Guest post by Lisa Franceschini
BIO: Lisa is an Italian mom with a passion for travel and writing. You will find more of her posts on the blogs I’m Learning Italian and Rome Travelogues.
This post features the most beautiful cities in northern Italy.
Internationally, northern Italy is known mainly for its picturesque lakes and Venice, town built on water.
On the opposite hand, Italian locals who like to travel will inform you that there are lots of more cities stuffed with views, art, architecture, and culture.
Starting with Milan, one in all Italy’s most avant-garde cities, and moving on to cities you’ve never heard of, like Mantua and delightful Varese, the “Garden City.”
How to not fall in love with Parma, with its foods which have made Italian cuisine world famous, and Verona, where the romantic and tragic story of Romeo and Juliet was played out?
There are indeed many cities so as to add to your northern Italy itinerary.
Milan
Lombardy’s capital is the second-largest city in Italy and a hub for business and dynamic living.
In fact, town hides several features that can’t be found anywhere else in Italy.
First of all, migration from other Italian towns could be very high, because it is less complicated to seek out jobs in Milan in corporations and factories.
Milan attracts entrepreneurs and other people all for fashion and trends. Everyone here is meticulous about how they dress; you’ll notice this straight away by observing the look of the Italians living on this city.
Gae Aulenti Square is a spot that reflects the progressive soul of town. The square, inaugurated in 2012, is the latest square in Italy, surrounded by skyscrapers and with a shopping mall and a recent brass sculpture at its center.
Near this square is the Vertical Forest, two residential buildings that house, together with humans, 30,000 square meters of trees and plants.
In Milan’s historic center, the Sforzesco Castle is one in all the only a few fortresses on this planet positioned in town center and never on a hilltop.
Another iconic monument of Milan is the Duomo, a Gothic cathedral whose construction began within the late 14th century.
Milan Duomo is the third largest church on this planet when it comes to surface area and allows the ascent to the pinnacles, giving a panoramic view of town.
Milan alternates between ultra-modern places, equivalent to City Life, and areas where perfectly preserved eighteenth- or nineteenth-century buildings are positioned. There are tranquil streets and others which might be chaotic and hectic.
Milan also has large green areas, equivalent to Sempione and Montanelli parks.
Places to go to are:
- the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio
- Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, which depicts the Last Supper of Jesus
- La Scala Theater with its adjoining square
Also, even though it will not be very well-known, I highly recommend a visit to the San Maurizio Church, which has nothing to envy the Sistine Chapel of St. Peter’s within the Vatican-you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
Milan can be a famous shopping destination. If you’re also interested, I like to recommend you walk along:
- Via Dante from the Castello to Piazza Duomo
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele with its neighboring streets
- Corso Buenos Aires
Before leaving town, you’ll be able to’t miss a walk within the Navigli area, within the southern a part of Milan. Here are dozens of cafes, trattorias, and stylish bars, where Milanese locals congregate from aperitif time onward. There are also unexpected cultural venues, equivalent to Spazio Alda Merini, a house museum dedicated to the life and works of one in all the best Italian poets of the twentieth century.
Milan can be a multiethnic city, and the restaurant offerings follow this line, but when you should eat “Milanese,” select a trattoria that gives local cuisine.
Typical Milanese dishes include risotto, cotoletta, and ossobuco.
On the opposite hand, should you are in a rush, ask for traditional Milanese street food, namely michetta, which is a typical bread, perfect when stuffed with salami.
Verona
History, charm, and romance have merged together and given rise to Verona, one of the crucial beautiful cities in Italy.
Located in Veneto near the border with Lombardy, very near Lake Garda, this city is known for its Arena in Piazza Bra, which is able to immediately remind you of the Colosseum in Rome.
This place that dates back to the first century AD generates fascination for its history and music, being the most important stage for opera and musical events, including modern ones.
The city can be known for the balcony of the story of Romeo and Juliet, which is why Verona is, in accordance with many, town of romance and love par excellence.
Verona can be history and its historic center is asserted a UNESCO World Heritage Site not surprisingly.
Let’s start with the varied bridges that cross the Adige River that runs through town (the Scaligero Bridge is known), after which go to the more industrial streets that teem with people.
The city streets are very particular, and a few of them take you back in time, a sense confirmed by the various buildings around: you only must look as much as catch some interesting artistic cues.
The city also offers a lot in the best way of architecturally fabulous churches.
