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.

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 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

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.

This building is one of the chief example of Lombard-romanic style. It's placed in one of the…read morenicest (and least known) Italian piazzas, in the town of Stradivarius, the world-famous violin maker, and Monteverdi, father of the Italian opera. The access is free, and the interior includes amazing frescos, paintings and decoration, and what is considered to be a thorn from Jesus's crown. It also has a crypt, with the body of the patron saint of Cremona, preserved in a glass coffin, and therefore visible, although the bones have been covered by a dress and the skull is hidden behind a silver mask. It is nice to stop in here for a while, especially in summer, particularly to escape the heat from outside. If you have ever wondered were the fancy on the violin, then take a look at the cathedral façade: on the top you will see two turrets, and beneath those two the decorative curls that inspired that design.