Northern Italy - Myths and Legends
Northern Italy has long been the industrial heartland of Italy, with industries such as ceramics, motorcars, fashion and furniture creating world renown. Our road trip through northern Italy takes us from the ancient port city of Venice to the equally ancient and important port city of Genoa. On the way we will visit a number of sites which have given rise to wonderful italian myths and legends, both old and modern. We do recommend that you make this road trip in winter, autumn or spring, as Verona and Venice can be very crowded in summer.
Our Road trip commences in Venice (follow the link to our street strolling advice for Venice), a great place to start any exploration as the birth place and launch point for Marco Polo, gives one the impetus to explore. Stay in the heart of Venice and spend a 3-4 days wondering the streets and visiting the equally intriguing islands of Murano and Burano. We recommend that you fly into Venice, and catch the bus to Santa Croce. If you already have a car then the car parking in Venice is reasonable priced and you can leave your car at Santa Croce for a few days while you explore Venice. You can also catch a train to Venice.
We depart Venice for the beautiful city of Verona (see link to street strolling), if you have time you might like to stop by Padua on the way as the city area hosts some wonderful architecture and piazzas. Verona is an amazing city, the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and containing a number of roman and medieval sites, many of which are still in use today. Of particular interest are the amazing roman amphitheatre and theatre, the Castelvecchio and a number of interesting cathedrals. In Verona there is a range of accommodation to choose from, and we recommend that you stay 3-4 days to really have a chance to explore the city. While your there we recommend you enjoy a delicious but economical meal at the amazing Leon D'Oro.
We leave the ancient legends of Marco Polo and Romeo Juliet to head to Maranello to immerse ourselves in the modern story of Ferrari. Ferrari is a brand that everyone knows, it starts hearts racing and turns heads in the street. However, the Ferrari experience is not just for car lovers and teenage boys, my daughters (who have no interest in cars whatsoever) were pleasantly surprised by the experience, and one even went back a second time. Book your Museum and Factory Tour tickets online. You can also add in a visit to the home of Luciano Pavarotti and other exciting spots in the nearby town of Modena. We recommend you allow yourselves at least 2 days to appreciate the experience. By the way if you are keen to drive a Ferrari there are a number of businesses nearby the museum that specialise on self driving experiences both on the road and the track.
Leaving the land of Ferrari we head for north to the ancient and wonderful town of Bergamo. Bergamo is a city providing visitors with extension selection of art and medieval Renaissance and baroque architecture to enjoy. The city is perched on a hilltop overlooking the the southern plains, providing breathtaking views and great opportunities to wander the hilltop Città Alta (Upper Town) through its a tangle of tiny medieval streets, surrounded by wonderful Venetian walls. The Citta Alta is connected to the Lower Town (Città Bassa) by a wonderful funicular.
From Bergamo we roll into the creative heart of Northern Italy, Milan (for those looking to explore the city on foot). Milan is famous for amazing design and fashion but there is much more at the heart of this wonderful cities culture. With access to amazing artwork, sporting venues and shopping, Milan is definitely a highlight of our road trip. A visit to the Piazza del Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempioni with its amazing Peace Arch and other amazing sites featuring art like Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper make the Milan experience worthwhile.
Northern Italy is famous for its lakes and mountains, and while the famous and beautiful Lake Como is nearby we recommend a rip to Lake Maggiore and the town of Baveno. The lake is Italy's second largest and offers amazing views, food and fun as you explore this lake on Italy's border with Switzerland.
Finally our journey heads south towards the Mediterranean and the wonderful port city of Genoa. Genoa is a great city for simply walking the streets and exploring the life and wonders that can be found exploring. A bit like its favourite son Cristobal Colombo. Italy's largest sea port is indefatigably contradictory, full at once of grandeur, squalor, sparkling light and deep shade. No more is this true than in its extensive old city, an often confronting reminder of pre-modern life with its twisting maze of narrow caruggi (streets), largely intact.
Getting there
Our road trip starts after a visit to Venice. Leaving Venice via the Via della Libertà (SR11) which runs across the causeway from Santa Croce to Catene where we join the Tangenziale di Mestre (A57) heading towards Milano/Bologna. We travel along the A57 for about 11.4 kilometers. The A57 merges with the E70 and becomes the A4/E70 which we follow for 105 kilometers. Take the Verona South exit and then take Viale delle Nazioni, which continues as Viale del Lavoro, and then as Viale del Piave and then Corso Porta Nuova. Turn right onto Via Cesare Battisti and then continue onto Via Santissima Trinità. Turn left onto Via Don Gaspare Bertoni and Continue onto Via Tezone. You are now in the heart of Verona.
Leaving Verona, form the Piazza Bra head south on Corso Porta Nuova, and continue onto Piazzale Porta Nuova. Turn right onto Via Statale 12 and follow the SS12 for 7.3 kilometers. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A22 ramp to Modena and follow that for 260 meters. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Modena and merge onto A22 and follow that for 750 meters. Merge onto A22 and follow the A22 for 87.4 kilometers towards Bologna-Roma/Modena. Take exit Modena Nord towards Modena Nord for about 1500 meters and then Continue onto Str. Cave di Ramo for a further 350 meters. Keep right to continue towards Viale Virgilio for about 400 meters and then follow signs for Abetone/Reggio E./SS9/Sassuolo/Bologna and merge onto SS724/SS9 for about 14 kilometers. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto SP467/SP467R for about 5 kilometers and then slight right onto Via Trebbo Nord which turns right and becomes Via Musso. Turn left onto Via Abetone Inferiore and then at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Via Alfredo Dino Ferrari. You have reached Maranello and the Museo Ferrari and Ferrari Factory.
Leaving Maranello head along route SS724 towards Modena north about 13.7 kilometers and then take exit 15 towards A1/A22, continuing onto Viale Virgilio and at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Str. Cave di Ramo. Keep left to continue towards A1/E35. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Milano/Brennero and merge onto A1/E35 and follow the A1 for 83 kilometers taking the exit Fiorenzuola towards Cremona/Brescia. Continue onto A21 Diramazione Fiorenzuola D'Arda for 11.3 kilometers. Merge onto the A21/E70 and follow the autostrada for 56.1 kilometers. Use the left 2 lanes to merge onto A4/E64 towards Milano and follow the A4 for 50 kilometers and take the Bergamo exit and follow the signs into Bergamo.
Leaving Bergamo head back out to the A4/E64 towards Torino/Milan for 27.5 kilometers and take the exit onto the A51 towards central Milan. Follow the A51 for about 17 kilometers and keep right at the fork, follow signs for Viale Enrico Forlanini and merge onto Viale Enrico Forlanini. Follow the Viale Enrico Forlanini into central Milan.
Leave Milan and head North west on the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi which becomes the E62, follow the E62 for 102 kilometers and take the exit towards Stresa/Baveno. Continue onto Via Degli Scalpellini and turn right onto Str. Nazionale del Sempione/SS33 and drive into the town of Baveno.
.Departing Baveno head back onto the E62 and head south. The E62 becomes the A26, follow the E62/A26 towards Genoa for 191 kilometers. Merge onto A10/E25/E80 for 11.4 kilometers. Merge onto the A7/E25 and then slight right onto Sopraelevata Aldo Moro and follow SS1 into central Genoa.