Italy is always a popular destination, whether for relaxation by the sea or culture explorations in the historic cities. With the ancient roman sites and local speciality dishes littering the country, every part of Italy has a lot to offer. Last summer, yours truly had a wonderful experience in Northern Italy. Based on that, here is what you should experience.
- Verona
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Fair Verona, the setting for Romeo and Juliet. If you are really into Shakespeare, Juliet’s balcony and statue may be a must, but it’s a bit of a tourist trap and there is much more to Verona than that. The huge Roman arena is an important sight that is nowadays used for opera and other concerts. However, unless you are going to see a show or if you have the Verona Card, it isn’t entirely worth the suggested entry price of €10 (€7 for students). Instead, opt for viewing the riverside, the Teatro Romano, exploring some of the many cathedrals and of course the main square.
- Milan
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In Milan, check out the impressive cathedral — for an extra fee, you can access the roof for some views. Don’t forget the castle, Castello Sforzesco, which hosts a massive museum, where you could easily spend a whole day. You can also save time for checking out the architecture of the historical luxury shopping mall, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, bearing in mind that your wallet wants to remind you to not buy anything.
- Bologna
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As a student, you may have special interest in Bologna, home to the oldest university in the world, University of Bologna, founded in 1088! The city’s portico-lined streets make it a nice and shady city to explore even during the hotter months. Make the main square Piazza Maggiore your starting point and start exploring. If you want to exercise your leg muscles, you can climb up one of the two towers, symbols of Bologna, to enjoy a view of the whole city from up high.
- Bergamo
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A city in the mountains, Bergamo is a recommended daytrip (or two-day trip) from Milano. The lovely old town on a hilltop surrounded by walls has narrow streets with small shops and a square surrounded by a palace and four (!) churches – or more specifically, one church, one cathedral, one baptistry and one chapel. Walk the city walls and enjoy polenta, the traditional local dish. Most of the Bergamo sights are in the old town, but there are also museums in the newer part of town, for example, as well as the former monastery of Astino on the city outskirts. For a birds-eye view of the city and its surroundings, you can take the funicular railway up to the hilltop of San Vigilio, the site of a former fortress.
- Mantua
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Mantua is a good day-trip from Verona and a nice break from the city bustle. The Palazzo Ducale is an impressive palace, showcasing the collections and telling the story of the Gonzaga family, who dominated the region in the 14th—17th century. The Palazzo Te is another popular museum complex. For some strolling, there is a peaceful riverside that could also be enjoyed on a boat. For a food recommendation, Mantua’s speciality dish, pumpkin ravioli, is totally worth a try!
- Parma
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If you are a foodie who enjoys meat and cheese, you can’t skip Parma, home to Parmesan and Parma ham. By booking a tour, you can even go inside the factories, which are smaller and more family-owned than the word “factory” might make you think. You’ll have a new appreciation for these dishes. Parma is a short train-trip away from Bologna, although if you want to go on a cheese or ham tour, you may have to be ready early in the morning. However, Parma town itself also has nice parks (Parco Ducale) and churches to experience.
- Lake Garda
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Lake Garda, popular with both tourists and locals, is a daytrip away from Verona. There are a bunch of boat trips organized from the villages on the shores of the lake, and you can also stay in the villages for some relaxation or water-sports. The southern and the northern end of the lake have quite distinct looks, so you could also travel around the lake. Yours truly got a boat tour to Garda Island to combine seeing the lake with visiting the elegant palace-like residence of the Cavazza family, but there are many other ways to enjoy the area.
- Cinque Terre
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Cinque Terre is a beautiful set of 5 coastal villages, so picturesque you probably have already seen photos of it, even if you don’t know it. The Cinque Terre region is around 3 hours by train from Milan. Each village can be accessed by a local train. Many people prefer sticking to the small villages with their narrow winding paths (there is about max one actual road per village). Each village has its own personality, but they all have nice little shops and restaurants, beaches and brightly painted houses. However, if you have proper shoes (sturdy looking running shoes or better), you can buy a Cinque Terre Card to hike the paths between the villages to see more of the vineyards and olive and lemon orchards. A word of warning from someone who hiked 1.5h between villages Corniglia and Vernazza: the paths are very uneven: some sets of “stairs” are just rectangular rocks for foothold. You don’t have to be an experienced hiker, but some physical fitness is recommended, and a water bottle is a must.
PSA for budget travellers going in the summer: Summer is the high-season, so many things will be more expensive and more crowded. When booking hotels/AirBnB, you may want to get as cheap a room as you can. However, before you penny pinch on accommodation for summer months, check whether your room will have air-conditioning. In the 2019 summer heatwave, yours truly noted that hot days and hot nights in rooms without AC means that your nights will be uncomfortable and that showering twice a day becomes a must. Save yourself from some hassle by getting AC bedrooms and remember to stay hydrated. Thankfully, lovely Italia has a lot of public fountains with fresh drinking water!