Northern Italy

While not as famous as some of the great cities of Italy, for local Mediterranean charm, it is hard to beat the Cinque Terre region of northwestern Italy. Comprised of five small Ligurian villages, this seashore region combines beautiful scenery with authentic northern Italian living. Better still, they are connected by a walking path called The Blue Trail, which allows an intrepid hiker to travel along high cliffs overlooking the sea and through the Italian countryside, while mostly avoiding the dangerously speeding cars and tardy buses that so characterize Italy.

The Blue Trail starts at Riomaggiore, which is so quiet that one will spend the day listening to church bells chiming the hours, and at night to the busy chirping of the local frogs. The most interesting relic in this village is its castle, which is at least 1,500 years old and may be older, since there are no records regarding just when it was built. From there the trail moves on to Manarola, which has even more fishing boats than Riogaggiore (if such a thing is possible). The streets are lined with little fishing boats. The coast is known for its sea caves and its spots that are good for swimming and snorkeling.

Continuing north on the trail brings one to Corniglia with its lemon trees and stone pebble beach. A steep climb along The Blue Trail brings one to the fourth village, Vernazza. The approach has the romantic charm of passing by two medieval towers and having to wander through a maze of tiny streets before entering the town's main road and centre. Finally there is Monterosso, which because of its large and sandy beach has been developed into a tourist resort. The route is considered one of the best coastal hikes in the world, replete with wild herbs, vineyards, olive trees and ancient stone terraces. It is a short walk as well, and with no stops the entire path can be done in about four hours. That makes Cinque Terre a perfect place to go for a two or three day weekend getaway.

Beyond the weekend getaway, Cinque Terre could simply be a stop on a larger vacation in northwest Italy. One of the main entry points for this part of Italy, especially on a budget airline, is Milan. The second largest city in Italy, as well as its financial center, Milan is not a city that is well known for its sights. Instead, it is most famous for being the central market place for fashion in an imminently fashion-conscious city. Flying into Milan would naturally mean returning to the city and capping off a trip with a major shopping binge before going home.

The other major entry airport in northwestern Italy is Genoa. Walking in the narrow labyrinth of streets (called "Caruggi") in Genoa's old town is like taking a time machine back to the heady Renaissance days when this was one of the most important ports in world. Genoa is famed for having one of the best historical city centres of any city in Europe, and therefore makes an excellent stop on any tour of northern Italy.

Finally, there is Turin. Unfortunately, most people who do not do their homework will come to Turin thinking the famed Shroud of Turin is on display there. The Shroud is still in its home at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, but it is not always on display. Going to Turin to see the Shroud without checking will lead to great disappointment. The next scheduled public display of the Shroud is April 10th to May 23rd, 2010. Turin is also home to another, lesser known treat in the form of its Egyptian Museum. The museum is the single largest collection of Egyptian artefacts found outside of that country's capital of Cairo.

Food connoisseurs will love the area. After all, Liguria is where basil pesto comes from, and it is a widely served condiment there. The Piedmont, where Turin is found, is famed for its boiled or fried mixes of seasoned vegetables and meat. Milan is at the center of Lombardy, which gave the world minestrone.

With an incredible surface area of almost 143 square miles, Italy's Lake Garda is the largest lake in Europe and a true natural marvel. Bounded by high mountains, the lake creates its own micro-climate that is mild winter or summer, despite the adjacent Alps. A combination of natural beauty and history make it a popular northern Italian tourist destination

The area surrounding the lake is steeped in historical significance. The Roman poet Cattalus once kept a villa here. The town of Sirmione, a popular base of visitors, is home to a 13th Century castle in addition to its spas. Finally, Benito Mussolini set up the capital of his Italian Social Republic on the shores of the lake, following his ouster from power in 1943.

The slopes surrounding the lake host lemon and olive trees, vineyards, wild herbs and plentiful flowers. Coupled with the numerous small villages in the hills and along the shores, this makes the area perfect for countryside walks, bike trips, or even horseback riding. There are also some good cliffs for rock climbing.

Lake Garda's size and clear waters make sailing and motor boating popular there. Those clear waters also create what is a very high visibility for a freshwater body, and therefore it is a rare outstanding site for freshwater scuba diving. Changing water levels and the occasional lake wreck have created some good dive sites to visit.

Lake Como is Italy's third largest lake. Situated in Lombardy, this scenic Y-shaped lake has been the site where Italy's well-to-do have chosen to build their holiday villas since the days of Pliny the Younger. While there is little of such antique, Roman origin standing on the hillsides surrounding the lake today, the continued popularity of the area through the centuries is testified to by the numerous villas and palaces from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The lake, the architecture of its buildings, and its general atmosphere were the inspiration for the sets of Naboo, the planet featured in Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.

The three main towns around the lake are Como, Menaggio and Tremezzo. Como is the largest of the three, and while its development has rendered it somewhat less attractive than some other places at lakeside, it retains a touch of elegance. Tremezzo, on the other hand, is famed for its beauty. It is the home of the famed 17th Century Villa Carlotta. With its size and expansive, manicured gardens, the villa would be better described as a palace or manor. Tremezzo also boasts a lovely botanical garden and the most charming waterfront on the lake. Menaggio is where the youth hostel is, and therefore where most budget travelers will wind up as well.

The climate around the lake is quite mild, with July highs in the mid-80s F and January highs in the mid-50s. The Como area's facilities support wind-surfing and sailing, and of course the lake is good for swimming. July water temperatures are around 75 F, making for a cool dip. The surrounding slopes also offer inland sports, like rock climbing, mountain biking and para-gliding.

Although they are magnificent, Italian trips do not need to centre themselves on the well tried destinations of Rome, Venice, or the Bay of Naples. Northwest Italy has a lot to offer too. Country walkers and gastronomes will love Cinque Terre, history buffs and antiquarians will go for Genoa and Turin, and fashion plates will be ecstatic in the shops of Milan. Northwest Italy has a little something for everyone, and with two international airports, everyone can get there too.