October 1, 2026

ITALY – Part 2 (September 14th-30th) – In Review

Traveling up and down Italy was a huge highlight of the trip.I had to reference Stanley Tucci many times when telling the family why we needed to go somewhere or try something. There are many more places I would love to visit someday. Italy truly is a treat for the eyes and the stomach.

• Verona – The Verona train station was very manageable. You can walk (minus your bags) into the city, or you can drive or take a taxi. The city itself stretches on for quite a way as there is a newer section and then the historic city center. We walked the historic center and were delighted by the charm in the old streets, the new style mixed with the old structures, the high-end stores stuffed into old stone buildings. It was fun to look for Juliet’s balcony … we found gelato along the way! We also found the North Face Verona t-shirt (with GPS coordinates). For us, this was a daytrip on the way in and the way out of the train station. 

• Lake Garda – This mountainous area, and fertile valley grape heaven, were definite highlights. We only accomplished half of the things on our list. We want to drive to Lake Como, drive through the Dolomites, see all of the towns on the west side of the lake, and possibly take a big day trip to Venice. But, alas, we only soaked in about four towns, the Gardaland Amusement Park, the Monte Baldo Cable Car, the Sirmione Thermal Spa, and the tiny town in the vineyards where we found the Mailboxes, Etc. We were so content with our week there. I am glad we did not try some of the more audacious day trips as I think another week moving to another location would be the best way to do that. 

• Milan – This is my personal least favorite. Perhaps done another way, it could be fabulous (like in a $2000/night suite next to the Galleria). Even then, I don’t think so. The train station is huge, everything is on a very large city scale, and the people did not interact with us, but really looked at everyone as tourists. The Milan Cathedral (Duomo) is very worth seeing – it has the most ostentatious details and decoration of any of the cathedrals we have seen so far. I do wonder about the whole technological city and wish it had been closer to the historic city center so we could get a better feel for what Milan is really like.

• Ischia – This small island off the coast of Naples is just as good as I hoped it would be. While touristy, there are plenty of open walkways and beaches around the edges that feel like any island paradise. Only from driving through in a taxi did I see the towns on the north side of the island – they look like a fantastic place to stay and explore. We did not make it over to Lacco Ameno or Casamicciola Terme, but they seem like a great vacation adventure for sun, sand, shopping, and eating! We stayed on the side of the mountain, right by Sant Angelo, a little village out of a postcard. No car needed. I would not recommend driving on this island yourself under any circumstances. Taxis and the bus work great. The last two nights, we stayed in Ischia Port with a view of the Aragonese Castle – I would absolutely do that again – the view and the visit were my favorite part of the island.

• Puglia – I will lump the southeast area of Italy into the region of Puglia, even though we did not get to see nearly enough of this region. We rented a car and drove from Naples, stopped at the amazing lunch in the tiny town with the family-run restaurant, and then stayed in Polignano a Mare. It is picturesque. Like many towns here, there are gray buildings, or original stone structures, and not much to see until you walk into the city center. The towns come alive in the center piazzas that are often very close to the water. The possibilities are endless – Matera, Altamura, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Monopoli, Gallipoli.

Now that we are out of Italy, I can see the contrasts with Croatia (and with the U.S.) more clearly. Italy has an abundance of fresh food, made in a million different ways, and served with pride at every locally-owned restaurant. Food is their passion. The grocery stores have plentiful fresh food and all the fresh-baked items you could desire at incredibly reasonable prices. Olive oil is the absolute staple. The insalata mistas are to die for – huge fresh salads with the only dressing they have – olive oil and vinegar!