Northern Italy Adventure

Posted by sandyprice4 on 03/15/26 01:35 PM

Hello everyone,

My husband and I and some very close friends are preparing for a wonderful adventure traveling through Northern Italy at the end of May and the first two weeks in June.

We're pretty set on our itinerary, having planned most of the trip already. We're trying to fit a lot in, while at the same time being sure we're enjoying where we are. We're fine doing a piece of everything that we've chosen, but we're having a tough time deciding the best approach in the last two stops.

We're arriving in Venice, staying 3 days to enjoy the city, and the Burano islands and Murano Islands. Next stop is Treviso for 3 days to enjoy the city, a Prosecco Wine Tour, and grab a day to catch up. Next on to Verona for 4 days where we will enjoy that city, and two-day trips, one to Bologna and one to Lake Garda. The next two stops are near Langhe, just outside of La Morra, for 3 days and Radda for 4, heading back to Verona to fly home. We're traveling via the trains in the first three cities and will be renting a car in Verona to enjoy the wine country and the "Golden Triangle".

I have a few things chosen for those last two towns, Barolo Chapel, Alba Market, although I'm really struggling to make sure that we're getting the best out of that area. La Morra is said to be one of the most beautiful views so I have to do that, and a few historic sites. We really want to encompass the winery experience and countryside and I am really stumped! Can anyone help me with discovering those hidden spots? Which wineries should we visit...we were told Volpaia is a must? We love to meet the locals and enjoy learning about the culture. I know there's little towns scattered along the way, any guidance would be so appreciated!

I'm pretty detailed when I plan my vacations although I always come back to Rick Steves because experienced travelers such as yourselves are always the best individuals to assist me when I'm stuck!

Thank you so much in advance for anyone's advice and help!

Posted by valadelphia

03/15/26 03:53 PM

6685 posts

I was only in Alba briefly but I recall the website for the region being a good one: https://www.visitlmr.it/en

Posted by hiredman

San Diego, California, USA

03/15/26 05:21 PM

1957 posts

From one planner to another I can't help much with what you're asking but I some info about Verona:

Verona is a great walking town - the center is nearly traffic free and buildings with faded murals and painted details lurk in unlikely corners. The city has two great piazzas Bra and Erbe connected by shopping streets. Bra is by the arena and fancier and Erbe is more of a people's mall but if you look past the sales tents I think it is one of the prettiest piazzas in Italy. There are cafes with outdoor seating everywhere in Verona whenever you decide to want to sit and/or spritz. From the train station take a bus or probably a cab to your place. Any place in the old town will probably be about 10e.

The Roman Theater - across the river in the Veronetta which is worth exploring - includes the Archeological Museum which is small but also gives you access to the rambling remains of old religious sites there. If you like modern art check out the small Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo which mixes ancient and modern art, a palazzo and rooftop tour all into one place overlooking piazza Erbe and is underadvertised. I think Piazza Erbe (looking past the market stands) is one of the prettiest piazzas in Italy. Verona has the 'elegant decay' feeling with faded murals on medieval buildings that the Veneto does so well.

Al Grottino - Osteria e Sbecoleria is a great hole in the wall place off Piazza Erbe for a drink and cicchetti. They have a limited wine selection but all the ones I tried were great. Cafe Monte Baldo nearby also has great cicchetti and more serious food if you want that. Right near the cafe there is Arcivio a super small, super hip cocktail bar. There is no lack of good restaurants in Verona but read the menu carefully at the older places because the cuisine can be very "traditional". Nearby Osteria del Bugiardo is a slightly more serous place about wine. If you want a wine store this is the one famously featured in RS video: Oreste Cantina Dal Zovo.

There is an "all churches" ticket if you want to explore the churches of Verona. None of them are block buster places but several are interesting - especially San Zeno which is in nice local neighborhood area.

The trains from Verona only service the very bottom of Lake Garda, but you can take a ferry from Peschiera del Garda which is 12 minutes from Verona by train or take buses from the Verona train station to cities further up the east coast of the lake. Garda and Bardolino are favorites.

Bologna train station is the only Italian train station where the tracks are not on the same level and the fast trains come in 3 levels down. If you come in from Verona you'll experience this but allow time for an airport like transfer to get from the street level to the fast trains. If you are heading to Bologna for a day I would advocate walking from the train station down via Indepenzia as the colonnaded walk is part of the experience. The core of Bologna is small and super walkable and the buses are largely useless as they skirt the old town. If you're further away from the train station than you want to walk at the end of the day get a cab - the AppTaxi app works well in Verona and Bologna.

Have a great trip,
=Tod