Among the greater than 50 buildings, special mention should be made:
- Verona Cathedral
- the Basilica of San Zeno
- the Basilica of Santa Anastasia
- San Lorenzo
- the Church of San Fermo Maggiore
There can be a cumulative ticket to give you the option to go to the most important historical attractions and churches, the Verona Card. This city pass costs €20 for twenty-four hours and €25 for 48 hours.
Other things to do in Verona include visiting Piazza delle Erbe, the Lamberti Tower, Porta Borsari, the Scaligeri family mausoleum, or “Arche Scaligere.”
There are panoramic terraces over town from which to enjoy a romantic sunset, equivalent to the medieval fortress of Castel San Pietro and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Verona is certainly value a two-day visit.
Visit it even should you only have at some point because you’re headed to Venice. On the opposite hand, should you are coming from central Italy, consider that you could also visit this city as a two-day trip from Rome. In fact, on a train, it should take you 3 hours to achieve Verona from Rome.
Bologna
Bologna is positioned in the middle of the Emilia Romagna region and is known for inventing a few of Italy’s most famous dishes.
Travelers are often acquainted with ragù alla Bolognese, but not everyone knows that Bologna boasts many nicknames in Italy.
Bologna is “the learned,” since it is home to the oldest university in Europe; it’s “the fat,” because people eat well there; it’s “the red,” because its inhabitants are leftist; and it’s town of the three T’s.
The first T refers to the various ancient towers that decorate town. The Asinelli Towers, in-built the eleventh century, are greater than 90 meters high and one in all them can be a leaning tower: you’ll be able to climb to the highest of them to enjoy a unbelievable view of town.
The second T refers to Tortellini, delicious ravioli stuffed with pork, ham, Bologna cut, and Parmesan cheese, probably the most distinctive food in Bologna.
The third T refers to ” tits,” however the precise reason will not be known, perhaps pointing to the voluptuous-looking statues of nymphs on the Neptune Fountain.
Bologna can be town of porticoes, that’s, as many as 38 km of porticoed streets built from the Middle Ages to the current day, perfect for locating town out of the sun and rain.
The city is the most effective places in Italy to attend university, being very livable and people-friendly.
The virtues of Bologna are so many who it’s inconceivable to list them in a brief space.
Know that it is vitally easy to achieve by train since it has a central station.
It is a singular city in Northern Italy, attempt to spend not less than at some point here; a visit to Verona is one of the crucial accessible day trips from Rome by train.
Parma
Don’t trust anyone who tells you that Parma is just one other city and never value a visit.
If someone says that, it means they’ve yet to learn what this place represents historically, artistically, and culinary-wise.
I include Parma amongst probably the most beautiful cities to see in Northern Italy because it truly is a spot that fascinates, with its own traditions and history.
Parma can be one in all the best cities in Italy to live in.
Since town is actually not amongst the biggest, you’ll be able to easily get around it on foot in a day (if it were two, even higher).
Impressive is the Piazza del Duomo with the church and the adjoining octagonal Baptistery. There is the choice of buying an entrance ticket that also gives entry to the Bishop’s Palace with the Diocesan Museum.
Parma Cathedral was in-built the yr 1100 and is representative of the Lombard Romanesque style. An incredible contribution at the ornamental level got here from Correggio, writer of the dome paintings on the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The same writer also gave much for the decoration of the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist.
Not distant is the Pilotta Palace, with the luxurious Farnese Theater (all in wood) and the National Gallery nearby. Lovers of art, that is the must-do in Parma! A cumulative ticket allows entry to the complete complex.
The National Gallery represents a priceless artistic collection due to the presence of works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Tintoretto, Leonardo da Vinci, Beato Angelico, Correggio, Parmigianino, and plenty of others.
You will reach it with a few 15-minute walk from the train station.
Music lovers will appreciate Parma for its reference to Giuseppe Verdi. A lot of attractions are related to this great composer, starting along with his native house and the Royal Theater, an actual gem that leaves the observer breathless.
From a culinary perspective, prosciutto, parmesan, coppa, and salami are among the many local delicacies, together with homemade pasta, cappelletti, and ravioli.
The beef stew accompanied by a very good red Lambrusco wine is great for the most important course.
Parma is among the many cities in northern Italy that supply the very best culinary experience. It can be one in all northern Italy’s most underrated places to go to.
Padua
Padua is one in all the most important cities in northern Italy. It is positioned within the southern a part of the Veneto region, about 40 km west of Venice.
