Tag: travel

Lago di Garda

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The most beautiful towns around Lake Garda. Part 1

Hello from Lake Garda!

This post will be focussing on the West coast of Lake Garda and there will be a “part 2” all about the East coast.

It was Ferragosto here in Italy on the 15th of August, which meant we had a 4 day weekend and the chance to get away from the heat in Monza.

Ferragosto is a public holiday celebrated on the 15th of August in all of Italy. It originates from Feriae Augusti, the festival of emperor Augustus, who made the 1st of August a day of rest after weeks of hard work in the agricultural sector.

We found a nice B&B (Al Marinaio) in a town called Bogliaco in Gargnano on the west coast of Lake Garda. I loved staying in Bogliaco. It’s close enough to the main tourist spots Limone Sul Garda, Gardone Riviera and Riva del Garda without being affected by the hoards of tourists that descend upon the lake during the summer holidays. It’s very relaxed and still feels quite authentic.

We travelled to Lake Garda by motorbike from Monza and it took around an hour and 40 minutes stopping along the way for breakfast. More or less the same if you travel by car.

The closest airports to Lake Garda are: 

  • Verona Catullo (VRN)
  • Milan Bergamo (BGY)
  • Milan Linate (LIN)
  • Venice (VCE)
  • Milan Malpensa (MXP)

Lake Garda is well connected to all the main cities in Northern Italy: it is just over an hour from Milan and Venice, and about half an hour from Verona, Brescia and Trento.

Where to go

  1. Sirmione
  2. Desenzano del Garda
  3. Salò
  4. Gardone Riviera
  5. Gargnano
  6. Limone sul Garda
  7. Riva del Garda

Sirmione

Sirmione is beautiful and looks like a movie set. The highlight of the city, which actually, is also considered the symbol of Sirmione is the Scaligero Castle. A beautiful fortification built after the middle of the fourteenth century on the waters of the lake by the Veronese Della Scala family, from whom it takes its name “Rocca Scaligera”.

The legend of the ghost

According to an ancient local legend, the castle was home to the young aristocratic couple, Ebengardo and his beloved wife Arice.

On a stormy night, the knight Elaberto del Feltrino asked for asylum and was immediately captivated by Arice’s beauty. Determined to have her at all costs, Elaberto went in search of her and attacked her. Arice fought with all her might but Elaberto killed her. At that moment, Ebengardo arrived and, at the sight of his dead wife, drew his weapon and avenged her.

Since then it is said that the ghost of Ebengardo wanders through the rooms of the castle in search of Arice.

Desenzano del Garda

Another beautiful town south of the lake is Desenzano; which is always quite busy, especially in summer but worth visiting. Locals flock to its shores for a day of sunbathing and water sports. If you enjoy stand-up paddle (SUP) this is a great place to do it. The town centre reminds me a little of Venice with its canal and beautiful buildings.

Salò

On our way to Gargnano, we stopped for a quick break in Salò where we stumbled upon an enormous market that had everything you can think of. I was so distracted by everything I didn’t take a single photo of it! Going to a market when you don’t have any luggage space or space on the bike is a dangerous thing, but of course, we made it work. We had to!

Salò is a beautiful town to explore, we didn’t spend much time here as we were only passing through but it’s definitely worth seeing.

Gardone Riviera

On the western shore of Lake Garda, you’ll find Gardone Riviera. The main highlights of the town are the Giardino Botanico Fondazione André Heller which is a botanical garden maintained by artist André Heller and the Vittoriale degli Italiani which is the former residence of the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio.

The Heller Garden, also known as the Giardino Botanico A. Hruska, is such an incredible place to explore and relax. The garden has over 500 species of plants and trees as well as some really interesting sculptures by artists such as Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein.

