Blog: Milan and The Lakes

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The Best Photo Ops (and Instagram Spots) in Italy

The Best Photo Ops (and Instagram Spots) in Italy

October 16, 2022

Sharing travel exploits with the folks back home has been a large part of the pleasure of travel since the first voyagers sketched far-flung lands and peoples in ink on parchment. The tradition has evolved through slideshows and Kodachrome to…

A Stop between Milan and the Cinque Terre

A Stop between Milan and the Cinque Terre

March 30, 2022

We often have clients who want to kick off their Italy itinerary with a few days on the Ligurian coast (the Cinque Terre is the headliner, of course, but we also nudge travelers to stay near the equally charming but…

Cinque Terre vs. The Lakes: How to Decide

Cinque Terre vs. The Lakes: How to Decide

February 27, 2022

About 20% of our clients kick off our first call by telling us that they’d like to see two of the “Big Three” (Rome, Florence, and Venice—and they usually know which two) but they’d like advice on the final piece…

3 secret places on the Eastern side of Lake Maggiore (and a local cheese)

3 secret places on the Eastern side of Lake Maggiore (and a local cheese)

September 21, 2017

The shores, towns, and enchanted landscapes of Lake Maggiore have inspired many great Italian and foreign artists. At Italy Beyond the Obvious, our most common Lake Maggiore itineraries are in & around the town of Stresa on the lake’s Western…

Four things to see and do in modern Milan (if you’ve been there and done that)

Four things to see and do in modern Milan (if you’ve been there and done that)

March 22, 2016

As someone who spent four years living and working in Milan, I don’t usually expect the city to surprise me upon return visits. I spend time with friends, return to my favorite places, and walk the streets that have so many…

The Turin Egyptian Museum

The Turin Egyptian Museum

October 20, 2015

Traveling to Italy to visit an Egyptian museum might sound a little too beyond the obvious for many travelers, but for anyone who is a fan of Egyptian art, I would argue that the Turin Egyptian Museum cannot be missed. The collection…

Milan fashion: Alta Moda tour with Context Travel

Milan fashion: Alta Moda tour with Context Travel

October 09, 2015

We met our guide Sarah of Context Travel for the 3 hour private look at Milan Fashion, the Alta Moda walk. Our meeting point was – logically – in front of the Armani Cafe, in Milan’s fashion district, the Quadrilatero D’Oro. Milan fashion…

Off the beaten path in Italy

Off the beaten path in Italy

October 23, 2014

Because of the name of my company, I get regular requests for itineraries that are at least partly off the beaten track. The definition of off the beaten path in Italy differs depending on how well you know the country….

Bardolino, Lake Garda: A lovely afternoon doing nothing

Bardolino, Lake Garda: A lovely afternoon doing nothing

July 11, 2013

What’s there to do on Lake Garda? a client asked recently. Although a significant percentage of my working hours are spent giving travelers recommendations on what to do during Italian vacations, sometimes I recommend not doing anything. Forget the checklist. Leave…

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