Italy houses several interesting historical structures globally, given this, it may appear overzealous setting out to explore five cities in the country’s north within five days. However, undertones of truth reveal that our spring voyage to the beautiful Italy simply stemmed from a minor geographical miscalculation. Originally, the plan was to see Florence and Bologna then head to stay with acquaintances in Piacenza. However, due to impulse buying of markdown return fares to Verona’s small airport followed by a brief 15-minute bus journey to Verona’s train station, we ended up not interpreting the map correctly.
Just like that, our five-day journey switched from three to five cities – who would decline a quick pit stop in Milan’s heart before returning to Verona for the flight back home? Regular Italy tourists can testify to the amazing train system that’s one of Italy’s finest offerings – besides its unparalleled design and scrumptious food (a forewarning though – it’s advisable to book the top restaurants online before heading there).
Moving on, we planned our journey to include a one-night stay in Verona, two nights in Bologna (with Florence day trip included), and a two-night stay in the historical yet under-rated Piacenza. The length of the train journeys between the cities ranges from 45 to 90 minutes. Verona is an outstanding city best known for inspiring Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and for its well-received summer opera festival. It’s perfectly situated on River Adige’s curve, with a captivating view of the snow-dusted Lessini Mountains from afar.
The city, despite partial destruction from the Second World War, was beautifully restored, thanks to Piero Gazzola, the International Council on Monuments and Sites’ first president. Piacenza-born Gazzola restored 150 sites, including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance churches and palazzi between 1946 and 1956 in Verona, Mantova, and Cremona. This work led to the city’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a pleasant walk across the ancient bridges to enjoy the city’s historical heart from a different perspective – the castle, cathedral quarter, Arena (Italy’s third-largest surviving Roman amphitheatre), and Piazza Dell’ Erbe city centre square are all within easy walking distance.
A few minutes stroll from Juliet’s home, with its widely photographed balcony, will take you to the famous shopping avenue, Via Cappello. Verona boasts numerous impressive mansions, and Palazzo della Ragione is among the most stunning; it’s also home to the city’s modern art collection. While you may find larger collections of Italian art in bigger cities, it offers a delightful means of spending a few hours.
Arriving in Bologna on a Friday brings the city to life; you too will get swept away by the exuberant ambiance in the bars and eateries dispersed amidst the majestic colonnades (or porticoes in Italian) that characterise this unique city.
Bologna, housing the oldest university on earth and a student population of almost 100,000, has a more authentic feeling compared to other more tourist-oriented Italian cities. Known as the red city due to its red-roofed architecture and its left-leaning politics, it has emerged as a global food haven (the renowned spaghetti Bolognese originated from here). To truly experience authentic local cuisine, reserve your table ahead of time in off-the-beaten-track eateries to avoid disappointment.
The city’s historic heart is an easy stroll with vast medieval plazas nestled between stopovers at the encompassing Abbeys of the Santo Stefano monastic complex and various churches. Despite the closure of Bologna’s infamous twin towers (the Garisenda and Asinelli towers) located in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana to tourists, art enthusiasts can visit the home-turned-museum of Italian artist Giorgio Morandi on via Fondazza. Renowned for his landscape and still life oil paintings, some of Morandi’s works have featured in the 1960 classic film, La Dolce Vita.
For culinary explorers with time in Bologna, it’s worth joining a walking food tour that will introduce you to the many local delicacies of Emilia-Romagna such as mortadella, balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese, and parma ham.
Taking the high-speed Frecciarossa train, the magnificent city of Florence is just a 40-minute ride away. Upon arrival at the Santa Maria Novella train station, embark on a 15-minute stroll to the spectacular cathedral encased in marble famed for its distinctive red dome, standalone bell tower and baptistery. Once in the Duomo Square, you are free to explore the historic Ponte Vecchio, roam the left bank of the river Arno known as Oltrarno to the Pitti Palace and its lofty Boboli gardens. This view of the city against a backdrop of the symbolic Tuscan hills scattered with cypress trees is not to be missed.
Return over the Arno via the Ponte alle Grazie to reach the Piazza dei Giudici, where you’ll find the renowned Uffizi galleries.
Art lovers should consider pre-booking to spend a few hours in the internationally acclaimed Uffizi galleries that attract droves of visitors to appreciate some of the most famous Italian art, showcasing works by masters such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Uccello.
The Uffizi galleries were initially built in the 16th century to serve as administrative offices (hence the name Uffizi) for the Tuscan State under the rule of Francesco 1 de Medici.
For a summary view of many of Florence’s picturesque churches, a visit to the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria, beside Neptune’s Fountain, is a must.
Another exquisite example of Florentine Renaissance residential architecture is Palazzo Strozzi on Piazza degli Strozzi. The palace’s inner courtyard houses a cafe – an excellent escape after hours of exploration. Palazzo Strozzi also hosts impressive displays of modern art. There’s an ongoing exhibit by German artist Anselm Kiefer, which you can catch until July 21st, 2024.
Walking around Florence’s streets in the late hours once the day-trippers have departed allows you to experience a more authentic local ambiance. Dine at a restaurant tucked away from the primary tourist zones, and you’ll likely share your mealtime with Florentines who also appreciate the serenity of the later hours.
Piacenza, a city in Emilia-Romagna, isn’t a typical tourist hotspot but it’s definitely worth the detour. The grand municipal building in Piazza dei Cavalli (Square of Horses) alone stands as a reason to visit. Your stay in this northern Italian city offers a genuine taste of life in the region. You might notice that Italians, particularly those in the north, seem less outgoing than before, perhaps due to the ubiquitous presence of smartphones in everyday life.
In Piacenza, mimic the locals – take a leisurely walk through the city, stop by a traditional Italian eatery for lunch or indulge in an ice-cream from a local gelateria. Piacenza boasts an Eataly food and wine shop on Stradone Farnese. Famed for a grand array of quality Italian essentials such as fresh and dry pasta, cheeses, meats, besides a wide range of wines and spirits. Visit the bar, café or restaurant post-shopping.
Lastly, Milan. On our route returning to Verona, we stashed away our bags in the vast arrivals hall at Milano Centrale railway station and set off on our exploration.
A half-hour journey leads you to Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), passing by the celebrated La Scala opera house. A street-side exhibition gives a nod to the mammoth task of quarrying marble blocks from Candoglia to construct their immense Gothic marble cathedral over six centuries. Topped by a golden Madonnina statue, the cathedral in Milan is the world’s second largest Catholic cathedral, with the Seville Cathedral in Spain its only superior in size.
Our plan to ascend the rooftops to view the array of gargoyles and statues up close had to be postponed as we wandered into the splendid glass-ceilinged arcades of the 19th Century Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping precinct in Italy.
The vibrant Sforza Castle, constructed with red bricks and housing a multitude of museums, is conveniently located near the city’s heart and merits exploration. A wealth of small cafes tucked away in side streets provide perfect dining spots, where one can rub shoulders with attorneys, fashion traders, and creatives as they carry on with their day. A five-day stay is inadequate to fully immerse in the aura of these magnificent cities in the north of Italy. However, every trip serves as a pleasant reminder of the necessity for a return visit in the near future.