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Advice for last days of trip -- Verona opera, Last Supper, Switzerland

We'll be spending over 2 weeks in Italy (July 15 - early August), staying with my sister in Aviano, and then we're flying out of Zurich (August 8, morning flight).

On our way out of Italy (by train), we'd like to see an opera in Verona, possibly see the Last Supper in Milan, and then spend maybe 4 - 5 days in Berner Oberland before we fly out of Zurich. I'll be with my 10-year-old daughter.

I'd love your suggestions on the itinerary for the final days of our trip...

One plan:
Sat. 8/2 - See Rigoletto, stay overnight in Verona
Sun. 8/3 - Take train to Milan, see the Last Supper, then take train into Switzerland

That would give us 4 full days in Switzerland before we have to head to Zurich the evening of 8/7.

Or:
Sun. 8/3 - See Aida, stay overnight in Verona
8/4 - the Last Supper is not open on Mondays... we'd head straight to Switzerland
That would give us 3 full days in Switzerland before we'd have to head to Zurich.

Or...
Fri. 8/1 - the opera performance is Tosca
But would that give us almost too many days in Switzerland?

I think I'd prefer the Aida performance, but not sure if it's worth losing a day in Switzerland... I'd also hate to miss the Last Supper, but we fly into Milan (July 15) and there's a chance we could see it then...

Do any of you have experience with any of the three operas (esp. in the big amphitheater!), the Verona area, the Last Supper, or with the Berner Oberland area to comment on either plan? Any ideas you have are welcome! THANKS!!

Posted by
12313 posts

I've been to the Verona ampitheater. Unfortunately Opera season was over and they were removing the last of the stage. I will try to plan my next trip to Verona to take advantage of the opera. It's great to see an opera in a building from Roman times that is still in great shape and used regularly.

We really liked Verona. We ignored the Romeo-Juliet sites since they are fictional but really enjoyed the old part of the city.

We almost skipped the ampitheater because we planned on visiting the Rome Colliseum later. I'm glad we went. Rome is a ruin, this ampitheater (third largest) is still in excellent working order.

I can't really recommend Villa Francescetti hostel. The people were perfectly nice but the building is pretty run down, not among the best places we stayed.

Posted by
247 posts

Plan #1 is your best, because it covers everything you will want to do.

The Last Supper is a must-see and the Berner Oberland deserves four full days. Spend two in Wengen, and two in Mürren, taking in the Jungfrau as well as the Schilthorn. Four days will give you time to really enjoy this very beautiful area, and you will also have some buffer time should the weather not cooperate.