Table Of Content“Bursting with relevant and exciting information.” Booklist
n No other guides provide in-depth
hotel, restaurant and other practical
information for this region, with color
illustrations throughout.
n Culinary delights abound here. dventure Guide
Risotto, polenta, minestrone, osso-
bucco – all originated in the region. nWHAT TOSEE & DO
The wines are fabulous too. n THE BEST PLACES TO STAY
n Milan is a world leader in fashion. n FOOD, WINE & DINING
Boutiques are everywhere. We give n SPAS & THERMAL BATHS
full details on what to buy and where. n SHOPPING
n A short drive from Milan are the
Lakes. Belaggio is on Lake Como,
where Franz Liszt lived. Pliny and Vir-
gil lived here as well in Roman times
and called it the most beautiful place in
the world. From the hills above you can
see the Matterhorn. Lake Lugano
overlaps into Switzerland. Lake
Maggiore is surrounded by ancient
towers and castles.
n Milan Cathedral is the largest in Europe after St. Peters, and La Scala
opera house is here as well. Leonardo daVinci’s Last Supper is in Milan,
along with medieval palace museums filled with art by Michelangelo, Ra-
phael, Caravaggio and other great artists.
n Historic towns in the shadow of the Alps here include Cremona,
where Stradivarius crafted violins for 70 years, Brescia, Mantua, Pavia,
Locarno – almost all retaining their medieval central sections. Music and
dance festivals take place in all of them.
Life is an adventure – let Hunter be your guide!
Sightseeing Art & Architecture Detailed Maps
Food & Wine Walking & Biking Where to Stay
History & Culture Restaurants Shoping Milan
& the
ISBN 10: 1-58843-592-X
Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 13: 978-1-58843-592-7
130 Campus Drive
Edison NJ 0818 Italian Lakes
US $18.99
9 781588 435927 5 1 8 9 9
Catherine Richards
www.hun te rpub l i s h i ng . com HUNTER
dventure Guide Milan & the Italian Lakes
Milan
& the
Italian Lakes
Catherine Richards
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818-7816
% 732-225-1900 / 800-255-0343 / fax 732-417-1744
www.hunterpublishing.com
E-mail
Contents
Milan 1
Introduction 1
Climate 4
Economy 4
Currency 4
Public Holidays 4
Practicalities 5
Telephone 5
Emergencies 5
Getting Here 6
Consulates 7
Getting Around 8
Tipping 9
Tourist Information 9
Tours 10
Trade Fairs 10
The History of Milan 11
What to See 19
Milan’s Top Sights 19
Historic Center 20
Northeast of the Historic Center 27
Milan’s Fashion District: the Quadilatero 28
The Brera District 28
Beyond the Brera District 29
Other Sights in Northeast Milan 31
Southeast Milan 32
Corso di Porta Romana 32
Southwest Milan 34
Northwest Milan 37
More Museums & Galleries 42
Music in Milan 42
Sala Verdi del Conservatorio di Milano 42
Auditorium di Milano 43
Teatro Dal Verme 43
Adventures 43
On Foot 43
On Water 43
On Wheels 44
On the Tennis Court 45
On the Golf Course 45
On Horseback 45
In the Kitchen 46
With Wine 46
With Language 46
With Art 47
With Fashion 47
iv n Contents
With Yoga & in the Spa 48
Where to Stay 49
Bed & Breakfasts 55
Apartments 56
Camping 56
Food & Wine 56
Milanese Specialties 57
Where to Eat 58
Happy Hour – Milan & Apertitivi 64
Nightlife & Clubs 67
Excursions 68
Pavia 68
Shopping in Milan 74
The Lakes 77
History 77
What to See 78
What to Do 79
Where to Go 80
When to Go 81
Lago Maggiore 83
Location/Geography 84
Economy 84
The Climate 84
Tours 86
When to Go & What to Pack 86
Public Holidays 87
Getting Here 87
Practicalities 88
Tourist Offices 88
Internet Cafés 89
Getting Around 90
General Markets 91
What to See & Do 91
Stresa 91
Angera 94
Baveno 95
Laveno 96
Leggiuno, near Laveno 96
Luino 97
Verbania: Pallanza & Intra 97
Cannero Riviera 99
Cannobio 100
The Ossola Valleys 101
Val Vigezzo 101
Ascona 103
Locarno 105
Bellinzona 108
The Ticinesi Valleys 109
Adventures 110
Contents n v
In the Air 110
On Foot 110
On Water 111
Bungy Jumps 112
On Wheels 113
In Nature 113
On Snow & Ice 113
On the Golf Course 114
On Horseback 114
In the Kitchen 115
