Italy -

Trieste and the Giant Cave: a Mountain of Steps, a Sea of Experiences

Gosia — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 16:39:23 +0000

Grotta Gigante is one of those places that sticks in the memory. Initially, I hadn’t planned to visit it, but I stumbled across it on a map and… well, who could resist a cave proudly calling itself “the largest tourist cave in the world”? There was just one problem: officially, I wasn’t supposed to leave Slovenia. When I rented the car, I declared I wouldn’t cross the border, but plans are made to be changed. Foolish and risky as it was, I decided to follow my heart—and take full responsibility if anything went wrong with the car. The result? Every step down into this cave was completely worth it. Grotta Gigante has been open to tourists since 1908 and held the title of the largest show cave for decades. Its dimensions are impressive: 98.5 metres high, 167.6 metres long, and 76.3 metres wide, giving a volume of 365,000 cubic metres. Sure, it may no longer hold the record, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s an absolute must-visit. Although the cave is enormous, it doesn’t boast as many stalactites and stalagmites as some of the nearby Slovenian caves. The real star is the “Colonna Ruggero” – Roger’s Column – a 12-metre-high stalagmite estimated to be around 200,000 years old. In other words, when Roger was forming, humans hadn’t even discovered fire yet. Some formations are white from calcium carbonate—a sign they’re still growing. Growth rate? About 1 mm every 15–20 years. So, if you’re thinking of coming back to check “how much it’s grown,” don’t hold your breath. Tours are guided only and last around an hour. The route is 850 metres long and… includes 1,000 steps. The consolation? Half are downhill, half uphill. The cave maintains a steady 11°C all year, so in summer, the contrast with the heat outside is striking—bring a jumper or light jacket. The sheer scale of the cave is awe-inspiring, but what’s even more extraordinary are the world’s longest horizontal pendulums. Installed in 1959 by geodesist Antonio Marussi, they act as ultra-sensitive detectors of Earth’s movements. Here’s how they work: the pendulum consists of a beam with a weight (mass) suspended from two steel wires (approximately 95 meters high), the upper one attached to the cave ceiling and the lower one to the floor. The beam rotates horizontally around a nearly vertical axis. The tilted axis creates a magnification effect; even the smallest movement of the Earth translates into a much larger displacement of the beam. The beam is equipped with a mirror onto which a laser is shone. Shifting the beam by even a micron, causes the light spot on the detector to shift and is recorded by the computer. This allows for the detection of even the smallest cave movements, crustal movements, or deviations from the vertical. Horizontal pendulums are ultra-precise spirit levels that measure microscopic rock tilts. In short, the cave monitors itself and the Earth—a bit like a giant, stone seismograph. Furthermore, the ideal cave environment promotes the precision of these measurements. The temperature and humidity are stable here, and there are no vibrations from vehicles or tourists stamping across the surface. Remarkably, the pendulums have registered four of the five largest earthquakes in the last 50 years—from Chile 1960, the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, to the 2011 Japan quake. It’s hard to believe that echoes from thousands of kilometres away are detected here. The pendulums can also track continental drift and crustal tides. Practical information: Opening hours: July–August daily; outside season: Tuesday–Sunday. Usually tours start on the hour—check the official site for current schedule. Tickets: Adults €15, students (19–26) and seniors €12, children 6–18 €8, under 6 free. Booking: Required—by email or phone, ideally at least 2 days in advance. Getting there: The cave is in Sgonico, on the Karst Plateau, a few kilometres from the Slovenian border. There are two large car parks on site. Bonus: Next to the cave is the Speleological Museum, with geological, archaeological, and palaeontological exhibits. Trieste – a city at the crossroads of worlds Since I had already taken the risk of venturing into Italy, I couldn’t skip Trieste. This is a city with character, a little lost in history, yet utterly unique. Nestled between the Adriatic and the Balkans, at the very end (or beginning—depending on how you look at it) of Italy, it’s always been a hotspot: Austrians, Italians, Slovenes, Yugoslavia, the Cold War—it’s like a soap opera in political form. In short, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Trieste was the empire’s main port—its window on the world. After WWI, Austria lost, and Italy took the city. The interwar period was tough: Trieste was just one of many Italian ports and lost its prominence. Then came Fascism and WWII. In 1943, Trieste was occupied by the Germans. After the war, the Free Territory of Trieste was established—a strange entity controlled by US and British forces. It was split into Zone A (Trieste itself) and Zone B (Istria). Zone B quickly went to Yugoslavia, while Zone A adopted Italian currency, language, and financial support from Rome. Allowing Italy to co-manage Zone A caused tensions with Yugoslavia, with troops on standby. Eventually, in 1954, an agreement was reached: Trieste and its surroundings went to Italy, the rest to Yugoslavia (today Slovenia and Croatia). Today, after this historical rollercoaster, Trieste is a fascinating blend of cultures, cuisine, and architecture. I began exploring the city from the seaside promenade, where there’s a huge car park. After paying at the meter, I headed straight to Piazza Unità d’Italia. Right next to the promenade, it looks like the city’s elegant living room: on one side, monumental Austro-Hungarian buildings; on the other, the Adriatic. Walking here, you can almost imagine being in Vienna. A little to the left is the city’s “second living room”—Piazza della Borsa (Stock Exchange Square), once the economic heart of Trieste. Today, it’s full of cafés serving excellent Italian coffee, a tradition dating back to the 18th century, when Trieste was one of Europe’s main coffee ports. Nearby is Canal Grande, built in the 18th century to allow boats to reach the city centre for unloading goods. Now decorative, lined with elegant buildings, with small boats moored along it. Trieste also boasts ancient monuments. The oldest is a 1st-century BC triumphal arch. There’s also a Roman theatre, which once held around 6,000 spectators. The historic heart of Trieste sits on San Giusto Hill. Here you can visit San Giusto Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Justus, the city’s patron. Nearby stands San Giusto Castle, a formidable fortress that was once the base for Austrian troops, later a prison, and today a museum. Each bastion looks different, built in various periods to withstand different threats. Next to the castle are the ruins of an ancient basilica and forum.

