Travel Suggestions for Northern Italy

Summer Holiday in Northern Italy
Some Suggestions
Picture: Garda Lake

• Some Itineraries in northern Italy, based on my
personal experience
• They mix (and balance) nature, history, art,
science, sports, activities for adults and kids,
always allowing for a “plan B” in case of bad
weather or “fatigue”
• They can be used as “Lego bricks” to build longer
journeys, or as day/overnight trips from a stable
“base”
Picture: Ravenna

Suggested Base: Borghetto di Valeggio sul Mincio

30 Km.
30 Km.
98 Km.
135 Km.
215 Km.
141 Km.155 Km.
Very conveniently located to visit several great spots

Mirabiliandia
Gardaland
Besides the destinations described
later, some good amusement parks to
give the kids a break…

Fidenza Village
CastelGuelfo Style Outlet
Franciacorta Outlet
Noventa Designer Outlet
Mantova Outlet Village
…and to good outlets to buy designers’ clothes and
accessories (also VAT refund). A good alternative if
raining or tired
Some are along the suggested day trips

Close to Verona Airport, connected to most European Capitals
Lake Garda
Verona Airport
I suggest Valeggio sul Mincio based on my personal experience, but there are several
possibile locations, depending on the type of activities and trips you want to take and on
personal preferences
Valeggio sul Mincio

Borghetto di Valeggio sul Mincio: A great little hamlet

Borghetto di Valeggio sul Mincio

We stayed in this B&B, re-built on the spot of an old water mill
The name is “La ﬁnestra sul ﬁume”

Great gardens for breakfast and play

The old water intake is now a safe and fun “water park” for the
kids
These are my kids…back then….she is now 20….

In Valeggio, within “Sigurtà”, a 60 Hectares park that includes
a labyrinth and a didactic farm for kids

3rd Tuesday in June: Tortellini Guinness Table

• Day Trip 1: Sabbioneta - Mantova. History
and Nature
• Day Trip 2: Modena - Maranello. Food and
Ferrari
• Overnight Trip 1: Bologna, Ravenna,
Chioggia Marshland and Mosaics
• Overnight Trip 2: Val Trompia to Bolzano.
Iron, prehistorical men and adrenalin
• Day Trip 3: on the battleﬁelds of Italian
independence, where the Red Cross was
conceived
• Day Trip 4: Around Lake Garda
• Overnight Trip 3: Parma to Pontremoli. Art,
food, clear waters
Picture: Ravenna
This covers only part of
northern Italy, but even in
these very counties there are
much more and diverse
attractions than those
highlighted here
Overnight trips are those that
cannot reasonably be
completed in one day. The
number of days required
depends also on how much
you choose to see and do

Day Trip 1: Sabbioneta - Mantova
History and Nature

Sabbioneta was founded by Vespasiano I Gonzaga in the late
16th century, on a sandy bank of the Po (whence the name,
meaning "Sandy" in Italian).
In 2008, Sabbioneta was inscribed in the UNESCO World
Heritage List as a recognition of its perfect example of practical
application of Renaissance urban planning theories.
Sabbioneta is also known for its historic Jewish Ghetto and
Synagogue, and in particular for its Hebrew printing-press.
Vespasiano Gonzaga's town, designed according to the
Renaissance principles of the Ideal City, included:
• The Ducal Palace (now the Town Hall)
• The Teatro all'antica ("Theatre in the style of the Ancients"),
designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi
• The Galleria degli Antichi and Palazzo del Giardino: "Gallery of
the Ancient" and "Garden Palace" respectively.)
• Churches of the Assunta and Carmine
• Chiesa della Beata Vergine Incoronata
Sabbioneta: ideal city of the XVIth Century

A little detour, taking the road back through San Matteo
delle Chiaviche and Cesole you pass a nice pontoon
bridge

Mincio River Park: various options to explore it by boat with
guides

Day Trip 2: Modena - Maranello
Food and Ferrari
(Return Trip)

Museo Ferrari - Maranello
There are two locations: Modena and Maranello
Modena, where his father’s workshop stands, is
more focused on history and Enzo Ferrari
Maranello, where he established his factory, is more
focused on Formula 1 racing and design
Both have race simulators and Ferrari Store
You can buy a cumulative ticket for both

