Chauffeur Guido

Meeting point: Approx. 9am – Piazzale Roma, Venice where we start our journey northwards towards the foothills of the Dolomite mountains and the beautiful Lake Santa Croce in the province of Belluno.

Taking off in a northeasterly direction, we then head for the lakes of Auronzo and Misurina on the fringes of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Parco Naturale (the Three Peaks of Lavaredo Nature Reserve) where we can pull over for a leisurely lakeside break to take in the sublime views and fresh air before continuing onwards.

Approx. 2/3 hours after setting off from Venice, we’ll reach the picturesque and uber chic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the mountains – as luck would have it, just in time for lunch!

Winter and summer playground of the Italian cognoscenti (including VOV’s very own ‘head honcho’ Filippo!), and spectacularly scenic setting for numerous films including the 007 Bond movie For Your Eyes Only, the nerve-wracking Cliffhanger with Sylvester Stallone, and the Peter Sellers classic The Pink Panther – not to mention the 1956 Winter Olympics – the well-heeled Cortina plays host to a plethora of fine restaurants for an alpine lunch to remember (recommendations available from myself and VOV!)

Or perhaps you’d prefer to sample the simple traditional dishes typical of the region served at one of the many ‘rifugi’ – mountain refuges – found along the mountain trail…

Fine dining, rustic, or something in between – simply let me know your preferences and I’ll be delighted to arrange!

Well fed and watered, we’ll once more take to the road and commence our return journey towards Venice, setting forth along the high mountain route known as Falzarego Pass and witnessing first hand the overwhelming natural beauty of the landscape and its vistas that makes this Italian region so extraordinarily unique… and me very proud to call the Veneto my home!

Stopping along the way, or changing direction as and when you wish, we arrive back in Venice at approx. 7pm/8pm* having spent a full and revitalising day in ‘il montagne’.

• Note that a shorter tour of the Dolomites can also be arranged, should you prefer, arriving back in Venice at around 4pm in the afternoon

Meeting point: Approx. 9am – Piazzale Roma, Venice where we start off on our journey towards the historic and romantic city of Verona.

Founded in the 1^st century B.C. and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is perhaps most famously known across the globe as the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, and also for its rich cultural heritage, its summer opera season and its wonderful architecture, including the striking Roman Amphitheatre (‘Arena di Verona’) – one of the best-preserved of its kind in the world.

Arriving in Verona at approx. 1030am/11am, I’ll provide you with maps for easy orientation of the city, and give you a clear briefing as to where you can find some of Verona’s most significant sites including the 14^th century Old Castle (‘Castel Vecchio’), the Amphitheatre, and the vibrant Piazza Bra ­with its restaurants and cafés (a perfect place for people-watching!), after which you’ll be free to explore the city at your own pace before re-grouping later at the Basilica of San Zeno – where legend has it, Romeo and Juliet were married in the crypt!

Linger lazily over lunch at one of Verona’s typical osterie, or we’ll set off for Sirmione – a drive of approx. 30 minutes – to spend the rest of the afternoon…

Standing on a peninsula on the southern shores of the beautiful Lake Garda, and well-known for its thermal waters and for playing host over the years to writers and poets including James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and Alfred Tennyson, the small charming old town with its narrow cobbled streets and picture-book moated castle is a delight.

Visit the remains of the amazing Roman villa known as the Grottoes of Catullus (‘Grotte di Catullo’) at the far end of town where stunning lake and mountain views await, or when the weather’s fine have a swim in the lake…

Our arrival back in Venice is scheduled for 7pm/8pm but you’re free to extend your Sirmione visit with dinner in town – simply let us know when booking if this suggestion appeals!

• Please note that, depending on your preferences, it is also possible to spend the entire day in Verona, or to combine a morning visit to Verona with an afternoon of wine tasting at a winery in the hills of the Verona countryside, in place of the afternoon visit to Sirmione – contact us for further details.