Bertine Jobse
That Italy has so many beautiful cities, I probably don't have to tell you as a reader. But that is precisely what makes choosing your next city trip difficult. Because where do you start? In addition, each city has its own characteristics.
To help you make the right choice, I have created a selection aid for you. I will briefly tell you about the most important characteristics and the atmosphere of five large Italian cities and give a score from 1 to 5 on 3 categories:
- Places of interest: 1 is few places of interest and 5 is many places of interest
- Accessibility: 1 is difficult to reach and 5 is easy to reach
- Crowd: 1 is busy and 5 is quiet
1. Milan: business and modern
When you say Milan, you say fashion. Every year, Milan hosts Milan Fashion Week, an important fashion event that attracts many famous stars. In addition, the city is home to an abundance of luxury fashion stores.
In the heart of the city, next to the Milan Cathedral, there is a large indoor shopping centre: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele IIThis shopping centre is home to fashion houses such as Prada, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent.
Even if your wallet doesn't allow you to make purchases here, it's worth visiting this shopping centre.
Milan is a real business city. Many entrepreneurs are based in Milan, partly because the city is located in the most developed part of Italy. In addition, the Italian stock exchange is located in Milan.
When I was in Milan, I was often overtaken by hasty businessmen when walking through the city. This may give you a feeling of being rushed, but one consolation: these people are so busy that they probably don't pay attention to what is happening around them.
Score of attractions: 2
Besides the beautiful Duomo, Milan has a number of other beautiful sights, but not as many as most other major cities in Italy. It is especially a nice city if you like fashion and the business character.
Accessibility score: 5
Milan is located in the north of Italy, about 11 hours drive from Utrecht. In addition, you can fly to Milan from many airports and you will only be in the plane for 1,5 hours before you get off in Italy. Please note that Milan has 3 airports and not every airport is close to the city. If you prefer to travel to Milan by train, it will take you about 10 hours.
Score crowd: 2
Milan is a busy city, especially because the city is the economic heart of Italy. There is always activity and besides tourists you also meet a lot of business people.
2. Verona: picturesque and cozy
Also in the north of Italy, but more to the east, lies a smaller city than Milan: Verona. This city is known for Shakespeare's story about the lovers Romeo and Juliet. Juliet's balcony, her grave and the church where the couple is said to have been married can all be admired in Verona.
Because Verona played an important role in Roman times, you can still find many Roman buildings there today. For example, on the edge of the center l'Arena di Verona,, an immense amphitheatre, where today you can enjoy operas and concerts.
You can also under the Porta Borsari continue walking, after which you will be in a straight line to Piazza delle Erbe runs. On the edge of this square you will find nice restaurants and there is a market every day.
Score of attractions: 3
Verona is not big, so the number of sights is more limited than in other Italian cities. Still, I was amazed, because throughout the city there are many Roman buildings to admire.
Accessibility score: 4
To reach Verona by car, you will have to spend an hour more in the car than when you visit Milan. Furthermore, Verona has an airport and, just like when you fly to Milan, you will spend about 1,5 hours in the plane. If you want to go by train, you will be on the road for at least 14 hours.
Score crowd: 3
Because Verona is surrounded on both sides by a tourist city, namely Milan and Venice, the number of tourists in the city is not too bad. It is perfectly possible to go to the city by car, something I do not do in all Italian cities.
You should take into account that there are many tourists in the city, because Verona is located near Lake Garda, a lake that is very popular with tourists, including many Dutch and Germans.
3. Florence: atmospheric and cultural
When you think of Florence, you probably immediately think of the beautiful Santa Maria del FioreThis imposing cathedral is the centrepiece of Florence and the city's main attraction.
But the city has more to offer, especially if you love art and history. You can feast your eyes in the many art museums, such as Uffizi MuseumHere hangs the famous work 'The Birth of Venus' by Botticelli.
Furthermore, you can stroll through the many streets and enjoy everything you see around you, as if you were walking in an open-air museum. If you want a nice view of the entire city, walk to Piazzale Michelangelo, sit on the grand staircase and stare at the beautiful churches and buildings. Before you know it, an hour has passed!