Heller Garden
Vittoriale degli Italiani
Vittoriale degli Italiani
Heller Garden

Gargnano

This is where we stayed during our trip to Lake Garda and it was perfect. Mornings were spent sunbathing by the lake which was just a 2-minute walk from our B&B, whilst afternoons and evenings were spent exploring the nearby towns and Villas. As I mentioned earlier, the town we stayed in is called Bogliaco which is in the comune of Gargnano. It’s very small and peaceful but perfect in terms of location.

Villa Bettoni
Villa Bettoni

Limone sul Garda

Limone sul Garda is the northernmost town on the Brescia side of Lake Garda. The town is nestled in the mountains and a curious fact about its name is that Limone (lit. lemon) does not derive from the cultivation of lemons, but from the Latin limen, or border; this was, in fact, the city on the border with the territory of Trento. It’s by pure coincidence that, centuries later, lemons have become one of the main businesses of the area. 

View from San Rocco church
Limonaia del Castel
View from the church of San Rocco

Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda is on the northern shore of Lake Garda and is very popular with windsurfers due to the strong winds around this area. We arrived just as the sun was setting and it was beautiful. The pastel-coloured hotels from the 60s were very Wes Anderson-esque and the plaza was full of musicians and artists. It felt really special. If you want a birds-eye view of the town you can take the panoramic lift up to the Venetian Bastion. The trip up to the Bastion takes about 3 minutes and a single ticket costs 6€ and return 7€ per person.

Getting around

The best way to see Lake Garda is by hiring a scooter. It will be a lot easier and cheaper to find parking and you’ll be able to navigate all those colourful narrow Italian roads which I love so much. During the summer it can become very busy on the road so a scooter is a great way to escape the summer traffic.

There is of course the option of using public transport however it’s not always as reliable.

Travel tips

Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, you’ll be walking a lot and places like Limone sul Garda are not made for heels.

Make sure to stay hydrated. Summer can get very hot.

Take a little spray bottle to fill up with water so you can mist your face and body to help you cool down. Also helps to take a fan.

Thank you

If you visit Lake Garda tell me what your favourite place to visit was. I can’t wait to explore the rest.

Hope this post has been useful for you. If it has, please give it a like. Thank you very much for reading.

See you soon!

Two days in Florence

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Two days in Florence

Welcome to Florence! A city full of charm, romance, art and beautiful architecture. And let’s not forget those amazing sunsets.

When I first visited Florence 4 years ago, I remember thinking it was like an open-air museum, with sculptures and beautiful frescoes in the most unexpected places. I loved it then and I love it even more now. Florence is relatively small compared to other main cities in Italy, making it a great place to add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip to Tuscany, and it can be easily reached by train from major cities. Everything is within walking distance and you can see all the main sites in a day.

When is the best time to visit Florence?

The best time to visit is early spring or autumn. Summer is unbearably hot and packed with tourists.

You’ll be able to find great deals during off-peak seasons and the weather will be much nicer so you’ll be able to enjoy the city without having to hide from the sun and it will be quieter.

Getting to Florence

We took a direct train from Milan to Santa Maria Novella station in Florence which took just under 2 hours on the fast train. We always prefer spending a little more to get direct trains rather than having to change and risk missing the next train which has happened to me quite a few times as trains are often delayed here in Italy.

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Once in Florence, our first stop was the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella; a beautiful 15th-century Dominican church with famous frescoes by artists such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli and Vasari (just to name a few).

Visiting hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturdays from 09:30 am to 5:30 pm. Fridays from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:30

Tickets cost €7.50 per person. For more info on reduced and free tickets check the link below.

Make sure to double-check the website as times may vary in spring and winter.

Basilica Santa Maria Novella

Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

From the basilica, it’s about a 2-minute walk to the Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Its roots can be traced back to 1221. In that year, Dominican friars founded the convent of Santa Maria Novella and began to cultivate – among other things – a garden. From that same garden, many centuries of experience in pharmacopoeia and natural preparations started to develop. And in later years that experience would expand to include the worlds of cosmetics, fragrances and wellness products.

The store is incredibly beautiful and worth visiting so don’t miss it!

