Ciao - Welcome to Italy!
Ciao – hello – Italy! From Milan, Lake Como, Lake Albano, to Sicily, or whether you are looking to discover Italy ‘off the beaten track’ below you’ll find a sample of destinations that offer a glimpse of local Italian life.
And here you’ll find Venice, one of TravelSampler.world’s favourite cities, especially in winter.
Milan
Milan is the design capital of Italy. And it is a very stylish city. The centre of the city circulates around the great marble Duomo, a fantastic example of gothic architecture dominating the square below.
Dating from 1386, the Duomo took 600 years to be completed during which time innovative building techniques had to be employed to transport the materials and raise it to the heights required. Incredible detail can be found on every surface on the Duomo, from spires to gargoyles to amazing carved doors. The pink and white marble from the north of Italy is spectacular. The workmanship (and time and manpower it must have taken) to create the cathedral is awe-inspiring.
Not far from the Duomo is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Another spectacular building, this one housing elegant shopping and up market restaurants. Architecture fans will enjoy the glass roof and exposed iron work framing this elegant precinct. A short walk away is Via Della Spago, the ‘best’ shopping street in Milan. If it’s designer labels you want, every single one you have ever heard of seems to be here. Plus more.
Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper
Milan is the home to Da Vinci’s Last Supper. That fact seems to be lost in the hype and hyperbole that the painting inspires.
Do you know it’s not a painting hanging under great security on a wall in a museum? The Mona Lisa is smaller than one would think, heavily guarded and fairly hard to see among the crowds craning their necks to look upon that famous artwork. Everything The Last Supper is not.
The Last Supper quietly resides on the wall of a church, walking distance from (but not immediately in) Milan’s city centre. Be sure to book ahead as the opportunity to view it is carefully managed, in groups of no more than 40 at a time. You have 15 minutes to take in the splendour of the painting. A very affordable audio guide is available and gives more context and detail to the painting.
Numerous attempts have been made as restoring the Last Supper, some more successful than others. Today it has softer colours and less definition than one might expect from reproductions and photos on the internet. The patina of age sits well with the nature of the painting.
At the opposite end of the church is The Crucifixion by Donato Montorfano [1460 ca.-1502 ca.], a name that can be lost to popular culture, in the shadow of Da Vinci. This is also a spectacular work of art and in fact includes much more detail in the painting – although perhaps not the layers of meaning that have been attributed to the Last Supper over the centuries.
Lake Como
Forever the playground of the rich and famous, Lake Como is glorious. Located in the north of Italy, it can be reached in an hour’s train ride from Milan. Trains are frequent and stop along the western shore at numerous places including Varenna.
From Varenna there are ferries to various other small towns and villages along the lake. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y and Bellagio sits in the centre. It’s unparalleled location surrounded by the Lake and mountains means Bellagio has long attracted sightseers and tourists. Sitting in the sun along the waterfront, with a great coffee or glass of wine in hand is an enviable pleasure!
Varenna is a smaller village and has its own charms. It’s quieter than Bellagio but still has its share of large Villas and summer residences. From the Castle at its highest point Varenna cascades down the hillside to the water. There are two choices of walking paths to reach the castle – both are steep, and one is aptly named the Goat Track.
Be warned though – many (most) hotels and restaurants close for winter. Owners are away, or else taking the opportunity to do maintenance. When the trip advisory notes say, ‘closed in winter/low season’ they really mean closed. There may not be anything open except the post office in the smaller villages.
Lake Albano
Lake Albano is an easy day trip from Rome, located just 20kms south. We’ve included it here as a discovery and breathing space near the Aeroporto Di Roma Ciampino airport. With a late night/early morning budget flight out of Rome’s second airport, Lake Albano proved to be a pleasant stop over more accessible to the airport than staying in central Rome.
Practicalities aside, Lake Albano is where the Pope spends summer holidays. The lake is a deep crater and provides swimming, fishing and boating. We found some lovely restaurants around its shores. If you have seen the movie ‘The Two Popes’, you will recognise the backdrop.
Sicily
From TravelSamplers Therese and Peter, who share a window into another side of Sicily: ‘The Magna Via Francigena, also known as the Sicily Camino, is an ancient pilgrimage route in Sicily, stretching approximately 160kms from Palermo to Agrigento. This scenic journey offers a blend of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage, passing through charming villages, rolling landscapes, and significant archaeological sites. We completed the walk in May, on a 6-day self-guided tour where bags were moved ahead each day leaving us with only a day pack to carry. The walk is not heavily trafficked allowing an immersive experience in the bucolic beauty. A good level of fitness allows greater appreciation. We felt privileged’.
Around Italy
Slightly off the beaten track, there are any number of Italian towns and villages that offer a glimpse of local life. Wander passageways, browse food stalls and delicatessens, sample fine wines, aged cheeses and cured meats, sip coffee or simply relax in the sun in the town square and watch life go by.
At Passignano Sul Trasimeno circle the lake and enjoy the Italian countryside. And when you visit Civita de Bagnoregio stroll over the land bridge to another time and place. So much to explore and enjoy – make sure to give yourself time to indulge a whim and follow whatever catches your imagination.
Rome and Florence
Now here is something strange – our photos of Rome and Florence are missing! Admittedly, it’s been a while since travelsampler.world visited. In Rome wonder at the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and so, so much more. In Florence, the riches of the Medici gave the world Michealangelo’s David and don’t miss the Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi for spectacular artworks.
We will have to create this section after our next visit to Rome and Florence (and Pompei and the Dolomites and Cinque Terra and, and, and…). In the meantime, help us by sharing a photo of your visit, and what you loved, what was surprising, how you felt – email us at ideas@travelsampler.world. We’d love to hear from you and be able to update this page with your input.
While you are dreaming of Italy, sample Venice here.