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Location between Stresa & Verona

Posted by (Idaho, USA) on

I'm planning a 3-week trip to Italy and have most of my itinerary solid. I have one night that I'd welcome suggestions. It's the "Milan or other location" listed below. After my first two jetlag days in Stresa, staying at an inexpensive hotel, I will be staying my 3rd night on Isola Bella, a special splurge staying at Boutique Hotel Elvezia. I would like to leave on the train or bus no earlier than noon. I am looping back to Milan at the end of my trip to stay the night before I fly home, so I will have the chance to see a few highlights in Milan.

I considered going to Cremona initially (not staying on Isola Bella), but the violin museum is closed on Mondays.

Stresa - 3 nights (Friday - Sunday), hoping to attend some of the Stresa Musical Festival over the weekend
Milan or other location - 1 night (Monday)
Verona - 2 nights (Tuesday-Wednesday) I've purchased an Aida opera ticket for Wed. at the Roman Arena

Posted by
27261 posts

My first thought is Bergamo--historic hill town on a minor rail line NE of Milan. You'd take the train from Stresa to Milan and change Bergamo. (You'd have to change in Milan for Verona, anyway.) There are weekday departures as 1:21 PM and 2:35 PM, each taking less than 3 hours. Then the next day you would take the train on from Bergamo to Brescia and switch to a Verona-bound train there. There are departures approximately hourly, many taking 1 hr. 51 min.

Another possibility would be to head out as if going to Verona (change of trains in Milan), but continue on past Verona to Vicenza (about an extra 26 minutes) or Padua (about an extra 42 minutes). I like them both. Which one I would choose would probably depend on how much time I expected to have in the town. Vicenza is smaller, with a more laid-back feeling. Padua has quite a large historic district and more sightseeing opportunities, including the Scrovegni Chapel (timed ticket required).

Posted by
7364 posts

Thank you, Acraven,

I haven't been to Bergamo, yet, and the upper medieval portion of the city looks very interesting.

We stayed one night in Vicenza two years ago and enjoyed walking out to the beautiful La Rotonda and around town - had an amazing dinner and memorable tiramisu next to the Basilica Palladiana. On a previous trip, we started our trip with several days at Padova - both good to recommend.

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