Modena is home of many Parmesan Cheese producers…

…many can be visited and some offer workshops/lectures

This is just one of them, as an example

While around Nonantola visit the abbey…

• Smaller area of Production
• Smaller Quantities
• Higher Prices
• Minimum 12 month of curing (up to 60)
• Animals fed only with natural, straight
vegetables and ﬂours
• Produced once a day, with the milk from the
morning (50%) and the milk from the night
before, already skimmed, for a total fat
content of 2,4%
• Larger area of Production
• Greater Quantities
• Lower Prices
• Minimum 9 month of curing
• Animals can be fed also with processed
feeds
• Can be produced with one or two milking a
day. Milk is skimmed, reducing fat
Usually better for
cooking/on pasta
Usually eaten straight
(or with balsamic
vinegar)

Producers got hit severely by the earthquake in 2012

Modena is reknown for its “balsamic vinegar”…

Traditional balsamic vinegar to this day it is only made in Reggio Emilia and Modena, using traditional methods, and
production is overseen from beginning to end by a special certification agency. It begins with grape must —whole
pressed grapes complete with juice, skin, seeds and stems. The must from sweet white locally grown and late-
harvested grapes —usually Lambrusco or Trebbiano varieties— is cooked over a direct flame until concentrated by
roughly half, then left to ferment naturally for up to three weeks, and then matured and further concentrated for a
minimum of 12 years in a "batteria," or five or more successively smaller aging barrels. These barrels are made of
different types of wood such as oak, chestnut, cherry, juniper, and mulberry, so that the vinegar can take on the
complex flavors of the casks.
Once a year the vinegar is bottled from the smallest cask in the sequence. Each cask is then topped up with vinegar
from the next cask up, with the largest cask getting filled with the new yield. None of the casks are ever completely
drained. This ageing process is similar to the solera process used for fine sherries, ports, sweet wines, and Spanish
brandies. The vinegar gets thicker and more concentrated as it ages because of evaporation that occurs through the
walls of the barrels—the vinegar the smallest barrel will be much thicker and more syrupy than the liquid in the
successively larger barrels.
More than in years, the age (and value) of this elixir (calling it vinegar it’s misleading) is calculated by the number of
shifts from one cask to another: up to 150 “travasi” for something sold for 600 Euros for a 100 ml vial.
Traditional balsamic vinegar is glossy, viscous, and dark brown, though it captures light beautifully. It moves like
syrup, and has a velvety texture on the tongue.
Flavor: A rich, complex sweetness that explodes in the mouth with notes of fig, molasses, cherry, chocolate, or prune.
Traditional balsamic should pick up the flavors of the wood it matured in, and may have a slight smokiness.
Traditional balsamic offers a mellow tartness rather than a strong acidity.
Identification: Traditional balsamic vinegar is always labelled Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale and carries a D.O.P.
("Denominazione di Origine Protetta") stamp — a European Union certification that guarantees an ingredient's quality,
production, and place of origin. The only ingredient is grape must. Traditional balsamic contains naturally occurring
sulphites; none should be added.
Traditional balsamic is sold in wax-sealed bottles with unique identifying numbers. Traditional balsamic from Modena
is only sold in a bulb-shaped 100ml bottle. If it's from Reggio Emilia it's only sold in a 100ml bottle shaped like an
inverted tulip. If it's from anywhere else, it's not traditional balsamic vinegar.

Derivative products (much cheaper,
not the real thing)

Traditional balsamic is not a cooking ingredient — heating it will kill its distinctive
bouquet — and it would be wasted as an ingredient in a salad dressing. Instead, use it
where it can shine. Try putting a few drops on fresh berries, Parmigiano-Reggiano
cheese, or creamy desserts like panna cotta, zabaglione, or vanilla ice cream.
Traditional balsamic can be used at the end of cooking. It's excellent drizzled over
traditional veal scaloppine, a rich risotto, or the Italian stew bollito misto. It's also great
over grilled meats and seafood. Add about a teaspoon per person just before serving to
get the best of its ﬂavor.
In Italy really good balsamic is also drunk as a palette cleanser, aperitif or digestif,
especially on special occasions such as weddings. The name "balsamic" connotes the
vinegar's original use as a tonic, or "balm."

