B o n g i o r n o... What a quant little Palazzo located next to Lake Como. Palazzo means square…read more Walk around on the ancient cobblestone streets to the many shops, eateries and churches. Plenty of Gelaterias for the ice cream addicts like myself. All though, it's a little hard to tell where one Palazzo ends and the other one starts, it's all one beautiful village.

This is possibly the most interesting tourist attraction of the city: it's a bell tower 112 metres…read morehigh, making it one of the highest in the world, and the highest red brick-built. It has been decorated with the biggest astronomical clock in the world, showing, along with date and time, lunar phases and zodiac signs. Getting to the top can be challenging, as there is no lift (not surprising considering that this building is nearly one thousand years old), but the views all the way up are superb, and get better as you appraoch the top. One should chose windier days, to enjoy the best views, and this can be problematic: the Po plain is enclosed by mountains, and wind is rare. The air is often very foggy, particularly in winter, or misty enough for people not to take the most of the views. When the alps are visible in the far distance from the roads around the town, one shouldn't miss the occasion to walk up the Torrazzo: they can be sure they won't be disappointed. The whole city can be seen, along with huge portions of the countryside and parts of the river. The price is usually around 5€ but it might vary, though not so much, as the building is managed by the Diocese who might decide that they need more money any time.

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is not only beautiful with high end shopping but it is much…read morelarger than I expected. I made way over to spinning the bull mosaic and there was a circle full of people just jumping in to spin the bull. It is best to visit the Galleria on a week day for the weekend is super crowded. I experienced both and I prefer the weekday 100%.

A centrally located, beautiful little luxury shopping gallery. The original Prada store is located…read morehere - there are actually two stores across from each other, one featuring women's items, and one for men. There is a YSL, Dior, LV, etc.

Can't believe I'm the first to review Castelgrande in Bellinzona This was probably my fourth visit…read moreand it was just as lovely as the first. Although, I must admit that I especially enjoy it in October when the leaves are changing, the temperature has dropped and the tourists are nowhere to be found. Tip: grab a pastry or drink from Migros at the base of the castle and bring it up with you for a picnics with a view. My fondest memory from Castelgrande was sitting on the top overlooking the mountains eating a rhubarb tart with my mom. A few fun facts about Bellinzona's treasure: -it's free to visit (fee for the museum) - received unesco heritage site status in 2000 for cultural significance -there's an elevator to the top helping this spot serve everyone -there are plenty of steps to be had if you're hoping to go to the "top top"

Castelgrande is one of the three castles located in Bellinzona that have been on the UNESCO world…read moreheritage site list since 2000. These castles were built by the Dukes of Milan in the 15th century. The Castlegrande is the largest of the three castle complexes. There is a museum that you can tour on the inside, but as I was visiting off season on a Sunday, the museum was not open. However the castle grounds were open to walk through. I haven't had so much fun roaming around castle grounds before. You could even climb the stairs of most of the outside complex stone walls and have a great view. It is quite a large area, and it was just fun to explore and to take in the history of the place, and to imagine all the people over the years who have visited the same complex. Castlegrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of fortified walls that protect the old city and connect to the second castle (Montebello). The third castle (Sasso Corbaro) is located on an isolated rock southeast of the other two. It is a bit of a climb to get to Castlegrande, but I hear there is a lift that is working when the museum is open. You also need to hike a bit to make it to the other two. Castlegrande was used to defend against intruders, and were army garrison's, not meant for medieval prince and princess to live in. Definitely a beautiful place to explore and loose yourself in time.

Came here and closed for construction. Still was able to see it from a distance…read more Beautiful building that reminded me of Paris. It's at the of the Park so pretty hard to miss.

Beautiful but constantly being worked on. Preserving history and architecture is a full time job…read more Easy to see when you are viewing local monuments and sites in the city. Google and Apple Maps were helpful when walking to this arch.

The Duomo was truly breathtaking and incredibly intricate. We spent a long time admiring the…read moredetails. We purchased the terrace access via stairs for 15 euro each for 9:30 am. I recommend showing up earlier in the morning to avoid the crowds. There are different entrances depending on the ticket you purchase. The staircase is narrow and the turns are quick and can feel a little claustrophobic. Every part of the Duomo is worth taking a moment to take it in.

Magical and a must visit if you are in the city of Milan…read more Be sure to secure a reservation online and print out the tickets or you can just open your phone to scan your QR code. You can buy tickets the day of, but the lines were so long. I wouldn't recommend it! You don't want to spend your day waiting in line. Reserving a time slot online was soooo easy!! People who secure online can bypass the line by simply walking towards the BACK. There will be a lot of workers to help guide you. Before going into the cathedral, there is a restroom to use but for a fee. 2 euros per person and I paid with a credit card. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The cathedral is not stroller friendly and it is not handicap friendly so keep that in mind. You will have to walk up and down stairs. Very manageable! Give yourself time to enjoy the cathedral in all the angles!