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Cinque Terre – the five lands

Gosia — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 15:16:49 +0000

Cinque Terre which can be seen in many photos or folders advertising tourism in Italy might seem to be just the one picturesque village. Meanwhile, the name Cinque Terre means “the five lands” and is used to describe five fairy-tale towns, situated on the high cliffs by the Mediterranean Sea. These include: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Each of them has amazing views and pastel-coloured buildings. In fact, this place gained popularity only in the 70s of the 20th century. Before that, Cinque Terre had been a place difficult to access. Only the construction of the railway connecting all five towns contributed to the significant development of tourism in this area. Before mass tourism emerged, local residents were mainly engaged in agriculture and fishing. This area has been famous for centuries for its excellent wine, which is still produced here today. The slopes of the Five Lands are full of vineyards and olive groves. Most of the vineyards can be seen around the town of Manarola. The most popular wine of this region is: Cinque Terre and Sciachetrà. Cinque Terre area is also known for its excellent pesto. Each town has its own unique charm. Riomaggiore is the first of the “five lands” on the south side. In the central point of the town there’s a church – Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista. There’s an amazing view of the pastel buildings and the coast of the Ligurian Sea. Right next to Riomaggiore is Manarola – a town famous for its wine production. You can get there by the Via dell’Amore (Path of Love), which is popular with tourists. Next town – Corniglia, located on a cliff, is the smallest in the Cinque Terre. The colourful buildings of this town and picturesque location make an amazing impression. Monterosso is the largest and oldest town in Cinque Terre. However, the most authentic of all Cinque Terre villages, is Vernazza, which looks like a small port town. How to get to the Cinque Terre? Cinque Terre is one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, that’s why its visited by a lot of tourists every day. I strongly advise against visiting Cinque Terre by car. Unfortunately, we had no other option, as visiting the Five Lands was part of a longer road trip. Cinque Terre is a national park, therefore car traffic is limited here. There are very few parking places for tourists on site. The best option is to reach La Spezia by car, from where trains run regularly to all five locations. Tickets can be purchased online on the Trenitalia website. Some tourists also use picturesque routes. The most popular and relatively easy is the so-called the Azure Trail connecting all villages. In addition, you can also take advantage of other more demanding routes.

