We have a few days that we would like to discover Northern Italy. We will be coming from Innsbruck on our way to Bled, Slovenia and would like to experience some of the hospitality of the region. We plan a day trip to Venice, however we would like your opinions of other places in the Sudtyrol region of Italy. Our son has described Lake Garda and the region seems filled with lakes and scenery, our quandry is where to go.
Posted by
Shawnee, OK, USA
396 posts
Sam, I love the Lake Maggiorie region. Cannobio is my favorite town but have also based in Stresa and Baveno. Beautiful scenery and lots to do, for example: Cable car to top of Monte Mottarone (Stresa) Cars leave every 20 minutes from 900-1140 and 1240 -1730. Boat to Borremean Islands (Stresa) Have lunch on Isle Pescatori at restaurant Verbano. I LOVE having lunch here. Great views from this island of the other islands and good seafood. Cannobio has a dramatic gorge and waterfall of the Orrido di Sant' Anna which can be reached by boat. One of my favorite hotels (a converted monastery) is in Cannobio. Lake Maggiore Express: a combination boat/train day trip to various small towns in Italy and Switzerland. Great scenery. Lunch is served on the train. Must make reservation. Restaurants: Stresa: Osteria degli Amici, via A.S. Bolongaro 33, pizza from wood fired ovens. Stresa: La Piedmontese, Via Mazzini 25, Town Center, good fish dishes, moderate prices
Let me know if you need any other information.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16235 posts
Don't go to Lake Maggiore. No way! It's way out of the way on the way from Innsbruck to Venice (too many ways in my sentence?). To see the Dolomites exit the A22 at Klautern, before Bozen (Bolzano) and go to Val Gardena. Ortisei is a very nice town. From there you can drive up to the Sella Pass and descend down to the Val di Fassa and eventually reconnect to the A22 freeway in Trento. If you would rather see the lake, exit the freeway at Lago Garda Nord then drive to Riva. From there you can drive down the Westernshore through Limone and Salo. Visit Sirmione in the south lake too. From Sirmione the take the A4 freeway to Venice. Stop in Verona if you have time. You can also do all of the above. But I don't know how much time you have.
Posted by
NYC area
3018 posts
Hi Sam, 1) How many days/nights do you have between Innsbruck and Bled? 2) What time of year are you looking at? Not knowing the answers to the questions, I'd pretty much agree with Roberto. For a quick look at the the Dolomites, after leaving Innsbruck, get off the A22 at the Klausen/Chiusa/Val Gardena exit. This is under 1:30 from innsbruck. The Val Gardena takes about 20 to 30 minutes to drive through non stop. After the village of Selva/Wolkenstein starts the spectauclar Gardena Pass. Incredible drive with amazing up close Dolomite scenery. The Sella Pass and the Pordoi Pass are also in the vicinity. Actually, the Gardnea Pass goes from the Val Gardena into the Alta Badia. The Sella Pass, which branches off the Gardena Pass, takes you down to Canazei. After the Sella and before you reach Canazei, you can hook up with the Pordoi Pass which goes east towards Arabba. The area is not that large, but driving times can be slow due to the many Dolomite Passes in the area. Our favorite place to base in the Dolomites is at the Ciasa Montanara in La Villa, Alta Badia. Easy half a day trip from Innsbruck to here. http://www.montanara.it http://www.altabadia.it We have photo's (on 3 pages) of these area's at: http://www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html Paul