Italy in October: Lake Como, Milan, Tuscany, and Florence

Grand Hotel Tremezzo – Lake Como

When Italy calls, it’s a good idea to answer. I was thrilled to have been invited to go to Italy on a trip with IDI and Virtuoso for eight nights in October. I stayed in four different hotels, and did site inspections at an additional six hotels.

The trip started in Lake Como with a two night stay at Villa d’Este. It has a great location on the lake for sightseeing, and is perfect for lazing away an afternoon while soaking in the views with a glass or two of wine.

We also did a little touring by boat visiting the towns of Como and Bellagio. Additionally, we had site inspections at Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como (formerly CastaDiva). October can be a little iffy in terms of weather, but we were fortunate to have mild temperatures and no rain.

Suite at Villa d’Este

Veranda Restaurant at Villa d’Este

We then moved on to Milan. It was my first time, and it was a total wow. I highly recommend adding a couple of nights here into your northern Italy itinerary.

I stayed two nights at the Bulgari Hotel Milano. I loved the quiet elegance of the Bulgari and the phenomenal service. I also did site inspections at the Armani Hotel Milano, Mandarin Oriental Milan, and the Park Hyatt Milano.

In addition I visited the Last Supper, and of course, did a fashion shopping tour. The highlight of our stay for me, however, was our evening at La Scala. Another total wow!

Bulgari Milan – View from Bed

Bulgari Milan – Bathtub

The morning after our evening at the ballet we departed for Tuscany, with a couple of stops along the way to taste ham, balsamic vinegar and cheese. We stayed two nights at Il Borro.

We tasted wine, toured their ten bedroom villa, visited the art gallery, took a cooking class, and simply enjoyed our time in a quaint Tuscan village that dates back to 1254 and was brought back to life by the Ferragamo family.

Il Borro Village

Fall Foliage at Il Borro

The last stop on our trip is one of my all-time favorite cities, Florence. We stayed two nights at Villa la Massa which is the perfect hotel for those who want to visit both Florence and Tuscany, but are short on time. We also did a site inspection at the newly renovated Hotel Savoy.

Unfortunately, I have had technical difficulties with the photos from this portion of my trip, so I have borrowed a couple from the hotel. This is their new four bedroom villa called Casa Colonica, and it is stunning. The bedrooms can be reserved individually, or it can be utilized as an entire villa.

In Florence we looked at art, art, and more art. I loved every second! We also had time to do a little shopping before we said goodbye until next time.

Of course, our clients receive value-added Virtuoso amenities at all of these hotels.

Interested in a trip to Lake Como, Milan, Tuscany or Florence? Contact us today via email or phone at 1-615-730-4456 to get started planning your next trip to Italy!

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