Having seen Rome,
Florence and Venice, I ventured into the other Italy with Milan, Rimini as the main
two destinations, and Riccione, San Marino, Portofino, and Como as day trips.
Let’s begin with a few
Milanese snapshots:
The Duomo and its
Piazza is probably the liveliest place in Milan, beautifully spacious though
filled with tourists. The view of the Cathedral looming on the piazza makes it
a dreamy place to visit whether to take your morning sip of coffee or to sit
idly at night and enjoy the lights of the cathedral and the duomo.
A little off the
piazza, you can go to the 7th floor of one of Milan’s main shopping
malls, the Rinascente, and choose between the indoor deli (De Santis) for its
most delicious sandwiches of cheese and meats and its fresh Anastasia salad, or
step outside to have dinner with a view of the Cathedral and a choice of four
restaurants, my favorite being Maio for its juiciest burger and its colorful
and fruitful iced tea.
To go around Milan,
you can go online (www.bikemi.com) and purchase your username and password to
get a bike from the many points across the city. A ride towards and around
Parco Sempione to the north-west of the Centre is very pleasant and you can
pass the Castello Sforzesco and Arco della Pace.
An hour drive north of
Milan can take you to Lake Como and its surrounding towns. Festivals around the
lake are year-round but the lake itself offers a beautiful view.
I happened to be there
when they were having a Swing Dance Festival and watching the dancers was a
pleasure.
To the South of Milan,
you can take a train to Santa Margherita and head south-west along the coast to
Portofino or other coastal areas by bus, or more conveniently, you can drive
the 2+ hours from Milan south towards Portofino for views not to be missed.
And when it’s time for
lunch, don’t miss the grilled sea bass in Ristorante Delfino right on the
marina. The Scampi is just as good, almost.
For a place to swim
near Portofino, the best is Bagni Fiori in Paraggi, between Portofino and Santa
Margherita. For around 60 euro, you can get two beach chairs, umbrella, and two
towels.
Another option closer
to Santa Margherita would be the beach associated with Hotel Helios with its
partially enclosed sea-water pool aside from its access to the sea itself (a 50
euro value).
But for a real sandy
beach experience, you would want to take the 4+ hour drive to Rimini on the
east coast, stopping by Verona to take a peek at Juliet’s alleged window but
also to walk around the city.
Once in Rimini, these
sandy beaches and clear waters will force you to spend all day in your
swimsuits either for a lazy day of relaxing with a book, or if you want
activities, there are dances, volleyball fields, boats, surfboards and other
sea-related options.
At night, you can
drive or take the bus to Riccione for a more lively night scene. Dinner of
delicious Pasta and Pizza at Pizza Maria Dina or Canasta on Viale Maria Ceccarini is
highly recommended.
And if you want some
history, you can drive west to the Republic of San Marino, one of the few
independent states within a state (Vatican and Monaco being the other two). The
Castle at the top is a good destination for the view it allows you of the city,
and for that walk into the past often associated with castles.
This is barely a glimpse into my trip, which was itself a
mere glimpse into the beautiful Italy. The pictures can't do it justice. You
have to smell the air, taste the food, and hear the sounds around you to really appreciate the
beauty. Looking at the pictures now, I miss the actual sights. A picture might
be worth a thousand words, but an actual sensual experience is priceless.
*My tribute to Italy is prompted
by Spain's victory in Euro2012. Spain can win a thousand champions, Italy
remains the most beautiful country.
