10 Most Beautiful Towns to Visit in Northern Italy 4K 🇮🇹 | Underrated Places in Italy

Summary

This video explores the diverse beauty of Northern Italy, highlighting 10 must-visit locations. Starting with Milan's historic cathedral and bustling Galleria, it moves to the serene Lake Como and its romantic town of Bellagio. Orta San Giulio's medieval charm, Lake Garda's scenic offerings, and Bergamo's artistic treasures are featured. Emilia-Romagna's gourmet delights, Genoa's hidden gems, Portofino's picturesque harbor, Verona's romantic and historical sites, and Trieste's cultural blend complete the list. The video invites viewers to discover the region's unique contrasts and charm.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Milan is the starting point for exploring Northern Italy and offers iconic landmarks like the Milan Cathedral and the historic Galleria.
• 🏞️ Lake Como is known for its picturesque villages, elegant villas, and the romantic town of Bellagio, which is centrally located for visiting nearby towns.
• 🌿 Orta San Giulio, on the smallest of the Italian Lakes, is a less touristy destination with a medieval town and relaxing atmosphere.
• 🏞️ Lake Garda is the largest glacial lake, offering a mix of Alpine scenery and flat plains, with towns like Sirmione and Riva Del Garda for historical and outdoor activities.
• 🏰 Bergamo is a historic city with a walled upper town, medieval history, and is known for its artistic treasures and Venetian defensive walls.
• 🍽️ Emilia-Romagna is a foodie's paradise, with Bologna being the ultimate gourmet destination for artisanal products like prosciutto and balsamic vinegar.
• 🌟 Genoa is a hidden gem, known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, with a historic center full of narrow streets and surprises.
• 🌅 Portofino is a picturesque harbor town on the Italian Riviera, popular for its beautiful scenery and is a great day trip from Genoa.
• 🏛️ Verona is an ancient city with Roman and medieval architecture, famous for being the setting of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.
• 🏞️ The region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia has a rich history and cultural influences, known for its beautiful cafes and the hilltop Cathedral of San Giusto.
• 📅 The video suggests the best times to visit certain towns are in April, early May, and late September for pleasant weather and less crowded experiences.

Q & A

What is the first place mentioned in the video script to visit in Northern Italy?

The first place mentioned is Milan, which is suggested as a base for visiting other locations in Northern Italy.

What is the Milan Cathedral known for?

The Milan Cathedral is known as a symbol of the city, located in Piazza del Duomo in the historic center, and is notable for its construction that started in 1386 and took nearly 500 years to complete.

What is special about the Galleria in Milan?

The Galleria in Milan is one of the oldest enclosed shopping malls in the world, constructed during the late 1800s, and offers a bustling atmosphere for visitors to experience.

Which lakeside village on Lake Como is highlighted in the script?

The script highlights Como as the lakeside village on the southern end of Lake Como, known for its immersive beauty of the Alps and elegant 19th-century villas.

Why is Bellagio considered a favorite destination on Lake Como?

Bellagio is considered a favorite destination because it is a small, glamorous, and romantic town, often referred to as the 'Pearl of Lake Como,' with a colorful historic center and central location for visiting other surrounding towns.

What makes Orta San Giulio unique among the Italian Lakes?

Orta San Giulio is unique for being the smallest of the Italian Lakes with a big 'cotic' air, less touristy than Como, and featuring a retro medieval town with ancient stone buildings and cobbled lanes.

What is the largest glacial lake in the Lombardy province?

Lake Garda is the largest glacial lake in the Lombardy province, bordered by Alpine Peaks to the north and flat plains to the south.

What is the significance of the town of Sirmione on Lake Garda?

Sirmione is significant for featuring natural hot springs, a small castle, and the Grotto de Catullo, which is the largest collection of Roman ruins in Northern Italy.

What is the historical significance of Bergamo's upper town?

Bergamo's upper town, known as Città Alta, is steeped in medieval history with parts that seem untouched since the 16th century, including Venetian defensive walls and gates that were never conquered.

Why is Bologna known as 'la grassa'?

Bologna is known as 'la grassa,' the fat one, because it is a foodie destination with artisan producers of prosciutto, mortadella, balsamic vinegar, and Parmesan cheese.

What is the historical significance of Genoa's historic center?

Genoa's historic center is significant for its narrow winding streets that reveal surprising gems at every turn, and the city is also known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

Why is Portofino a popular day trip destination?

Portofino is a popular day trip destination due to its picture-perfect harbor, beautiful scenery, and rows of hilltop and waterfront homes, making it one of the prettiest towns on the Italian Riviera.

What is Verona famous for, according to the script?

Verona is famous for its ancient history, Renaissance palaces, Roman ruins, and medieval buildings. It is also known as the setting for Shakespeare's play 'Romeo and Juliet.'

What is special about the Sanctuary of Madonna di Campiglio?

The Sanctuary of Madonna di Campiglio is special for its location between Milan and Venice and its significance as a religious site, with parts of the hilltop cathedral dating back to the 6th century.

Why is Udine known as Italy's coffee capital?

Udine is known as Italy's coffee capital due to the importance of coffee culture in the region, with many beautiful Viennese-style coffee houses, including the elegant Cafe Tommaseo.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Exploring Northern Italy's Diverse Beauty

This paragraph introduces a video showcasing the variety of Northern Italy, from the Alpine Mountains and glacial lakes to the sunny shores of the Riviera and Adriatic. The speaker has previously covered Southern Italy and now turns attention to the North, starting with Milan, a city with historic and modern attractions like the Milan Cathedral and the Galleria. Lake Como is highlighted for its picturesque villages and the romantic town of Bellagio, while Orta San Giulio and Lake Garda offer a quieter, scenic experience. The paragraph sets the stage for a tour of 10 beautiful places in Northern Italy.

05:00

🏰 Discovering Charming Towns and Lakes

The second paragraph delves into specific towns and attractions around Northern Italy's lakes. Sirmione in Lake Garda is noted for its hot springs, castle, and Roman ruins. Riva Del Garda is a hub for outdoor activities like sailing and windsurfing. Bergamo is described as a medieval town with a historic center and artistic treasures, including the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Emilia-Romagna is celebrated as a foodie destination, with Bologna being the ultimate gourmet stop for artisanal products. Genoa, often overshadowed by more famous cities, is revealed as a hidden gem with a historic center and connection to Christopher Columbus.

10:01

🌅 The Allure of Portofino and Verona

The final paragraph focuses on Portofino, a picturesque harbor town on the Italian Riviera, known for its beautiful scenery and popular as a day trip destination for centuries. The speaker suggests the best times to visit to avoid crowds. Verona, an ancient city with Roman roots, is famous as the setting for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. It features Renaissance architecture, Roman ruins, and a medieval fortress. Nearby, the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona offers stunning views. The paragraph concludes with a mention of Udine, influenced by various cultures and known for its coffee houses and historic sites, inviting viewers to compare their preferences between Northern and Southern Italy.

Keywords

💡Alpine Mountains

The Alpine Mountains are a major mountain range in Europe, extending across eight countries. In the context of the video, they represent the natural beauty and geographical diversity of Northern Italy. The script mentions the Alpine region as a starting point for exploring the various locations in the video, highlighting the scenic backdrop of the glacial lakes and the Alps themselves.

💡Glacial Lakes

Glacial lakes are bodies of water formed by the melting of glaciers. The video script refers to the glacial lakes of Lombardy province, such as Lake Como and Lake Garda, emphasizing their picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities. These lakes are central to the region's tourism and are presented as key attractions for visitors.

💡Riviera

The term 'Riviera' typically refers to the Mediterranean coastal regions known for their sunny climate and scenic beauty. In the video, the Riviera specifically refers to the Italian Riviera, which is part of the Liguria region. The script mentions the sunny shorelines and the town of Portofino, showcasing the coastal charm and allure of this area.

💡Milan Cathedral

The Milan Cathedral, or Duomo di Milano, is a renowned Gothic cathedral in Milan. It is highlighted in the script as a significant historical monument and a symbol of the city. The video mentions its construction beginning in 1386 and taking nearly 500 years to complete, emphasizing its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

💡Galleria

The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, referred to as 'Galleria' in the script, is one of the world's oldest shopping malls located in Milan. The video describes it as an enclosed shopping area constructed during the late 1800s, offering a bustling atmosphere and a great way to experience the city's vibrant life.

💡Lake Como

Lake Como is a famous glacial lake in the Lombardy region of Italy. The script describes it as a place of immersive beauty with the Alps, elegant 19th-century villas, and majestic church buildings. It also mentions the towns of Como and Bellagio, highlighting their romantic and glamorous appeal, and their central location for visiting other surrounding towns.

💡Orta San Giulio

Orta San Giulio is a small medieval town on the southeastern shore of Lake Orta, one of the smallest Italian lakes. The script portrays it as a less touristy destination with ancient stone buildings and cobbled lanes, offering a tranquil atmosphere and scenic walks in the surrounding hills.

💡Lake Garda

Lake Garda is the largest of the glacial lakes in Lombardy and is known for its diverse landscapes, with Alpine peaks to the north and flat plains to the south. The video mentions the town of Sirmione and the northern shore's Riva Del Garda, which are ideal for those seeking rest and outdoor activities, respectively.

💡Bergamo

Bergamo is a city in the Lombardy region of Italy, known for its walled historic center, or 'Citta Alta', and its medieval history. The script describes the city's Venetian defensive walls and gates, which were never conquered, and highlights Piazza Vecchia and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore as points of interest.

