Tour #10: Goethe´s Italien Journey
14 days, 15 nights
German kings and emperors travelled the Brenner Oass more than 60 times in the course of history. Virtually every journey to Rome for the coronation of an emperor led through this mountain pass.
Successful as well as fruitless military campaigns into Italy; empresses and queens escorted by cavalry zo their unknow betrothed princes and kongs; these and much more all part of the history of the most famous passage through the Alps for thousands of years: the 4.600 foot high Brenner Pass.
Travelling in a 19th century mail coach witha team of 4 or 5 handsome horses in a grand adventure. Ancient medieval villages, castles, mail relay stations and historcal inss await you. Tyrolian and northern Italien gaiety, sumptuous meals and tempting wines all add to the pleasure. You will be following the same trail that gave Johann Wolfgang von Goethe his greatest insight and insoiration. Goethe´s Italien journey lasted more than 2 years and changed his whole life. As one biographer puts it, he 'absorbed the calm strength of antiquity'.
This genius' spirit will accompany you as you ride in your comfortably gracious carriage. You will travel through the wonderland of majestic mountains in Bavaria and Tyrol; through Mittenwald (which Goethe describes as a 'living picture'); on to 700 year old Innsbruck; over the Brenner Pass and then though the luxuriant orchards and vineyards of Bozen/Bolzano. After an overnight stay at the Hostelry (where Goethe also slept) yor coach will sweep down the southern slopes to the health resort town of Torbole wher Goethe savored the salubrious climate and lingered long enough to write his famous play IPHIGENIE. By the time you reach Verona, you will have taken part in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and historical experience.
En route, your coachmen/ guide expertly handles his team of spirited horses and you, too, will have your turn ath teh reins, if you like. Travelling only a few miles a day, you will have plenty of free time to study the old cities, storybook castles, ancient monasteries.
Enjoy the hospitality of quaint inns with colorful local entertainment and specialty cuisine. This remarkable form of travel is availabel to only a very few since passanger accommodations are limited. Therefore, early reservation are strongly recommended.
Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday:
Munich
On arrival in Munich, you will be met at the airport, train station or your hotel
and be transferred to the Hotel Leopold, where rooms have been reserved for you.
At the hotel, you will meet the other passengers and your Coachmen during a Welcome
Cocktail and dinner party during the course of the evening, you will be briefed on what
the days ahead hold in store.
Day 2, Saturday
Munich / Bad Tölz
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, board the stagecoach and depart for
Munich's City Hall where the citizens of Munich will bid you goodbye and ask you to convey
their greetings to Munich's sister city, Verona. In the early afternoon, either you will
enjoy a picnic lunch or stop at the Aumeister Inn After lunch, continue along the
Isar River to Lengries, an old rafting village, with overnight accommodations in the Guesthouse
Alpenrose. Dinner this evening includes entertainment by local Bavarian folklore
groups.
Day 3, Sunday
Bad Tölz /
Mittenwald
After breakfast, continue along the Isar, through the Jachen Valley, arriving in
Jachenau in time for lunch at the Old Mail Inn. Following lunch, continue south
of Walchensee via Wallgau to Mittenwald. Accommodations and dinner will be provided at the
Post Guesthouse. Mittenwald is well-known for its master violin makers and fine
wood carvings.
Day 4, Monday
Mittenwald /
Oberpettnau
After breakfast at the guesthouse, depart by coach into the mountains. Arrive at
the Bavarian / Tyrolain frontier check point, Leutasch/Schanz. Lunch will be at the Cafe
Monika in Leutasch. After lunch, continue via Buchen down Telfser Berg to the Inn
Valley; a really exciting leg of the journey. In the late afternoon, arrive at Oberpettnau
and the impressive Guesthouse Oettl, the oldest mail-relay station in the Tyrol.
Enjoy Tyrolian specialties at dinner and enjoy entertainment by the village's brass band.
Day 5, Tuesday
Oberpettnau / Innsbruck
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the guesthouse and depart by coach at about 10
a.m. Drive north of the Inn River via Zirl and Kranebitten to Innsbruck, arriving shortly
before noon. Lunch will be at the Goldener Adler, where Goethe stopped some 200
years ago, or at the Hotel Sailer. The afternoon will be spent at leisure with
the chance to visit a private carriage museum. Dinner will be at the Hotel Sailer /
Goldener Adler. Overnight accommodations will be at the Goldener Adler.
