Best way to travel Northern Italy/Swiss region

Hi,

I'd skip Bolzano unless you're visiting the Museum of Archaeology to see the "Ice Man" exhibit, which is a must for many, including ourselves, while in the area. Bolzano would qualify as a "tourist" town.

As for Glurns/Glorenza, which is in the very scenic Vinschgau/Val Venosta, you're right on the mark with this "un-touristed" area. We stayed here and didn't meet or hear anyone else speaking English. I'm not saying English is unknown, but we didn't run into anyone from "home" or "native" English speakers. Some of the people we dealt with (hotel, restaurant, etc.) spoke some English.

Everything has a German name/Italian name and German is usually the first language spoken, as this used to be part of Austria until the aftermath of WWl. Even the town of Tirol/Tirolo, which the Austrian area is named for, is now a part of Italy in the Vinschagu/Val Venosta.

If you like quaint villages, outstanding alpine scenery and castles and many, many castles, stay in the Vinschgau/Val Venosta. We stayed here in Mals/Malles, which is very close to Glurns/Glorenza. Actually, from our room balcony we could see the walled town:

http://www.biohotel-panorama.it/bio-hotel-suedtirol/bildergalerie/

Schlanders/Silandro is a nice town to stay at also.

http://www.suedtirol.info/en/regions/val-venosta-vinschgau/schlanders-laas_ort_367

Here's how to get around:
http://www.vinschgaucard.net/en/service-info/advantage-cards/venosta-valley-card/mobilcard.html
http://www.mobilcard.info/en/mobilcard.asp

Here's a few of the castles in the area (our favorite is Churburg/Coira):
http://www.vinschgau.net/en/art-culture/places-of-interest/castles-and-mansions.html?_ga=1.172029799.513076278.1491690468

http://www.suedtirol.info/en/experience/culture-attractions/forts-castles/all-forts-and-castles?page=1&seed=&town_text=&town=&region%5B%5D=274

http://www.schlosstirol.it/en/home/

Churburg/Coira tours were in either German or Italian. When the girl giving the tour heard my wife and I speaking English, she filled us in with the little English she knew. Very nice. Even if we didn't understand all of it, the castle was amazing, as is the armor collection.

Paul

Hi Paul, thanks for your comments!

Is there a sequential route plan that i should take starting from Venice and covering all these towns between Venice and iso bella? Example take a bus from Venice to Malcesine and then take a ferry to Riva Del Garda, spend a night or 2 in Malcesine and so on?

Thanks!

Sorry, I've never been to any of those places. The only part of your trip I'm familiar with is the Sud Tirol Dolomite parts.

Paul

Ok, this may be the opposite direction for you but we were driving from venice to slovenia, (west on A4) and stopped at aquileia, 5th century mosaics and archelogical digs. Very moderate entrance fee. We were there for an afternoon...with more time it might be possible to visit the dig site....

I would suggest you rent a car and travel at your own leisurely pace. Driving in Italy/Switzerland is the best way to see the kinds of places you want to see, e.g. lakes, small towns, no tourists.