Italian direction please

Posted by Joshua (Chicago, IL) on 01/14/08 06:21 AM

Hello all,
Trying to plan my European trip which is going to include Amsterdam, Paris and Venice over about a 14-18 day period. Would like to know if, time permitting, it would be desireable to make the additional stops in Milan or Torino, or perhaps some other city in Italy. I understand that this is kind of a personal taste sort of thing, just wondering about a consensus on other good Italian cities to visit if I could. Not really looking to do a lot of museum, tour type of stuff, would like to really experience the culture and step off the beaten path. Probably not looking to make it so far south as Rome though.
Any thoughts?

Thanks - Josh

Posted by Travel Boss

Myrtle Beach, USA

01/14/08 08:17 AM

12313 posts

In Northern Italy, we were pleasantly surprised by Verona. It has a great colliseum, Roman wall, nice piazzas and medieval section. We skipped the Romeo and Juliet stuff.

I would skip Modena in future trips, but would like to see Vincenza and Bologna.

As always, it has a lot to do with the types of things interest you.

Posted by Susan

Atlanta, Ga, USA

01/14/08 09:01 AM

2023 posts

We worked Milan into our travel schedule by flying out of Malpensa. It was a bit out of the way but our goal was to see The Last Supper and the Duomo and it was well worth the effort. The LS was the most fantastic work of art that I have seen. And since it was Palm Sunday it was free which was a nice surprise.

Posted by Paul n Sara

Newburyport, MA

01/14/08 09:13 AM

683 posts

Verona is good. Vicenza a nice change and interestg.
Lakes Como and Garda are very nice and ferry trips to places along northern parts of each lake also very good. Varenna ia marvelous , as is Bellagio and Isola Comacina on Como. Torino has great riverfront but is largely just a big city. Bolzano is worthwhile for the scenery and the fact that it is very GERMAN in Italy!

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

01/15/08 12:04 AM

32325 posts

Joshua, depending on your schedule and budget, you might consider Florence, the Cinque Terre or Siena as worthwhile stops in the north of Italy.

Good luck!

Posted by Trotro

Olympia, WA, USA

01/15/08 03:02 PM

251 posts

In my opinion Milano makes a good stop over to somewhere else, or a few hours stop. The cathederal and the Last Supper are WELL worth visiting and it would be a shame to be close and miss it or to have to "waste a stop on a future trip"

Something that people often forget is that Milano is the fashion capitol of the world. Even if high fashion is not your thing it is pretty fascinating to walk around the fashion district and look in the windows. In away it is art and culture unto itself.

If you are looking to get out of the cities, I love the Montblanc/Courmayeur area in the alps. Some easy accesable hiking, quaint villages. Quaint mountain trains run there.