Day 6, Wednesday
Innsbruck / Stafflach am Brenner
Have a breakfast at the hotel. The morning is free for further exploration.
Around noon, depart via the Old Brenner Road for Matrei. Light lunch will be provided en
route. Arrive at Stafflach am Brenner, the last village before crossing the border into
Northern Italy. Accommodations will be provided in a former relaystation. Enjoy an
excursion into the upland.
Day 7, Thursday
Stafflach am Brenner /
Mauls, Mules
After an early breakfast, reboard your coach and continue the ascent to the Old
Brenner Pass. Continue via the town of Gossensass to Sterzing/Vitipeno. Accommodations
will be provided at the Hotel Staffler in Mauls, in the medieval town. Dinner this evening
will be at the hotel.
Day 8, Friday
Mauls, Mules / Brixen Bressanone
Breakfast is at the hotel. The coach leaves at 9 a.m. Continue on to Brixen/Bressanone, arriving in mid-afternoon. A welcoming drink will
be served at the Goldenes Lamm, where Goethe changed horses, followed by a drive
through the narrow streets of the old city to the cathedral. There, you will be met by the
Lord Mayor or his deputy at the City Hall. Accommodations will be at the Hotel
Elephant or Jarolim. This evening, dinner will be at the Elephant.
A typically Tyrolean dinner will be served.
Day 9, Saturday
Brixen Bressanone /
Atzwang Campo D'Azzo
After breakfast, depart Bressanone via the old stone town of Klausen/Chiusa. Stop
at the former Customs House of Kolmann just below the fortress Wolkenstein. Dinner this evening
and overnight is in the Posttal inn of Atzwang.
Day 10, Sunday
Atzwang Campo D'Azzo /
Kurtatsch Cortaccio
After breakfast at the hotel, passing through Bozen and drive through the lovely orchards and vineyards
along the Adige embankment to the small fruit and wine-making town of Kurtatsch. After
lunch, enjoy an excursion into the hills surrounding the town. Dinner (or a bar-be-que) as
well as overnight accommodations will be at the inn.
Day 11, Monday
Kurtatsch Cortaccio / Trient
Trento
Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel before driving through vineyards and orchards along
the banks of the Etsch River, following the Old Roman Road. Lunch is near Mezzocorona,
your first major, purely Italian town on this trip. Continue via Zambana Vecchio to
Trient/Trento. Dinner and overnight will be at the Accademia Hotel, renovated in
the old style.
Day 12, Tuesday
Trient Trento /
Malcesine
After breakfast, travel via the wine-making villages to Mori, arriving for lunch
in the old town. Later, continue via Lago di Loppio across the San Giovanni Pass to Lake
Garda and the town of Torbole. Visit the house in which Goethe wrote IPHIGENIE, then
continue along the banks of Lake Garda to Malcesine for dinner and overnight. Goethe was
nearly arrested and charged with espionage here for sketching a beautiful old castle.
Day 13, Wednesday
Malcesine
Enjoy a full day of leisure for individual pursuits.
Day 14, Thursday
Malcesine / Peschiera
Breakfast at the hotel, before leaving Malcesine along eastern shore of the lake.
Visit the Palace of San Vigilio, then pass through the town of Garda to Bardolino with a
chance to taste wines in the Enotheka, a former post stable. After lunch, continue the
drive to the old fortress of Peschiera on the Mincio River. Accommodations will be here,
tonight. Late this afternoon visit the harbour and city. This evening you are invited to a
gala dinner party at the Restaurant Secolo with representatives of the city.
Local specialties, including seafood, will be highlighted.
Day 15, Friday
Peschiera / Verona
This will be the last day of your journey by coach-and-four. Shortly after
breakfast, depart Peschiera, driving via Sommacompagna to Verona. Ride into the old town
to the Hotel Bologna or Accademia. This evening, enjoy cocktails and a
farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 16, Saturday
Verona
Goethe's Italien Journey ends after breakfast.
Included: