Luttrell

We will be spending four days in Verona with day trips to Milan and Venice. Unfortunately one of our four days is a Monday. I am getting the drift that Italy closes on Monday. Would there be difficulties in seeing the sights in either city on a Monday. Milan; we hope to see the Last Supper and visit the Duomo, the La Scala, and the Castello Sforzesco (we get up early and move fast).
Venice we hope will still be above water. Do the pigeons still land on you to be fed at the Piazza San Marco? Planning well ahead will allow us to schedule it as a day of rest if necessary. We will be arriving in Verona on a Friday at noon and staying at the Holiday Inn Congress Center at $80 a night (already paid for) and will be departing on a Tuesday morning for Rome.
Sunday evening will be taken up by Aida at the Colosseum. I would rather see La Boheme which is also playing during our stay there, but since this is my son?s first viewing of an opera, I elected for the spectacle instead of the music. That was not intended to start an opera war, but just my personal preference. So, lay off the choice.
I see Venice as more touristy and maybe more will be open...or am I just seeing ghosts?
Any advice, ideas, views from the sane will be seriously looked at and considered. Thanks all, Rich Luttrell

jdraper

Luttrell - We have been in Venice on Monday's several times and have never had a problem finding things open. One of the great joys of Venice is just walking around and enjoying the sights and that is certainly open every day of the week. In general you will have no problem in Venice on any day of the week, including museums and eating establishments. Have a great trip. Jackie

DRJ

The duomo in Milan is currently under wraps for repairs. My experience is that Milan shuts up on Sunday, not Monday and Venice is ready to receive tourists every day. Buon viaggio.

ira

Hi luttrell,

It's in Florence that the major sites are closed on Mondays.

caroline_edinburgh

You don't say when you are going, but isn't the 'real' La Scala closed at the moment ?

Jocelyn_P

We were in Milan in May, and yes the exterior of the Duomo was under scaffolding, but the inside was still spectacular. Make sure you make reservations for the viewing of the Last Supper.

BTW, I like Aida.

eliztrav

Hey! I'd never knock Verdi! <g> Aida is a great Arena choice, provided you've got decent singers, naturally. I personally would avoid the recent (this past summer) experiment with "director's opera" at the Arena...

Our experience was Venice is a great choice for those Sunday-Monday days as there is plenty open. Plus, just wandering there is a huge part of the fun. As for Milan, if you have your heart set on visiting some particular place, check with them to be sure they will be open when you will be there. The Duomo and Castello should be no problem. LaScala depends upon their schedule for reopening. Check with them through their website. Do seek out their museum, though, temporarily relocated to a place near the Last Supper, I think, but don't hold me to it!

candert

I just returned from a Friday to Tuesday stay in Venice. Almost everything was open on Sunday and Monday. Some of the hours were a little strange for restaurants and stores, and I wouldn't plan on doing church tours on Sunday, but there is still plenty to see and do. Believe me... It will certainly not be a ghost town. People were everywhere.

If you are interested in a case of lice or some other parasite the pigeons are more than happy to eat from your hands. I'd recommend spending most of your time on San Marco in the evening. The pigeons are gone and you can dance between the dueling bands of Cafe Florian and Cafe Quadri. Far more enjoyable!