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The Leaning Tower – Pisa in the shadow of the pandemic

Gosia — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:41:59 +0000

The Leaning Tower in Pisa was a place I had wanted to see for a long time. Ultimately, in the summer of last year, I managed to make it happen. I had a bit of a mixed feelings about traveling to Italy during the COVID pandemic. I was especially afraid of typical tourist places, because Italy is a rather popular destination during the holiday season. Meanwhile, to my surprise, it turned out to be the safest trip I could have ever imagined. Pisa was practically depopulated, we easily parked the car near the Leaning Tower. In the most important place – Piazza dei Miracoli, where there are four, most popular tourist points: the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Camposanto Monumentale Cemetery, there were virtually no tourists. On the other hand, a little more people could be found in numerous restaurants in the city centre. We started sightseeing with the most important construction in Pisa – the Leaning Tower. Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173 and took almost two centuries. In fact, the tower started tilting while being under construction. It was due to the shallow foundations and unstable ground. It wasn’t until 1990 when the tilt of the tower reached 5°, immediate work was taken to protect it from collapse. It took 10 years to stabilize the Leaning Tower and consumed 30 million euros. During these works, foundations were strengthened and special weights were placed to move the centre of gravity of the tower. The tilt was lowered to 4° and the tower is available now for sightseeing. Right next to the Leaning Tower, you can visit Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, which is free of charge. Unfortunately, during my stay the sightseeing was limited. Nearby, there’s also San Giovanni Baptistery, which was designed on the pattern of the Dome on the Rock in Jerusalem. The Baptistery is tilted, like the Leaning Tower. However, it’s virtually unnoticeable because it reaches only 0.6°. Interestingly, it’s not the end of the tilted buildings you can see in Pisa. Characteristic tilt can also be seen when looking at the bell tower of the Church of San Nicola. An interesting proposition for further sightseeing is a walk along the boulevard located by the Arno river. Here you can see an interesting panorama of the city and a small, richly decorated church – Santa Maria della Spina. On the way back, take a walk along Borgo Stretto promenade. It starts with Piazza Garibaldi, located just next to Ponte di Mezzo – a characteristic bridge and ends with the ruins of the Roman baths – Terme Nerone. It is a representative city street, where you can see many boutiques, restaurants and cafes. On the way, don’t miss Piazza del Cavalieri – the former administrative centre of the city. I must admit, that Pisa surprised me with a homely atmosphere, numerous narrow passages and interesting murals. It’s worth spending a bit more time here, to look at the locals’ life and see the city from a different, less tourist side. Like this post? Check out another ones:

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Turin and its surroundings – in the footsteps of Umberto Eco

Gosia — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:34:29 +0000

I visited Turin with my friends during a weekend trip to Italy. I hadn’t actually planned to visit this city earlier, but when it turned out it was on the way we decided to look there. At first glance, you can see that this is one of the biggest cities in Italy. Between 1861 and 1864 it was even the capital for a while. However, architecture, driving habits, and people’s behavior are far from typical Italian culture. In my opinion, Turin is a more elegant and peaceful city. Turin is mainly associated with the football club – Juventus, Shroud of Turin and Fiat. However, that’s not all, this city is also famous for its excellent coffee and chocolate. This is where the famous Italian coffee Lavazza and gianduja – chocolate and walnut paste, later known as Nutella, were born. As a matter of fact politics contributed to the creation of gianduja. As a result of the English cocoa embargo during the Napoleonic Wars, Turin chocolate makers decided to mix chocolate with hazelnuts. Additionally, being in Turin also try delicious bicerin – delicious coffee with chocolate and whipped cream. Bicerin and excellent chocolate can be tried in many elegant Turin cafes like Caffè San Carlo and Caffè Torino in Piazza San Carlo. The city center is created by two squares: Piazza Castello and Piazetta Reale. There you can see the most important historical buildings like Palazzo Madama or Palazzo Reale di Torino – Royal Palace. Turin is also an important religious center. Here is the chapel of Turin Shroud. You can see it in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Although the opinions about the authenticity of the shroud are divided, this place is visited by many faithful. However don’t expect that you’ll see it there, once in a while the Pope decides about exposing the Shroud to the public view. Supposedly you will be able to see it in 2025. Near to the chapel of The Shroud you can see Porta Palatina – the ruins of the Roman gate from the 1st century. Originally it was the only entrance to the city which used to be surrounded by high walls. Less than 40 kilometers from Turin there’s a certain amazing place that inspired Umberto Eco’s to write a book: ′′ The Name of the Rose “. It’s the Benedictine Abbey of Sacra di San Michele Sant’Ambrogio di Torino, located in an amazing scenery, on top of Mount Pirchiriano. It’s not surprising that the Abbey was a good inspiration for Umberto Eco’s to write a criminal novel. The only way to the abbey leads up high, steep stairs of the Scalone del Morti -“Stairway of the Dead”, named after the skeletons of the dead monks who ′′ adorned ′′ this road. Amazing impression of the abbey’s interior, red brick, limited light access and a small amount of decorations, make this place very raw and cold. The biggest impression, however, is the panoramic view that spreads from the top of the abbey. Sacra di San Michele is the perfect place for a day trip from Turin. The views on the spot are amazing, and the harsh interior and thick, high walls of the abbey for sure will give you creeps. Like this post? Check out the other ones!

