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Destinations > Italy

Italy

Italy, the land of dolce vita, is an incomparable destination that enchants with its rich culture, breathtaking architecture and first-class cuisine.

Italy is located in southern Europe and is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. Destinations in Italy attract visitors with very different vacation regions. Those who love city tourism are more likely to travel to Rome, Florence, Venice or Milan. Here you will find countless museums, monuments and cultural attractions of all kinds. Those who prefer a beach vacation will be drawn to the Italian coast. A good 7600 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline await holidaymakers with its large beaches and dreamy bays. In summer, the mountains attract hikers and in winter, skiers. Or how about a vacation on an island? Sardinia and Sicily are among the most popular vacation islands in the Mediterranean.

The reason for the popularity of Italy is certainly not only the Italian cuisine with its regional specialties, but also the beautiful landscape, the diverse culture and the Italian way of life.

Italien

Let’s start with the culture that can be felt at every turn in Italy. From the thousand-year-old ruins of Rome and Pompeii to the Renaissance treasures of Florence and Venice, Italy is a living museum. Art lovers will be able to admire the works of masters such as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Caravaggio and Botticelli. These are exhibited in the country’s many museums and galleries.

The opera houses of Milan and Verona are a paradise for music lovers, while literature enthusiasts can follow in the footsteps of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. And then there is the vibrant popular culture, which is expressed in the many festivals and celebrations.

Italy’s architecture is equally impressive. The majestic Colosseum of Rome, the finely carved marble cathedrals of Florence, the pastel-colored palaces of Venice and the trulli houses of Puglia are just some of the architectural wonders that await you in Italy. Every region, every city, every village has its own distinctive architectural style that reflects its history and culture.

Italian cuisine is known and loved the world over. From the pizza and pasta dishes of Naples and Rome to the risotto and ossobuco of Milan and the fresh fish and seafood of Sicily and Sardinia, Italian cuisine offers an amazing variety of flavors and dishes. Then there are the many regional wines and cheeses, olive oil production and sweet delicacies such as gelato, tiramisu and cannoli.

But what really makes Italy unique are the people. Italians are known for their hospitality, their sense of style and their love of life.

Discover Italy destinations

Bari
Discover Bari

If you want to experience the vibrant atmosphere of southern Italian life up close, Bari is the place for you. The capital of the Apulia region exudes its very own, unmistakable charm.

Discover Bari   →
Bergamo
Bergamo

Bergamo is one of the most beautiful cities in northern Italy and is a real insider tip for vacationers who want to enjoy the authentic Italian way of life away from the crowds. A Bergamo city break can easily be completed in one day.

Bergamo   →
City trip Bologna - travel information and excursion tips
Bologna city trip

The capital of the Italian region Emilia-Romagna is called Bologna. The city is considered a culinary centre of Italy and tourists love to discover the numerous restaurants during a city trip to Bologna.

Bologna city trip   →
Sehenswürdigkeiten in Florenz – ein Stadtspaziergang
Florence - visit of a cultural metropolis

In Tuscany lies the cultural metropolis of Florence. A city that attracts and inspires not only art lovers from all over the world. On a city trip to Florence there is something to discover at every turn.

Florence - visit of a cultural metropolis   →
Comer see
Lake Como

In the Lombardy region of northern Italy lies the beautiful Lake Como. Here is one of the largest and most popular vacation regions in Italy.

Lake Como   →
Lucca
Lucca - enchanting place in Tuscany

Whether it is the search for cultural enrichment, culinary experiences, historical discoveries or simply the beauty of the Tuscan countryside - Lucca offers something for everyone and remains an unforgettable destination.

Lucca - enchanting place in Tuscany   →
Mailand
Milan

Italy's second largest city is located in Lombardy and is called Milan. A city trip to Milan offers a dynamic mix of culture, architecture and culinary delights.

Milan   →
Monza
Monza

The municipality of Monza is located in Lombardy. It became famous for motor sports, car races are held here at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, such as the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.

Monza   →
Pisa Dom und Schiefer Turm
Pisa

Italy's Tuscany is home to one of the country's most famous cities. Pisa, the picturesque Tuscan city, is the perfect vacation destination for culture lovers and history buffs. Here, millennia-old buildings combine with Italian flair to create an incomparable experience.

Pisa   →
Urlaub in Apulien
Holiday in Puglia

Puglia is a region in the south of Italy. Together with the Salento peninsula, it forms the "heel" of the "Italian" boot.

Holiday in Puglia   →
Venedig
Venice - a lagoon city

Who doesn't dream of travelling to Venice one day? The capital of the Veneto region is Italy's tourist magnet and attracts many visitors every year.

Venice - a lagoon city   →
Verona
Verona - City of Romeo and Juliet

In the north of Italy, on the banks of the Adige River, lies the beautiful city of Verona. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in Veneto.

Verona - City of Romeo and Juliet   →

Travel information for Italy

Getting There

Arrival

By plane
In or close to the main Italian cities, there are large international airports served by many airlines. In addition, there are some smaller airports that offer mainly domestic routes. Some low-cost airlines also fly there.

By train
Among the most important connections from German-speaking countries are the regular train services from Munich and Innsbruck. These run to Bolzano, Verona and Bologna. From Zurich, for example, there is a regular connection to Milan.
However, there are many other connections from the DACH region. For example, the night train connections from Munich or Vienna to Bologna, Florence and Rome are popular.

By bus
There are numerous long-distance bus companies that offer connections throughout the country.

By ship
You can get to Italy by ferry from Greece, Albania and Croatia. These call at Venice or Bari, for example.
There are also connections from Corsica to the Italian mainland and Sardinia. From Sicily, some North African port cities are served.

By car
To get to Italy by car from the German-speaking countries, you have to cross the Alps. There are several routes, such as the San Bernardino route (A13) from eastern Switzerland and Vorarlberg or the Brenner motorway and the Reschen Pass.
Especially during holiday periods, long traffic jams can occur on these routes. Especially on the Gotthard motorway, you often need a lot of patience.

Entry, Visa

Entry, visas

Entry requirements Italy for EU travelers

Italy is a member of the Schengen area. Travelers from member states require a passport or identity card when entering the country.

Entry requirements for Italy for non-EU travelers

Non-EU citizens who wish to travel to Italy must meet some basic entry requirements. A valid passport is essential and must be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the EU. In addition, the passport must not be older than ten years. Minors also require their own passport and, if necessary, a visa. Additional documents such as letters of invitation, proof of accommodation or return or onward travel tickets may be requested at the border. Depending on your nationality, a visa may be required, although some countries are exempt from the visa requirement.

Please note that entry requirements may change and it is advisable to check the current regulations before traveling.

On the way in...

On the way in Italy

By train
The train is a cheap and quite punctual means of transport in Italy. There are some high-speed trains that connect the metropolises on special routes. In addition, InterCity, EuroCity and InterCity Notte connections are used in long-distance traffic.
In regional transport you will find somewhat older trains, here the service between smaller cities is often somewhat less. Unfortunately, many routes have been closed in recent years and buses now connect these places.
Tickets can be bought online in advance or from ticket machines at the station.

By bus
The bus network in Italy connects almost all places. The prices are quite reasonable and the buses are sometimes more comfortable than the regional trains. In addition, they are quite punctual.
There are city buses, regional buses and national buses. City buses travel within cities and to surrounding incorporated towns. Regional buses run in regions and provinces. Here, the timetables and route network can often only be found on the provider’s website. Long-distance bus companies travel throughout the country.
Bus stops are not always located at central bus stations. Each provider has its own bus stops, which are often not easily recognisable. The timetables often give an approximate description of the location, but it is better to ask the locals for the “fermata dell’autobus”.

By car
The Italian driving style is considered chaotic and it often seems that no rules exist. However, driving is generally done with great attention.
When navigating, you should not necessarily rely on the signs at the side of the road. They are often old, weathered and written so small that you can hardly finish reading them. Clusters of 15 or more signposts on one pole are not uncommon. Mostly only the big cities are signposted and the smaller ones are not mentioned.