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

Just around the corner from where we were staying was the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

Il Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)

The entrance to the cathedral is free, however, the queues in summer are insanely long so be prepared to wait. If you don’t have a lot of time, I would skip going in. Make sure to check the official website for ticket information if you want to visit the Dome, Bell tower and Baptistery, museum and Santa Reparata.

Ticket information
Giotto’s bell tower

To reach the top you will have to climb up 414 steps, so make sure you’re ready! There’s no lift access.

As advised by the official website for the Cathedral, “The climb is strongly NOT recommended for people with cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, vertigos, claustrophobia, and pregnant women”.

Look at those details! isn’t it gorgeous?
The Baptistery of St. John

Uffizi Gallery

If you have more than a day to visit Florence make sure to visit the Uffizi Gallery. This is where you’ll find the famous ‘Birth of Venus painting’. It’s incredible, not to mention how amazing the statues are on the exterior of the building.

It is one of the most celebrated art museums in all of Italy. Make sure to set aside 2 to 3 hours to visit the museum and book your tickets in advance. You’ll want to get to the museum just before it opens to avoid queuing.

The Uffizi Gallery’s opening hours are 8:15 AM to 06:50 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.

Ticket information

Ponte Vecchio

Probably the most recognizable bridge in all of Italy. Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge across the Arno river in Florence until 1218. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. It was the only bridge in Florence that survived World War II.

Butchers, tanners, and farmers initially occupied the shops that you see on the bridge; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers.

Something that you might not notice at first whilst wandering around Florence is that there is a corridor that connects the Uffizi Gallery to Palazzo Pitti.

When the Medici family moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they decided they needed a connecting route from the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno that would enable them to keep out of contact with the people they ruled. The result was the Corridoio Vasariano, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari and which runs above the little goldsmiths’ shops on the Ponte Vecchio.

Vasariano corridor above the shops

Piazza della Signoria: Palazzo Vecchio – Loggia dei Lanzi

Piazza della Signoria is the main square of Florence and is where you’ll find the Palazzo Vecchio and a replica of Michelangelo’s famous David statue. The original statue can be found at the Accademia Gallery.

Replica of Michelangelo’s David
Accademia ticket information

General Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM to 6:45 PM. Prior bookings are required for weekend visits.

Piazza della Signoria – Fountain on Neptune

Piazza della Signoria is the liveliest part of Florence and the day we visited, there was a small concert taking place in the Loggia Dei Lanzi, free for everyone to enjoy. It was wonderful; kids danced whilst tourists and locals sat on the ground with their florentine schiacciata (similar to focaccia) sandwiches and enjoyed a cold beer after a long hot summer’s day.

Loggia dei Lanzi open concert
Loggia dei Lanzi

Basilica of Santa Croce

The basilica of Santa Croce is also known as the Pantheon of Florence. This is because the church contains many tombs and funerary monuments of famous Florentines. You’ll find the grave of political leader Niccolò Machiavelli, but also of scientist Galileo Galilei. In addition, a large number of artists and architects are buried here, including Michelangelo and Vasari. Dante has a funerary monument here but he is actually buried in Ravenna where he died in exile.

To visit the basilica make sure to wear appropriate clothing. Shoulders and knees must be covered, this applies to most religious sites in Italy so it’s always best to be prepared.

Ticket information & opening hours

Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti

The palazzo is now the largest museum complex in Florence. This is also where you’ll find the beautiful Boboli gardens. I didn’t have time to visit Palazzo Pitti so will update this the next time I visit.

The Palace is divided into four museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes on the ground floor, the Palatine Gallery and the Imperial and Royal Apartments on the first floor, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion on the second floor.

For information on tickets and opening hours click the link below.

Palazzo Pitti information

Piazzale Michelangelo

Beautiful views of the city, the only downside is the number of tourists that flock to the top to watch the sun setting. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds you can also watch the sunset from the Rose Garden which isn’t far from Piazzale Michelangelo. There’s also a little bar and seating area for you to enjoy a drink and relax.

