I have one month trip planned with husband and sister--- going to Lake Maggiore to visit friends.
The plan is to explore the lake areas (day trips from Verbania, on Lake Maggiore) for a week or more.
Also, to visit Venice for one week. We have time to explore some cities near Venice or on train path of Venice to Milan. I have been to Milan and Venice before. Loved 4 days in Venice! (only 2 days in Milan). Do you have any recommendations for places to visit near here.... I don't really like to plan trips to where all the tourists flock...... but if it's special, then it's worth it.
What do I like?
One example is that I went Cinque Terre for 3 nights and was overwhelmed by too many tourists and not culture. After then beautiful walk--- not much at all to see. The locals don't live there...
I love ROME, like Florence but don't plan to return (has grown so much it's loud). I loved Sienna, Cremona, travels across Umbria. I love small and charming. great food, history/architecture. Really appreciate magical towns and extraordinary views. This is why we plan on a week in Venice. I loved visiting Asolo last time I visited Venice. Cremona was a real treat too (town of the Stravinsky violins). Thank you!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17225 posts
You might check out Bergamo for a stop between Venice and Milan. Change trains at Brescia on the main Venice to Milan train path. We have not been there yet but I added it to our next trip after reading a bit and seeing photos. If you are an opera fan, you might enjoy the Donizetti connection.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1026 posts
Hello LetiCalifornia,
I'm a fan of Verona which is 1:15 by fast train from Venice and on the train line to Milan.
Verona is technically a city of 175,000 but the old Roman downtown in the crook of the river is largely traffic free and the two adjoining neighborhoods are all a tourist would be interested in and feels much smaller and intimate. Verona is a classy, upscale, cafe society feeling city. It has some of the same 'elegant decay' feeling of Venice with faded murals on many buildings along with a standing Roman arena and theater.
Aside from the (fake) Juliet's balcony there aren't a ton of really touristy things and much of the tourism is German so even that still feels somewhat foreign and less obviously touristy. Verona is a very fashion, arts and culture kind of place and you can go see a concert or opera in Roman ruins if you're there at the right time of year.
I'm a big fan of Roman ruins so I enjoyed a day trip to Brescia (slightly further down the train line) as well and recommend it if that's your thing. Brescia has ruins and the connected museum as well a bunch of central piazzas that kind of chain together and castle at the top of hill. But there is also a fair amount of less special feeling "everyday Italy" surrounding the central part of the city. I'd recommend taking the metro a stop towards the central city from the train station.
Your trip sounds great, enjoy,
=Tod
Posted by
Michigan
480 posts
We stayed in Stresa on Lake Maggiore, and enjoyed exploring the Borromean Islands. We also took a bus over to Lake Orta, and really liked Orta San Giulio and Isola San Giulio. This was in 2019, and it wasn’t very crowded, which we loved.
We traveled by train from Torino to Milan, then to Stresa. If you were interested in exploring another city that isn’t super touristy while in the region, I’d recommend going the other direction to Torino. It’s a pretty city to walk around, with a royal palace, a cool cinema museum, and the second largest Egyptian collection outside of Cairo. Many of the streets are arcaded, so it was cool and shady and protected from rain. There’s a great cafe culture there.
Also, in Milan, exploring the rooftop of the Duomo was a memorable experience for us.
Laurie
Posted by
67 posts
I'm not sure I'm understanding your plan correctly, however you might consider Ferrara or Modena. Both are enjoyable for visits of several days or longer, not super touristy/crowded, with easy train connections to/from other towns and cities. Fantastic food too.
Just saw the recommendation of Torino above. Yes, it's fabulous!
Posted by
OP
Oakland, CA
35 posts
Looking for cities that keep us in general area not far from Milan---- to Venice area. (have already travelled to Florence/Sienna/Cinque Terre/Cremona. Want to stay closer to Venice or to Milan areas. Will plan to spend 2 weeks at least in Lake areas (staying in Verbena Piedmonte area on Lake Maggiore at family's place). HAVE Two weeks to explore area between Venice and Milan area.
(probably 5-7 days staying in Venice at an apartment). That leaves us at least one week to explore on our way to Milan (where we fly back from). Have been to Milan once, only one night. Maybe spend 1-2 nights there. Our trip is one month total. We are young 60's.... love special discoveries, not looking for too many tourists on this trip. Skipping Florence on this trip.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17225 posts
I suggested Bergamo above. But if you want something closer to Milan, Desenzano del Garda is right ON the main train line between Milan and Venice, about 40 minutes from Milan and 90 from Venice.
We have been there twice on our way to the Dolomites, spending 2 nights each time at this lakefront hotel:
https://www.parkhotelonline.it/en/
It has a small rooftop pool, nd their garden restaurant is so nice we have not eaten anywhere else in Desenzano. The town has a nice cobbled oldtown area, a beach, and a castle, but what we like to do there is take the ferry over to Sirmione (a short and inexpensive ride) and walk to the Grottoes of Catullus to explore the Roman ruins.
https://www.bresciatourism.it/en/things-to-do/catullus-grottoes-sirmione/
Sirmione itself is very touristy, but it is worth putting up with the crowd near the ferry to get to the grottoes at the tip of the peninsula—-you quickly leave them behind as you walk.
for a nice quiet lunch off the main pedestrian path we like this restaurant:
Posted by
Park City, Utah
53 posts
Our favorites between Milan and Venice included Verona and Padua. The Rick Steves guidebook and videos give a great synopsis of each, and I think they meet your criteria. Enjoy your trip!