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Lucca, Tuscany – forests on the roofs, Girl on a Trail

Gosia — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:29:30 +0000

Among the picturesque hills and vineyards of Tuscany there is a charming town – Lucca. At first glance, it looks the same as other Italian towns. However, there are some surprising places to explore. Lucca used to be a very rich city, inhabited by wealthy merchants. Its position was mainly due to the monopoly for silk production. Although silk clothes are still made here, Lucca is mostly famous for its excellent olive oil. Supposedly olive oil produced here is one of the best in Tuscany. Residents are proud of their city’s history and typical local dialect. Lucca maintained its independence as a city – state until 1837. Lucca’s unique attraction is Torre Guinigi, a 45-meter high tower, on its top you can see some trees planted. It is one of the few so called, residential towers that were preserved in the city. It was built in the 14th century by one of the rich merchants. In times of unstable political situation, the tower served both residential and defensive function. Currently Torre Guinigi roof is available for sightseeing. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to see it. During my stay in Lucca in summer 2020, sightseeing was limited due to COVID restrictions. Lucca is also called the city of 100 churches. Although I can’t confirm this, I have to admit that there you can see plenty of them. The most magnificent is certainly San Michele in Foro – erected in the place of the former Roman forum. It’s also worth visiting Piazza dell ‘ Anfiteatro a square built in the place of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. Indeed, the construction of the square is shaped like an amphitheatre. Just a few centuries ago, the amphitheater could hold as much as ten thousand viewers who used to watched gladiator fights. The ruins of the amphitheatre are now about 9 ft below the surface of the square. Today, Piazza dell ‘ Anfiteatro is the main tourist point and meeting place for Lucca’s residents. Lucca is an ideal place for a day trip, in addition to interesting history and surprising spots, it also has a specific vibe of Italian towns. Narrow, cobbled streets, pastel buildings, laundry hung up on the city’s main square, and a slow, relaxed lifestyle are some of the many reasons why you should visit it.

