Milan and Venice Love it or Hate it?
 

People usually have very strong feelings about these two places. Some really love it or hate it.

Naples also gets very mixed reviews. I had read conflicting reports about Naples prior to going and now having been there I can say that I actually liked it. I loved the archeology museum with its content from Pompeii as well as the Farnese collection. In addition, the streets were vibrant with plenty of markets. The pizza was great. Yes it was a gritty but it was a vibrant city.

What are your thoughts and descriptions of Milan and Venice. Why do you like it or dislike it?

We are very taken by Venice. Ten visits, about 300 nights.
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...ughts-1010595/

I like Milan and love Venice.

Milan: excellent museums; some terrific churches and galleries; good restaurants; big-city vibe that I enjoy.

Venice: La Serenissima!; extremely beautiful; fascinating history; once you've seen the major sights it's easy to focus on what interests you that's not too crowded (for me that's art and cultural events, including/especially contemporary); many gorgeous churches; an interesting food scene with some terrific restaurants. I'm probably forgetting things...

I have never been to Milan, but I love Venice. I like to take photos, and there is so much lovely, crumbling goodness there to photograph. I am planning a trip to France in 2022, and my hope is to add a side trip to Venice for four or five days just to wander and explore.

Too many people think Venice is just a day trip, which is the worst way to see anyplace as far as I'm concerned. It's truly magical after the tours leave for the evening.

Love Venice but I tend to go off season. Wake up early. Wander around in the evening. I agree with the comment it's not a daytrip. Daytrips to Venice are the equivalent of shoving your face into an electric fan. You should expect it to be unpleasant.

I like the big city vibe too and Milan has a energy, high fashion, the beautiful people., worth some time.
Venice without day trippers and cruise ship hordes is wonderful.

Venice - by a huge margin.

Here is my wife's Shutterfly book about a recent one-week trip there. Venice starts on page 62.
https://stududley.shutterfly.com/55
Click "Full screen"

Stu Dudley

Venice is embraceable in two days, with all the services focused at the tourists. Milan is an industrial city with a large city centre holding historical buildings well spaced out.

I like both but Milan needs more time an effort to enjoy.

Love them both. I have no idea why Milan gets such short shrift. Fascinating city with lots of places to see. Check out Chapters 2 - 4 of our 2018 Italy trip. It covers our time in Milan. Spent three days, and could have spent more.

https://travelswithmaitaitom.com/italy-2018/

The picture below we took on Duomo di Milano rooftop. One of Europes most spectacular sights, IMO.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...47affa156b.jpg

Peter--Thanks for your trip report. I just responded on my other thread that I think Fondazione Querini Stampala garden by Carlo Scarpa sort of reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater and I see that you also mentioned that in your trip report.

StuDudley--Thank you for sharing your photo album. Beautiful pictures! Can't wait to be able to visit. Ca Rezzonico and Ca D'Oro are both on my list in addition to the Ducale Palace of course.

Maitaitom--I love all your trip reports and pictures! Thanks for sharing the link. I have a feeling you do a fair amount of research yourself prior to your trips.

Very cool!

My theory is that there is a direct relationship between how long someone spends in in Venice, and whether they love it or hate it.

Every single person who has told me that Venice is overrated has only been there briefly - sometimes only the night before a cruise, and often less than a day. Same with Naples.

A woman on Fodors once wrote a trip report where she and her daughter landed in Paris, took a taxi to the hotel, shopped for scarves on Rue Rivioli (not my favorite street), went back to the hotel to nap, went to the restaurant at the Branly museum for dinner - but took the metro in the wrong direction. Next morning was drizzling. She wanted to visit the Louvre - but there was a transportation strike and the Louvre was closed because docents could not get there. She sat on a curb & pouted. Went to Notre Dame instead. That same day she was to take a flight to Venice. But she missed the flight & didn't get to Venice until after midnight. She reported that she didn't like Paris.

This is a true story - I have the thread bookmarked.

Stu Dudley

+1

We have friends who didn’t like Venice. When we asked about their experience it turns out they went to Venice for lunch, then left!

I think Milan is hugely underrated. I was there in April 2019. The Duomo is breathtaking. Da Vinci’s Last Supper...what else needs to be said? Basilica Sant’Ambrogio. Opera at La Scala (I’m not even an opera fan but this was a cool experience). Big city vibe. Italian but not quite, etc. etc. I have been recommending it to my friends ever since I’ve returned.