Score of attractions: 5
You will be amazed by Florence, so a walk through the city is an activity in itself. However, there are also many other sights in the form of museums, cathedrals and palaces. To get a good impression of the city you will need at least 3 days, despite the fact that Florence is not a particularly large city.
Accessibility score: 3
If you want to visit the city by car, you should count on about 14 hours. You can also take the plane to Florence, but there are not many flights to Florence airport.
Therefore, it is better to fly to Bologna or Pisa and from there take the train or rental car travel to Florence. Because the city is fairly centrally located in Italy, the train connection to other cities is very good.
Score crowd: 2
Florence is a popular city, which means it is often busy. Visiting major attractions such as Santa Maria del Fiore You must book well in advance, otherwise you will have to queue for hours.
However, in Florence you can also escape the crowds. For example, I went to the Boboli Gardens when I needed some more rest.
Naples: energetic and raw
Naples is much further south in Italy than Milan, Verona and Florence, and you can tell. The city exudes a completely different atmosphere, which can be described as chaotic and lively.
Even more than in the other 3 cities, life is mainly outdoors. It is mainly a city where you go for the experience, less for the sights.
Walk through the busy, narrow streets of the working-class district Spanish Neighborhoods and enjoy all the street food you encounter during your walk. Everywhere you will find fish shops and food stalls selling sweets.
Because the city is so lively, I found sitting on a terrace and people watching an activity in itself. If you want a bit more peace, buy a pizza and walk to the water to enjoy the view of the sea while eating.
Score of attractions: 3
Naples has some beautiful sights, such as the Cathedral of San Gennaro, Piazza del Plebiscito en Castel Nuovo. Yet you go to the city mainly for the experience and less for the number of sights. Of course you will find Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast and Vesuvius nearby.
Accessibility score: 3
Because Naples is located in the south of Italy, it takes a long time by car: from Utrecht it takes about 19 hours by car. At this distance it is therefore more convenient to take the plane if you do not want to spend too much time on your city trip. And there are many flights to Naples and the flight only takes 2,5 hours.
Score crowd: 2
Naples is vibrant and lively, which can make the city feel very busy. This is reinforced by the narrow streets with tall buildings. In Naples, life is mainly outdoors, which means that the streets are never quiet. As a result, you will mainly walk between the locals and you don't have the feeling that you are surrounded by many tourists.
Venice: authentic and romantic
One of the most famous cities in Italy is Venice. This city is located in the northeast of the country and is mainly known for its many canals, bridges and narrow streets.
The whole city is surrounded by water and there is no car to be found. This does not mean that it is quiet, on the contrary. Nowadays you even have to Pay to visit the city, because otherwise tourism would get out of hand.
Still, it remains a beautiful city to visit. For example, you can go out on the water by taking a trip with a gondola. A gondolier takes you through the city, so that you can mainly enjoy all the beauty around you.
If you want to spend a little less, take a walk through the city and visit St. Mark's SquareThis square is surrounded by splendor and magnificence, so you will be amazed by what you see.
If, like me, you want to find some peace and quiet, go to the city district Cannaregio. Here lies the oldest Jewish ghetto in the world, where today you can still find many Jewish shops, synagogues and kosher restaurants. In addition, you can Cannaregio enjoy the colorful buildings and the beautiful view over the water.
Score of attractions: 4
When you visit Venice, you will be amazed. Just walking through the city was enough for me. But the city also has enough sights that are worth seeing.
Accessibility score: 3
Because Venice is located in the northeast of Italy, the city is easily accessible by car. From Utrecht, it takes about 13 hours. Because the city is car-free, you have to park your car outside the city and continue by train, bus or water taxi.
A direct flight to the city takes just under 2 hours. If you would like to take the train, expect a journey of over 13 hours.
Score crowd: 1
As beautiful and special as Venice is, it is also just very busy. If you hate that, I would skip Venice and visit nearby Verona.
All these cities are worth visiting, because they all have their own character. But that is why one city might suit you better than the other.
If you prefer a city that is not too busy, choose Verona. If you want a city that is easy to reach, go to Milan.
Do you find the sights important? Then definitely visit Florence. Do you like a vibrant and lively city? Then book your flight ticket to Naples. Good luck with your choice!
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