Verona will be our home base for about six weeks this fall followed by a short stay in Rome. I am looking for advice on some day trips from Verona that involve unique experiences (as in not a checklist of museums, we have plenty of those planned:) and/or the outdoors. I already have day trips planned to Milan, Lake Garda and Padua as well as a two night stay in Venice. What are some of your favorite unique experiences in Italy?
Posted by
California USA
4130 posts
A few years ago we spent a couple of days in Merano just north of Verona. The train ride from Bolzano to Merano passes hundreds of apple orchards. I would imagine that it would be picturesque and maybe even have a fall festival or two in this area. Merano is a spa town and you can take wonderful hikes through the orchards and vineyards along the irrigation streams while gazing across the valleys at the Dolomites. I'd really like to go back and spend more time up in Merano, especially in the fall. Another thing that makes it fun for us is that the cuisine is such a German/Italian blend--have a little schnitzel with that gnocchi?
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
175 posts
We were there in May on a wandering itinerary-less trip; not our first time so we didn't do the obvious - which makes for a more leisurely visit. So here's some of our 'discoveries' - - Cittadella and Castellfranco di Veneto. Two walled and moated small towns - lovely places with good resto, nice stores and great wandering potential. - Bassano del Grappa - buying a glass of grappa and drinking it on the Palladio bridge. Also, a nice town. Asolo is also fun to walk through - it's a bit 'twee' but you can envision how it was in medieval times. - Treviso and Padua - all the benefits of the 'big' cities on a more human scale. Great markets, wonderful architecture and both have pedestrian only centros. Allow lots of time to get anywhere - the roads are jammed at all times and the truck traffic is a tad daunting. We've been to Italy many times but this trip really opened our eyes to the richness of the Veneto - esp. in comparison to the other areas we've explored. It's a different world in the north and the economic
disparity is very much in evidence. Lucky you - you'll be expert in all things Veronese!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Six weeks in Verona? I'm green with envy. The towns that aren't on your list but which should be considered are Mantua, Bergamo and Brescia. And although it's not a daytrip, the Giardino Giusti in Verona is a very charming garden and not heavily "touristed". It's in the Veronetta neighborhood of Verona. Be sure to walk the little path up to the top of the cliff for a nice view of Verona.
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
Lake Garda should make for a few day trips. We are particularly fond of Sirmione at the base. Malcesine, Riva del Garda, Torri del Benaco and Bardolino are also lovely. Vicenza is a lovely city with a very walkable historic center and lots of examples of Palladian architecture. Don't miss the Teatro Olympico. Asolo is another good spot to explore. If you have a car you could consider the Prosecco Road between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.