Venice: Stunning. One of the world’s most beautiful cities. I have been there twice and if I can get back to Italy this year, I want to start my trip there with 6 nights to really dig deep into neighborhoods tourists often don’t get to,

Naples: Hated it the first time I was there in 2003. Chaotic, rather dirty and I got pickpocketed. Went back on my 2019 trip. I now speak decent Italian and so that gave me confidence to take Napoli head on and I really really liked it. Agree with an earlier poster- the Archeology Museum is incredible. So much art in the city that many don’t know about. The sculpture of “Veiled Christ” in the Capella Sansevero is stunningly lifelike. The chaos (in a good way) of the Centro. Chatting with a cab driver that “il traffico a Napoli e pazzo!” Yes, the pizza is good but I’ve had equally good pizza in the US. Wonderful little trattorias run by kind people that really lit up when I shared that I am an Italian American and that my grandmother was from Naples. I left with wonderful memories of that city but will say that it is probably best suited to a more experienced, confident international traveler.

I really enjoyed Venice, Milan and Naples. Each so different but with so much to offer. I think Naples might be a difficult place to enjoy on a first European trip but, once you fall in love with Italy, Naples adds to the adventure.

Most of my Italian (north and south) friends don't think Naples is part of Italy ;-)

It is the only city in the world that I went on a business trip in an armoured car.

But I kind of like it.

We visited Naples for a education conference and stayed out by Castel dell'Ovo. It was very enjoyable and we hope to go back and see many things we didn't have time for that trip. From there we visit Capri for 3 nights which is another place many do as a day trip but really is beneficial to have at least a couple of nights there.

Hallstatt is another place that can be magical at night. There is a reason tourists flock to a place; it's just a shame most don't see those places to their full advantage.

Ugh, in moderation... no links, nothing suspicious...

True the more time you spend in a place the more you get to know it.

Stu Dudley--That's a good story!

We have friends who took one of those group tours with 40-50 people and "saw" many locations in a short period of time. The most they spent in any one place was two nights. They said they saw the Rome Colosseum and I asked if they did the underground tour. They literally just saw the Colosseum as the bus passed by and maybe let them out to take a photo. They didn't go into the Colosseum. When we visited we joined a tour of the underground and learned so much about it. It was a way to control the masses. If you are good to the emperor, you get to eat well at these events and see a spectacle for free. If you are not loyal to the emperor then you will be on the floor being the main attraction in the arena. The tour gave us an education about the rocks we were looking at and just added more to the whole experience.

The hard part is that Italy has so much to offer and with limited time it really is difficult to decide which places to go and which things to definitely try to see and which to skip for another time.

Yo MT--wonderful foto!!
OP EN, I would go to Milan. All of our visits there have come during winter, therefore I'm mentally-conditioned to think of it as a somewhat stark place, not a bad image mind you.

We were once part of the SERVAS peace organization (until I punched out the coordinator) and in '90, we thus stayed with a family in Naples. That was a mixed experience due to factors unrelated to the city itself.
Venice, well. One of Travel's Absolute Musts and therefore worthy of plentiful homework beforehand.

Loved Stu's story too! Jayzus some people, eh? And to think of all the millions who dream of such travel but will never get the chance...
I am done. The Euro-post.

Please give us the link, it sounds like an interesting trip report. Poor woman.

Here it is. Slight error in my story is that the reason they got to Venice late is because of strikes and plane delays. They got to Orly on time.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...e-rome-745934/


Stu Dudley

normalcy. And Milan
 

Only been to Venice (and Florence, & Rome). I loved it! To see a city on water was really cool! Loved the doid there. It was a bit crowded though. This was so e years back. The thing about traveling now, those that are brave to do it, there aren't the crowds!


Lyn

Sorry Stu. I'm getting a 'page not found.'

I think your trip report lady's opinion was coloured by what I think would be termed 'a series of unfortunate events.'
On our trips to Paris I have usually tried to devise a fallback plan in the event of strikes, since these aren't infrequent.

Can't answer the OP's question as I've only been to Venice (and the train station in Milan, which hardly counts.)

Oh but the main station in Milan is one of its glories, outside of the platforms it is a fine piece of Fascisiti architecture. Venice's station (and Mestre's) are both so dull.

A trip to both cities would be required. DH and I were entranced by Venice and visited there more often.

