diane costello

I will be in Brescia the last week of Sept. and would appreciate info on day trips. We were thinking of going to Interlaken for a overnight stay or just explore the Dolomites. Our second week we will be visiting Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre. This is our first trip to Europe.

Santa Chiara

I am curious. Why Brescia? Are you on business there? It is a good location, though, for day trips. I would advise getting one of the Cadogan guides to Northern Italy. Also, if you could do Venice as a day trip, even going and returning in the same day for a couple of days. The train is a little more than 2 hours, one way. This would leave you more time for Florence and Cinque Terre. In my most humble opinion, Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre in one week is too much. <BR> <BR>It also depends if you have a car or not, what you like to do and see and how comfortable you are striking out on your own since this is your first time in Europe.

diane costello

My husband will be in Brescia on business and my friend and I are tagging along and have one week on our own to see the sites in the area.

Steve James

Hello Diane, <BR> <BR>You didn't say whether or not you will have a car. But even without there are some lovely places you can easily get to by public transport. <BR> <BR>As Santa Chiara says, Brescia is well placed for day-trips. Verona, Bergamo and Vicenza are easy by train. <BR>You could spend at least 2 days visiting the lovely towns and villages of Lake Garda (- don't miss Riva, Limone, Malcesine and Sirmione, - but most are worth a visit). <BR>If you have a car you could certainly get up into the Dolomites for a few days. <BR> <BR>Let me know if I can be of more help ... <BR> <BR>Steve <BR> <BR>

Rex

We - - the "fall fodorites' trip to Italy" - - will be very near you that same week, at a villa on Lake Garda, less than an hour away. See www.rexbickers.italy.com for more info. <BR> <BR>I'd be glad to correspond with you about meeting up for a day trip together, or to have you (with friend, husband, whatever) to our villa for dinner one night. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex Bickers <BR>Westerville, Ohio <BR>

diane costello

Hello, <BR>This is Diane again. We will not have a car in Brescia, but were hoping to find a day bus trip out of Brescia to the Dolomites and Lake Garda if possible. Thanks for your suggestions.

Steve James

Diane - Brescia isn't a major tourist centre, so I think it's unlikely that you'll find coach excursions from there. <BR> <BR>However, getting to Lake Garda is easy by train, - your nearest point is the town of Desenzano. From there you can go by bus or boat to SIRMIONE. From Desenzano or Sirmione there are regular ferry and hydrofoil services to all the other resorts on the lake, the best of which IMO are RIVA, LIMONE and MALCESINE, - but most are worth a visit if you have time. <BR> <BR>The Dolomites are more distant, and a day-trip may be difficult without a car, - but not impossible. The nearest area is the western BRENTA Dolomites, north of Lake Garda. It's possible there may be a coach tour to this area from the Lake Garda resorts, e.g. Riva or Gardone. <BR> <BR>The main area of the Dolomites is more distant. You could certainly get to Trento and/or Bolzano by train (via Verona) as a day-trip from Brescia, with an early start. The scenery here is Alpine rather than true Dolomite, however. <BR> <BR>Let me know if I can be of more help ... <BR> <BR>Steve

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

What Steve said--he knows his stuff.

meg

Has anyone stayed in Brescia and can recommend a good hotel near the centre of town? Thanks

xxx

lots of homeless beggars and Albanian gangs there now. be careful