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Milan – one day trip

Gosia — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 16:01:05 +0000

The airport in Bergamo is an excellent hub for farther travel across Lombardy and other regions in Italy. If you have a free weekend, no plans and around 40€ in your pocket, I invite you for a short one-day trip to Milan! In order to save on accommodation, it’s best to buy tickets for the morning flight and return in the evening. I flew from Warsaw early in the morning, while on the way back I took advantage of Ryanair (departure at 9.20 pm to Warsaw – Modlin Airport). Total cost ticket was around 20€. From the Orio al Serio Airport you can get to Milan by bus. There’re many operators like: Autostradale, Oriosuttle and Flixbus.Tickets can be bought online even for € 4 and 9 € for return ticket. Latecomers can buy tickets at the desks located in the main hall. Bus stops are in the front of the entrance to the airport. Most buses go to the Central Station in Milan, and the journey time is less than an hour. The first tourist attraction is the Central Station – Milano Centrale, located in a beautiful historic building. It is perfectly connected with other cities in Italy, so travel to Milan can be extended for example with a trip to the beautiful Lake Como or even farther to Verona, more you can find here. The train station is located right next to the Centrale Fs metro station, where a yellow metro line runs towards the famous Duomo Cathedral. Metro in Milan is one of the most modern in Europe and the ride is a tourist attraction itself. It’s worth sitting in front of the car, which is driven automatically by a computer. Regular ticket costs 1,5€ and is valid for 90 minutes. At the price of 4,5€ you can also buy a 24-hour ticket, for all modes of transport in Milan (data from 2018, full price list you can find by clicking here. Travel you can plan here. Public transport map is available here. Metro station is located in Piazza Del Dumo right next to the famous Duomo Cathedral. The Duomo enchants at first sight. It’s one of the largest sacral buildings in the world. Indeed, it’s not that big like famous Basilica in Lichen in Poland but it’s unique due to the amount of decorations and marble figures on its facade. Anyway, it’s not surprising, it was under construction for about half a century! The construction of the facade of the cathedral was speeded by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who wanted it to be ready for his coronation. What’s more, Napoleon’s figure was located on one of the towers of the Duomo. Duomo cathedral has over a hundred towers, but there is no bell tower at its peak. In fact, there’re bells inside, but they’re used only for special occasions, because vibrations could damaged the fragile decorations The amazing towers of the cathedral can be admired from the top terrace. Admission to the terrace is quite expensive as it costs 12,5€ but it’s worth it. A more expensive ticket includes admission to the Cathedral. However, the interior of the Cathedral can be seen after getting off the terrace, that’s why you can only buy a ticket to the observation deck. Tickets can be purchased here. Next to the cathedral is the most famous arcade – the Gallery of Victor Emanuel. Milan is considered the capital of fashion right after cities like New York, Paris or London. The famous Fashion Week is organized here. The Gallery is said to be the oldest shopping centre in Italy, here you can see boutiques of the most famous fashion designers. An important point on the tourist map of Milan is Castello Sforzesco. The castle is surrounded by Sempione Park – the largest park in Milan. Here you can take a rest by the lake, go to the viewieng tower and Japanese garden. Park ends on the Arch of Peace. A visit to Milan can be the opportunity to try local dishes. Contrary to popular opinion, pizza and pasta are not typical dishes for Lombardy. The most popular dishes are for example: ossobuko (stewed calf’s foot) or busecca – sliced tripes with beans. I’m not a fan of offals, so I ordered a safe option – Risortto Milanese – rice with saffron. While my friends were served crispy, aromatic pizzas, I received something like this… Tour cost:– flights around 20€– bus on the route airport- Milan – airport around 10€– urban transport tickets 3 €Usefull maps and applications are available here.

Artykuł Milan – one day trip pochodzi z serwisu .

