Summary
Short description
A relaxing rural retreat at a 19th-century villa among rolling hills and vineyards
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Highlights
- Stay at an elegant 19th-century villa in the Lombardy countryside
- Enjoy access to luxurious spa facilities including pools, saunas and steam baths
- Indulge in exquisite gourmet cuisine at a choice of four on-site restaurants
- Taste award-winning sparkling wines in local Franciacorta vineyards
- Take day trips to explore the fascinating cities of Bergamo and Brescia and the picturesque Lake Iseo
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Food & wine | Relaxation | Spa
Immerse yourself in the rolling green hills and vineyards of Franciacorta, a renowned wine-producing area of Lombardy, on this luxurious retreat at L’Albereta. This 19th-century, ivy-wreathed villa is peacefully nestled in the countryside between Bergamo and Brescia, in the foothills of the Italian Alps. Enjoy unlimited access to the state-of-the-art spa facilities, indulge in gourmet cuisine at a quartet of fabulous on-site restaurants and taste award-winning sparkling wines from local vineyards. With the freedom and flexibility of a hire car throughout your stay, there are plenty of opportunities for day trips, including to the historic sights of Bergamo and Brescia and the picturesque Lake Iseo, home to several charming medieval villages and Europe’s largest lake island, Monte Isola.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Depart for Lombardy
Take advantage of complimentary airport lounge access before your flight from the UK to Bergamo, a historic city in the foothills of the Italian Alps, around 50 kilometres northeast of Milan. On arrival, pick up your hire car and drive to L’Albereta, a stunning 19th-century villa immersed among rolling hills and vineyards in Franciacorta, a renowned sparkling wine-producing region near Brescia and Lake Iseo in Lombardy. This is your home for the next four nights – a perfect base from which to experience the region’s idyllic nature, gorgeous villages and culinary delights.
Stay: L'Albereta (Deluxe)
Day
2
Relaxing at L’Albereta
After a delicious buffet breakfast, the day is yours to spend however you please, enjoying the hotel’s superb facilities. Take a laid-back stroll through the gardens and the surrounding vineyards, rent a bike to explore the Franciacorta region on two wheels, and of course, enjoy the most of the fabulous wellness amenities at the Chenot Espace spa. Here, you’ll find an indoor pool, a sauna, a steam bath, a Turkish bath and 14 treatment rooms where you can indulge in bespoke massages and holistic wellness therapies, customised to your exact needs by expert therapists. It’s a wonderfully calming environment for revitalising both mind and body. There are outdoor pools, too, along with a well-equipped fitness centre and tennis courts, so there’s plenty of scope for keeping active as well as relaxing.
Later on, you might fancy driving to Bergamo or Brescia to explore. The former is one of Lombardy’s most attractive and historically rich cities, with a well-preserved old town encircled by Venetian walls and an ornate, Renaissance-era main square, while the latter is home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman ruins and an impressive medieval castle.
You’ll also enjoy exquisite cuisine at L'Albereta’s gourmet restaurants, of which there are four to choose from. At Ristorante LeoneFelice, locally-inspired dishes are served on a terrace with magnificent views of Lake Iseo, while La Filale prides itself on award-winning pizzas. There’s also the health-focused Ristorante Benessere at the Chenot Espace spa and Stanza 54, whose three terraces provide a delightful setting for breakfast, aperitifs and evening drinks.
Stay: L'Albereta (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
3
Lake Iseo & Franciacorta vineyards
Today is an ideal opportunity to explore Lake Iseo, Lombardy’s fourth-largest lake and home to Europe’s largest lake island, Monte Isola. Dotted around its shore are several picturesque towns and villages worth checking out, such as Iseo, Sulzano, Pisogne and Lovere. There are many scenic hiking and cycling trails around the lake, while a ferry tour allows you to appreciate its beauty from the water itself.
Also consider treating yourself to a vineyard tour and wine tasting at either (or both) of L’Albereta’s esteemed wineries, Contadi Castaldi and Bellavista Winery, to experience the delectable products for which Franciacorta is so revered.
Stay: L'Albereta (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
4
Day at leisure
Enjoy a day at leisure, either making the most of the facilities at L’Albereta or exploring more of the surrounding region, whether it be somewhere you haven’t visited yet or perhaps one of the places you’ve already seen and fancy returning to spend more time in.
Stay: L'Albereta (Deluxe)
Meals: B
Day
5
Return to UK
After one last breakfast at L’Albereta, head back to Bergamo to drop off your hire car and catch your flight home.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
5-day tailor-made holiday
from £2,320 pp incl. flights
Deluxe
Low Season
from £2,320 pp. incl. flights
High Season
from £2,355 pp. incl. flights
Includes
- Complimentary UK airport departure lounge access
- Return flights between UK and Bergamo
- Private return airport transfers
- Four nights accommodation in a double room on a B&B basis
- Welcome bottle of wine - Franciacorta Bellavista Teatro alla Scala
- A welcome drink at Stanza54
- Wine tour and tasting at Bellavista winery
- 1 x Dinner for two at Leone Felice restaurant (4-courses with paired wines)
- 1 x Dinner for two at L'Aurum (8-course tasting menu - excluding drinks)
- Access to the Chenot Espace wellness area
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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