Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy
June 11 – 29, 2018
Genoa, The Cinque Terre, Monterosso, Cinque Terre mountain road trip, Corniglia, Cinque Terre boat trip, Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Milan, Lake Como, Orrido di Bellano, Varenna, & Tirano, Italy; Bernina Red Train to Alps & Switzerland, Cavaglia & Alp Grum, Switzerland; Franciacorta, Sale Marasino @ Lago d’Iseo, Monte Isola, Verona, Trento, Bressanone (Brixen), Italian Dolomites, Ortisei, South Tyrol, Val Ridanna, Vipiteno, & Bassano del Grappa, Italy.
I booked “Northern Italy: The Alps, Dolomites & Lombardy” along with the pre-trip in the Italian Cinque Terre with Overseas Adventure Travel. This eighteen day adventure was my 44th trip with this company. Jim & I loved to travel and I still love to travel. OAT is very solo travel friendly, and makes it possible to book solo hotel rooms & ship cabins without paying an extra supplement. In my first trip out after Jim’s death I met a great new friend and travel buddy (Nancy) & this is our 5th trip together. So…here we go again!
The above map of our itinerary is copied from the Overseas Adventure Travel web-site. The first map is the trip in its entirety while the second map is the first four nights on our trip (the pre-trip). First we did the pre-trip by flying into Malan, Italy and driving to Genoa and staying there the first night. We stayed in Monterosso (in the Cinque Terre) for 3 nights, and then traveled to by coach to Milan Italy. Next the main trip began and we stayed in Milan for 2 nights, Tirano 3 nights, Sale Marasino 2 nights, Verona 2 nights, Bressanone 3 nights, and Preganziol (near Venice) 1 night. It was an excellent itinerary!
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Pre-trip, Genoa & Cinque Terre: I flew into Genoa, Italy & was immediately transferred to our hotel in Genoa. This is picture of Alessandro, our tour leader. He was a great guy and loved showing us all around the Cinque Terre area. The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. It is in the northwest of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia, and comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola & Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Love the Cinque Terre!
Genoa, Italy: Genoa is the capital of the Italian Riviera & in it’s golden era, it was on the maritime circuit with Pisa, Venice & Amalfi. It was the home of Christopher Columbus. Take evening we ate at a neat Restaurant called “Eataly.” We stayed just the one night in Genoa, then moved on to the Cinque Terre region.
The Cinque Terre: After breakfast we departed for the Cinque Terre. There are five captivating villages, most of which are solely connected by pathways and train stations, making them delightfully free of car traffic. The UNESCO World Heritage Site villages are clustered on terraces atop cliffs that drop dramatically into the sea.
Monterosso al Mare, in the Cinque Terre: It is the westernmost village of the Cinque Terre. The town is divided into two distinct parts: the old town and the new town. The two areas are divided by a single tunnel that caters to pedestrians and there are very few cars in the town. I love our little hotel “Hotel Margherita” that was located right in the heart of the old town. We stayed here 3 nights. The yellow building is our hotel & the next photo is looking off the balcony of my room.
Strolling around Monterosso & there’s always time for Gelato.
Mountain Adventure: We explored by 4-wheel drive vehicles off the beaten path along the curves from Monterosso to La Spezia. It was a spectacular drive along a mountainous winding two-lane road that wends its way among vineyards and olive groves high above the sea.
Stopping at a look-out on the La Spezia road.
Corniglia in the Cinque Terre: It’s the least visited of the Cinque Terre towns and has a population of about 150. Unlike the other localities of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia is not directly adjacent to the sea. Instead, it is on the top of a promontory about 300 ft. uphill with no harbor. In the first photo we are approaching Corniglia.
Loved riding along the beautiful mountain road in the Cinque Terre. This is from Corniglia to La Spezia.
Then it was time for lunch at a Agritourismo in a beautiful location with yummy variety of food from the Liguria region of Italy.
To complete our wonderful tour of the Cinque Terre we departed from Monterosso and did a private boat tour along the coast. We saw the emerald green waters, hidden grottos and the picturesque villages nestle on the coast & perched on steep hills.
