Northern Italy
 

Hello,

We are heading on a last minute 10 day trip to northern Italy on July 20th. We have already seen a lot of Italy from previous trips and are now interested in starting in lake Como since we are flying into Milan. Can anyone give me a more relaxing trip? We are NOT interested in going to Rome, Florence or Amalfi Coast this time around. Venice is still a possibility but not necessary as we have been before and I know it's crazy in the summer.

thanks,
Chris

The lakes will be crazy in the summer, as well. Are you departing from Milan?

Thanks for getting back to me. Change of plans. I am thinking about flying into Venice and departing from Milan. So Lake Como would be the end of the trip. I know Venice will be crazy too but we didn't really get to experience Venice last time cause we were there for only one day. So I am thinking Venice to maybe Verona to Como. We loved CT too but we only have so much time. Thoughts?

Just stay outside the triangle of San Marco and Academia and Rialto, and you'll find Venice a lot more bearable. Look for a hotel in Dorsoduro, perhaps near the Salute. Or near San Stae, or Santa Maria Formosa, both of which are not in Dorsoduro but are lovely and quieter areas.

I'd consider the issue of crazyness and choose places that people will not be packing. I'd either go into the Dolimites or down into the towns south and west of Podova, a chain of walled cities without many tourists some great small hotels etc

Or a mix of both, or all 3. You could start with a few days in Venice, train to Ravenna when you leave there, plan to arrive by noon and spend the afternoon seeing pretty much everything Ravenna has to offer, with the exception of the bus ride out to Classe. Overnight in Ravenna, then train to Bologna for a couple of days. That's not a real touristy city to begin with, even less so in the summer, I would think, and presumably the university will be mostly closed, meaning even fewer people. Then head to a lake for a couple days before departing from Milan.

We finally got to Burano the last time we were in Venice and really enjoyed it. If you are interested, I would go there during the day when the touristy area of Venice is so crowded and wander the St. Mark's area when the crowds have dispersed.

We also really enjoyed Ravenna and Bologna.

The last week or so of July is often the hotest time in Italy.

Venice seems to be a must but afterwards I would strongly advise against both Ravenna and Bologna as they will both be unbearably hot. Aim for somewhere cooler. Treviso, perhaps, for a day and then, passing through Verona, go up to Bolzano and Merano.

If you hire a car this will not be difficult and from Merano you can drive to Bormio and then desvend the Valtellina to Lake Como. You cross from the South Tyrol to Lombardy by way of the Stelvio Pass which is considered one of the world's greatest driving roads. But beware of cyclists as it is equally famous for them!

The Dolomites are beautiful and would be much cooler too. Venice to Dolomiti to Verona. That would be enough for ten days. Or Lake Garda bedore or after the Dolomiti.

If you leave Milan on July 30 or 31 you could make the opera at Verona arena if this is your thing. See - http://www.arena.it/arena/en

Rigoletto on 07/27, Aida on 07/28 and Madam Butterfly on 07/29

Sigh. With my usual good planning, we are going to be in the Verona area just weeks after the end of the opera season.

nochblad, you may be interested in a wonderful documentary called Magic Arena which is about the making of a production of Aida at the Verona Arena. Very interesting and well done.

I'm in Venice right now. Yes San Marco , Rialto and the major tourist thoroughfares are mobbed during the day. But I have found most of the places I've been to be decidedly uncrowded. Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castillo, San Polo... And if you get out early or stay out late (I've been doing both--wow, I'm tired), you will find Venice in all her golden summer glory.

The Damien Hirst exhibition at Punta Della Dogana-Palazzo Grassi is dazzling. And the Biennale is in full swing.

Thank You for all these great recommendations! We are leaving tomorrow and are still up in the air on where to go After Venice and the Dolomites and Lake Como. We will still have 3-4 days in between. We do love Cinque Terre. Any thoughts on where that would go into the itinerary or any better ideas? Like the idea of cooling off in the ocean or a nice pool..
Thanks Again,