Home to an ancient university, the town of Pavia dates back to pre-Roman times when it was known as Ticinum.
Our train-happy family readily jumped onto a train at Milan Centrale to spend a day at Pavia. A day of discovering piazzas, a university, and beautiful churches.
Our walk began from the train station at Pavia. We ambled along the streets that led to Piazza della Vittoria and the quiet Piazza del Duomo.
Admire Trieste and its breathtaking surroundings from above by following the scenic trail along the Strada Vicentina(Strada Napoleonica).
And then, walk some more to explore this city along the Adriatic Sea. Go ahead, it’s the best way to discover Trieste!
An Evening Walk in Trieste:
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Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Nuovo. Trieste, Italy
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The Church of San Spiridione. Trieste, Italy
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The Canal Grande.
Welcome to Trieste, the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia, an autonomous region in Italy. This vibrant city in the north-east part of the country exhibits a mix of Italian, Slovenian, German, and other cultures. It is the home of Illy coffee – reason enough to indulge in a cuppa Joe!
FrecciaBianca trains offer direct connections between Milan and Trieste, via Venice. Thus, Trieste found an entry in our travel planner.
The city of Bergamo, located at the foothills of the Alps, finds its place on many itineraries owing to its airport. Given the chance (and the time), it is a beautiful “two-tiered” city to visit. Frequent trains connect Bergamo and Milan, making it a fantastic destination for a day trip from the fashion capital.
On a sunny spring morning, about a year ago, we spent a day exploring the beautiful CittàAlta of Bergamo.
For a slice of tranquility and a different perspective of Rome, we spent a morning at the Gianicolo (Janiculum) Hill, had lunch in the charming Trastevere neighborhood, and strolled along the Ponte Sisto.
We boarded a bus that halted near the Piazzale del Faro. The Faro al Gianicolo (Lighthouse) in this piazza was a gift from Argentina to Italy. From here, we walked along the Passeggiata del Gianicolo that leads to the hilltop.
Padua, a city in close proximity to the Queen of the Adriatic, Venice, appears to live in the shadow of its more “popular” neighbor.
During our weekend escape to Padua, we discovered a charming city that boasts of a renowned university (dating back to 1222) whose alumni and professors list includes Galileo Galilei, Copernicus and William Harvey. The world’s first university botanical gardenfinds its home here, and features in the UNESCO heritage list.
The city of “authentic” pizza margherita, Napoli (or Naples), has a remarkable identity of its own. Great food (read PIZZA :)), spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and the majestic Mount Vesuvius, a beautiful historic center, and the delightful nativity scenes and figurines in a vibrant street made our visit very memorable.
Hunger pangs:
Having heard rave reviews about Neapolitan pizza, we did not think much about lunch and dinner choices – it was vera pizza napoletana all the way, with bufala DOC – and we did not regret it at all :).
As we got ready to welcome autumn, a grand goodbye to summer was in order. At Peschiera del Garda. On the shores of Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda.
The regional trains from Milan reach the little town of Peschiera in about an hour and a half (it is faster if you take the high-speed trains). A convenient day or weekend trip.
The pretty lakeside town has an old fortress, quaint canals, boats docked along the lake, and a spectacular lakeside promenade with pebble beaches.