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Journey to enchanting, vibrant Verona to be enthralled by the city’s own dolce vita, an intoxicating blend of ancient history, epicurean pleasures, exuberant style and inspirational music.
5 night / 6 day holiday by First Class rail, including 3 nights at the Hotel Accademia, Verona from £1,895 per person (based on two people travelling together).
For 2024, performances at the Verona Opera are taking place from 7th June to 7th September.
Your holiday begins as you stroll into beautifully restored London St. Pancras station.
Take your time to appreciate the splendour of magnificent glass roof, then sit back, relax and watch the countryside swish past as you travel by Eurostar to Paris at speeds of up to 186mph.
Enjoy the light meal and drinks served on board in Standard Premier Class (Eurostar’s 1st class for leisure travellers).
On arrival at the Gare du Nord your private taxi transfer takes you across Paris to the Gare de Lyon to continue your journey by TGV through France into Switzerland.
You travel through the undulating Swiss countryside to attractive lakeside city of Zurich. Here you spend tonight at the comfortable, welcoming and highly-rated Hotel Helmhaus (4 star).
After breakfast why not make a whistle-stop tour of Zurich? Most of the city’s sights lie within the compact area on either side of the River Limmat, between the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and Lake Zurich.
The churches and burgher houses of the Old Town are clustered here, as are the elegant shops along Bahnhofstrasse. The baroque Rathaus (Town Hall), Zurich’s most impressive churches – the Grossmünster, Fraumünster – and the city’s oldest, St Peterskirche (its clock face is the largest in Europe), all lie within a short distance of the River Limmat, near the point where it opens onto the lake. Then make your own way back to Zurich station, for the scenic journey along the impressive Gotthard route through the Swiss Alps. The line transports you through picturesque scenery, climbing to the foot of the snow-capped Alps and through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest tunnel and a marvellous feat of engineering. You soon emerge and continue across the Swiss border and through the outstanding Italian Lakes before arriving in Milan.
On arrival at Milan’s imposing art-deco station you change trains and continue to Verona. Here you make your way to your hotel for the next 3 nights, the richly evocative Hotel Accademia located very close to Piazza Bra with its stylish and welcoming rooms.
Stroll around this attractive walled city famous for the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, and soak up the warm pastel colours of Piazza Brà, surrounded by churches, monuments and fine palazzi, built from local pink limestone. Impressive churches, such as San Zeno Maggiore, contrast perfectly with the opulence of Piazza dei Signori and Piazza Erbe close to Juliet’s balcony.
For a change of scene venture out to the Valpolicella vineyards, the Palladian delights of Vicenza or take to the waters of stunning Lake Garda.
Savour the build-up to your night at the Opera as the crowds gather inside the wonderfully preserved Roman Verona amphitheatre and thousands of candles light the ensuing spectacle. The Arena di Verona provides the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening’s entertainment.
You have a further day to enjoy the Roman city of Verona. For a change of scene you could venture out to the Valpolicella vineyards, the Palladian delights of Vicenza or take to the waters of stunning Lake Garda.
This morning after breakfast you make your way back to Verona Porta Nuova station as you leave Italy behind and board the Eurostar Italia service for the First Class journey to Milan.
From here join the comfortable Euro City service as it snakes its way into the Alps for the spectacular journey through the Simplon Pass and onto pretty lakeside town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.
On arrival in Montreux your overnight hotel is the recently refurbished, belle époque Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4 star superior) located right next to the station.
Stretch your legs this morning or board the trolley bus for the short journey to the stunning medieval Château de Chillon (payable locally). As you marvel at the spectacular setting, twixt sparkling lake and breathtaking mountains, spare a thought for the prisoners of this 13th century castle, considered to be one of the best-preserved in Europe.
Then make your way back to Montreux station. From here you join the Inter Regio train to Lausanne, where you change trains and board the TGV to whisk you back to Paris. Watch the rolling hills flash past or reminisce on the wonders of the past few days. Your taxi transfer takes you to the Gare du Nord and the last leg of your journey.
Here you join the Eurostar and let the train take the strain as you stretch out and savour the light meal and drinks included in your Standard Premier service. At 186mph the landscape is a blur at times, though memories abide as you return to London St. Pancras International and the final leg of your journey home.
ZURICH
The stylish and intimate Hotel Helmhaus Zurich (4 star), located in the Old Town dates from the 14th century, and is a minute’s walk from both the Helmhaus Art Museum and tram stop. The air-conditioned, individually decorated rooms have minimalist modern furnishings and oak wood parquet floors, plus free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars; tea and coffeemaking facilities are available on request. A complimentary hot and cold breakfast buffet is offered daily in an artsy dining room. Other amenities include loaner iPads and seasonal welcome drinks.
VERONA
The Hotel Accademia (4-star) took its name from the Academy of the Filotimi, dating from 1565, which taught equestrian skills, and it became a hotel in 1880. Situated in the historical centre of Verona, the hotel is ideally located for exploring the city, close to Juliet’s balcony, just off the shopping street of Via Mazzini and within easy reach of the Roman Arena. The hotel, although centrally located, is surprisingly quiet and tranquil with courteous and helpful staff and comfy sofas for lounging in. The bedrooms are mostly large and well furnished, and the high-ceilinged guest rooms are conservatively traditional with excellent furnishings.
MONTREUX
The Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic (4-star superior) is a traditional Belle-Époque hotel, originally built in 1870 and located right in the centre of Montreux, just a few steps from the railway station. The hotel has 140 rooms and benefits from fabulous views of Lake Geneva and the Alps from its summer terrace. All the comfortable en-suite rooms in this stylish hotel feature air conditioning, TV, minibar, radio and telephone.
Throughout the year and tailor-made to suit your holiday needs
For information and booking Tel: 01347 825292 or email info@planetrail.co.uk
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