A compact pre-cruise that does one thing properly: the villa gardens of the western shore, opened outside public hours where possible, and a Como silk weaving mill still working for the fashion houses. Boat transfers instead of the lakeside road.
Arrival at Malpensa and transfer to the hotel on the western shore, roughly ninety minutes by road. The afternoon is free, with a boat crossing to Bellagio for those who want it. Dinner at the hotel, on the water.
Morning at Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, both reached by boat rather than the lakeside road, with one of the two opened outside public hours and the head gardener walking the group through the planting decisions of the last two centuries. Lunch on the shore. In the afternoon, a working silk mill in Como that still supplies the fashion houses, where the looms are explained by the people running them.
Morning departure for Genoa, roughly three hours by coach, arriving at the terminal in time for embarkation. For groups sailing in the late afternoon, a stop in the Genoese old town and the Strade Nuove palaces before boarding.
Splendido private tours