Although it will not be amongst the preferred tourist destinations for local and foreign travelers alike, (and that is precisely an incentive to go to) Padua is one of the crucial beautiful cities in northern Italy.
One of the aspects that make Padua a singular urban center is its historical, artistic, and cultural richness.
In fact, town is stuffed with historic buildings and monuments, equivalent to the famous Scrovegni Chapel recognized as a UNESCO heritage site which features a crucial medieval fresco cycle by the artist Giotto.
The interior of the Ragione Palace can be covered with beneficial frescoes. In addition, there may be the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Pontifical Basilica of St. Anthony, one of the crucial visited religious destinations in northern Italy by travelers from world wide.
Padua is wealthy in public and civic buildings, with green areas during which to walk and learn in regards to the history of the place. Very interesting is the Botanical Garden of Padua, an open-air natural museum during which there are multiple centuries-old trees and fountains of high artistic value equivalent to the Fountain of the Four Seasons. It is feasible to access green environments various in vegetation characteristics and temperature throughout the park. An example is the areas dedicated to the Mediterranean Thicket and the Tropical Greenhouse.
Very characteristic and particular to town is the Bo Palace, today’s seat of the University of Padua and the middle of the oldest “anatomical theater” on this planet.
Famous in Padua are the varied squares that intertwine the past with the current:
- Piazza delle Erbe
- Piazza della Frutta
- Piazza dei Signori
the very spacious Prato della Valle Square, beautiful to experience and to see
Padua can be renowned for some culinary specialties: bigoli as a primary course and as a most important course the Paduan hen, recognized as a Slow Food presidium.
As a tasty dessert, then again, the pazientina cake, a typical dessert with a zabaglione base, first made within the seventeenth century and eaten in the course of the most significant holidays, is very fashionable.
The cherry on top of the cake, if I still haven’t convinced you to go to one of the crucial underrated cities in Italy is that this. Padua is one in all the best places to remain outside of Venice to avoid crowds and excessive prices.
Venice
Venice is regarded worldwide as an exquisite travel destination, because it is taken into account one of the crucial beautiful cities in northern Italy and the world. Located within the eastern a part of the Veneto region, on the Adriatic Coast, Venice is a singular urban center since it is developed each on an island-lagoon area and on the mainland.
In fact, resulting from its geographical rarity, the Venetian Lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one in all Italy’s richest cities when it comes to culture, art, and history. Sure enough, Venice is a singular city on this planet and is a destination every yr for tens of millions of travelers who come from all over the place to remain not less than three days on this magnificent place.
The landmark of an ideal Venice tour needs to be the long-lasting St. Mark’s Square, where crucial historical and cultural buildings are. It’s around this square that the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, and the nearby Rialto Bridge and Bridge of Sighs are positioned.
Other essential historical-religious buildings value visiting are the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello and the Church of the Redeemer.
Venice can be famous for the Venice Film Festival and Palazzo Grassi, a constructing where events equivalent to photography exhibitions and works by artists from world wide are sometimes held.
In addition, one of the crucial essential folklore events within the Venetian city is the very famous Carnival of Venice, a period when all Venetians and tourists dress up in traditional 18th-century costumes and masks the day before Ash Wednesday.
In Venice, you get around on foot, by motorboat cab service, steamboat, or gondola between the varied canals (the streets of that are called calle).
Nearby islets deserve attention, equivalent to Murano and Burano where the art of expert master craftsmen could be admired.
Finally, the cuisine in Venice could be very renowned, with seafood dishes together with polenta. Other traditional Venetian dishes include “risi e bisi,” tasty Venetian-style liver, and marinated eel, also called bisato.
As local desserts, Venetians have sfregolotta cake, baicoli, and delicious butter cookies called bussolai.
In itself, town could be very expensive, but an aperitif in St. Mark’s Square is a “must” for many travelers.
Bergamo
Another must-see city in northern Italy is Bergamo, positioned within the vast foothills between the Alps and Pre-Alps in Lombardy.
One of crucial features of Bergamo’s city core is its division into two parts:
the Upper Town (Bergamo di Sopra), is ready on the hillside as an ancient medieval fortress surrounded by partitions
the Lower Town (Bergamo di Sotto), is more modern and industrial, but not for that reason poor in charm.
The artistic and cultural heart, nonetheless, lies within the upper part. The two zones are well connected by bus service.