View from Piazzale Michelangelo
View from the Rose Garden

Mercato Nuovo: Fontana del Porcellino

The famous Fontana del Porcellino can be found in the New Market. This bronze statue is supposed to grant wishes to those who place a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it drop, if the coin falls through the grate at the bottom, your wish will come true. Good luck!

Fontana del Porcellino
Mercato Nuovo

Where to eat:

Mercato Centrale

If you’re not quite sure what you fancy eating and want to try a few different things, Mercato Centrale is a great option and has something for everyone.

Galleria Iginio Massari

Opposite the hotel we stayed in was Galleria Iginio Massari, a cafè that had been on my list of places to try for quite some time. The interior design is beautiful and even though I didn’t think Iginio Massari’s famous maritozzo was incredible, the other cakes I tried were really nice. It was also nice to escape the midday sun!

If you’ve never tried it, a Maritozzo is a brioche cut open and filled with whipped cream. Very typical of Rome. Iginio Massari prepares his with whipped cream and crema pasticcera which is custard.

Iginio Massari famous Maritozzo

Trattoria Za’ Za’

For amazing food and a chance to try the famous Florentine steak head to Trattoria Za’ Za’ which is on Piazza del Mercato Centrale. You won’t be disappointed.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Strozzi Palace hotel which is in a fantastic location just a few minutes away from the cathedral and the Strozzi Palace as well as Piazza della Repubblica. Have a look at the image below. The rooms were very spacious and I loved the decor.

If you’d like to have a look at the hotel click on the link below.

Strozzi Palace Hotel

Get lost in the city

Around every corner, there’s something beautiful waiting to be discovered. Don’t forget to wander!

Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele
Piazza della Repubblica
Palazzo Strozzi
Gucci Garden

Hope you enjoyed this post! If you enjoyed it, give it a like or thumbs up. Thanks for reading! Until next time!

Parma

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Thinking about visiting Parma?

Home of Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese; Parma is a city that prides itself on its local produce.

Something that I learnt whilst researching Parma is that Parmigiano Reggiano can only be produced in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua (on the right bank of the Po river) and Bologna (on the left bank of the Reno river), in compliance with strict standards. Since 1996 the name Parmigiano Reggiano has been recognised in the European Union as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).

And for all my fellow lactose intolerant friends, Parmigiano Reggiano is naturally lactose-free so feel free to go nuts!!

Photo by Castorly Stock on Pexels.com
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Parma is also home to the famous brand Barilla. In 1877, Pietro Barilla Senior opened a small bread and pasta shop in the heart of Parma which has grown into an international food group that exports its products to over 100 countries.

How to get to Parma

We took the train from Milano Lambrate direct to Parma and it cost 45€ for two adult return tickets. It was so easy and only took an hour and 30 minutes to get there. Once we arrived in Parma it was a 15-minute walk to the centre.

As always, I bought the tickets using the Omio app. Sign up using my referral link and we’ll both get 10€ off towards our next booking! https://www.omio.com/refer-a-friend?ic=ampara7d3k7nhttps://www.omio.com/refer-a-friend?ic=ampara7d3k7n

Parma is a great city to explore on foot; if you start feeling tired take advantage of the many cafés and bars dotted around the city and enjoy a bit of people-watching.

What to see and do

Duomo di Parma

Also known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta; it is open every day from 10:00 until 18:00 and is free to visit and has the most beautiful interiors.

Baptistery

The Baptistery is open every day from 10:00 until 18:00 and tickets are €12 per person. I don’t know what it is about this building but I think it’s so pretty and it reminded me of the tower of Pisa.

Palazzo Pillota

Located between Piazzale della Pace and the Lungoparma in the historical centre of Parma; its name comes from the game of pelota played at one time by Spanish soldiers stationed in Parma. The museum is great and a nice place to escape the heat in the summer. We spent a couple of hours here and the theatre was our favourite thing. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 until 18:30.

