternoon with the top cheese affineur in Italy, Carlo, near Lake Maggiore learning about distinguishing cheeses, pairings with foods and wines and how they are seasoned in his grottos.
  • Join a trifulao (truffle hunter) and his dog Bianca for truffle hunting in the woods near Alba, renowned for its truffles. Sample truffles with bread, salami and local wines. Also enjoy a lunch with truffle specialties.
  • Head to Barolo for tastings of these noble and prestigious wines, including visiting an enoteca with about 35,000 bottles of wine from throughout Italy, but specializing in these Piedmontese wines from the Barolo area.
  • Try a chocolate and wine tasting in Milan as part of the truly Milanese custom of aperitivo (the high-style Milan version of cocktail hour/tapas).
> Lakes District Food and Wine (PDF)

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