Northern Italy help- Brescia, Verona, Milan?

[berettafan]

Gents,

taking the family to Italy for a vacation and the last leg before departing from Zurich is going to be 3 days in the area of Brescia. I'm looking forward to this part of the trip as I am hoping to visit the Mille Miglia Museum as well as several very famous shotgun makers including Zoli, Beretta and Perazzi.

my question for those familiar with the region is which town should I base us in for the three days? My wife and two kids may not be too interested in the Brescia visits mentioned so I'd like them to have a nice town/city to wander through and enjoy. Seems like Verona is a good option. Milan looks like a big city with not so much Italian flavor?

Lastly should I rent a car for those days to get around? Beretta and Zoli are a bit north of Brescia in Val Trompia. Not sure how easy it will be to get a bus or taxi to those places.

Thanks!

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Gents,

taking the family to Italy for a vacation and the last leg before departing from Zurich is going to be 3 days in the area of Brescia. I'm looking forward to this part of the trip as I am hoping to visit the Mille Miglia Museum as well as several very famous shotgun makers including Zoli, Beretta and Perazzi.

my question for those familiar with the region is which town should I base us in for the three days? My wife and two kids may not be too interested in the Brescia visits mentioned so I'd like them to have a nice town/city to wander through and enjoy. Seems like Verona is a good option. Milan looks like a big city with not so much Italian flavor?

Lastly should I rent a car for those days to get around? Beretta and Zoli are a bit north of Brescia in Val Trompia. Not sure how easy it will be to get a bus or taxi to those places.

Thanks!

Been looking at Northern Italy too. There's a Hilton property inside a renovated Fiat factory in Turin. Still has a test track on the roof.

''https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/lingotto-fiat-rooftop-racetrack-in-turin

Also, there is a really cool auto museum in Turin with an exhibition dedicated to Gandini (Countach, Stratos, etc.).

Museo dell'automobile

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/exhibition-turin-celebrates-design-master-marcello-gandini

[LWJ]

I don't know where Brescia is exactly, but Milano is near(ish) the Lake District. We stayed in Bellaggio I believe on lake Como. I could be off a touch with the names. Either way, very lovely area. Served by rail, if needed. I called it Disneyland Italy. Not challenging, but beautiful. Killer food, of course!

Good luck. This sounds fun!

Edit: Bellaggio is 2.5 hours from Brescia. Maybe not such a great fit. Sorry.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by LWJ

We stayed in Bellaggio I believe on lake Como.

The internet photos of Como are stunning but it's probably better in real life.

In FlightSimulatorX I've flown north from Milano north to Lake Como, then followed the trench between the mountains north-east to the east/west Innsbruck valley connection, then went straight east into the town itself. From there jumping to a trench just south of the valley, and then traveling further east from there requires some serious vertical travel through the mountains but there are more lakes high up and a switchback road which is definitely on my bucket list to drive. The Alps are just gorgeous.

[tevake]

Verona is a nice town to visit, nice walking in the old downtown district. There is a big Roman collosium and they even have a place that is supposed to be Juliett's balcony. Could be fun for the family for a couple of days.

If you can squeeze a couple more days into your route to Zurich.
Going north the Lake District is very beautiful.
Some of the passes into Switzerland are amazing driving roads and scenery. They take more time than the major routes thru the tunnels, but so worth it if you have the time and everyone is comfortable with the winding roads.

In Switzerland, Interlacken and the nearby valley Lauterbrunin is a true gem of the northern Alps. The train ride up to Jungfrau joust is one of the most spectacular day trips anywhere. You will want to stay there longer once yo see it. Our favorite place to stay there is Wengen.

This all may be something to plan another trip around.

Interested in hearing about the Mille Miglia museum.

Have fun!

Cheers Richard

[bleucamaro]

how about Modena?

https://www.car-rental-with-driver.com/news/motor-valley-super-tour-car-rental-service-with-driver-from-milan

https://www.wanderingitaly.com/places/modena-map.html

https://www.google.com/maps/search/car+museum/@44.6273989,10.8721931,10.5z

It has the Enzo Ferrari Museum, The Maserati Factory, Ferrari Factory (need to be an owner for a tour), Ferrari Museum, Pagani, Lamborghini, Panini Farms, Stanguelini, and Ducati.

Modena isn't the prettiest city, and it's not especially touristy, but there is great food. The city is pretty flat and walkable. Driving and parking aren't bad, just rent something euro-sized, like an A3 audi or C-class Merc, or smaller.

[berettafan]

Thanks all! Just booked a couple nights in Wengen!

PS: holy **** is Switzerland expensive!

[tevake]

Sure is, but it is so worth it!
You will make memories that your family will never forget.



The view from our room the last time I was there. Could watch folks BASE jumping and wing suit flying accross the way while eating breakfast on the lanai.

My Ex was just there for 10 days last month. She had a great time and sent back beautiful pics.

You can drive right to the train station in Lauterbrunin to go on up to Wengen via train.
There is a parking building on the left at the train station just as you enter the village of Lauterbrunin.
Or you can travel there by train from Italy.

Once in Wengen there is great access to all of the area via cable cars, the cog railway and hiking all over the place.
Let me know what you are interested in doing while there. Maybe I can help with some tips.

We started going there since our kids were quite young and its always felt comfortable with them there.

Cheers Richard

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, Romeo and Juliet town is a great place. Milan is an arse of a place to drive around. Venice; stay on the mainland and get the ferry across. A whole lot cheaper and probably quicker too.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by berettafan

Thanks all! Just booked a couple nights in Wengen!

PS: holy **** is Switzerland expensive!

I worked a summer in Wengen, beautiful location, very good choice.

There is a great hike up to Mannlichen and around past the Eiger and back to Wengen or get the cable car down to Grindelwald

Cars were/are not allowed in Wengen village, cleanest air you can imagine and when I went down to Lauterbrunnen I could smell each car as it drove by

Lauterbrunnen valley is an amazing alpine valley, sheer cliffs, water falls and snow topped mountains

A ride on the train up to the top of the Jungfrau is worth it too, hopefully it won't be cloudy for you as the train stops part way up as the Eiger has viewing windows cut into it and you can see Germany on a clear day

I got heli-rescued off the mountain above Wengen when a walk went wrong, never thought my first ride in a helo was accessed with a winch lift, was quite an exciting ride!

Hard to make a mistake in Italy. Have fun!

[berettafan]

Tevake/Ahab,

We can't thank you enough for the Wengen recommendation. It was stunning! We did two nights there and one in Zurich before leaving and greatly regret leaving Wengen to see Zurich. We did the cable car to Mannlichen and hiked to Klein Scheidegg. It will go down as one of our greatest family outings. We still can't get over the fact that we actually hiked in the Swiss Alps! I didn't want to leave and will most definitely go back. Would love 4 or 5 days there to explore the various hiking trails.

View from our room:

[berettafan]

Our hotel, the Victoria Lauberhorn

[Captain Ahab Jr]

So glad you enjoyed Wengen

The views are very special, have always promised myself I'd go back in the winter, might make it this year, fingers crossed.

Had my first brush with death above Wengen, set out for a walk which turned bad (totally our own stupidity), ended with an exciting/expensive ride in a helicopter down to Lauterbrunnen but that was only after we had been winched off the mountain. We were lucky as most call outs are to retrieve bodies

Remember sporter's be safe in the mountains and stick to the path

[berettafan]

Yes my 15yo made a pretty good effort at getting an unscheduled helicopter ride. Went up a ways off the path and lost his footing coming down. He's got a few scrapes to show for his foolishness but came very close to sliding over the path and down a 30' drop to some bowling ball sized rocks.

[tevake]

I'm so happy and relieved that Wengen was a good experence for you and your family, .Berettafan

Relieved cause you never know if others will see your favorite places in the same way that you do.
Some need the energy, culture and night life that cities offer.

But for nature lovers, that area of Switzerland is hard to beat.

That hike you did is spectular, and more to come on future visits

The train ride on up thru the side of the Eiger, and on to the top of Jungfrau Is amazing.

Day tripping over the mountain to the next valley, and more good hiking

Magical place, the more time you have there the more it reveals to you.

Cheers Richard