Most Italian motorways are subject to tolls. In most cases, you take a ticket when you enter and pay when you leave the motorway. There are cashier’s booths with cash acceptance and machines for credit cards and cash. Cashless payment does not always work smoothly. It can happen that the amount is not debited, but you still receive a receipt. It is said to have happened that debt collection agencies have made additional demands years later. The ADAC therefore advises keeping receipts for a long time.
If you travel a lot on the motorway, you should get a Via Card to pay the tolls. These prepaid cards are available for 25, 50 or 75 euros and are only read at the blue lanes at the toll booths. Via-Cards are available at petrol stations, motorway service stations and in Switzerland at the TCS.
ATTENTION! The yellow lanes are reserved for the Telepass an automatic billing system.

Speeds in road traffic:

    • in town: 50 km/h

    • outside of towns: 90 km/h

    • Motorway (blue sign): 110 km/h

    • toll motorway (green sign): 130 km/h

Child seat in the car:
Compulsory since 2020 – In vehicles with Italian registration (regardless of the nationality of the driver) for children up to 4 years of age, only child seats with an alarm system are permitted. This is to prevent children from being “forgotten” in the car. Violations of this new provision will result in fines of 81 to 326 Euros.

There are some unwritten rules in Italian road traffic that you should know:

    • Communication between drivers is often clarified by hand signals, flashing lights or horns.

    • Italian drivers are generally less insistent on their rights and are more often willing to make concessions to others in favour of better traffic flow.

    • When Italians drive very close to the centre line, they are in a hurry and appreciate it if you keep a little to the right.

    • On narrow, unclear and winding country roads, Italians like to honk before entering a bend. If no one honks back, they assume the bend is clear and use the full width of the road. Foreigners have to get used to honking back immediately if they hear a horn behind a bend.

    • If you want to merge into fast-moving traffic from a side street, roll into the lane courageously, seeking visual contact, and you will usually be let in.

Toll

Tolls

Most Italian highways are subject to tolls. In most cases, you take a ticket when you enter the highway and pay when you leave it. There are ticket booths that accept cash and machines for credit cards and cash. Cashless payment does not always work smoothly. It can happen that the amount is not debited, but you still receive a receipt. It is said to have happened that debt collection agencies have made additional claims years later. The ADAC therefore advises keeping receipts for a long time.
If you travel a lot on the highway, you should get a Via-Card to pay the fees. These prepaid cards are available for 25, 50 or 75 euros and are only scanned at the blue lanes at the toll stations. Via-Cards are available at petrol stations, highway service stations and in Switzerland from the TCS.

ATTENTION: The yellow lanes are reserved for the Telepass automatic billing system.

Best time to travel

Best time to travel

The main tourist season in Italy is the summer months from June to September. But spring and autumn also offer many beautiful destinations.

In August, many shops and restaurants in the cities may be closed.

In the Italian Alps and the Dolomites, the ski season usually lasts from December to April.

Language

Language

The official language is Italian.

In the Aosta Valley, French is also spoken locally and in South Tyrol there is a German-speaking majority. In Sardinia, a separate language, Sardinian, is spoken.

In the areas that are well developed for tourism, you can get by with English.

Money

Currency

The euro (€) is the currency in Italy.

Tip

Tip

In Italy, tipping is rather uncommon in the restaurant business. The Italians have introduced the coperto (Ital., place setting). This is a fee that can be one to two euros, depending on the meal, and is automatically written on the bill.
A little tip: The amount of the coperto is noted on the menus. The fee is also due if you only have a drink at the table!

For taxi rides, rounding up the fare is welcome but not expected.

In the hotel, you leave about 1€ a night or 5€ a week on the staff’s pillow.

Shopping

Shopping

Larger supermarkets are open until at least 8pm on Saturday and sometimes Sunday mornings.

Normal shops and boutiques are closed from 1pm to 4pm or 5pm in central and southern Italy, especially in small towns. Occasionally this also applies to petrol stations.

In tourist resorts and seaside resorts, shops are usually open all day, especially in the high season from May to September.

EU citizens shopping in Italy must pay by credit card from a purchase value of €1000.00. According to a decree, payment with cash is only allowed up to € 999.99 in order to curb money laundering and tax evasion.

You must take the scontrino (receipt) with you to a distance of at least 500 m from the restaurant, bar or shop. If you cannot show the receipt in the event of an inspection by the tax police, you are liable to tax evasion under Italian law and may have to pay a fine.

