Day Trips Archive

If you are looking for another weekend excursion, head an hour east to Bergamo. The trains from either Centrale or Garibaldi leaves every hour which is probably the best bet since you can not drive in the Citta’ Alta of  Bergamo. Once you leave the train station, hop on the bus that is literally right outside the doors and it will bring you up to another world.

Citta’ Alta is the old city of Bergamo and inside the gates, you will immediately feel like you were set back in time. It is a tiny little town, but quaint with beauty. Sit in the main square and have a cappuccino, then head to one of the museums, or to the top of the bell tower and look over the whole city and beyond. If you don’t have time to see it all, you MUST go  inside the Duomo. It is the most amazing inside of a church you will ever see. Its breathtaking actually and it is impossible to not be at awe. Every inch of the interior is painted in images or gold accents, crosses or biblical symbolism. It’s awesome.

For lunch, there are amazing little bakeries that are in the interior streets, or you can find a small trattoria. Go for a day and once you are back in Milan, you will be glad you went.

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For another place to go on the weekend and if you have already visited Stresa in Lago Maggiore and Bellagio in Lago di Como, it’s time to visit lago di Garda. The biggest of the three lakes, Garda is in fact the biggest lake in all of Italy. It stretched up to the alps which provides a hugh contrast in scenery. The bottom of the lake is flat and on day in which the weather is not perfectly clear, you cannot see the other side. Up north, you will have the scenery of the mountains, which is more similar to the other lakes.

Sirmione is a peninsula that jets into the bottom center of the lake. What makes it unique is that there is water on both sides and in the small quaint town, you can see the lake if you look to the right and if you look to the left. In the beginning of town sits this Scaligers Castle. A huge amazing castle built in the 13th century by the Scaliger family who wanted to show their wealth. Sirmione was once a summer resort for the wealthy coming from Verona and also an important Roman city of Northern Europe. For 4 euro you can go inside, see the drawbridges, climb to the fortress and see the town below as well as the crystal water in the moat. It’d definitely worth doing.

In addition to all of this, Sirmione is known for its thermal baths. So whether you go just for lunch, to see the historic sites or to relax by the lake in the thermal pools, definitely take a trip to Sirmione at some point- it is only an hour and a half from Milan.

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As the weather starts to get nicer and hopefully stays this way, take a weekend trip to a winery around Milano. The region around Franciacorta not only produces both red and white wines along with grappa and brandy, it is most famous for its production of sparkling brut wine.

You can make a weekend out of this region. Visit the tiny towns, the numerous churches and medieval cities. Make sure to stop at the beautiful lake Iseo, but most importantly make sure to visit a vineyard- like Monticelli Brusati’s Villa Franciacorta winery! Contact them and see if you can set up a tour, have lunch and stay for the day. Or visit the winery and go thoughout the region for some lunch and/or dinner. There are an abundance of  restaurants and trattorias and small family run establishments that are known for their fantastic food rich in meat and fish and a food lovers dream after coming from Milan.

So even if you don’t care much about the production of wine, it is always fun to visit a winery and a place you must visit from Milan!

Villa Franciacorta winery

Frazione Villa, Monticelli Brusati, 25040 Brescia, Lombardy, Italy.

Tel: +39 030 652329/652100 Website: www.villa-franciacorta.it

If you are looking for a good city near Milan to go for the weekend, or the day, head 2 hours west of Milan to the northern Italian city of Vicenza. One of Italians wealthiest cities, Vicenza is a small city yet thriving in culture, history, culture and business.

Andrea Palladio (1508-80) made Vicenza famous for his interpretation of classical architecture. There are twenty-three buildings designed by Palladio in Vicenza and in 1994 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) inscribed “Vicenza, City of Palladio” on its list of World Heritage Sites. Dont miss seeing Teatro Olimpico by Palladio- the only surviving Renaissance theater in the world. (Website for a guide of all Palladio buildings in Vicenza)

Walk around town, through the small streets, cobblestone andthough Piazza dei Signori in the heart of Vicenza. It is a beautiful city, clean and full of things to discover.
Where to Eat:

- Nodari- (Contrà Do Rode 20) for typical Italian Fare that was rated as “one of the best culinary experiences in Italy,” by a reviewer on Trip Advisor.

- Antica Osteria Ca’ d’Oro- (Contrà San Gaetano da Thiene, for seafood
- Da Remo- (Località Caimpenta , 14) for an upscale restaurant with a beautiful garden

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- Ristorante Santa Lucia (contra’ Porta Santa Lucia, 29) A family owned restaurant where the menu changes daily and you can watch your meat cooked in the wood fireplace in front of you. Call ahead (+39 0444 300633) and reserve a set menu where they serve what they decide that morning. It’s awesome!

***Vicenza is home to the United States Army post Caserma Ederle (Camp Ederle), also known as the U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza. In 1965, Caserma Ederle became the headquarters for the Southern European Task Force, which includes the 173d Airborne Brigade. In January 2006 the European Gendarmerie Force was inaugurated in Vicenza.

For all the army officers (and especially Nick Black) thank you, good luck, god bless and safe deployment for a safe return!