Milan's Duomo is awesome. If you love opera, La Scala (and its museum) is a must. Seeing 'The Last Supper'. Shopping at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This could paired with a trip to nearby lakes for jaw-dropping scenery.

Venice has duomo's and scuole with gorgeous art and decoration. La Fenice for music. The intriguing concept of 'everything by water'. Jaw-dropping ride along the Grand Canal. Trips to islands specializing in glass, lace, and the beach.

You must visit each for at least a week. Even then, it will be difficult to choose.

It seems to work OK when I do it. Here it is again.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...e-rome-745934/

Stu Dudley

I forgot about shopping at Vittorio Emanuelle. I bought the most beautiful mens’ watch at the Gucci store. It obviously wasn’t cheap but it’s gorgeous and it reminds me of Milan every time I look at it!

Like Milan and love Venice, but never as a day trip; always stay several days or a week or more in Venice, and usually go in shoulder season. Venice is my spirit city. I love both the serene and the gritty.

I've been to Milan a couple of times but don't know it like I know Venice; I need a better sense of the neighborhoods. The Duomo is such a remarkable place, and walking along the rooftops is such a privilege. One trip was in November, cool and crisp with a few snow flurries, and little carts were selling wonderful roast chestnuts around the Piazza del Duomo. Lovely! The fashion and design industries touch so many aspects of the city (the window displays! So creative). We are hoping for a return in October, but if not, will get back there when we can.

The Milan graveyard is worth a morning by itself, so much pomp, pride and belief

Venice and Naples are some of my favorites European destinations. Wish I could say the same about Milan, but it can't top those two ever for me. Almost ten visits to both the destinations and I still get that awe vibe on each visit.

Europeannovice
 

I loved Venice! The canals, the food, the gondolas! A city on water! I've never been to Milan but been to Florence & Rome. Florence was a nice city. Rome had a lot of culture!


Lynn

Agreed! I really enjoyed wandering through, don't think I've ever seen such a grand cemetery.

***It seems to work OK when I do it. Here it is again.

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...e-rome-745934/

Stu Dudley***

https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...e-rome-745934/

That was Sarge56's trip report. She was a regular and didn't travel like that all the time and she had other Venice trips prior to that one I believe. That trip may have been rushed because of a time crunch of her daughter as she's done quite a few trip reports. She moved to Italy for a bit (Venice I think), but had to go back home because of a family crisis.

Milan is hugely underrated as a tourist destination. It’s molto sophisticato. The Duomo is stunning. Seeing an opera at La Scala, even if you’re not an opera fan is a lifetime memory. DaVinci’s “The Last Supper” and the Brea Gallery. The incorrupt remains of St. Ambrose at his Basilica. Outdoor cafes. The shops in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle. I could go on but I will just say “mi piace Milano molto!”

I've also read that many don't care for Milan. We spent the tail end of a trip there for a couple of days since we were flying out of that airport. I had low expectations. We loved it! Wish we had more time. We arrived just in time for the Giro d'Italia finish (we had no idea in advance). The city was packed and festive (a little tricky getting from train station to hotel, due to closed streets and metro stations), but it just added to the atmosphere. I could not take my eyes off the Duomo, just stunning. And there's even canals which I don't think most people realize!

We love Venice as well, like no place else on earth. I remember arriving with my kids, and taking a water taxi from the airport. We were all exhausted from the long flight, my kids were cranky, but as soon as that boat started moving towards the canals, everyone perked up. My kid took out their cameras and started snapping photos. We all were mesmerized (and I had been there before without kids)..

I've yet to entirely figure out why some places just don't "speak to me". It's like how some people absolutely love London but are meh about Paris and vice verse. Milan falls into the didn't "speak to me" category. Yes it was vibrant, yes the cathedral rooftop walk was an experience of a lifetime and yes I've never seen so many handsome men dressed so well (LOL). But, except for changing trains on the way to Lake Como, I haven't been back. Venice, on the other hand, has captivated me. If all goes well, I'll be there for 13 nights in September (my 7th visit). Fingers crossed the trip is a go and enjoying the city without so many hoards will be like icing on the cake. Then, after Venice I'm going down to Naples for my first visit! I'm really excited to experience the city, another one people either love or not. I wonder which category I'll fall into.

Dee Dee, you pose a very interesting question above i.e. why don't certain places 'speak' to each of us?
Worthy of much discussion. I can't entirely figure it out either, but am intrigued by its occasional occurrence.

I am done. the dunno