Venezia

Day trip in Venice

Quick itinerary for a short Venetian experience: literally just a photo-op day and not entering any of the establishments. 

When in Venice, one can easily lose track of time because of the charming canals/streets of the capital. So for those who would like to see more within a limited amount of time and not be distracted, here's a quick day trip itinerary.

Venetian windows

Getting There:

It is so easy to get to Venice as it is only a train ride away to its station - Station di Venezia Santa Lucia. I suggest to book the tickets online, even on the day itself, as it is way cheaper than purchasing them at the train station.

Going Around Venice:

Upon arrival at the train station, since this is a quick day trip, it is practical to buy the 1-day Venice Tourist Travel Card (also available for 2, 3, or 7 days) which includes unlimited travel on the ACTV water and land buses, from the water bus station immediately in front and outside of the station.

Gondola ride

Make sure to validate the ticket by tapping it against the white electronic card readers every time before boarding the water bus or inside the land bus to avoid being fined.

I've also read from other travellers that it is indeed still worth to ride a gondola even just for half an hour. So if you're willing to shell out some euros and have a couple (30 minutes or more, that is) of time to spare, try riding a gondola and enjoy the sights of the capital in a romantic and relaxed pace.

Venetian street/canal

Ponte Rialto

Board a water bus to get to Ponte Rialto - the oldest out of the 4 bridges that cross the Venetian Grand Canal. The ornate-covered 16th century stone footbridge connects the districts of San Marco and San Polo, and is one of the city's hottest tourist attractions.

Rialto Bridge

Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is a 3km channel in Venice forming one of the major water-traffic corridors of the city. It is considered as the city's bustling 'main street' lined with restaurants and shops in old Venetian buildings and palaces.

Grand Canal

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, or simply, la Piazza, is Venice's main and largest public square. All the other squares in the city are known as 'campi'. Being at the heart of the city, here you'll find St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, Torre dell Orologio, and the San Marco Campanile.

Piazza San Marco

The piazza has an extension towards the lagoon in its southeast corner and is called Piazzetta.

St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. The Italo-Byzantine styled cathedral is the most well-known church of the city.

St. Mark's Basilica

Entry to the basilica is free but expect a long and 'processional' queue  to get inside the cathedral. Pre-booking is required.

St. Mark's Basilica

Doge's Palace

A Venetian Gothic style palace which served as the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice, but is now a museum since 1923.

Regular ticket is €20 (combined ticket for entrance to other tourist attractions in Venice).

Torre dell Orologio

This is the city's 14th-century clock tower located on the north side of St. Mark's Square at the entrance to the Merceria. The huge face of the clock shows the hours of the day, phases of the moon, and movement of the sun through the Zodiac signs. It is also known as the Moor's Clocktower.

Moor's Clocktower

Regular ticket is €12.

San Marco Campanile

The 98.6m tall campanile is the bell tower of St. Mark's Basilica. 

Campanile

The original tower used to serve as a lighthouse for the sailors, and a belfry. The belfry house 5 bells - each being rang for different purposes during the Republic of Venice.

Regular ticket is €8. Climbing the tower provides panoramic views of the city. But we weren't able to go up during out visit.

Bridge of Sighs

Built in 1600, the Bridge of Sighs (also known as the Hertford Bridge) is an enclosed bridge made of limestone. The bridge has windows with stone bars, passes over Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace.

Bridge of Sighs

Venetian  Lagoon Islands

Apart from the Venetian capital, it is possible to explore at least 2 of the islands in the Venetian Lagoon (in our case, we chose Murano and Lido) in the afternoon.

If you do plan to explore the islands of the lagoon, make sure to check the boat timetables so as not to be stuck unnecessarily in the last island you're at.

Murano

Murano is known as the glass-making centre of Venice. The most visited site in the island is the Museo del Vetro - the museum which tells the story of the island's glass-making through the centuries, and features a souvenir/gift shop.

Murano

Other points of interest include the the churches of Santa Maria and San Donato. The two churches were built in the Romanesque style, with the latter featuring a colourful mosaic floor and supposedly housing the remains of a slain dragon.

Mosaic floor

Lunch at B Restaurant

Abacus-like

We had a delightful seafood lunch at B Restaurant known for affordable seafood with big servings. You will find this restaurant with an iconic glass piece resembling an abacus placed in the small square in front of the restaurant.