Telephone, Internet

Telephone / WLAN

Italy has a well-developed mobile phone network with 4 providers. EU citizens benefit from highly regulated roaming prices in Italy; those with an EU flat rate can even make calls “like at home”. Local SIM cards are available, also for holidaymakers, at the providers’ points of sale.

Plug

Power Plug

For Italy, travellers from Germany need a travel adapter.

Type C, F and L plugs are used in Italy. Type C and F are compatible with sockets in Germany – but the coverage is not 100%. In newer buildings, there are usually combination sockets that accept both variants and also Euro flat plugs. Schuko plugs do not fit into Type L sockets.

All our experiences in Italy

Uferpromenade vor Leuchtturm in Bari

Walk along the Lungomare of Bari

Bari is by the sea, so a walk by the sea along Bari’s seafront promenade is simply part of a stay in the city.

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Altstadt von Bari

The old town of Bari

In the north of the city, on a peninsula, lies the old town of Bari. A stroll through the alleys is a must when visiting the city.

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Dom von Bari

Cathedral of San Sabino- the Cathedral of Bari

Bari’s cathedral bears the beautiful name Cattedrale di San Sabino (Cathedral of San Sabino) and is located in the old town. The impressive church is dedicated to Saint Sabinus, who was once bishop of Canosa.

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Restaurant tips and beer in Bari

Eating and drinking keeps body and soul together and gives enough energy for great city explorations in and around Bari.

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Festung von Bari

The Fortress of Bari: Castello Normanno-Svevo di Bari

Large and massive, the landmark of the city of Bari, the Castello Normanno-Svevo di Bari, stands on the edge of the old town. You should definitely plan a visit to the Bari fortress during your visit to the city.

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Monumental Cemetery of Bari – Cimitero monumentale di Bari

Bari has an impressive cemetery in the middle of the city, which is well worth a visit during your stay in the city. Bari’s monumental cemetery is almost like a city within a city.

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Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare – the town on the cliffs of Apulia

The small town of Polignano a Mare is located on the Adriatic coast of Apulia. It is not yet overrun with tourists, but it is one of the more popular seaside resorts in Apulia.

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Monopoli in Apulien

The Apulian Monopoli

A look at the map of Italy showed us a small town very close to Bari, which we really wanted to visit just because of its name. Monopoli! Would there also be a castle avenue here, as in the board game?

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Eingang in den Duomo - Sehenswürdigkeiten in Bitonto

The 7 most important sights in Bitonto

To the west of Bari, about 11 kilometres away, is Bitonto. From Bari you can take the train to the town and enjoy the flair and sights in Bitonto.

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Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Right next to Milan Cathedral is another tourist destination – the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Galleria is a covered shopping arcade built in the 19th century.

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Hop On Hop Off Stadtbesichtigung

Hop On Hop Off – a variation of the city tour

You see them in many cities … the big red double-decker buses that are open in summer. They drive around the most important sights of the city and offer sightseeing tours.

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Mailand Tipps

Criss-cross through Milan – what you should also see

We have been criss-crossing Milan and have put together some Milan tips here that you don’t immediately find in every report about Milan. But I think they are definitely worth a visit.

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Gallerie Cimitero Monumentale - Zentralfriedhof von Mailand

Cimitero Monumentale – Central Cemetery of Milan

In Milan there is the Cimitero Monumentale, the central cemetery of Milan, which you should definitely visit. Here you will find artistically designed tombs and if you look closely, you might also discover a “celebrity tomb”.

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Strassenbahn fahren in Mailand

Tram travel in Milan – public transport tips

On the road on the streets of Milan. Which means of transport we used and why riding a tram in Milan is something special – you can read all about it here!

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Portello Park

When the Alfa Romeo industrial site becomes a recreational park – Portello Park

Sometimes you come across something by chance and are glad afterwards that you took a closer look. Like we did with Portello Park in Milan.

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Stadtbummel durch Mailand

City stroll through Milan

When you stroll through Milan, you discover many great and interesting places. I could write long texts about every church, square or monument in Milan, but no one would read them, because it’s no longer fun to be bombarded with facts.

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Panzerotti in Mailand

Panzerotti from Luini in Milan

“Go eat panzerotti in Milan!” Following a tip from a Milanese woman, we went in search of Luini’s panzerotti near Piazza Duomo. We had no idea what it was, only that you could eat it.