Italy – Venice

Gosia — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:40:16 +0000

Venice arises contradictory emotions. Some love it for beautiful architecture and romantic channels while others hate it. It was created about 1500 years ago and has remained unchanged up to this days. The phenomenon of the Venice is that it was built on the marshland. The location of the city on the unstable ground was possible thanks to special wooden stakes that guarantee the stability of the construction of the buildings. Mainly alder stakes were used to build Venice. Wood of this kind is characterised by high resistance, and in addition, it doesn’t rot when immersed in water, without oxygen supplies. Drowning City Venice is constantly threaten by flood. A popular phenomenon here is so called Aqua alta, which means high water. It occurs when a tidal wave exceeds 9 cm of its normal level. The most vulnerable place to aqua alta is St. Mark’s Square which is located on the lower level. According to the calculations, the city sinks at 1 to 2 mm every year. Currently a huge, expensive project called Mose is under way. It includes the construction of moving barriers that will be able to stop the flood. At the same time, the speed of the motor boats is limited, due to the fact that they enrich the water with oxygen and speed up the erosion of wood stakes on which buildings are built. The scale of this phenomenon can be imagined, given the number of tourists and the fact that using cars is banned in Venice. Transport among around 120 islands is performed via 177 channels. There are water taxis, water trams and famous gondolas. In the black gondola… Gondola ride isn’t a cheap attraction, a 40-minute tour costs about 40 €. the price increases depending on the time of day and during the holidays. Gondoliers are the best-paid professional group in Venice. People wishing to obtain a license have to pass a difficult exams including a check of the navigating skills and the knowledge about Venice history. In practice, only 3-4 people per year get the license. More interesting, in 2010 the first woman joined to the prestigious group of only 400 gondoliers. Venetian law requires the gondolas have to be black. It’s not allowed to paint them in other colours to encourage more customers. To see the city from a water perspective, it’s best to use public communication – water tram, called vaporetto. 75 minute ride ticket costs 7,5 € (data from 2018). Daily ticket costs 20€, two – day ticket 30€, and three-day 40€. Current prices you can check here. List of stops you can find here and the schedule is here. Tickets can be bought in slots or kiosks at stops. Stolen corpse The most popular attraction of Venice is St. Mark’s Square. In 9th century the Basilica of St. Mark was located there. It’s the burial site of the patron of Venice. According to the legend, smart Venetians stole St. Mark’s Evangelist corpse from Alexandria in Egypt, smuggling it with pork transport, meat forbidden for Muslims. The entrance to the Basilica is free of charge, but a visit to the vault and the Pala d ‘ Oro altar is paid. You cannot enter with the luggage (free luggage storage is located in Ateneo San Basso). Additionally, proper outfit is required and taking pictures inside is banned. The last sigh Next to the Basilica, there’s the famous Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). It was the residence of Doges – the authorities of the former Republic of Venice. The Palace also served as a criminal court. Bridge of sighs (Ponte dei Sospi) links the court with a prison, which is located on the other side of the channel. It used to be the last place where condemned could have sighed seeing for the last time beautiful Venice, before going to a cell for long years. One of the famous prisoners was famous Casanova himself. Belfry in ruins The third characteristic building of St. The Mark’s Square is reconstructed San Marco Belfry. The original Belfry from the 12th century collapsed in 1902, due to the lack of stable foundations. Belfry, as well as other buildings of this kind in Venice, used to serve as a lighthouse. Get lost Every year Venice is visited by millions of tourists. St. Mark’s Square is filled to the edges, the line to the Basilica is endless, and the famous Rialto Bridge on the Canal Grande is so crowded that it’s better to admire its beautiful architecture from afar. However, if you walk just few metres away from the main tourist trails, you’ll see the other calm face of Venice. Personally, I call it the “Venetian paradox” and this phenomenon isn’t limited only to Venice. Many popular tourist places are crowded to the limits while the side streets are completely empty. That’s why in Venice it’s best to get lost in a maze of narrow streets, small bridges and pastel buildings. Tourist trap Prices in Venice are high, which is why some tourists are only coming here for one day. Slice of pizza costs here even 4€ while outside Venice, the standard price for the whole pizza is about 10€. In addition, bear in mind that so called “coperto” (tip for setting the table) and 10-15 % tip are added to the bill. However, I would recommend visiting Florian – the oldest café on St. Mark’s Square. The café looks amazing inside, you can also sit outside and admire an interesting view of the square, belfry and basilica. Death of the city What will the future of Venice be? Will the water barriers stop the flooding process? Now Venice is slowly losing its authenticity. The population is dropping dramatically. Floods, the high cost of living, millions of tourists, as well as the huge costs of repairing destroyed houses, force many Venetians to change their place of living. Venice is slowly becoming a “tourist village”, that’s why, is it worth the rush to see it, or maybe not? The decision is yours 😉 ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Artykuł Italy – Venice pochodzi z serwisu .