The most famous and most visited complex of buildings in Upper Bergamo is the Ragione Palace, with the Civic Tower and the Contarini Fountain.
Also of interest are the Colleoni Chapel, positioned within the Upper Town’s Cathedral Square, and the Cathedral of St. Alexander near the Palazzo della Ragione.
Bergamo Alta can be recognized for having a prestigious garden, namely the Botanical Garden, also identified by major European institutions as a crucial green area.
To reach the citadel of Bergamo Alta, one must go on foot, because it is an ancient and traffic-restricted area, cars are usually not allowed to flow into. If you travel by automotive search for parking on the road outside the perimeter partitions.
If “above” you breathe history, below, within the Lower Town, you end up thrown right into a more modern dimension. Here you’ll be able to visit the Church of Saints Bartholomew and Stephen and the Church of Santo Spirito during which the famous painting Pala di Santo Spirito by Lorenzo Lotto is preserved.
For lovers of history and culture key to know is the Accademia Carrara, an authoritative art gallery accredited on the European level.
Like many northern Italian cities, Bergamo is known for making delicious and ” hearty” dishes, equivalent to polenta with some stewed bird meat, served with gorgonzola cheese.
A standard local dessert is Donizetti cake, a soft doughnut with apricots, pineapple, vanilla, and liqueur.
Bolzano
Christmas markets in Italy, Bolzano
Among probably the most beautiful cities to see in northern Italy is the capital of the Alto Adige region (which is a component of Trentino-Alto Adige).
In Bolzano, the “border town” feel could be very pronounced. Italian and German bilingualism is a fact of life that comes with the territory.
The city, which could be visited serenely in a day, often recalls typical German architecture. While in some buildings the architecture appears modern, in others it falls throughout the historical paths of the past, perfectly preserving its features and decorations.
The beating heart of town is Walter Square with the nearby cathedral with its typical Gothic features, whose origins return far into the centuries (even to Roman times), however it appears to have been renovated following the bombings of World War II.
From the identical square, it is feasible to ascend barely to Piazza delle Erbe, a tiny widening within the pedestrian zone where there may be at all times a small open-air market, with typical local eateries and restaurants.
The square is positioned halfway between Bolzano’s renowned “porticos” (the road of stores carved out of ancient, narrow, deep stores) and the more modern shopping street.
Just down this street is the museum where “Otzi” (the iceman present in recent times but dating back some 5300 years) is on display.
A number of more steps and you’ll be able to reach Talvera Park before arriving on the Victory Monument.
I like to recommend a climb to the Renon Plateau, which could be reached in just a few minutes by cable automotive (which you’re taking near the train station). The place is positioned right above town and is right for wonderful hikes in close contact with nature.
In addition, about half-hour from Bolzano it’s also possible to go to Merano. This town, together with Bolzano itself and Bressanone, are the proper places to experience the Christmas markets in Italy.
Goulash, speck, dumplings, frankfurters, apple juice, strudel, and alpine cheeses are typical foods of the realm, as is the speck-potato-egg dish.
If you should have a leisurely lunch as an alternative, go for a pretzel or the characteristic farmer’s sandwich, made with speck, mozzarella, mustard, apple, and gherkins.
Mantua
Mantua is positioned within the southeastern a part of Lombardy and is one of the crucial beautiful cities in Italy.
Its strengths are its location, perfect as a base for exploring northern Italy, its livability, and its culture.
The scenery surrounding Mantua’s historic center is straight out of a fairy tale: it seems to lie on the Mincio River, which right around it widens its banks, almost taking up the looks of a giant lake.
Being a comparatively small city, the historic center and most important attractions could be visited on foot in a day.
Mantua is stuffed with squares that manage to inform different stories, including palaces, buildings, gardens, and churches, becoming a treasure chest able to containing priceless artistic and historical value.
Mr. Mantegna and the Gonzaga family are actually those that have contributed probably the most luster to the place. The former as an artist, the latter as a noble family that enriched town in architectural and aesthetic points.
Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza Sordello, and Piazza Mantegna are the three poles of reference for the traveler, who can observe much of what Mantua holds.
Here are only a number of the insights this beautiful Lombard city offers, inviting you to walk through town streets that appear removed from the accentuated modernity typical of some more contemporary cities.
