Today, a hidden gem of the Italian Lakes District takes center stage • Meet Lake Orta, creative inspiration for centuries of artists and the region’s smallest lake • Soak up sweeping views on a hike to the clifftop Madonna del Sasso Sanctuary • Stop for a picnic lunch at a small family-run agriturismo • Take a boat to tonight’s lakeside hotel • Unwind at the hotel’s beach club or with a dip in the infinity pool.

Hike mountain trails through frescoed hamlets • Panoramic vistas from Monte Mottarone give you a bird’s eye view of Lakes Orta and Maggiore • Visit stylish Stresa, where you can add an afternoon jaunt to Palazzo Borromeo on nearby Isola Bella • Follow shoreline paths and forest trails between Cannero Riviera and Cannobio, crossing stone bridges and passing quiet chapels • Unwind at our luxurious retreat perfect for a golden-hour aperitivo with lake and mountain views.

Our routes take us past magnificent villas, colorful gardens and along the well-preserved trenches of World War I’s Cadorna Line • Ferry to beautiful Bellagio, known as the Pearl of the Lake, and stroll its scenic waterfront promenade and shopping district • Walk in the gardens at Villa Melzi, one of Lake Como’s grand estates • Learn the art of truffle hunting from a local farmer • Pause in Baita Belvedere, where a mountain lunch awaits • A private boat takes you to the western shore of Lake Como.