Girl on a Trail – one-day trip to Verona

Gosia — Tue, 22 May 2018 17:55:41 +0000

I guess everyone knows that feeling when you want to go somewhere for a while, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money and take day off from work. In such a situation, you can go somewhere in your beautiful country or just take a plane and within 4 hours’ time you can sit in a cafe sipping aromatic Italian cappuccino in Piazza Bra in Verona 😉 A little organisation… How to go to Verona for just one day, saving on accommodation? On the way from Warsaw to Bergamo I used Wizzair which flies very early in the morning (plane lands in Bergamo at 8.30 am). On the way back, I used Ryanair which takes off from Bergamo to the airport in Warsaw – Modlin in the evening (at 21.20). From the parking lot at the Bergamo Airport, there are many buses in the direction of Porta Nuova Station in Verona. Travel there takes about 2 hours. You can find it here. Verona is a rather compact city, which is why I think one day is enough to visit it. What is more, it is a very climatic and charming place, which can even compete with a beautiful Venice. To my mind, Verona may be an interesting alternative to Venice, mainly due to lower prices and a significantly fewer tourists. What is more, it is close, because only 100 km from Venice. Although in Verona there are no channels that are typical to Venice, it can boast a beautiful location on the Adige river, at the foot of the Venetian Alps. The tour can be started with Museo di Castelveccio (6 €) – defensive castle where the art museum is currently located. Next to the castle is Ponte Scaligero – a bridge with an interesting view of the city. After visiting the museum, go to Piazza Bra – the largest square in Verona, where the third largest amphitheatre in Italy is located. The amphitheatre is perfectly preserved. It can accommodate up to 25 000 viewers. There used to be bloody gladiator fights, and now various theatre plays are performed there. Verona’s popularity is mainly due to Shakespeare’s famous play “Romeo and juliet”. A visit to the city cannot go without visiting Julia’s House (admission fee 6 €). Julia’s house dates back 13th century and belonged to the Cappellos’ family, which was probably an inspiration to Shakespeare for the creation of the Capultes’ family. In the courtyard there is a statue of Julia. According to the legend touching her right breast guarantees happiness in love. Julia’s house in now converted to museum in which you can go to the balcony, known form the scene when Romeo swears Julia eternal love. Right next to Julia’s house is Piazza Delle Erbe – the central point of Verona. It’s surrounded by cafés, restaurants and townhouses ornamented in interesting way. An excellent view of the square and Verona can be seen from the nearby Torre dei Lamberti (admission 6 €). The Tower Tower reaches 83 metres and is the tallest building in Verona. Visit also Piazza dei Signori, an elegant square also known as “Verona Salon”, with the statue of Dante Alighieri in the central part. Go under the Arche della Costa – a bow where a real whale’s rib is hanged. Legend has it that, it will fall on whoever has never lied, it is worth adding that it has been hanging here since the 18th century. 😉 A beautiful view of Verona is also from the Ponte Pietra bridge and the Castel San Pietro with Teatro Romano. Something to eat Veneto is renowned for its excellent wines. Food in Verona is simple and very rich. Most famous dishes are: risotto and bigoli – pasta typical for Veneto traditional type of pasta is gnocchi – dumplings filled with potatos, served with stew from horsemeat. A very popular dish in the Veneto area is horsemeat. It can be prepared in various ways, but the traditional version is called patisada de caval. Patisada is horsemeat stew with wine, spices and vegetables, usually served with polenta. Polenta is a kind of hominy prepared from corn flour. This Dish can be eaten at restaurant II Punto Rosa, for about 15 €. In order to save on the tourist attractions and public transport, it’s worth buying Verona Card. Daily Card costs 18 € you can buy it via the Internet. How much does it cost? – flight Warsaw – Bergamo by Wizzair – 10 € – flight Bergamo – Warsaw Modlin by Ryanair – 10 € – ride flixbus Bergamo – Verona – Bergamo – 10 € Total cost – 30 € and optionally Verona Card for 18 € ” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

Artykuł Girl on a Trail – one-day trip to Verona pochodzi z serwisu .

Tip for a trip – weekend on the Lake Como!

