The Dolomites span a huge area that cut across multiple districts and provinces. We love it - we're five trips in now, and keep finding more to explore. Excellent, intermediate skiing with views, some of the best hiking to be
Merano began as a medieval Tyrolean settlement and became the capital of the County of Tyrol in the 13th century, before political power later shifted to Innsbruck. In the 19th century, its mild Alpine climate transformed Meran into a renowned
Parma is a delightful small city: home to excellent food (including Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano), lovely buildings covering nearly 2000 years of history, and flat, walkable streets. It’s very compact and is a nice getaway with very little
I spent a day touring Milan in 2005, and have been back a few times since on work trips which involved a lot of time indoors. In 2026 we made a more extensive visit during Salone. It’s a big, grand
Versilia is in the northern coastal region of Tuscany, a very popular summer destination for wealthier Italians. It’s been “on the map” for millenia, lined with Roman towns and architecture, and crossed by the Via Francigena route to France and
Search for articles on Lucca and you’ll find a consistent theme - this is a gorgeous, lovely town to simply wander through and experience. Walk the walls! Check out the churches! Unlike many historic Italian destinations (like Florence), this is
Very high end and quite scenic, Courmayeur is the opposite of Chamonix (in experiential terms, and in literal terms - on the other side of the Mt. Blanc tunnel). It’s a lovely year-round destination. The center of town has a
Turin is great! It’s beautiful, friendly, and clean (for an Italian city). Excellent architecture. Museums abound. This is an excellent city for walking and getting lost. Lodging On our first visit we stayed at ***Hotel Victoria, which was grand, old-fashioned but well
Lake Lugano is the Swissiest of the Italian lakes, with the border cutting through and around the shoreline. It’s very pretty and has lovely weather and food. I can’t say that Lugano is my favorite of the Italian lakes. It’s the
Bolzano is the capital city of the South Tyrol - it’s a lovely, historic destination that’s worth lingering in. We’ve visited in the winter (major Christmas market), and read it’s an excellent summer destination, with good weather and a wealth