Here are our favorite places in northern Italy
Northern Italy is filled with charming small towns, each with its own unique character and charm.
Our small-group trips to northern Italy, which go in the even more temperate spring, tend to fill up faster than others -- in part because it’s so hard to find great deals in this region on your own. From among many recommendations we could make, here are some of the most delightful places that you might want to explore:
Bergamo in the Lombardy region features much medieval architecture and an old upper district, Città Alta, where you’ll need to take a funicular to get inside its Venetian walls to walk cobblestone streets. If you’re into churches, try these: Duomo di Bergamo, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, or Cappella Colonna.
We've made lasting friends in Mantova, also in Lombardy, a true Renaissance city. Encircled by three lakes and also known as Mantova by English speakers, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Packed with architectural treasures and artifacts, elegant palaces, and a medieval and Renaissance cityscape, its Gonzaga rulers built the imposing Ducal Palace decorated with Mantegna frescoes. It was a magnet for Renaissance artists and its historic role in Italian opera.
Sirmione is a resort town on a narrow peninsula of Lake Garda with a medieval castle, ruins, beautiful villas best seen from water and a thermal bath complex. Being a spa destination means pricey accommodations, and many other lakefront towns offer similar charms. Wherever you stay, get out on the lake with a private boat tour. Contact us for travel ideas including Garda.
Lake Garda is a much larger but lesser known neighbor to Lake Como, better known as the longtime vacation home of American actor George Clooney. Laglio, where his home is located, and other towns along the western coast down to Como yield easily discovered tasty northern cuisine, a few waterfront hotel bargains, and awesome mountain and lake views everywhere.
Bellagio is a beautiful -- and expensive -- town located on the shores of Lake Como. You'll enjoy stunning views, picturesque streets, and charming cafes and restaurants, but mostly at high prices. It's on every bucket list, but make it a day trip.
We'd say the same about Venice and Milan, the two major tourist cities that bookend the north, east and west. See them but don't build a vacation around them. Treviso, with medieval roots and canals of its own, and Padua, an old university town of stylish cafes, are just short rides to Venice by rail or road.
Instead, check with us for even more ideas about the many charming small towns that you can explore in Northern Italy.