Seafood for lunch

Lido di Venezia

Lido is an 11km long sandbar in the Venetian Lagoon. Lido hosts the Venice Film Festival every September, and is the only island in the lagoon where there is a public beach to go to for a swim.

Lido's Free beach

Verona Ohh-nana

48 hours in Verona

Walking tour of the city

Piazza Bra

Piazza Bra is the largest and main square in Verona, and for some, it is also one of the largest in Europe. Like Piazza delle Erbe, it is also lined with restaurants and old buildings with notable architecture. The square is cemented with pink marble from the Valpolicella region. In the centre of the square is a statute of King Vittorio Emanuel II, the first ruler of united Italy. The fountain found in the square is known as Fontana delle Alpi which was built by the Germans to celebrate Verona's pairing with Munich. The fountain is commonly referred by locals as Lemon Squeeze because it looks like one.

Piazza Bra

Also located in the piazza is the Arena di Verona - a Roman amphitheater which is now being used today for large-scale theatrical/opera performances. 

Castelvecchio

Castelvecchio

A castle in Verona, Castelvecchio was regarded as the most important military construction of the Scaliger dynasty that ruled the city during the Middle Ages. The castle is connected to the city by the Castelvecchio Bridge, both characterised by imposing M-shaped merlons running along the bridge and the castle walls.

Castelvecchio Bridge

The castle is now home to a the Castelvecchio Museum. Regular ticket price is €6.

Arco dei Gavi

Built by the Gens Gavia, an illustrious and noble Roman family who had their hometown in Verona, Arco de Gavi is located at the beginning of the Roman road, Via Postumia, which leads to the city. The gate is made of white Veronese marble and used to serve as a gate to the city in the Middle Ages.

Arco dei Gavi

Piazza delle Erbe

Piazza delle Erbe at daytime

Once the town's forum during the Roman Empire, Piazza delle Erbe is a square in Verona now lined with cafes and buildings with quaint architecture. At day time, a market is set up in the centre, and at nighttime, it becomes a meeting place for people for drinks and evening meal as the restaurants occupy the sides of the plaza with their outdoor seating.

Piazza delle Erbe at night

Porta Borsari

Dating back to 1st century AD, Port Borsari is an ancient Roman gate in Verona. People used it as an entrance to the city if coming from Via Postumia.

Giulietta's House

Juliet's House

A Gothic style 1300s house with a stone balcony overlooking a small courtyard, Juliet's house is said to have significantly inspired William Shakespeare, and it is in this balcony where Romeo promised his beloved Juliet eternal love.

Rubbing Juliet's bosom

It is now a museum and every day, hundreds of tourists flock to see this house and rub the bosom of Juliet's statue for a stroke of good luck in finding the love of their life. Regular admission costs €6.

Juliet's Balcony

Romeo's House

Now a private home, Romeo's house is a bit tricky to find. Built in the 14th century, Romeo's house is made of crenelated walls with a Gothic door marked by a Shakespeare inscription.

Outside Romeo's House

Torre dei Lamberti

An 84 meter high tower near Juliet's house, Lamberti's Tower is the highest building in Verona. It was originally a tower house in the 12th century. With a lift or about 368 steps to reach the top, one can enjoy panoramic views of the city with a ticket (regular price of €8) that also includes entry to the Gallery of Modern Art. 

Piazza dei Signori

Located behind the busy Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori is another large square in Verona which is dominated by a statue of Dante made in 1865, and hence, it is also known as the Piazza Dante. Two buildings built by the Palladio are also located in the square, the Palazzo degli Scaligeri and the Palazzo del Comune.

Scaligeri Tombs

Scaligeri Tombs

Situated next to the Piazza dei Signori is the Scaliger Tombs built by the Della Scalla family. It consists of five Gothic funerary monuments celebrating the medieval Scaligeri Family who ruled Verona from the 13th to the late 14th century. The tombs are separated from the street by a wall of iron grilles and are situated next to the church of Santa Maria Antica.

Verona Cathedral Complex

Verona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Verona dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The cathedral is known by the name of S. Maria Matricolare.

Inside Verona Cathedral

It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Verona. The complex consists of the Duomo, Baptistery, Church of St. Helen and archaeological excavations. Regular ticket price is €3.