- The Duomo
- the Ducal Palace
- the Bishop’s Palace
- Gabbia Tower
- Acerbi Palace
- Bonacolsi Palace
- San Giorgio Castle
- Piazza Lega Lombarda
- Piazza Pallone
- the round church of San Lorenzo
- the Basilica of Sant’Andrea where many works by Mantegna and other artists are contained
- the home of Mantegna himself
- Te Palace
In Mantua, is nearly exciting to still see the old-fashioned workshops, stores, and small restaurants offering traditional dishes and native specialties.
These include the sbrisolona cake, Mantuan salami, handmade pasta agnolini, and plenty of other culinary dishes that may remain in your heart, together with town’s entire heritage.
When you spend a day or two in Mantua, you’ll hardly forget it.
Thanks to its scenery and artistic heritage, Mantua is the most effective cities in northern Italy for romantic getaways.
Turin
Turin is the capital of Piedmont and one of the crucial beautiful cities in northern Italy. town stands within the western a part of the region, not removed from the Susa Valley. You can visit Turin in 2 days. I like to recommend getting around on foot and by subway.
Turin is one in all Italy’s most significant economic hubs, together with Milan and Genoa. The city was also the capital of Italy for a time and the middle of renowned Made in Italy products, especially within the automotive and design sectors.
Turin is to be counted among the many northern Italian cities famous for his or her art and culture.
One of the primary stops is the Royal Palace, which was Piedmont’s first and most stunning royal residence.
Other historic buildings are also included in the distinguished list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites equivalent to the Madama Palace, the Queen’s Villa, and the luxurious Valentino Castle positioned on the banks of the Po River that runs through town itself.
One of Turin’s iconic buildings is the Mole Antonelliana. In the second half of the 18th century, architect Alessandro Antonelli designed and supervised the development of town’s largest synagogue. The square-domed constructing greater than 160 meters high weighed heavily on the pockets of Turin’s Jewish community, which later sold it to the City of Turin.
Today, the Mole Antonelliana houses the Cinema Museum of Turin.
Two other places of historical and artistic interest are the Sabauda Gallery Pinacoteca and the Egyptian Museum, really useful for lovers of ancient history, because it is taken into account the second most significant Egyptian museum on this planet after the illustrious Cairo Museum.
On the religious side, town of Turin is known for the presence of non secular monuments of maximum importance to town’s history, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist or Duomo di Torino. Here is preserved the Holy Shroud a crucial ancient artifact that for Christian culture is recognized because the possible “burial shroud of Jesus.”
A visit to Piazza San Carlo is a must, in addition to to the Reggia di Venaria Reale and the Superga Basilica, which, from the hill, overlooks town.
As for culinary tradition, then again, Turin boasts of an in depth list of typical local dishes to enjoy: Piedmontese veal in tuna sauce, bagna cauda, the agnolotti del Plin, and even the Piedmontese grand mixed boiled meats.
Turin can be famous for making tasty and iconic desserts, equivalent to Savoiardi, the crumbly cookies used to make Tiramisu, and at last the famous Gianduiotto, a chocolate in the form of a small ingot.
Genoa
If I told you that Genoa is amongst probably the most beautiful cities to see in Italy would you suspect me?
Genoa is one in all the coastal cities in northern Italy value visiting. The city is underestimated by many and thought of only a gateway destination to other, more touristy places.
Genoa is a spot to find, even should you only have at some point to spare.
Genoa will not be that beauty that immediately attracts you. It might not be just like the flashy fantastic thing about that one who makes you switch around on the street as you walk, however it is more comparable to the pleasantness of that subject to be unveiled, to be understood, but which stays with you endlessly, not less than in memory.
Understanding Genoa will not be easy, however it presents quite a challenge to the traveler.
Anyway, town holds a few of crucial historical landmarks of Italy.
To discover Genoa you might have to walk around within the carruggi, that’s, the small, very narrow streets which might be typical of the Ligurian environment.
Let or not it’s clear that Genoa is a seaside city with a port that’s value a visit, however it also welcomes a wide range of people and goods: that’s the reason town, in its oldest part, will not be so clean, but in recent times the administrations have worked hard to offer back to the Genoese people a worthy place.
The old city is probably the most historic, while the newer part brings back modern points, starting with Piazza De Ferrari or Piazza Principe.
Beautiful is the Corso Italia promenade, which with a large sidewalk allows long walks with the gaze fixed on the ocean. The city symbol is the lantern, which is the lighthouse indicating the port.