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Milan Cathedral

The landmark of Milan – the cathedral

If you read up on Milan before a trip to the city, you will mainly find pictures of the Milan Cathedral. This imposing building is the landmark and the main attraction for all tourists. I think that’s right – a visit to the cathedral is simply part of a visit to Milan.

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Naviglio Grande

Naviglio Milano – the canals of Milan

Milan does not lie on any significant and large river. Nevertheless, there are canals here, Naviglio, which are fed by the rivers of the hinterland. These man-made connections give Milan access by water to the Adriatic Sea.

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Castello Sforzesco – Milan’s Castle

The Castello Sforzesco, like the Duomo, is one of the main attractions in Milan. The castle in Milan is located on the Piazza Castello northwest of the old town. Directly behind the castle is a large park where you can take a wonderful walk.

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Parco Sempione

Parco Sempione

The Parco Sempione is directly adjacent to the Castello Sforzesco. The garden is a popular meeting place and offers a lot of recreation on almost 40 hectares. Ponds and water arms criss-cross the meadows. There are cafés and numerous benches. In summer, open-air events are held here.

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Milan Centrale

Milano Centrale: Discover Milan’s Iconic Train Station & Its History

Even if you don’t travel by train, you shouldn’t miss visiting Milan’s main railway station, Milan Central. That’s right; see it not only from the outside but also from the inside and look.

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Altstadt von Bergamo

Bergamo – a day trip

Bergamo not only has an airport where visitors to Italy land in droves. It’s worth taking a day trip to the city and discovering the beautiful old town.

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Arkadengänge in Bologna

6 tips for 24 hours in Bologna

Unfortunately, we did not have much time to discover Bologna in more detail. We were in the city for a good 24 hours and have discovered some beautiful places that make you want to plan a longer stay. We would like to briefly present our Bologna tips.

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schiefen Türme von Bologna

The leaning towers of Bologna

Not only Pisa has a leaning tower, Bologna even has two leaning towers -Torre Garisenda and Torre Asinelli. Both towers are considered landmarks of the city.

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Sehenswürdigkeiten in Florenz – ein Stadtspaziergang

Sights in Florence – a city walk

Florence is a city that you simply must have seen. Fortunately, the most important sights in Florence are located so close together on foot that you can combine them during a city walk.

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Florenz Blick zut Ponte Vecchio

The most beautiful viewpoint over Florence

By bus we drive once across the city to the most beautiful viewpoint over Florence, Piazzale Michelango.

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Weihnachtsmarkt in Florenz

Christmas market in Florence

We hadn’t really expected that a Christmas market would already be open in Florence when we visited at the end of November. Therefore, we were even more pleased that we discovered the small wooden houses on the Piazza Santa Croce.

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San Michele in Foro

San Michele in Foro

We walk through the beautiful old town of Lucca and come to a large square enclosed by chains. In Piazza San Michele, popularly known as Piazza della catene (Square of Chains), stands the imposing church of San Michele in Foro.

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Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Lucca

We are strolling through the narrow streets of Lucca when we come across one of the four gates that lead us to Piazza dell’Anfiteatro (Square of the Amphitheater).

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Torre Guinigi in Lucca

Torre Guinigi – the tower on which the trees grow

Some time has passed before I came back to Lucca. This time without crutches and with Patrick – so we could catch up on everything I couldn’t experience during the last visit. At the top of my wish list was a visit to the Torre Guinigi.

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San Frediano in Lucca

2 hours through Lucca

The AIDAperla has docked in Livorno. Passengers stream off the ship and take the buses to Florence or Pisa. I also disembark, get on a bus and let me drive to Lucca. A Lucca short visit in 2 hours, which in retrospect were much too short.

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Park von Monza - Villa Reale

Park of Monza – worth a visit in any season!

Besides the Formula 1 race track and the cathedral, you should definitely take a walk through the Park of Monza. Even in winter it is beautiful and relaxing here.

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Monza

Cathedral of Monza – hidden splendor

The Cathedral of Monza, you shouldn’t miss it – that’s what we had been advised to do before our day trip to Monza. We followed the advice and were not disappointed. A hidden splendor awaited us behind an unspectacular facade.