Ducal Palace and Parco Ducale

Lunch

For lunch we went to Trattoria Corrieri which so many people had recommended and we ordered a plate of parma ham and other cured meats with gnocco fritto; which is like a puffed up pizza dough square. Absolutely delicious! We also ordered a cheese board; so good! And for our main dish the ravioli, which I found very bland so won’t be recommending. We were so full we skipped desert.

Streets of Parma

After visiting the main sites and having lunch, we went on a short walk around the city as we were so full and still had some time before our train back to Monza. It’s such a lovely city and we really enjoyed walking around without running into massive crowds of tourists.

My favourite photo!

If you enjoyed this, have a look at my previous posts and give them a like.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

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A day in Verona

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings1 Comment

In fair Verona…

Two households, both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;

Romeo & Juliet, William Shakespeare

I visited the beautiful city of Verona last week with my sister who came to spend her birthday in Italy with me and we had a brilliant time. Verona is a great city to visit if you’re staying in Milan and have a day to spare. We took the 09:38 train from Milano Centrale and arrived at 11:28 in Verona Porta Nuova. We travelled with TrenItalia on the Eurocity train in first class (very comfy!). We paid 54€ each but you’ll be able to find cheaper tickets if you buy yours in advance.

A few sites that I use to book tickets are:

https://www.omio.it/

https://www.thetrainline.com/it

https://www.rome2rio.com/

What to see and do in Verona

Verona Arena

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra which was built in 30 AD. It is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. Click on the link here to have a look at the Arena di Verona Opera Festival.

The Arena itself is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 until 19:00 and you can buy your tickets online or at the door. Every first Sunday of the month tickets are reduced to 1€ each. Full price is 10€ per person.

Juliet’s house

Cast in bronze, Juliet stands on the far side of the courtyard, welcoming you and inviting you to touch her breast. According to local legend, the statue of Juliet is the keeper of true love and if couples touch her breast, they will get the happy destiny that she and Romeo were denied.

Do you remember the film “Letters to Juliet”? Well, the Juliet Club really does exist! The “Secretaries of Juliet”, patiently and passionately reply to millions of lovers who write to the Juliet Club to seek advice and reveal their heartbreaks.

The history of the letters to Juliet dates back to 1930, when the keeper of Juliet’s Tomb, Ettore Solimani, began to collect the first letters that tourists left in search of advice and, moved by this phenomenon, he decided to start replying to each letter and thus becoming the first “Secretary of Juliet”.

The Juliet Club was born in Verona in 1972 from an idea of Giulio Tamassia and a group of artists and intellectuals united by a passion for the Shakespearean legend.

Juliet and her famous balcony

Did my heart love til now? I never saw true beauty till this night

Romeo and Juliet, W. Shakespeare

It’s free to enter the courtyard and take photos but just be aware that it can get really busy at times. To visit Juliet’s house, entry is 6€ per person. You can book your tickets in advance here.

Piazza delle Erbe

One of the most ancient squares in Verona. It is full of monuments and important landmarks such as the Madonna Verona fountain, Torre dei Lamberti, Palazzo Maffei, Houses of the Mazzanti and Colonna di San Marco.

The “Madonna Verona” fountain is the most ancient monument in the square.
Torre dei Lamberti
Palazzo Maffei – From left to right the statues are Hercules, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Apollo and Minerva.
“Marcian Lion”, the symbol of the Republic of Venice.

Giardino Giusti

This beautiful garden is a must. There are hardly any tourists which might be because it was a little tricky to find but it was worth it. Tickets for the garden are 10€ per person and you can stay for as long as you like. I loved walking around the garden and listening to the music coming from the ballet studio as they rehearsed.

The buildings you see below used to be wool factories and the site of the present garden – was used to boil the enormous cauldrons of dye in which wool was soaked before being laid out to dry.

Opening time: Winter 10am-6pm | Summer 10am-7pm

Basilica di Santa Anastasia

Santa Anastasia is the largest church in Verona. A single ticket is 4€ or you can buy a cumulative ticket which is 8€ and allows you to visit the Basilica di San Zeno, the Cathedral Complex, the Basilica di Santa Anastasia, and San Fermo.

