Kosher Summer Vacation in the Italian Lakes

The Area  

This year, we are returning to northern Italy for our summer vacation at a new, very attractive location – in the lakes region and at the foot of the mountains. 

This is the most popular region for summer vacations in Italy due to the ease of arrival and the accessibility to a vast variety of trip and excursion destinations as well as activities for the whole family.

The famous lakes region is located at the northern Lombardy Region. The largest lake is the Garda Lake (Lago di Garda) and the second largest is the Como Lake (Lago di Como). Between these two, you will find the town of Boario Terme and nearby located is the smaller brother of the large lakes – the Iseo Lake (Lago d'Iseo).

The lakes are a wonderful destination for recreation and entertainment. When travelling along the lakeshores or when boating through them, a spectacular image combining the blue-green water against the background of green and gray mountains is obtained, and surrounding the lakes there are many picturesque towns and villages with unique Italian atmosphere. Within all this nature, there’s a large variety of parks and man-made activities sites: amusement and water parks, zoos, botanical gardens and more.

 

The Town

Boario Terme is a Spa & Resort Village at the foot of Monte Altissimo which is part of the Dolomites Mountains Range. It is located near the Iseo Lake (Lago d'Iseo) where one can sail to Monte Isola (the largest island in any of Italy's lakes) and enjoy diverse water activities.

This town is famous throughout Italy for its Spa Center – Parco delle Terme di Boario, which contains mineral pools and unique health and spa treatments. The town is teeming with life and it enjoys an abundance of stores and cafes.

 

The Hotel

The Excelsior Palace Hotel **** is located at the center of the town, at a short walking distance from the main street and nearby the Health and Spa Center. The hotel integrates classic Italian design with nostalgic vintage and offers spacious, fully equipped and air conditioned rooms with a panoramic view to the mountains and the town. The hotel features spacious public areas: a large elegant dining hall, a pleasant lobby, a relaxation terrace, a well-kept nurtured garden and a large Synagogue. 
 

At the hotel’s Health and Spa Center you can enjoy a Turkish Hammam (bath-house), Sauna, Jacuzzi and diverse massages.

The hotel’s website:www.hotelexcelsiorboario.it

Our guests will enjoy full service and accommodations: a large Israeli breakfast, take-away sandwiches for the day, opulent buffet meat dinners and a free tea room open 24/7. On Saturday – full board including a magnificent traditional Kiddush. 

The hotel serves high-level meals prepared by chefs and pâtissiers from the best hotels in the country.

Kashruth: Glatt Mehadrin under the supervision of Rabbi Eliezer Wolf- Dayan of Amsterdam.

 

Trips and Excursions in the Region – “In a Nutshell” – Recommended!

Sirmione – an ancient town with pastel-colored houses, built on a narrow peninsula in the Garda Lake. It is worthwhile to tour the narrow passageways and alleys of the ancient quarter, visit the Castello Scaligero and the lakeside promenade.
 

Malcesine - in the north-eastern side of the lake, at the foot of Monte Baldo. The town hosts a cable railway which climbs to a height of 2200 meters, from which a spectacular scenery of the Garda Lake against the background of the Dolomites can be viewed.

Riva del Garda – a summer vacation town that constitutes an active recreation center with an abundance of playgrounds, sports facilities and cycling routes. The Varone Waterfalls, one the most impressive natural sites in the region,are located 3 km north of town. 

Gardaland –for families - the largest, most famous amusement park in Italy, located between Sirmione and Verona. It includes roller coasters, diverse types of slides, free-floating tubing and more.

Caneva World - for families – a safari park divided into 3 regions: an African safari, a zoo and a dinosaurs’ safari.

Verona – the famous city from Shakespeare’s play. In the ancient quarter of the city you will find the Roman Colosseum, the Lamberti Tower, Juliet's balcony, the pedestrian mall of Via Mazzini with an abundance of designer boutiques and trendy shops. 

The Como Lake –the second largest lake in Italy. The highlight is a cruise to Isole Borromee (The Borromee Islands), especially to two of the: Isola Bella (“The Beautiful Island”) and Isola Madre (“The Mother Island”). You will find magnificent gardens in the islands, an opulence of birds and other winged creatures, picturesque alleys and impressive buildings.

The Iseo Lake – the lake comprises diverse sailing and sport activities and cruises to Monte Isola. In the town of Iseo you will find a serene relaxed atmosphere of a fishermen’s village and biking around the lake is popular.

 

Close airports – low-cost flights are available: