Frommer’s Northern Italy: including Venice, Milan & the Lakes

Reid Bramblett0764542931, 9780764542930, 9780764568084

You’ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer’s. It’s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go–they’ve done the legwork for you, and they’re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer’s Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You’d be lost without us!
Frommer’s Northern Italy is the premier guide to the region, with complete coverage of Venice, the Dolomites and South Tirol, Milan and Lombardy, Liguria and the Italian Riviera, and more. You’ll get candid reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, as well as the author’s picks for the best travel experiences, including: cruising the brenta canal; driving the great dolomite road; riding the cable cars over mont blanc; hiking the cinque terre; taking in the art at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan; partying at the spring Carnevale in Venice; and more.
Every one of our honest, in-depth hotel reviews is based on a recent personal inspection; every restaurant has been tried personally; and every sight and shop was checked out in detail. You’ll get the latest trip-planning advice, valuable cultural insights, wonderful tips for venturing off the beaten path, and detailed, accurate maps. With Frommer’s in hand, it’s a snap to design the Italian adventure that’s right for you.

---

Table of contents :
Team DDU……Page 1
Contents……Page 6
List of Maps……Page 9
What’s New in Northern Italy……Page 12
1 The Best Travel Experiences……Page 15
2 The Best Museums……Page 16
3 The Best Churches……Page 17
4 The Best Artistic Masterpieces……Page 20
5 The Best Castles……Page 22
6 The Best Villas & Palazzi……Page 24
7 The Best Festivals……Page 26
8 The Best Luxury Inns……Page 28
9 The Best Moderate Hotels……Page 31
10 The Best Budget Gems……Page 32
11 The Best Countryside Retreats……Page 33
12 The Best Restaurants……Page 34
13 The Best Countryside Eateries……Page 35
14 The Best Down-Home Trattorie & Osterie……Page 36
1 The Regions in Brief……Page 38
2 Visitor Information……Page 39
3 Entry Requirements & Customs……Page 41
4 Money……Page 42
5 When to Go……Page 45
Northern Italy Calendar of Events……Page 47
7 Health & Safety……Page 50
8 Specialized Travel Resources……Page 51
9 Planning Your Trip Online……Page 55
10 Getting There……Page 57
11 Packages for the Independent Traveler……Page 60
12 Special-Interest Trips……Page 61
13 Getting Around……Page 62
Travel Times Between the Major Cities……Page 68
14 Tips on Accommodations, Villa Rentals & Farm Stays……Page 69
15 Tips on Dining……Page 73
Getting Your VAT Refund……Page 74
Fast Facts: Northern Italy……Page 75
3 Venice……Page 80
1 Getting There……Page 82
2 Orientation……Page 83
Venice by the Numbers……Page 85
The Scope of Venice……Page 86
Neighborhoods in Brief……Page 87
Cruising the Canals……Page 89
Venetian Dialect……Page 91
Fast Facts: Venice……Page 93
3 Where to Stay……Page 95
Family-Friendly Hotels……Page 96
Fishy Business……Page 118
Family-Friendly Restaurants……Page 124
5 Exploring Venice……Page 131
An Insider’s Look at the Palazzo Ducale……Page 137
Venice Discounts……Page 141
The Art of the Gondola……Page 146
7 Festivals & Special Events……Page 151
Carnevale à Venezia……Page 153
8 Shopping……Page 154
9 Venice After Dark……Page 158
10 Exploring Venice’s Islands……Page 162
4 The Veneto……Page 165
1 Padua (Padova)……Page 167
Paying Homage to the Original “Tony”……Page 168
2 Treviso……Page 182
3 Asolo……Page 185
4 Bassano del Grappa……Page 188
Italian Firewater: Grappa……Page 190
Beer in Boot-Shaped Glasses……Page 191
5 Vicenza……Page 192
Touring the Villas……Page 197
6 Verona……Page 199
Art Thou, Truly, Romeo?……Page 201
Will the Fat Lady Sing?……Page 203
1 Trent (Trento)……Page 216
Europe Divided: Protestant Reformation & the Council of Trent……Page 219
2 Bozen (Bolzano)……Page 225
3 Meran (Merano)……Page 234
Taking the Cure……Page 236
4 Brixen (Bressanone)……Page 239
Hitting the Slopes……Page 241
5 Cortina d’Ampezzo……Page 243
6 Friuli-Venezia Giulia……Page 250
1 Trieste……Page 251
2 Udine……Page 260
1 Milan (Milano)……Page 266
Fast Facts: Milan……Page 273
‘Til the Fat Lady Sings … Again: The Restoration of La Scala……Page 281
Strolling Through Milan……Page 297
2 Bergamo……Page 302
3 Mantua (Mantova): A Gem of Lombardy……Page 309
1 Lake Garda (Lago di Garda)……Page 315
2 Lake Como (Lago di Como)……Page 325
Outdoor Adventures in Bellagio……Page 330
3 Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) & the Borromean Islands……Page 336
1 Turin……Page 343
Fast Facts: Turin……Page 347
2 The Piedmont Wine Country……Page 359
Horses & Donkeys……Page 360
3 Aosta & the Valle d’Aosta……Page 368
Into the Great Outdoors……Page 371
Mont Blanc by Cable Car……Page 376
10 Liguria & the Italian Riviera……Page 379
1 Genoa……Page 381
Fast Facts: Genoa……Page 386
2 The Riviera di Ponente: San Remo, Bordighera & More……Page 396
3 The Riviera di Levante: Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Portofino & Rapallo……Page 407
An Excursion to San Fruttuoso……Page 415
4 The Cinque Terre……Page 421
Dateline……Page 432
2 Italy’s Artistic Heritage……Page 440
Andrea Palladio-Father of Neoclassicism……Page 448
3 From the Cucina Italiana: Food & Wine……Page 451
Coffee All Day Long……Page 453
Italian Wine Classifications……Page 455
1 Basic Vocabulary……Page 457
2 Menu Terms……Page 460
General Index……Page 464
Accommodations Index……Page 475
Restaurant Index……Page 477