The Basilica of Santa Anastasia is open for visits Monday to Friday from 09:00 until 18:30, Saturday from 09:00 until 18:00 and Sunday from 13:00 until 18:00.

Piazza dei Signori and Mercato Vecchio

Leaving the crowds of tourists behind, we headed to Piazza dei Signori for a quick break and then moved onto the old market square.

Isn’t it beautiful? Here, you’ll find the Palazzo della Ragione where the Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti is housed and the Scala della Ragione (stairs of reason). You can also access the Torre dei Lamberti from here and enjoy amazing views of the city.

Scaliger Tombs

The Scaliger Tombs, are a group of five Gothic funerary monuments celebrating the Scaliger family, who ruled in Verona from the 13th to the late 14th century.

Romeo’s house

We actually happened to stumble upon Romeo’s house on our way to the Giardino Giusti. It was only when a lady asked to have her photo taken at the door that we noticed the sign saying Romeo’s house!

Romeo’s house is a medieval palace in the centre of Verona. It actually looks like a small castle. Until the early fourteenth century, it was the home of the Montecchi family who, according to legends and literary texts, was Romeo’s family. If you’re interested, there are several Romeo and Juliet tours that run throughout the day which you can book online.

Ponte di Castelvecchio

The Castel Vecchio Bridge or Scaliger Bridge is a fortified bridge on the Adige River. The segmental arch bridge featured the world’s largest span at the time of its construction.

Shopping and exploring

For a bit of shopping Via Giuseppe Mazzini is the place to start. The marble streets and colourful buildings make this area feel like a film set. Not to mention the beautiful old shop fronts!

Overall, Verona is a beautiful city to spend the day exploring. It’s very easy to get around but if you want to use public transport then getting the Verona card might be worth your while.

Is it worth buying the Verona Card?

For those of you who wish to visit the entire city, the Verona Card allows you to visit the churches and all the main monuments and museums of Verona, e.g. the Arena, the Museum of Castelvecchio, Juliet’s house, the Lamberti Tower, and much more. You can also use the Verona Card to travel on all city buses. The Card can be purchased at the entrance booths of all monuments and museums. You can also buy one at the IAT office, situated in Piazza Bra, at newsstands or tobacconists in the city centre.

How much is it?

20 € valid for 24 hours or 25 € valid for 48 hours from the first time you use it.
In the churches, the Verona Card always includes an audio guide, available in six languages, until they run out. Otherwise, there are written info sheets.

Lunch in Verona

For lunch, we went to Osteria Caffé Monte Baldo which is just around the corner from Piazza Erbe. The dish of the day was Carbonara which was absolutely delicious and I had the lamb ragù and it was amazingly good. We only ordered one main dish each and we were so full we struggled to finish our food but it was so nice we didn’t want to leave anything on our plates!

For anyone wondering what an osteria is; it was originally a place serving wine and simple food. The emphasis has now shifted to the food, but menus tend to be short, with the emphasis on local specialities such as pasta and grilled meat or fish, often served at shared tables.

When is the best time to visit Verona?

Like most of Italy, spring and autumn are the best times to visit. It is extremely hot in summer so if you do visit during this time, make sure to always carry water with you (there are fountains everywhere as well so you can refill your bottle) I always carry a thermal spray or some water in a little spray bottle to freshen up as well and a little towel. From around mid-May we’ve had temperatures of around 28°C and on some days 34°C! Whatever you decide to do, you’ll have an amazing trip!

Did you enjoy this post? Give it a like or leave a comment and let me know what else you would like to read about.

Welcome to Monza

Published on by Amparo's travels & musings1 Comment

Ciao a tutti!

