...Italy 2007...

Tammay and I travelled with my parents to Italy on August 19th 2007. We flew from London Gatwick to Milan (Malpensa). We picked up a very nice Audi A3 Sportback and drove to Stresa and checked into the Grand Hotel Bristol where we stayed for 3 nights.

Isola Madre

On our first afternoon in Italy we took the short boat ride over to Isola Madre in Lake Maggiore.

Isola Madre

Orta San Giulio

20th Aug. We travelled to Orta San Giulio, a small town on the shores of Lake Orta.

Orta San Giulio

We found a small shop selling classical CDs and bought a copy of Vivaldi by Rachel Podger.

Orta San Giulio

View from Lake Orta.

Orta San Giulio

View from Lake Orta.

Isola San Giulio

View from Lake Orta.

Isola San Giulio

A view of Isola San Giulio from Orta San Giulio.

Orta San Giulio

Isola San Giulio

Day trip to Locarno

21st Aug. We used the Lago Maggiore Express to travel by train from Stresa to Domodossola where we changed onto a scenic railway that took us into the mountains and on to Locarno in Switzerland. We took a ferry back from Locarno to Stresa and as you can see, the weather on the return wasn't great.

Lake Como

22nd Aug. We drove on to Bellagio and checked into Hotel Du Lac where we stayed for 3 nights. Our rooms had views over Lake Como.

Lake Como

23rd Aug – My birthday. The weather had picked up and we had better views of Lake Como from our hotel.

Lake Como

The view to the South West, showing the car ferry at the terminal.

Lake Como

As the car ferry went on its way.

Lake Como

Journey to Bellinzona

We travelled to Bellinzona in Switzerland, taking the car ferry across Lake Como.

Journey to Bellinzona

I believe these photos were taken in Albogasio, on the edge of Lago di Lugano.

Journey to Bellinzona

Albogasio.

Journey to Bellinzona

Albogasio.

Journey to Bellinzona

Albogasio.

Castelgrande

Castelgrande from Castello di Sasso Corbaro.

Castello di Sasso Corbaro

My parents and I at Castello di Sasso Corbaro.

Castello Di Montebello

My parents at Castello Di Montebello.

Castello Di Montebello

My mum at Castello Di Montebello.

Castelgrande

Castelgrande from Castello Di Montebello.

Castello Di Montebello

Castelgrande

We had lunch at Rist Castelgrande.

Torre Bianca

Torre Bianca in Castelgrande.

Cobble stones

Cobble stones in Castelgrande.

La Murata

The very green grass on 'La Murata' of the Castelgrande.

La Murata

We found a dark tunnel beneath 'La Murata' and my dad and I walked along it about as far as we could in the light coming from its entrance.

La Murata

Castelgrande

Crossing Lake Como

Our return to Bellagio.

Views of Bellagio from Lake Como

Bellagio

24th Aug. In the morning we took a guided tour of the gardens of Villa Serbelloni. This is a view of the Basilica di San Giacomo and Lake Como from the gardens.

Touring the gardens of Villa Serbelloni

In Bellagio.

Touring the gardens of Villa Serbelloni

A view of Lake Como to the South West.

Lago di Lecco

In the afternoon we also took the short ferry ride across Lake Como to Lago di Lecco.

Lago di Lecco

Bellagio

Our return to Bellagio from Lago de Lecco.

Bellagio

Bellagio at night

That evening I took a few photos of the streets of Bellagio.

Bellagio at night

Bellagio

25th Aug. My Parents and the view of Lake Como from their room.

Bellagio

A view of Lake Como from the balcony of my parent's room.

Bellagio

The roof of the building next door was looking rather ropey!

Bergamo

We travelled on to Bergamo where we checked into the Hotel Piazza Vecchia where we would spend our last night in Italy. We spent the afternoon exploring the town of Bergamo and generally relaxing, drinking coffee and enjoying yet more Italian ice cream.