Today is a bit of a travel day: Verona » 🚄 + 🚇 + 🚇 + 🚇 » Milano » ✈️ » Roma » ✈️ + 🚌 » Split. So here’s a summary of our time in Italy while we recover.

The Dolomites

Jake and Miles checking out a scenic spot in the lower Dolomites

A scenic and relaxing four nights with plenty of cycling, walking, mountains, beers and family reunions. Would recommend.

Lago di Garda

Limone markets: it’s busy!

Stop one was Limone, which mainly involves sitting in endless queues of traffic. Very scenic but probably worth getting the ferry next time. Although the ferry service on the Lago di Garda is not the most reliable…

After an overnight stop at Riva del Garda, followed by easily the best breakfast buffet in Italy (thanks, Hotel Luise), we were off to check out the eastern shore, where there is significantly less traffic, less people and quite a few charming towns.

An after lunch snap at the top of the Monte Baldo funicular

Our first stop was to ride the funicular to the top of Monte Baldo, check out the badgers and grab a quick lunch and beer. We got a brief glimpse of the views before visibility decreased to approximately zero. Then it was back down the mountain and on to Torri del Benaco for the evening.

The next morning the plan was to bus to Garda and get a ferry across to Sirmione.

Garda - no ferries in sight

In fact there was a ferry in sight, but it was sold out. The next ferry “might” come in 40 minutes, and there “might” be space available, announced the unconcerned ferry operator. Rather than risk our luck on the incomprehensible Lake di Garda ferry service timetable, we headed back to Torri on the bus and elected to drive to Sirmione. It turns out we arrived there before the ferry anyway, even accounting for the extra bus ride in the wrong direction.

Checking out the Castello Scaligero di Sirmione

After checking out the castle and some churches, we grabbed a pleasant lunch, headed to the beach for a paddle, and then headed back up the coast for a stop in Bardolino.

A slightly different angle of the Largo di Garda

A relaxing afternoon in Bardolino, with a quick swim, a walk around the town and presumably an aperitivo before we headed back to the hotel (via a winery) for the opening game of the World Cup.

Our final full day in Italy was spent in Verona. A final winery stop, as well as a quick stop at an olio e aceto store, and we were on our way to the city.

Sonia on the balcony in Verona

Fun fact! You can pay €12 and line up for an hour to go and stand on the official not actually Juliet’s real balcony balcony in Verona. Or you can just stand on your hotel balcony for pretty much the exact same experience with the same amount of authenticity.

Pretty much the fanciest gelato we have ever seen

A quiet day was spent wandering the streets of Verona, with a beer or gelato thrown in here or there.

Don’t touch my wine

Dinner was eaten at a steak restaurant that was so fancy that they lock their wine bottles up in case any patrons try to yoink them. Then it was time to head to the Verona Arena for the opening night of the Verona Opera Festival, and Verdi’s La Traviata.

Despite some negative reviews on Google Maps, it turns out the romans actually built these arenas to entertain the masses.

Hot tip: whilst the first act of La Traviata is quite lively and contains the memorable anthem “Let’s all get drunk (Brindisi)”, the second act is very slow. We did not quite make the distance, and hauled the kids home at around midnight, ready for our 6:30am start in the morning.