THE BEST OF NORTHERN ITALY IN 4 DAYS

From the breath-taking canals of Venice, to the romantic Shakespearean city of Verona and azure blue hues of Lake Como, it’s hard not be in awe of northern Italy. Best of all, you might be surprised to hear it’s all easily accessible via one renowned Italian city – Milan.

Within a 1 to 2 hour train ride from Milan’s city centre, you can experience the sights of four very unique and beautiful destinations, making it the perfect base for a long weekend. In this article I will share with you the itinerary which I followed when I went exploring this beautiful part of the world.

DAY 1: VENICE (2.5 hours from Milan via express train)

Wakey wakey. To make the most of your trip to Venice, you can take the early morning the 7:00am high speed train from Milan Central Station to Venice.
Venice, is the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, which is built on more than 100 small islands, in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. The city has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces, stunning architecture, mysterious passageways and of course, the canals.

With only one day in Venice, you’ll be a little tight on time; however, here is my list of must-see things (make sure you have your walking shoes on!):

• Walk out of the train station and make your way along the loop of the Grand Canal down Rio Terà Lista di Spagna, heading towards the centre of Venice. You’ll pass by many fantastic cafes, market stalls, and incredible views of the canals
• Taste the most amazing gelato on the planet at Gelateria Sosu
• Visit the Piazza San Marco, ensure you go up the Campanile di San Marco, for an amazing 360 degree view of the city and take a snap with the Bridge of Sighs
• Visit the bookstore of Libreria Acqua Alta and see its unique staircase made out of books
• Walk across the Ponte dell’Accademia, while enjoying one of the best views over the Grand Canal, and discover this sleepy, quaint area
• Explore the markets and have lunch nearby the beautiful Ponte di Rialto

If you’re efficient (yes that means forgoing that espresso stop!), you might just have enough time to make a very quick trip to Burano Island. Burano is a colourful town in the Venetian Lagoon made up of four islands linked by bridges, which is accessible by ferry and within 30 minutes from Venice. Legend has it that the houses were originally painted in bright colours so that fisherman could see them in the thick fog. This charming little town is definitely a place you want to try squeeze into your schedule!

DAY 2: VERONA (2 hours from Milan via regional train)

Verona, the city of love, is one not to miss. This medieval town is built along the Adige River and is famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” There is a 14th-century residence, known as Casa di Giulietta, with a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard which is said to be Juliet’s house. However there’s so much more on offer in this city.

Must-Do’s In Verona

• Explore the Piazza delle Erbe, which is the main square, full of cafes, restaurants and market stalls
• Take a walk along the river from Ponte Nuovo to Ponte Pietra
• Hike up to the Castel San Pietro and enjoy a cocktail at the Re Teodorico restaurant – this is a hilltop Romanesque fortress with terraces offering panoramic views over the city
• Climb up the Torre dei Lamberti stairs for more city views – Verona’s tallest medieval tower, built by the Lamberti family in 1172

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DAY 3: LAKE COMO (1 hour from Milan via regional train)

Today we’re setting off on the regional train to Varenna, a beautiful village on the eastern shore of Lake Como. While the main tourist activity in Varenna is to relax by the lake, it is also worth visiting the gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi.

Remember to wear your walking shoes, because for the best view in town, you’ll need to hike up the side of a mountain on your way to Castello di Vezio. There are two alternative walking routes you can take – one is through the town up a very steep pebble path, and the other is the scenic route by following the signs by the road leading out of the town. I definitely recommend taking the latter as the views of the lake on the way up are too good to miss and the incline is considerably less steep than the trail from the town.

Next, head toward the marina to catch the ferry to the town of Bellagio, the renowned ‘peal of the lake’. Bellagio is best known for its cobble stone lanes, elegant buildings and the Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th-century terraced garden with lake views. Make sure you also stop for a cocktail on the wisteria-filled terrace of the stunning Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and take a picturesque photo at the top of Salita Serbelloni Street. This is a town made for wandering, so get lost and enjoyed.

The last journey of the day is a scenic one hour ferry ride down to the town of Como, where you’ll be able to catch a regional train back to Milan. Como is a city at the southern tip of Lake Como and is known for its Gothic Como Cathedral, a scenic funicular railway and a waterfront promenade. Have a wander around the town and enjoy a gelato, before catching making your way back to Milan.

DAY 4: MILAN

After three action-packed days of exploring northern Italy’s finest towns, it’s time to bring down the tempo. Milan is a city renowned for fashion and design, as well as its high-end restaurants and shops.

Today’s first stop is at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the famous Milan shopping strip, great for people watching and spending your life’s savings. Located on the other end of the Galleria is the grand (and almost surreal) Cathedral Duomo. For a few euros you can walk around the amazing cathedral pillars on its rooftop.

There are numerous lovely cafes and bars overlooking the Duomo to stop for an espresso or lunch –however, I recommend treating yourself to a cocktail with a view! Terrazza Aperol, as the name suggests, is a modern Aperol themed bar with views stunning views of the Duomo! 13 euros will cover the cost of entry plus 1 free drink.

To finish off the day, you’re going to take a leisurely stroll down to the hipster Navigli District. You might feel a bit like you’re in Amsterdam rather than Milan, with cafes, canals and riverboats all around you. There are two canals: the Naviglio Pavese and the Naviglio Grande, which is the more scenic of the two, with its canal banks becoming very busy in the evening.

EMILIA’S TOP TIPS:

• Book your train tickets from Milan to Venice as soon as possible to get the best price. The regional train is much cheaper but it also takes over an hour longer to get to Venice, and with limited time on your hands, it’s worth paying that little bit more for the express train.
• Book a hotel near the Milan Central Station – this is the station you’ll be using to get to all three destinations, so save yourself the hassle of having to commute within Milan itself. Helpfully, Milan Central Station also has a coach transfer service that takes you to and from the airport for a few Euros.
• Aperitivo, Aperitif, Apericena! Get involved each evening and enjoy a favourite Italian past time!

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We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Northern Italy. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.

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By We Are Travel Girls Contributor Emilia Drozda 

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