Vernazza: Next up was Varnazza. The first records recognizing Vernazza as a fortified town date to 1080. Vernazza is the first town, heading north, after Monterosso has no car traffic, and remains one of the truest “fishing villages” on the Italian Riviera.
Manarola: It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns with a population of about 400. Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. Manarola’s primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making.
Riomaggiore: It is the easternmost village and the largest of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. It was founded in the beginning of the 13th century and has a population of about 1700 people. Its peeling pastel buildings march down a steep ravine to a tiny harbour.
In Oct. 2014: Jim & I visited Cinque Terre independently and stay in this great apartment with a view for three nights. It was up and up a zillion uneven steps, but had a view to die for. Of which I thought I might (die) after about the tenth hike up the zillion uneven steps. Great memories!
Monterosso: Our boat ride of the Cinque Terre ended back in Monterosso which had been our home for the three nights. After a delightful dinner in Monterosso our pre-trip was officially over. The next morning we went by coach to Milan to begin the main trip.
Thus begins our main trip, and I quote from our OAT booklet: “Witness the awe-inspiring landscapes & cultural treasures of Northern Italy on a journey from the fashion capital of Milan & romance of the Lombardy Lakes to the snow-covered Alps & towering pinnacles of the Dolomites.” It was a great trip & all that it was billed to be. This is our happy group of 16 travelers and Cecilia our great tour leader.
Milan, Italy: It’s the second largest city in Italy with a population of 1.3 million. I’m not crazy about big cities but our hotel was located right in the heart of the city and only a couple blocks from the Milan Cathedral which is the 3rd largest church in the world by area. Right around the corner was The Galleria Vitorio Emanuele II, which is Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan.
Some of the architecture of Milan.
Milan is known for it’s world renowned fashion district. It was fun looking at the expensive fashionable clothing.
These are the prices in Euro’s for the stylish clothing in this window.
Lake Como: It’s set against the foothills of the Alps. Lake Como is Italy’s 3rd largest lake and is considered one of the deepest lakes in Europe.
Orrido di Bellano: Located on the shore of Lake Como, Orrido di Bellano is a waterfall & natural gorge where caves have been carved out by the water over the centuries.
Varenna, Itlay: We enjoyed my birthday lunch at this village on the eastern shore of Lake Como. I had my favorite thing to eat in Italy and that’s Bruschetta!
Tirano, Italy: We arrived in the enchanting village of Tirano where we would stay for 3 nights in a little hotel (1st photo) in the heart of the village, Hotel Centrale Tirano. I loved the village and couldn’t have been in a better place for my birthday celebration.
June 18, 2018: Happy Birthday to me!
Bernina Red Train to Switzerland: We had a full-day excursion across the Alps and into Switzerland on this train…loved it! It’s one of the few rail journeys designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bernina Red Train is not just the world’s highest Alpine crossing (7,400 feet), but also the steepest, with gradients up to 7%. Come on my journey from Tirano to Diavolezza Station.
We got off at Diavolezza station and boarded a cable car that took us up to 10,000 feet. We indeed had a panoramic view of the snow & the glaciers. While up in the snow area we had a picnic lunch. Then back down to the train and we headed back to Tirano.
Rode down on the cable car then back aboard the Bernina, a stop at Cavaglia station for a hike & refreshments, then back to Tirano. It was a wonderful day!
Nancy, wait on me…..I want gelato tooooo!
Franciacorta Wine: After breakfast, we departed Tirano and headed to Lago d’Iseo, the least known of the Lombard Lakes, and the Franciacorta wine region. To make Franciacorta sparkling wines, the grapes are hand harvested, fermented in wooden casks, and aged by law for 18 months. We toured Berlucchi Winery, had a tasting and a great lunch of various prosciutto & cheese.
Lake Iseo, Italy: Another great area, off the beaten path! For 3 nights we stayed at Villa Kinzica on Lake Iseo. It was such a cute, quaint, friendly hotel with a splendid location. We had time to enjoy a dip in the pool. One evening we all enjoyed dinner on the front porch of the hotel, and I must say my steak was excellent (the others had fish from the lake). The last photo is the view off my balcony.
Our boat cruise on the way to Monte Lsola. We all wanted to stop & tour this island & castle, but it was private & we weren’t invited.