This is one of the oldest, again just as an example…

Overnight Trip 1: Bologna, Ravenna, Chioggia
Marshland and Mosaics

Still home of modern mosaic artists, many
organizing workshops for adults and children

Piadina - traditional ﬂat bread

Comacchio…you can tell you are getting close to Venice…

Chioggia…little Venice without the crowd

7 h 57 min
478 km
Overnight Trip 2: iron, prehistorical men and adrenalin

The Iron Route and beyond
This is actually a longer tour, that needs
more than an overnight stay especially if
you want not just to pass by but stop for
the different activities available (that are
the main reason to go there in the ﬁrst
place!)
It has a lot for children (in age and at
heart!). I personally did this very same
program I am describing, and can conﬁrm
that the children activities they organized
for me were top level.
After the Iron Route, you can move to the
Iseo Lake and to Boario for the well
structured Archeo-Park. From there you
can turn back south and return to the
home base, or continue north, through the
mountains.
You can stop for some rafting before
descending on Bolzano, the main center
in Alto Adige/Süd Tyrol and then head
south passing by Rovereto.

Maglio Averoldi - Ome
Originally from 1080, most of the structure is now
that of the XVIIth century. Open Sat-Sun

Averoldi Mallet- Ome
Workshops and Demonstrations

Sarezzo Mallets
Originally XVIth century, in production
until 1984 - Open Sunday

Forge of Tavernole - Originally XVth Century

Forge of Tavernole - Originally XVth CenturyForge of Tavernole

S. Aloisio Mine - Collio
Here the ore processing ﬂow is followed through mine
trekking and aerial passages. Less science/history but
more adventure and fun

S. Aloisio Mine - Collio
Mine Trekking

Lake Iseo - Hotel Relais Due Roccoli

Val Camonica - Stone Grafﬁtis

Archeo Park: Many great workshops and activities

Val di Sole - Watersports on Noce River

Bolzano (Alto Adige/Sud Tyrol)
Still Italy…not Austria, but getting closer

Bolzano (Alto Adige/Sud Tyrol)

Home of Oetzi: The Iceman Mummy

Day Trip 3: on the battleﬁelds of Italian independence, where
the Red Cross was conceived

Solferino
San Martino
The whole area is dense with sites of important battles fought during the 3 Italian Independence Wars (against
Austria, with the help of France) 1848-1859.
While this is much less relevant for someone from the USA, still the region lends itself to pleasant drives, or even
bicycling along the many secondary, almost car free roads, where you bump into farms, taverns, and small,
unexpected architectural gems
Not a #1 priority, but something to be considered for a quiet day or a healthy bike tour, to burn off some calories
accumulated with the incredible food of the region. You can plan also to shorten the itinerary somehow picking
only some of the locations to visit.

Castellaro Lagusello
Monzambano Monzambano
Solferino

The Battle of Solferino then…

…and now
The Swiss Jean-Henri Dunant, touring the
field following the battle, was greatly moved
by what he saw. Horrified by the suffering of
wounded soldiers left on the battlefield,
Dunant set about a process that led to the
Geneva Conventions and the establishment
of the International Red Cross.

Castiglion delle Stiviere: Red Cross Museum

S. Martino della Battaglia, Memorial

…but with dark memories of fascism last days…
After Mussolini’s fall in 1943, Salò has been for a few months in
1944/45 the basis for the republican fascist government, while
the Allies had already liberated Italy south of Rome

Il Vittoriale: Home of Gabriele D’Annunzio…

Portrait of D’Annunzio’s eclectic life

Writer, script writer, poet, political activist,
dandy, author of military/action stunts, ad
copy

A very pleasant drive (not when very busy…)

Southern side beaches are more apt for kids
Center Lake
South
North

Due to “thermal” winds, the northern part of the lake is one of
the world capitals for windsurf

Overnight Trip: Parma to Pontremoli. Art, food, clear
waters

Fontanellato - Parma
Largest labyrinth and museum by art
publisher FMR

Fontanellato - Parma
Labyrinth

Langhirano - Museum of Prosciutto

Matilda’s Land
Matilde of Canossa,1046-115, was a queen that
supported the Pope in his ﬁght for power with the Holy
Roman Emperor.

Driving through Matilda’s lands

Ceno River
A possible detour for a river swim and to visit some more
castles…

Depending on the season…great
mushrooms!!!

Pontremoli edge of Tuscany and
Liguria

“Testaroli” with pesto sauce

Pontremoli, Mulino la Serra
B&B over the river

Pontremoli, B&B over the river

From Verona you can easily
reach Milan and Venice
Two great destinations for a
day trip or more in depth visits

Verona to Milan: 1:10 hrs by train (much better than driving)
Excerpts only. There are many more trains

Verona to Venice: 1:10 hrs by train (much better than driving)
Excerpts only. There are many more trains

Venice…plenty of lesser known
corners

Venice, home of the Art Show…

…that spills over into the city with
cool installations

Travel Suggestions for Northern Italy

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