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Formel 1 Rennstrecke in Monza

In the minibus over the Monza Formula 1 Circuit

There were times when we never missed a Formula 1 race on television. That has changed in the meantime, but the fascination for the fast cars has remained. Therefore, it was clear that if we are in the vicinity, we must visit the Monza Formula 1 Circuit.

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Pisa Dom und Schiefer Turm

Piazza dei Miracoli – the square around the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The square around the Cathedral got its name from an Italian writer and poet who wrote about the “Meadow of Miracles” (Piazza dei Miracoli) in his book. The green area near the city walls is located a bit away from the historical center.

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Von Ort zu Ort reisen unterwegs in Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the perfect photo

If you look for pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you will come across countless pictures of tourists in strange postures. We have taken a closer look.

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Sehenswürdigkeiten in Pisa: Fortezza Nuova

Sights in Pisa: out and about in the city at high tide, rain and sunshine

Before we set off for Pisa, we had already heard in the press that it was going to be wet there. Wet from above – there was supposed to be a lot of rain – and wet from below – the Arno had already overflowed its banks and the high water determined life in the city.

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waterways of Venice

The Venice Waterways

A trip to Venice is associated with romance. Being driven along the canals in a gondola, the gondolier singing softly, the sun setting…. are there any women who don’t dream of it?
I, too, was naturally curious about the waterways of Venice and had built up my image from the various TV films. But did that correspond to reality?

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Seufzerbrücke

Visit Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs

The Palazzo Ducale, Doge’s Palace, is one of the most important buildings in Venetian architecture. Since the 9th century, the Doge and the governmental and administrative bodies of the Republic of Venice have had their headquarters here. The palace is connected to a prison wing via the Bridge of Sighs.

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Murano

Murano – the city of glass art

From Venice, boats regularly sail to Murano, a small town located on a group of islands off Venice. We also paid a visit to this town during our stay in Venice.

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Venedig Rialtobrücke

From dream to reality – a visit to the Rialto Bridge

For me, the Rialto Bridge in Venice was second only to the gondola ride with a singer in the evening atmosphere of Venice in terms of romance. So I was really excited during our stay.

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Markusplatz

With wet feet through Venice

No, we didn’t fall into a canal! But we still got our feet wet during our visit to Venice.
It was beautiful weather in Venice! In T-shirts, shorts and sandals, we set off in the morning for another day of exploring the lagoon city. The destination for this day – St Mark’s Square, Basilica di San Marco!

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demonstration in Venice

… and suddenly we were in the middle of a demonstration in Venice

Many visitors associate Venice with romance, beautiful architecture and picturesque canals. But is it really always like that? In any case, we were very surprised when we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a demonstration in Venice.

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Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona.

Romeo and Juliet in Verona – Walk to the sites of the tragedy

It was the nightingale and not the lark….
…oh Romeo, oh Juliet…this classic leaves no one untouched. And anyone travelling to Verona should know the story of Romeo and Juliet.

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Eis in Italien

Worth a sin – ice cream in Italy

Italy is known as the land of ice cream. Everyone raves about ice cream in Italy, but is it really as good as its reputation or can other ice cream parlours keep up?

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Verona a stroll

Verona – a stroll

A walk through the old town of Verona can be beautiful. The best thing to do is to walk along the smaller streets and you will see that this city has a lot to offer. It is not for nothing that the old town of Verona was declared a World Heritage Site.

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Arena di Veona

Aida at the Arena di Verona

My absolute highlight of our stay in Verona was the visit to the Arena di Verona for the performance of Aida by Giuseppe Verdi.

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On the banks of the Adige - a beautiful walk

On the banks of the Adige

City tours are really beautiful, but also very exhausting. If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of Verona, you should walk along the banks of the Adige River.

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View over Verona - free viewpoint

…to come once again to the view over Verona…

No longer an insider tip, Castell S. Pietro is a free viewpoint high above Verona, which you can also reach by bus.

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Free viewpoint: Santuario Madonna di Lourdes. After a nice walk, you reach one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Verona.

Free viewpoint: Santuario Madonna di Lourdes

You don’t always have to climb expensive lookout towers when in some places the topography allows you to find a natural viewpoint. Fortunately, in Verona you can find several points.