The most unusual stroll is the one along Via Garibaldi, one of the crucial beautiful streets in Italy and turn into the UNESCO heritage site “Strade Nuove e sistema di Palazzi del Rolli.”
Between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, local nobles devoted themselves to renovating and adorning all of the noble residences that overlook today’s Via Garibaldi and a few neighboring streets. The result’s extraordinary: on the skin, the facades are decorated with stucco, marble, or paint. Inside, there are courtyards with fountains and nymphaeums, halls with frescoes, and positive collections and furnishings.
During the sixteenth century, a public decree stipulated that the palaces listed as “Rolli,” were to take turns hosting outstanding foreign political figures visiting Genoa.
This feature of Genoa greatly impressed Flemish painter Pieter Paul Rubens, who within the seventeenth century published a volume with a set of drawings of the palaces (now collectively called “Rolli“).
There are 42 palaces registered on the UNESCO site, including Rosso Palace, Bianco Palace, and Doria Tursi Palace. If you should learn more in regards to the Rolli Palaces, take a look at the small print here.
Also to not be underestimated in Genoa are its at least 28 museums: for a fee of 20 euros you’ll be able to join for a city pass that offers access to crucial museums in addition to a number of the Rolli palaces and public transportation.
A must-visit is the Genoa Aquarium, especially for families with children. It could be an incredible alternative in case of bad weather or as a straightforward curiosity, a extremely worthwhile visit among the many things to see in Genoa.
If you’re lucky enough to go to this city, remember to taste Ligurian focaccia, one in all the hottest Italian breads. For a meal, try a pleasant platter of trofie with pesto pasta, one other Genoan specialty that has spread world wide.
Varese
If you’re on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path-cities to explore in northern Italy, now you’ll uncover one.
Varese enjoys a privileged geographical location within the western a part of Lombardy.
From Varese, with a 30-minute drive, you will probably be in Milan, with 20 minutes in Como and Lake Maggiore, and with half-hour you arrive in Lugano (Switzerland).
This alone means that you can profit from a convenient and functional foothold on your travels. However, it mustn’t be forgotten that town is well value a visit as well.
Varese known as the Garden City due to nature reserves that surround it and since of its wonderful Public Gardens (which could be visited freed from charge and are positioned contained in the Estense Palace, now the seat of the City Hall).
The city also has some historic villas worthy of a visit, including:
- Villa Ponti
- Villa Panza
- Villa Toplitz
- Villa Mylius
Also splendid are the parks of those buildings that can’t be missed by lovers of art and architecture.
Among the things to do in Varese actually is the climb to Sacro Monte (on foot, by bus or by funicular) to have a singular and priceless open view, on the one hand of the mountains (Alps and Pre-Alps), and on the opposite of a giant portion of Northern Italy (from Como to Milan, as much as the Emilian Apennines on the clearest and clearest days).
As you walk up the trail, it takes you to some chapels that contain frescoes by renowned painters (including Guttuso).
If you like walking within the mountains, the climb to Monte Campo dei Fiori, positioned immediately behind the village of Santa Maria del Monte, is a notable “plus.”
Going back down, town center is kind of contained and could be visited in a few hours just by walking between Via Morosini, Piazza Montegrappa (the “front room” of town), Corso Matteotti, and the Basilica San Vittore.
These and adjoining streets tell a story of historic workshops and traditions. Moving to the suburbs within the Schiranna area, 5 km from the middle, a visit to the lake of the identical name, quiet, calm, and residential of national rowing, is really useful.
Varese is well served by public transportation equivalent to buses and trains.
Enjoy a superb Buosino (a really particular and typical coffee of town) on the pastry shop with a slice of Dolce Varese cake or a few Brutti e Buoni biscuits.
Conclusion – most beautiful cities in northern Italy
As you’ll be able to see, northern Italian cities have priceless artistic and architectural treasures.
Therefore be prepared so as to add just a few extra days to your trip to Italy, because there is really a lot to see within the north.
Some of probably the most beautiful cities in northern Italy are also very people-friendly, for instance:
- Padua
- Varese
- Mantua
- Parma
I like to recommend that you simply plan an itinerary of not less than two weeks to go to this a part of Italy.
Your base could possibly be Padua, Varese, or Mantua.
The best season for traveling on this a part of Italy is from April to June and September to October.
Unless you should benefit from the Christmas atmosphere; in that case, pack your gloves and hat and select Trentino-Alto Adige as your base.