A little over a year ago, my boyfriend and I moved to Monza; a city northeast of Milan. It’s a beautiful city filled with pastel-coloured buildings with art nouveau details, cute café’s and an incredible park which was honestly the reason we chose to move from Milan to Monza. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Day trips from Milan; this is a great place to spend the day café hopping, enjoying an aperitivo in town by the Duomo or in the park, or if you’re lucky, you might stumble upon one of the many cultural events organised by the town hall and locals.

A 10 to 15-minute train ride from Milan will take you straight to the centre of Monza and everything is within walking distance. There are two stations, the first being Monza station and the second Monza Sobborghi.

Monza town centre – historic centre

Top 10 things to see and do in Monza;

  1. Palazzo dell’Arengario
  2. Duomo – Monza Cathedral
  3. Ponte dei Leoni
  4. Parco di Monza
  5. Reggia di Monza – Villa Reale
  6. Rosetto “Niso Fumagalli”
  7. Autodromo Nazionale Monza
  8. Capella Reale Espiatoria
  9. Food and Drinks
  10. Santa María in Strada – Via Italia and shopping

1.Palazzo dell’Arengario

In the very centre of town you’ll find the Arengario, on Piazza Roma. It was built in the XII century and was used as the town hall, nowadays it’s used as an exhibition centre. Every summer, there are several concerts and shows that take place under the arches and on the piazza and it’s wonderful to see everyone out and about in town enjoying themselves.

Next to the Arengario there’s a café/bar called Moderno which offers light lunch options, afternoon tea and aperitivo with outdoor seating. They have an interesting selection of macarons but it’s the cakes and pastries that lure you in.

Moderno café

For dinner, Trattoria Caprese is just on the other side of the Arengario and is always very popular. It´s a neapolitan chain restaurant and it is always packed. Check the menu here.

2. Duomo – Monza Cathedral

Just 2 minutes from the Arengario you will find Monza’s beautiful cathedral and the cathedral’s museum. The first time I entered the cathedral I was shocked by how stunning it is on the inside. I wasn’t expecting it at all. The Cathedral is open Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 18:00. Sunday 14:00 – 18:00. The museum is open from 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 18:00, for ticket options check here.

Go for a wander around the back of the cathedral to the left and you will find the Teodolinda tower next to the museum as well as some very interesting houses.

There are several café’s and bars around this area as well as restaurants so walk around and explore.

3. Ponte dei Leoni

Built over the remains of a roman bridge, Ponte dei Leoni leads to another very colourful street and to a couple of my favourite café’s.

Parliamo di Thé which is a lovely tea shop that also serves bubble tea, hot drinks, pastries and cake. If you go you have to try their hot chocolate with merangue, it’s divine. Hot chocolate in Italy is basically a dessert and I’m not complaining.

QB Monza is my go to for tea and cake when I’m meeting friends. Great for breakfast and an afternoon pick me up.

Panificio Crivelli is great if you just want to pick up some baked goods to eat on the go. A week doesn’t go by without a visit to this bakery to get some freshly made brioches. I have tried most bakeries in the city centre and this one always wins.

photo taken by Mila – Milaprophoto.com

4. Parco di Monza

Open everyday from 07:00 until 21:30 it is one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe. Here, you’ll find the beautiful Villa Reale as well as several other smaller villa’s, farmhouses and mills. And of course, the famous Formula 1 Autodrome.

The best way to see the park is by bike or rickshaw; you can rent them from Cascina Bastia.

Take a break at the Padiglione Cavriga (Bar Al Cavriga); a beautiful café near Porta Monza and also one of my favourites! they have a great selection of cakes and pastries made in-house. My go-to is the strawberry tart accompanied by a nice cool peach tea.

