Still dreaming of being able to travel to Italy. I saw that Turin has some great museums so I thought that if one day we make our way to Milan we would then go to Turin and from there to Liguria Poente as I want to avoid all of the usual places. I have been to Rome 2x, Florence 2x and Venice. Also did Lake Como. Milan would be our entrance city. From there we would make our way to Turin and then Genoa which is another spot not on the usual itinerary and home to some marvelous art. From Genoa we will then head north to Lago di Garda and the Dolemites. I would like to know if anyone has been to either of the cities in the title and which one is the best to take a break from museum visits and to relax. I don't know if we can have an auto as we are in our 70's so we might need to rely on trains or buses. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Did Immigrants and prostitutes living in Genoa's maze of alleys in the historic center scare you? None of them was breaking any law. Some would be quite excited at the idea of seeing a 113 hectares medieval Historic Centre, one of the most extended Historic Centre in Europe, even if its inhabitants do not make a living with tourists and there are a few graffiti on the walls.
Genoa's Rolli Palaces are a Unesco Heritage Site, imho they are a little more significant than nice fishes behind a window. Same for the Strada Nuova Museums in the same road with its Rubens, its Caravaggio and its Van Dycks.
In any other country the Staglieno Cemetery would be an Unesco site, too.
Posted by
11130 posts
I have been to San Remo and would suggest you skip it. If you are going to Turin spend some time in the Piemonte’s beautiful wine villages. We stayed outside of Alba and drove to different villages every day..
Look at Noli east of San Remo, charming. We enjoyed our stay at Palazzo Vescovile and it’s Michelin started restaurant overlooking the sea.
Dolomites: Hotel Grones in Ortisei is one of our favorite hotel experiences. We could walk on a path into town or to the two mountain lifts, a gondola and a funicular. We left the rental car in the hotel garage the whole time We were there.
Posted by
OP
Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
87 posts
To Suki,
We can't drink wine for health reasons so visiting wine country is not really something we would do. Also we probably won't be driving.
In the Dolomites we would need to take a tour. I can't hike anymore so not sure we would be going on ski lifts.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Or did we violate some rule by being scared?
Just the common sense; if you see something different from your comfort zone, when you write about it later you don't keep on judging based only on the rules of your comfort zone. An alley may be scary in US, for mysterious reasons, not in Genoa. Same for "stares", there is nothing wrong or menacing in staring at foreigners in Mediterranean countries. Same for non white immigrants living in the streets when the sun is down: they are doing nothing strange, just enjoying their new city the way those from hot countries do at home.
The reality is that there was nothing to be scared of. As you have just admitted your impressions in Genoa were based on lack of knowledge. That was ok at the moment, it's wrong when giving advice months/weeks later.
In short you have violated the main rule of forum travels: when you are back in your living room, help others by personal impression &facts and not by personal impression & preconceptions.
Lagos' outskirts are scary, Scampia is scary: Genoa's historic center - where violent crimes happen at the most once a year - could be defined as "gritty" or "not for everybody". Should a lone woman walk around an unknown maze of alleys at 3 AM, when all cafes and restaurants are closed? Of course not, it's not Disneyland. But writing "few hours" and "get out of dodge" is very poor service based on an absolute lack of knowledge.
And then wallow in the self-loathing that should rightfully ensue to the shame and hatred of my own group, whatever that is.
I'm going to write to Mrs. Ann Goldstein and ask her to decipher this sentence.
Posted by
OP
Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
87 posts
Please don't use my post to fight or put a place down. I would still like to hear about Bordigheria and Sanremo. I probably won't have a car as I am already in my 70's and they have restrictions on anyone over 65 at many rental agencies. I would like to know if anyone my age has information on renting a car. Let's stick to these two topics.
Posted by
Saint Helens, OR, USA
304 posts
If youre interested in small town Liguria, by all means only daytrip to Genova. Instead consider one of the small Ligurian villages. An easy train ride from Milan. In 2019 we had a wonderful trip to Camogli and Noli. Beautiful seaside villages. No museums or Roman ruins, but both are very atmospheric with great restaurants and very nice people.
Posted by
Saint Helens, OR, USA
304 posts
BTW...if you do stay in Sanremo, which is busy but very nice, daytrip out to Busana Vecchia. Youll need a car. Its a hilltop village nearby that was destroyed by an eathquake and condemned by the government. In the 1970's hippy squatters moved in. Today it is a thriving arts community, very bohemian. The village is a crumble of ruins and nothing like anthing else youve ever seen. Also near Sanremo, if you have a car, is Baddaluco. The home of Roi olive oil. One of the best olive oils weve ever tasted. Highly recommended. It was personally recommended to us by food critic Fred Plotkin, who's one of Rock Steves favorites.