Monte Lsola: Located in the Lombardy region, Monte Isola is a large island in the middle of Lago d’Iseo. It’s Europe largest lake island (4.9 sq mi), has population of about 1,700 people, and is car free.
Italian Cooking Lesson: That evening we drove to the little historic town of Rovato and enjoyed a hands-on Italian cooking lesson at a trattoria. We divided up and prepared the entire menu. I participated in the preparation of gnocchi. We got to keep our aprons so if you see me around in my apron you will know I’m cooking Italian!
Verona, Italy: It’s the city made famous by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, and second only to Rome in the number of ancient Roman ruins.
Arena di Verona: This Arena was built in 30 AD and it is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given here. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. In ancient times, nearly 30,000 people was the housing capacity of the Arena. Nowadays, for security reasons, the maximum attendance is 15,000 people.
We four fantastically brilliant people purchased tickets on line for the equivalent of thirty American dollars to go to a performance in this awesome Arena. We saw Aida, with a cast of hundreds and it was phenomenal! Ancient Egypt is the backdrop in the arena, as Verdi’s immense score, both lyrical and dramatic, plays out to its tragic end. It was unbelievable how each word was able to be heard because of the ancient engineering 1,988 years ago!
Trento, Italy: After breakfast, we journeyed north to the valleys, meadows, and towering peaks of the Italian Dolomites. Our first stop was Trento. Trento lies in a wide glacial valley, just south of the Dolomite Mountains. It has a population of about 110,000. Art and architecture, nature and museums have made Trento a cultural hotspot. It was part of the Habsburg Empire, but in 1919 it became part of Italy, at the end of WWI.
Bressanone (Brixen), Italy: It is located in a broad valley beneath the mountains and is situated at the confluence of two rivers. It is known for the hub of hiking in the summer, and skiing in the winter. Brixen has a population of 21,000 and 70% of the inhabitants speak German as their native tongue. As usual for me, since Brixen was a small town I loved it. Also enjoyed the beautiful view from my hotel balcony. We stayed here 3 nights.
The Italian Dolomites: My goodness, we had a beautiful bus ride seeing spectacular rock formations, emerald lakes, glacial valleys, & alpine meadows. Couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable way to view the Dolomites.
At Stella Pass the group went for a hike. Well, the group with the exception of Nancy & I. Since we were both walking with a hobble we decided to stay behind and have a hot cup of cappuccino at a little scenic coffee shop.
More scenic beauty in the Italian Dolomites.
We had a delightful lunch in a unique chalet in the Dolomites. The road was so small we walked in, and it was a beautiful stroll.
Arriving at the Chalet & enjoying the remote location & beautiful views.
And now….let’s eat!
Ortisei, Italy: It is a town of about 5,000 inhabitants in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is located in a valley of the Dolomite mountains.
South Tyrol: The drive in the South Tyrol area seeing the picturesque villages, medieval castles and rolling hills was stunning.
Ridanna Mine: The mine located in Val Ridanna, is one of Europe’s highest mountain mines and also one of the oldest working mines in the Alpine region and it is now open to visitors. Visitors will experience the entire production process of a mine as well as its technical development over a period of 800 years.
Vipiteno, Italy: A mountain town dating back to the 14th century.
Bassano del Grappa: It’s a northern Italy city named for this region’s’ famous after-dinner drink, Grappa. The town is in the foot-hills of the Alps and has a population of about 40,000.
Ponte Vecchio: The principle landmark of the town is the Ponte Vecchio (‘Old Bridge’). This covered wooden bridge was built in 1569 and has stunning views of the Alps.
Farewell: Really enjoyed this group of new travel friends! We stayed the night near Venice, had a delicious farewell dinner and headed to the airport early the next morning.
Thank you Overseas Adventure Travel and Alessandro & Cecilia for another great trip.
“Life is what you make it.”
Keep on traveling!
The Farmers Meanderings 
Beautiful pictures Marilyn! Hope you are ready for your October adventure
Hi Saundra, thanks! Yes, looking forward to Ireland in October. Really glad I changed the date, still doing physical therapy, but my hip is getting better. Hope all is well with you. Enjoyed being in N. Italy with you!