For lunch we always go to Osteria Del Dosso for some great relaxed Italian home cooking. They have both outdoor and indoor seating and it’s very popular with the locals. It’s usually packed at weekends. There are several other cafe’s and restaurants you can enjoy that are also within the park:

  • Cascina Frutteto – part of the Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza (agricultural school). A beautiful venue which also offers wedding and event services. The restaurant offers a seasonal menu and is open Mondays from 12:30 until 14:30 for lunch and Tuesday to Sunday for lunch (12:30 – 14:30) and dinner (18:30 – 22:00).
  • Saint Georges Premier – another beautiful venue offering weddings and event services as well a working restaurant with outdoor seating. The restaurant is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday 12:30 until 14:00 and for dinner Wed – Sun from 19:00 onwards.
  • Ristorante Al Campo – situated on the sporting grounds of the park, it’s open daily for lunch.
  • Chiosco della Montagnetta – an outdoor café near the Vedano al Lambro entrance.
  • Chiosco di Villasanta – an outdoor café by the entrance to Villasanta.

5. Villa Reale

Open Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 to 18:30; tickets are 10€ per person and 8€ for those between the ages of 3 to 26 and anyone over 65 years old.

This neoclassical palace was built as a summer residence for Maria Teresa of Austria’s son Ferdinand Karl, Archduke of Austria-Este. It’s so beautiful inside and definitely worth the visit.

Villa Reale and royal gardens.
Villa Reale entrance and Roseto

6. Roseto “Niso Fumagalli”

Roseto was inaugurated in 1970 with the presence of Grace of Monaco. A collection of around 400 varieties of roses and the perfect place to relax after a long day of walking. The rose garden is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 until 20:00.

Roseto “Niso Fumagalli”.
Royal gardens, open 07:00 until 20:00 everyday.

7. Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Located in Monza park, it is the home of the Italian Grand Prix. The Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia 2022 will be taking place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza from the 9th to the 12th of September. You can book tickets here.

8. Capella Reale Espiatoria

Just a few minutes walk from the Villa Reale is the Cappella Espiatoria (Expiatory Chapel), which was commissioned by Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy, son and successor of Umberto I. It was built to commemorate the place in which the anarchist Gaetano Bresci killed his father on 29 July 1900.

The Greek cross-shaped crypt is entirely decorated with precious mosaics showing a star-dotted sky and the Savoy house emblems. The chapel is also decorated with glass mosaics portraying angels, busts of saints and blessed figures of the Savoy dynasty while the floor is covered in coloured ancient marble.

It is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 09:00 until 14:00. Open on Friday and Saturday from 09:00 until 19:00. Free entry.

9. Food and drinks

My favourite part! Food! There are so many great places to eat in Monza and so many I am still yet to try but here are a few we love with links.

  • UOVA & FARINA – They sell freshly made pasta and also have a restaurant – open Monday to Saturday. Check link for opening hours.
  • La Cucina di Via Zucchi – fine dining and great selection of wines. Open Monday to Sunday 12:00 – 14:30. Tuesday to Sunday 19:30 – 22:30.
  • Bove Lover – For any meat lovers out there. Open Monday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
  • Spalto Dieci – Great pizza. Indoor and outdoor seating. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

For drinks, there are several places on Via Bergamo which are really nice and the atmosphere along this road is great. It can get quite busy in the summer.

  • Paulpetta
  • Gren
  • Paloma
  • Pita Mia
  • Qualunquemente
  • Alla Stanga

If you want to stick to the centre you can go to Piazza San Paolo, Gomez cocktail y Mexico is good and has great music.

BMonza on Piazza San Pietro Martire is another of my favourites and they often do jazz nights and is always packed.

If you fancy some gelato you have to go to Gelateria La Romana, with any luck the queue isn’t too bad but it’s worth the wait.

10. Santa María in Strada – Via Italia and shopping

Santa María in Strada is a beautiful church on Via Italia built in the XIV century. The name “in Strada” means “in the street” and it comes from the fact that the church was built on the road that led from the city of Monza to Milan.

If you look up, the figure of the Virgin Mary is actually a fake; a copy was made to prevent damage to the original statue. The original statue can be found in the Museo e Tesoro del Duomo di Monza which if you have time, is worth visiting.

There are so many more things I could write about Monza but that would make this post way too long! It’s a lovely city to explore and I hope this post inspires you to visit.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!