With Wine 115
With Language 116
With Art 116
As a Volunteer 116
With the Spirit 116
Where to Stay 117
Italian Lake Maggiore 117
Swiss Lake Maggiore 122
Campsites 124
Youth Hostels 124
Agriturismo 124
Where to Eat 124
In Italy 126
In Switzerland 128
Lago Orta 129
Location/Geography 129
Economy 129
The Climate 130
Getting Here 130
Practicalities 131
Tourist Offices 131
Traveling Around 132
Tours 132
Markets 132
What to See & Do 133
Orta San Giulio 133
Isola San Giulio 135
Sacro Monte 136
Santuario della Madonna del Sasso 137
Omegna 138
Museums & Galleries 138
Adventures 139
On Horseback 139
On Foot 139
On Water 140
On Wheels 140
On the Rocks 140
On the Golf Course 141
With Language 141
Where to Stay 141
vi n Contents
Renting a Villa or Apartment 143
Camping 144
Where to Eat 144
Bars 146
Lago Lugano 147
Location/Geography 147
Economy 148
The Climate 148
Getting Here 148
Getting Around 150
Practicalities 152
Currency 152
Tourist Offices 152
Tours 152
Markets 153
What to See & Do 153
Lugano City 153
Monte Tamaro 160
Gandria 161
Morcote 161
Vico Morcote 163
Campione 163
Kid-Friendly 164
Italian Lake Lugano 165
Mendrisiotto 166
Adventures 167
On Foot 167
On Wheels 167
On the Golf Course 168
On Water 168
In the Air 169
On the Tennis Court 169
On Horseback 169
With the Language 170
Where to Stay 170
Bed and Breakfast & Apartments 175
Camping 176
Hostels 176
Where to Eat 177
Swiss Lake Lugano 177
Taverne 182
Italian Lake Lugano 182
Grottos 183
Lago di Como & Como Town 185
Location/Geography 186
Economy 186
The Climate 187
History 187
Practicalities 191
Tourist Office 191
Contents n vii
Tours 191
What to Pack 191
Internet Café 191
Public Holidays 191
Getting Here 192
Getting Around 193
Shopping 196
What to See & Do 197
Como Town 197
Medieval Como 200
Rationalist Como 201
Suggested Walks 202
Museums 208
Outside Como Town 209
The Villas 209
Around the Lake 212
Cernobbio 212
Bellagio 213
Isola Comacina 214
Lenno 215
Tremezzo 216
Menaggio 216
Gravedona 217
Bellano 218
Varenna 220
Near Varenna 221
Adventures 222
Multi-Adventures 222
On Water 222
On Foot 223
Suggested Walks 223
In Nature 225
Golf 225
On Horseback 226
On the Soccer Field 226
In the Kitchen 227
With Wine 227
With Language 227
With Art 227
In the Theater 228
In the Casino 228
Where to Stay 228
Bed & Breakfasts 234
Renting a Villa or Apartment 234
Hostels 236
Camping 236
Agriturismi 237
Where to Eat 237
viii n Contents
The Food of Lombardy & Como 237
Pubs & Bars 243
Nightlife 243
Lago Iseo 245
Location/Geography 245
Economy 245
The Climate 246
Getting Here 246
Tourist Offices 247
Getting Around 247
Tours 247
What to See & Do 247
Iseo 247
Sárnico 249
Predore 250
Lovere 251
Valle Camonica 252
Pisogne 253
Marone & the Pyramids of Zone 254
Montisola 255
Excursions 257
Franciacorta 257
Bergamo 258
Adventures 261
On Foot 261
On Wheels 261
In the Kitchen 261
On the Golf Course 262
On the Court 262
On Water 262
In the Air 263
On Horseback 263
With Wine 263
Where to Stay 264
Where to Eat 269
Lake Garda 273
Location/Geography 273
Economy 274
The Climate 274
Getting Here 274
Tourist Offices 275
Getting Around 276
Tours 276
Markets 276
What to See & Do - Western Shore 277
Sirmione 277
Desenzano 279
Manerba 282
Salò 283
Gardone Riviera 284
Contents n ix
Toscolano-Maderno 286
Gargnano 287
Tignale 288
Limone 289
Riva del Garda 289
Lake Ledro 291
Arco 291
Torbole 292
What to See & Do - Eastern Shore 293
Malcésine 293
Monte Baldo 295
Torri del Benàco 295
Punta San Vigilio 296
Garda 297
Bardolino 299
Lazise 300
Peschiera del Garda 302
Excursions 304
Verona 304
Adventures 307
On Foot 307
On Wheels 308
In the Kitchen 309
On the Golf Course 309
On the Court 310
On Water 310
In the Air 311
On Horseback 312
With the Language 313
With Art 313
Where to Stay 313
Where to Eat 326
Index 337
Maps
Milan Metro facing 1
Milan Region 2
Milan Centro Storico 21
Lake Maggiore & Lake Orta 82
Lugano Area 151
Lugano 154
Como Region 184
Como 195
Lake Iseo & Franciacorta 244
Lake Garda Region 272
