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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

I am going to Italy,some questions Verona Venice Lake Garda???

28 replies

Skribble · 06/04/2007 21:56

Ok we fly tomorrow and we are hiring a car, staying in a site near Sirmione.

We plan to go to Venice and Verona for a day each, need tips on parking or if it is best to take the train.

Might do a day to Garda Land, so any tips for that.

Any advice about taking a boat trip or ferry on Lake.

Any other good places to visit quiet, cultural or fun. Kids are 7 and 10 but love a bit of history (and swimming).

Thanks all.

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 06/04/2007 22:01

I would definitely choose taking a train in Italy over driving & parking - especially for visiting Venice.

Trains are cheap and easy and get you where you want to be.

It's years since I went to Gardaland but I remember it was fun (was 21 at teh time!).
The only thing I rememebr is we went on easter Monday and spent about 6 hours on the motorway trying to get back to where we were staying.

Another reason to take the train!

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 22:13

Thanks I suspected the train would be best, I was going to give venice a miss but DH is keen to go, perhaps we will just relax and go for a walk on Monday.

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Ellbell · 06/04/2007 22:17

Definitely take the train to Venice and Verona. Much easier. From Sirmione you'll probably need to get a bus to Desenzano del Garda (iirc) and then the train from there. Having said that, we drove into Venice this time last year, and it was not as bad as I feared. The car park was very accessible and there were spaces. If you do drive to Venice, don't follow the chaps in the car park who try to lead you to the water taxis and take you to San Marco... it's a rip-off! Find the main vaporetto stop and go from there. Having said that, I'd still get the train! (The only reason we drove was that we were staying in the back of beyond and trains were not very regular or accessible.)

Venice was very busy in Easter week last year, so we ended up not going into San Marco or up the bell tower as the queues were massive and the dds were 4 and 5, so not desperately into standing around for long periods. It's nice just to wander about in Venice and take it all in. If you want to do 'views' you could go over to San Giorgio Maggiore (which is the island directly opposite San Marco - get the traghetto from the Salute). The bell tower over there has a lift (operated by a monk with the worst BO ever when I went!) and superb views over the lagoon.

Sirmione is lovely. There were lots of ferries going from there to other places on the lake when I was there. However, I was only there for a day trip, so just went in a little boat round the headland and back! My parents stayed in Malcesine recently and had a lovely time there too.

Vicenza is also worth a visit imo, if you have the time.

HTH. Lucky you... am very .

Ellbell · 06/04/2007 22:17

Don't miss Venice!

FrayedKnot · 06/04/2007 22:18

Skribble, Easter Monday is a really big event in Italy, everyone goes out for the day en enormous famille.

I would definitely plan a quieter day in your schedule.

Venice is lovely though, especially in Spring. There's just nowhere else quite like it.

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 22:30

OK I give in I will go to venice, the kids want to go after watching 007 anyway, and Easter Monday I will plan a picnic on the shore or something.

More tips please......

OP posts:
Ellbell · 06/04/2007 22:48

Yes, a picnic would be the Italian thing to do on la Pasquetta (Easter Monday).

Have just remembered Il Vittoriale. Haven't been there, but it's a house/grounds/museum which belonged to the poet and general nut job Gabriele D'Annunzio. There is a web site here: here , but I can't make it work in English (though there is a Union Jack to click on). Hold on will see if I can find more info in English....

If Venice is very busy you could go to the off-islands. Murano is famous for glass blowing, Burano for lace making and Torcello is the quietest (and furthest away) and has a wonderful church with Byzantine mosaics.

Ellbell · 06/04/2007 22:50

There is a description of Il Vittoriale here .

Ellbell · 06/04/2007 22:51

And here

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 22:53

Thanks that looks like a possible day out.

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Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 22:56

Back to the subject of trains, is it easy enough to get on the right train with the right ticket with no Italian language.

In paris the RER is confusing with the trains having names and in Spain I got confusd with the local and national trains and then gave up whent he riot police came to stop too many people getting on the train that did eventualy come . We did get a train fine the next day but it was still hit and miss with the automatic ticket dispenser, don't know if I ended up with the right ticket for the train we did get.

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PippiLangstrump · 06/04/2007 23:00

you must NOT miss Venice!!! It's the most beautiful city ever, although the autumn gloom suits it better, and might be crowdy. still... you'll ove it.

definitely a pick-nick for Pasquetta!

ciao - buon viaggio!!

PippiLangstrump · 06/04/2007 23:04

don't bother with touristy sites in venice, just wonder around like Ellbell said, without a map and you'll find yourself in the most pretty places.
I'd tell you a good restaurant where we eat all the tima, and where the Gondoliers eat as well, but cannot remember the name. sorry.

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 23:12

Thats how I explored Paris, I just wandered about.

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Ellbell · 06/04/2007 23:17

Oh, have just remembered in Venice you have to walk along the Zattere (go to the Salute and then walk away from S. Marco) and eat gianduiotto (hazelnutty chocolatey ice-creamy stuff). Can't remember the name of the place, but you'll recognise it by all the people buying gianduiotto.

Trains in Italy are quite simple and you'll be in a touristy area, so people will speak English in the ticket office probably (even if only a limited amount).

If you are going somewhere and back in a day get a return ticket (andata e ritorno). Remember if you are going to Venice you need Venezia Santa Lucia (pronounced: loo-chee-ah), not Venezia Mestre (which is on the mainland). You may well have to change at Mestre, though. Before you get on the train you have to stamp your ticket at a special machine on the platform. Just watch what everyone else does... Then do it again on the way home. You will get told off by the ticket inspector if you forget to do it!

On the station there will be a list of departures (partenze) with the platform (binario) number.

If you get on one of the fast European trains you have to pay a supplement, but I don't think there's much danger of that on that line.

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 23:19

Thanks, those words will come in handy thats where I have been stumped before .

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Ellbell · 06/04/2007 23:20

You can get a train from Desenzano del Garda to Venice at 13 minutes past the hour. It seems to be a direct train to Venezia Santa Lucia. The journey takes just under two hours.

The Italian train website: www.trenitalia.com is really easy to use, and you can use it in English too.

Ellbell · 06/04/2007 23:21

OK... repeat after me: gianduiotto... jan-doo-yot-oh!

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 23:23

I hate nuts, but I will tell DH.

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Ellbell · 06/04/2007 23:24

Great ice-cream too, though!

Bingle · 06/04/2007 23:24

Limone is a nice trip across the lake, although we were staying in Riva (the other end of the lake to you).

Bingle · 06/04/2007 23:25

My favourite ice cream is Strachiatelli - yum.

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 23:26

Ellbell As you know so much I don't suppose you can tell me where DD's charger is for her Nintendo DS? .

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Ellbell · 06/04/2007 23:35

Under the sofa? No? No, nothing I'm looking for ever shows up under the sofa either (just hideous quantities of dust!) but for some reason I always have to look there, just in case...

Have a great holiday skribble! Hope you find the charger...

Original poster
Skribble · 06/04/2007 23:45

Ta I am having a supper of instant smash and cheese before bed.

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