Northern Italy
A five-day trip by car in May 2010, with family and friends — a wonderful memory from childhood. We drove from Rome up through Tuscany and the north, finishing in Milan. I don't remember hotels or restaurants — just the places we passed through.
- Attraction
Rome
Visited: May 10, 2010
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Starting point. Worth doing: Colosseum and Roman Forum, Pantheon, a walk through Trastevere at dusk, and gelato near Piazza Navona.
- Attraction
San Gimignano
Visited: May 11, 2010
How I got there: Car
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Worth doing: climb Torre Grossa for the view, wander the medieval towers and Piazza della Cisterna, taste Vernaccia, and walk the walls at golden hour.
- Historic marker
Siena
Visited: May 11, 2010
How I got there: Car
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Worth doing: stand in Piazza del Campo, visit the Duomo and Piccolomini Library, climb the Torre del Mangia, and lose yourself in the contrada streets.
- Historic marker
Florence
Visited: May 12, 2010
How I got there: Car
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Worth doing: Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome, Accademia (David) or Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio at sunset, and a climb to Piazzale Michelangelo.
- Historic marker
Pisa
Visited: May 12, 2010
How I got there: Car
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Worth doing: Piazza dei Miracoli (Tower, Duomo, Baptistery), a short walk along the Arno, and the mural area near Piazza dei Miracoli — keep the visit compact.
- Attraction
Bologna
Visited: May 13, 2010
How I got there: Car
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Worth doing: climb (or view) the Asinelli tower, walk under the porticoes to Santo Stefano, see Piazza Maggiore and Neptune's fountain, and eat properly — tortellini, tagliatelle, mortadella.
- Attraction
Venice
Visited: May 14, 2010
How I got there: Car
· Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Worth doing: Piazza San Marco and the Basilica, a vaporetto along the Grand Canal, get lost in Dorsoduro or Cannaregio, and watch the light from the Rialto at dusk.
- Attraction
Milan
Visited: May 14, 2010
How I got there: Car
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End of the trip. Worth doing: Duomo rooftop, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Last Supper if you book ahead, and an aperitivo in the Navigli.
Route summary: Rome → San Gimignano → Siena → Florence → Pisa → Bologna → Venice → Milan