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Torre dei Lamberti bei Nacht

Torre dei Lamberti

In the centre of the old town stands the Torre dei Lamberti – the Tower of Lamberti. At 84 metres, it is the tallest building in Verona and towers over the entire old town.

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Verona

Off the beaten track…

Those who visit Verona walk through the city centre, past the Arena, churches, balconies and noble boutiques. And who doesn’t feel like that? Verona has even more to offer, sometimes you just have to look very closely. Off the beaten tourist track, you can take a wonderful walk along the city walls in Verona.

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Brücke über die Etsch

Ponte Scaligero – you have to cross this bridge…

Cities that lie on rivers always have bridges. Many are modern, some are ugly and others are beautiful and then old. Verona’s Ponte Scaligero is one of the most beautiful bridges we have seen so far.

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Titelbild Basilika

Basilica di San Zeno in Verona

The most important church in Verona is the Basilica di San Zeno. It was built in the Romantic style, but also has the first Gothic architectural elements. The church was built in the 12th and 13th centuries.

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The Castelvecchio in Verona

Castelvecchio – worth seeing even without a museum

Castelvecchio in Verona is famous for its museum, but we are not really museum visitors at all. Maybe that’s because we’ve already seen a lot of exhibitions back home in Berlin.

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Pizza in Verona

Streetfood – Pizza in Verona

When you go to Italy, you think of pizza and pasta. It’s no different for us! Of course we had to look around for pizza, and on our first evening we came across a small shop with a great selection of pizzas that we couldn’t pass by.

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Wohnung in Verona

Verona – gorgeous flat

As this trip to Verona had been planned for a long time, we started looking for accommodation almost three quarters of a year beforehand. There were not too many criteria that our dream flat in Verona had to fulfil, but for us it was important to have free Wi-Fi access, as we were dependent on an internet connection during the trip.

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Como in Italien

Como – the little gem of Lake Como

Como is a city on the bank of Lake Como. It is one of the biggest cities around Lake Como. Its proximity to Milan makes it the ideal local recreation area for Milanese people. Many tourists take the train from Milan to Como, too.

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Standseilbahn Como - Brunate

Funicolare Como – Brunate

A funicular connects Como and Brunate. Hundreds of tourists per day use this cable car to get to the little village in the mountains.

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Mystic Burger in Como

Mystic Burger in Como

I will admit it: Pizza and pasta can get a little boring over time and mixing it up a little is a most welcome change. We discovered Mystic Burger in Como.

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Bellagio am Comer See

Bellagio is worth a visit

Bellagio, „the pearl of Lake Como“, is a small local authority at Lake Como in Italy with about 3000 citizens. It is located on the picturesque peninsula that splits Lake Como into two arms; one to Como and one to Lecco.

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Boot Tour Comer See

A boat tour on Lake Como

A boat tour on lake Coma was an item on the „I really really want to do this“ list. I had read somewhere that there is a Hop On Hop Off ticket that allows you to tour the whole lake…

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Brunate

Brunate – a town high above Como

When in Como many visitors go on a trip with the funicular. The ride ends in a little town that is well worth a closer look.

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Comersee

Como – On the banks of Lake Como

The lakeside promenade in Como isn’t long but it is still well worth a visit. Coming to the lake from the pedestrian area in Como brings you to the jetties with the little boats that cross the lake daily. From here one can walk along the lake in both directions.

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Como

Terme di Como romana in Como

Suddenly you’re in the excavation site of the Roman Baths in Como.

It is odd. You walk through Como and stumble upon a Roman excavation site. The only pointer was a little sign on a multi-storey car park that said: “Terme die Como Romana”.

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Como Bier

Como – a place with some really special beer

If you think that Italy is only for wine lovers you are mistaken. They do exist, the beer drinkers! I’m quite happy about that because I have to admit that I do not care for wine at all. But give me a tasty beer and the trip will be a good one.

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Schlafzimmer Wohnung in Como

Como – a beautiful and comfy apartment

For a somewhat longer stay in Como, directly at Lake Como in Italy, we were looking for an apartment that was within walking distance to all our destinations. Once again we browsed Airbnb and found something suitable.

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