Googlemaps says we have a four hour 15 minute drive from our Airbnb in Fornoli (near Lucca) up to Stresa on our May Italy trip and takes us along the Ligurian Sea, starting from just south of La Spezia up to Genoa where we then cut due north for the other half of the drive. Any suggestions for great places to stop for a meal or a visit en route?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
Autogrill.
Posted by
Boston
1816 posts
I wouldn't go that way. The road from the La Spezia area to Genoa is older, more narrow, has 54 tunnels and not a lot of sea view. After Genoa it winds through the mountains. For only 13 minutes (per Google) longer you can relax by taking the scenic A15 (La Spezia-Parma) over the Cisa Pass into Emilia Romagna to the A1 autostrada. It takes too long to find a restaurant so follow Roberto's succinct advice. For a visit, the small pretty city of Pontremoli wouldn't take long. The Certosa of Pavia is a knockout, but would take about a 90 minute detour to see & tour.
Posted by
OP
San Diego
187 posts
You guys are great! Thanks so much, Mike. And I actually have wanted to try the autogrill since hearing a blog by Rick about it.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
I would take the E25 past Genoa and north from there. Very limited traffic compared to the A1 through the Milan beltway (A50), depending on what time you drive through the Milan area.