Verona Cathedral

Verona Cathedral - altar

Ponte Pietra

Ponte Pietra

Also known as Pons Marmoreus, Ponte Pietra (Italian for "Stone Bridge")  is a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River in Verona, and is the oldest bridge of the city.

Teatro Romano

Teatro Romano is an ancient Roman theatre set on a hillside in Verona constructed towards the end of the 1st century BC. It now has a museum which houses important artefacts of Verona's history. In summer, the theatre hosts various music shows. Regular ticket price is €4.50.

Castel San Pietro

City views from Castel San Pietro

Saint Peter's Castle is situated on top of the hill above the Teatro Romano. It can be reached on foot by a couple of staircases starting from Ponte Pietra and passing behind the theatre. During the Roman times, the hill had a religious function and was known as the Monte Gallo. Because of its high strategic location, it offers great panoramic views of the city and is perfect to be visited during the golden hour. 

Panoramic views from Castel San Pietro

Bellisimo Milan

24 hours in Milan

Things to do in Milan if you've got a (really) limited amount of time.

Milan Cathedral / Duomo di Milano

Duomo

Duomo di Milano is the city's cathedral church dedicated to St. Mary of the Nativity. The impressive cathedral also serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Milan. It is the largest and most complex Gothic building in Italy which took nearly 6 centuries to complete. Marvel at its pink-veined white marble which originated from the Candoglia quarries. Placed on top of the highest spire is a statue of Madonna. The interior is shaped like a Latin cross with large choir stalls and a polygonal apse.

Milan Cathedral

You need to pre-book tickets during peak season. During off peak season, there's a long queue for both the ticket office and entrance (those already possessing a ticket).

Duomo Interior

Altar inside the Duomo

Duomo Altar

Stained glass behind the altar inside the Duomo

There's a dress code and if you're attire is not appropriate, you will be asked to buy a cover up.

Recommended length of stay: at least 1 hour if you're planning to go up the terraces.

Piazza del Duomo

Piazza del Duomo

Also known as the Cathedral Square, this piazza is the main square of the city of Milan, dominated by the Duomo.

From here, you can also see the Milan Cathedral Museum, and the high-end shopping centre - Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II.

It is a good place to sit around and watch the world pass by. 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II

Inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II

Apart from the high end shops, don't pass by the opportunity of experiencing a long-standing tradition. Find the famous bull's testicles on the mosaic floor of the shopping centre, stand on it with your right heel and spin three times to bring good luck.

Ceiling of Galleria Vittorio Emanuel II

Castello Sforzesco

Castello Sforzesco

This 15th-century castle was once the stronghold of the Dukes of Milan, the Sforza Family, which now houses several museums. 

Parco Sempione

Enjoy a slushy in Park Sempione 

A large public park situated behind the Castello Sforzesco right in the centre of the city. This is a popular place for both locals and tourists for several outdoor activities, especially during summer/warm days.

Navigli Canals

Naviglio Grande

Located in the Navigli neighbourhood are five interconnected canals based on the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. This neighbourhood is an art lover's haven as it is full of interesting art galleries, as well as restaurants, and boasts of a bustling nightlife along the largest 2 of the 5, Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese. On Sundays, there is an antiques market held along these 2 canals.

Along the canals

Roman Columns and the Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore

The piazza in front of the Basilica is lined with 16 Roman columns, Colonne di San Lorenzo, dating back to the 3rd century from ancient Milan, the Roman Mediolanum. The Basilica of San Lorenzo Maggiore was also built during the Roman times and is located within the city's ring of canals close to the medieval Ticino gate. It is the oldest church in Milan.

The interior is decorated with impressive marble works and 4th-century mosaics.

San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore

This church stands on the site of a former place of worship during the Lombard period and is adjoined to a Benedictine convent of nuns, the largest and oldest monastery in Milan.

Inside San Maurizio

The church has an elongated rectangular nave divided into 2 sections; the front being designated to the congregation and the rear to the nuns' choir. The interior is adorned with cycles of paintings by some of the major 16th century Lombard artists.

And if you're Filipino, Jollibee

Jollibee

Jollibee is a Philippine-based fast-food chain known for its Pinoy style spaghetti and fried chicken and burgers. Weekdays are not usually busy but expect long queues and waiting hours from Friday afternoon to Sunday.

Jollibee Pinoy-style spaghetti and fried chicken

Jollibee Yum burger with cheese