Gosia — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 16:03:04 +0000

What’s the best way to say good-bye to winter? Purchase a flight to Bergamo at a discounted price and in just 3 hours’ sip aromatic Italian cappuccino in a cosy cafe with a view of the famous lake Como. What can you visit there and how to organize this trip on budget? As a short introduction, there’s a lot to see, because Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, right after lake Garda and Maggiore. What’s more is one of the most deepest lakes in Europe, in some places its depth reaches over 400 m. One can say that size matters, but in my humble opinion the sights play crucial role here… 😉 This place is located very close to Swiss border in the beautiful scenery of the Alps. Taking a ferry is a must, unforgettable experience is guaranteed! It’s the best to start the trip from Lecco, which is about 50 km north of Milan or Bergamo. Lake Como is shaped like revesed letter Y. Lecco is the gateway to this lake from eastern side while from western side is Como town. Lecco is a rather compact town, but incredibly charming. The main point in the city centre is the promenade of Lungolago Isonzo with a view of the nearby mountains and the characteristic high belfry of St. Nicolas church, which is the symbol of the city. The must – see is also the main square – Piazza XX Septembre, surrounded by colourful houses and arches with a tower – Torre Viscontea in the background. Lake Como has been a popular holiday resort since the oldest times reaching back as far as Roman Empire times. In fact, it is possible to say that the wealthy Romans started the trend of building luxury villas along the coastline of lake Como. Indeed, Roman times are gone but the lake has become a popular destination for numerous stars such as Madonna, George Clooney, Gianni Versace, Sylvester Stallone or Richard Branson. Towns located on the Lake Como are well-communicated. There are numerous ferries, boats and water taxis. It’s worth taking a cruise on the lake to see some of the luxury properties and the beautiful countryside. The most popular is by far Villa Serbelloni located in the small town of Bellagio. Who has watched Ocean’s Eleven film for sure reminds this name of a luxury hotel/casino located in Las Vegas. The inspiration for its creation was Bellagio town. Villa Serbelloni, as a matter of fact, the prestigious Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, is located close to the Bellagio tiny harbor, on the flowerful promenade. Villa from the inside is only available for hotel guests, but you can visit the hotel’s garden. The Bellagio is also called as the Pearl of the Lake Como and is located in its centre in close proximity to the most beautiful city in Lombardy – Varenna (here’s the post). In addition to Villa Serbelloni, it is worth taking a stroll and visiting historic old town with numerous colourful houses and upmarket boutiques. Getting to farry in the direction of Como, you can see the famous Villa Del Balbinello, well known form Casino Royale film, surrounded by a lush garden form the one side and from the other by the waters of the Lake Como. Practical Info: From Caravaggio Orio al Serio airport take a bus to Bergamo train station. Tickets can be bought at the tourist infomation desk at the airport or in the vending machine at the bus stop. Timetable, price and route can be found here. The route from the airport to the train station takes about 15-20 minutes, and the stop is located right in front of the station. [huge_it_maps id=”4″] Train tickets to Lecco can be bought at checkout or in a vending machine at the station. Tickets can also be purchased via the internet on this site. Trains run practically every hour, and travel to Lecco takes about 40 minutes. The ticket costs € 3,60 (data from 2018). From Lecco to Varrena – Esino run trains, the cost of the ticket is about € 2,90 (data from 2018 ), and a journey takes form 20 to 40 minutes depending from the train type. The timetable can be checked on the same page as the connection between Bergamo and Lecco. Below is the map with marked train station in Varenna and harbors in Varenna and Bellagio. [huge_it_maps id=”5″] Form Varenna take the ferry to Bellagio. Ticket costs 4,60 € (data from 2018), timetable you’ll find here. To get from Bellagio to Como, it’s best to get on the ferry. The schedule is available on the above mentioned site of Navigazione Laghi and the ticket costs 10,40 € (data from 2018). From Como S. Giovanni station catch a train to Bergamo. Ticket costs 6,70€, and the timetable is available on before mentioned Tren Italia site. [huge_it_maps id=”6″] What’s the total cost? – return flight tickets from Warsaw – 20 € – bus from Caravaggio Orio al Serio to Bergamo Bergamo train station – 2,30 € x 2 – train from Bergamo to Lecco – 3,60 € – train from Lecco to Varenna Essino – 2,90 € – ferry from Varenna to Bellagio – 4,6 € – ferry from Bellagio to Como – 10,40 € – train from Como do Bergamo – 6,70 € Total cost: 53 € As for one day it’s quite a lot to do, I did this trip in 2 days with a one – night stay in Lecco. The accomodation cost 25€, but there’s also possibilty to vist for example only Lecco, Varrenna and Bellagio, which in my opinion are the most beautuful.

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