The basics: lovely views in all directions, 7E entry fee, loads of stairs (some quite steep),…read morebenches scattered around, restrooms available near the exit, museums inside. While the grounds weren't as large as I'd expected, the views were beautiful.

Sirmione!!! What can I honestly say that hasn't already been said about this beauty?! In reading…read moresome of the previous reviews, the mentions of "drop dead gorgeous" quickly became a theme and rightfully so. This place is stunning beyond belief. A true encapsulation of one of Italy's brightest beauties. Sirmione is one of many island resort towns that sit on Italy's largest lake known as Lake Garda. I took a day trip to Sirmione from Milan and I was completely blown away by how immaculate it was. Walking into the resort, I was instantly enamored but the Scaligero Castle. It's the first view that you'll see when walking into town. Can you believe that? Just casually walking through town and then BOOM! A big ol' ancient castle right before your eyes. Although Sirmione isn't as popular or well known as Venice or Lake Como, it's still a wonderful place to visit. For one, the crowds aren't as heavy which makes for a more enjoyable experience (it's still a busy place though!). The beaches are walking distance from the parking lot and they are so clean, calm, and clear. The most popular beach on the resort is Jamaica Beach which is all the way at the tip of the island, but there are a few other beaches that are worthy of a visit as well. There's shopping, restaurants, and the famous Sirmione ice cream! That's right; this place is known for their giant ice cream scoops. I can confirm that the ice cream scoops are massive! The walking trails are lovely and the parks are so green. You have the beaches and walking trails on one side of the island, and then the stunning Lake Garda on the other side. It's popular to take boat rides on Lake Garda from here. What I enjoyed most was simply walking around. There are so many cute alleyways and beautiful structures to admire. And of course, laying out on the beach and catching those peaceful waves were pretty mesmerizing too. I'd say visiting Sirmione was one of my most memorable experiences while in the Lombardy region. I've been living in those memories for the past few days and I would love to visit again someday. It's truly such a magical place.

Drop dead gorgeous! The views were spectacular! It was extremely windy on the morning we visited so…read morebe sure to be dressed appropriately. We paid to park down the street before walking into the city. I would recommend spending an hour or more exploring the area. Many shops and gelaterias to explore.

There is probably no more beautiful inland drive in Italy than this one. In English, it's called…read more"The Great Dolomite Road" while the Italians call it "La Grande Strada delle Dolomiti." One probably associates a scenic drive in Italy with twists and turns over the sea. Well, that's a fairly good association. However, this is a scenic drive across the top of Italy, through the Dolomites, where you are probably less than half an hour south of the Austrian border at any given time. The beauty of the rocky peaks, the forests, the small lakes, the streams, and the picturesque villages is breathtaking. It is only about 65 miles long, yet the drive takes about 3 hours. That tells you how mountainous and curvy the road is. It is apparently marked as SS 241, though I've always thought of it as SR 48. It can be traveled in both directions, from the Trentino-Alto Adige region to the Veneto region, or vice-versa, though I think beginning in the Trentino-Alto Adige makes for a bolder statement. The beginning of the road is off the autostrada exit minutes north of Bolzano and signposted as Val D'Ega. From there, it winds slowly eastward and, at about the halfway point, the climb, as well as the twists and turns, get serious. A camera is indispensable. Going in this direction, most people choose to end the trek at the elegant ski town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. From there, one can pick up speed and head southward through Belluno and into the general Venice area. I had only planned to go to Bolzano (Bozen in German, which is also spoken this far north). In Bolzano, I had one of the best cheap lunches in my life: a skillet with a huge portion of turkey breast, sauteed spinach, and roasted potatoes. However, I needed to get back to Venice. A Bolzano local suggested the Great Dolomite Road instead of doubling back on the autostrada. I was glad that I listened to his suggestion and was thus able to see one of Italy's most scenic regions ... at a pace of about 20 mph.

The Grande Strada della Dolomiti connects up Bolzano and Cortina d'Ampezzo. I'll describe the route…read morehere starting from Bolzano but obviously it can also be done in reverse, starting from Cortina. A great many panoramic points and car parking areas give you breathtaking views over the Dolomites around you. You can see the majority of the main Dolomite peaks from the Great Dolomites Road and for this reason I advise you to take a whole day over these 110 kilometres of tarmac road so that you can stop as often as you want to admire the view, go for a little stroll and enjoy the splendours of this mountain world. I suggest a linkt to a website which describes the history and details of the Great Dolomites Road: https://www.guidedolomiti.com/en/great-dolomites-road/

Cultivation of lemons on the Garda Lake has been introduced from Genoa in the 13th century. To…read moreprotect plants and lemons from frost, special facilities have been built in the 17th century, which were closed with wood and glass from November to March. In 2004 these facilities have been restored and can now be visited.

The tallest in Verona @84 meters and visible from pretty much anywhere in the city, Torre Del…read moreLamberti is easily found-just few minutes from Juliet's house. Constructed in 12th century and rebuilt several times after, this is the only private tower in Verona built by Lamberti family in the heart of the old town in Erbe square. Entry fee is 6 €, unless you are a teacher, part of the group, press etc when it's significantly reduced. We decided for the free panoramic views from Castel San Pietro terrace of the whole city, including this must see tower.

I have fallen hopelessly in love with Verona…read more And this tower is one of the reasons. LOCATION ======== Go to the Piazza delle Erbe and at the heart of this piazza is the Torre dei Lamberti. HISTORY ======= Tower dates from the 12th century, although it has been added to and changed since then. A lightning knocked its top off in 1403. Several decades later, the tower was restored and made even higher. It is now the tallest in Verona at 84 meters. VIEW ===== Some people take the elevator, but we decided to climb all 368 steps to reach the top. Good exercise and spectacular view on a clear day. PRO TIPS ======== Watch out for the ringing of the bells. I almost shat in my pants when it rung (next to my ear). INFO ==== Address: Via della Costa, 1, Piazza delle Erbe Hours: Open June-Sept: Mon 1:45pm-7:30pm; Tues-Sun 9:30am-7:30pm (last admission 30 min. before closing). Closed Oct-May. Admission: Admission by lift/on foot €3/2