We started our travels in Switzerland...and loved that! Then we took the Bernina Express from Pontresina down to Tirano and then the train from there to Varenna. Rick Steves did it again...Loved Loved Hotel du Lac in Varenna. Just awesome. We got a 3rd floor room with a terrace. The breakfasts were delicious and the wait staff were just amazing.....attentive and sweet and knowledgeable. Made wonderful and reasonable wine selections. We hiked to the top of Varenna to see the crumbling fortress. And, we walked on the panorama trail to Pino (spelling?) and ate at an authentic Italian restaurant on the mountain there....and took a cab home. We visited the neighboring villas to tour their gardens and that was lovely too. Just loved Varenna. Oh, and we took the ferry and toured a couple other villages.
Next we took the train to Florence and stayed AGAIN at our favorite villa Villa Cafaggiolo. Just love this place....very authentic. Gorgeous cement pool and gardens. The owners take you on tours, transfer you to airport or train, cook for you, and will give you cooking lessons. I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. Just wanted to report back
Posted by
California 🦋
5211 posts
Sounds amazing!
What places did you tour while staying at the villa?
Posted by
OP
72 posts
Gosh. The first year we did 'all day' tours with our son and his girlfriend. To Siena, Lucca, and even to Cinque Terre. This year it was just my husband and me and we did half day tours. To the Florentine hills, a hike near Fiesole (across from Firenze) which was awesome. And, we did a tour of a winery that included tastings and another short 1 hour hike. Niccolo is just plain charming! He speaks excellent English and knows a lot about the history of the area. We just love him and his family! When we left, his Mom came out to say good bye and said, "I heard you never go back to the same place twice, but you came here. I hope you come back three times!" How cute !!! I hope we do too. You can go on his website and he lists some of the tours. He will take you anywhere you want to go, pretty much.
Posted by
Los Angeles
954 posts
Sounds lovely! I’d love details on the hikes in Varenna and Fiesole!