💡Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna is a region in Northern Italy celebrated for its cuisine, with Bologna being referred to as 'La Grassa', or 'the fat one'. The script emphasizes the region's foodie culture, mentioning artisan producers of prosciutto, mortadella, balsamic vinegar, and Parmesan cheese, as well as the cities of Bologna, Modena, Ferrara, and Ravenna.

💡Genoa

Genoa, or Genova in Italian, is the capital of the Liguria region and is often overshadowed by more popular Italian cities. The script notes its historical significance as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and highlights its historic center with narrow, winding streets that reveal hidden gems, making it a hidden gem worth exploring.

💡Portofino

Portofino is a picturesque harbor town on the Italian Riviera, known for its beautiful scenery and waterfront homes. The script describes it as a popular day trip destination for centuries and a favorite stopping point for cruises along the Italian Riviera, with a notable lighthouse offering stunning views of the town.

💡Verona

Verona is an ancient city in Northern Italy, known for its Roman ruins and medieval buildings. The script mentions it as the setting for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' and highlights the city's Roman Amphitheater, Castelvecchio, and the river Adige, showcasing its historical and cultural significance.

💡Udine

Udine is a city in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, influenced by various cultures throughout its history, including the Habsburgs. The script describes it as Italy's coffee capital, with a strong coffee culture and Viennese-style coffee houses, such as Caffè Tommaseo, reflecting its unique cultural blend.

Highlights

Diversity of Northern Italy is as striking as the South.

Milan is a starting point for visiting North Italy with its historic center and Milan Cathedral.

Milan Cathedral, a symbol of the city, took nearly 500 years to construct.

Galleria in Milan is one of the world's oldest enclosed shopping malls.

Lake Como offers immersive beauty of the Alps and elegant 19th-century villas.

Bellagio is a romantic destination in Lombardy with a colorful historic center.

Orta San Giulio is a less touristy medieval town on the shores of Lake Orta.

Lake Garda is the largest glacial lake with Alpine peaks and scenic recreation.

Sirmione in Lake Garda features natural hot springs and Roman ruins.

Bergamo is known for its medieval history and artistic treasures.

Emilia-Romagna is dubbed 'la grassa' for its rich food culture.

Genoa is a hidden gem with a historic center and association with Christopher Columbus.

Portofino is a picturesque harbor on the Italian Riviera.

Verona is known for its Roman amphitheater and medieval architecture.

Udine has a rich cultural history with Austrian and Italian influences.

Cafe Tommaseo in Udine is an elegant Viennese-style coffee house.

San Giusto Hilltop Cathedral in Udine dates back to the 6th Century.

Transcripts

[Music]

welcome back folks to a brand new video

from Alpine Mountains and the glacial

lakes to even the sunny shorelines of

the Riviera and Adriatic

the complete diversity of Northern Italy

is just as striking as the South

so I've already done the south of Italy

video

so let's take a look

at 10 beautiful places to visit in North

Italy

[Music]

Number One Milan

so let's start this list with belan as

you can fly there and base yourself from

this city to visit some of the places on

this list in the north of Italy

so the first Monument to check out in

this city is the Milan Cathedral

Milano

symbol of the city is located in Piazza

the historic Center on the best starting

point for a stay in Milan

it started in 1386 the construction of

the cathedral took nearly 500 years so

it's such a sight to behold

[Music]

you also have the Galleria

construction during the late 1800s

the Galleria is one of the oldest

enclosed shopping malls in the world

and there's one amazing place that has

some gelato but you can check that out

in the Milan video I've already made in

the description below so it's a great

way to immerse yourself in the hustle

and bustle of Milan as you walk around

in the Galleria

[Music]

so Milan is a solid good Weekender

and

you can head straight to Lake Como which

brings me to the next one

[Music]

foreign

Lake Como

Como is the Lakeside Village on the

southern end of namesake Lake Como

around an hour's train ride from Milan

far from the buzz of the city Como is

where you can take in the immersive

beauty of the Alps

elegant 19th century Villas and Majestic

Church buildings

but another one of my favorites is

Bellagio

it's a small Jewel of a town and it's

one of the most glamorous and romantic

destinations in Lombardi

in fact the well-known pearl of Lake

Como is home to a colorful historic

Center

each four Gardens

Charming neighborhoods such as pescalo

and its central location mace Bellagio

really perfect in my opinion especially

for visiting other surrounding towns

like Farina and menagio

where you can easily arrive by boat

[Music]

number three orta San Julio

the smallest of the Italian Lakes

narrow Lago daughter has a big colic air

and is far less touristy than Como and

majority

it's set on a little high point on the

southeastern shore

the Retro medieval town is an assembly

of ancient stone buildings and plenty of

cobbled lanes that's built around the

Lakeside

is filled with pavement cafes where you

can relax and just take in the

atmosphere so there are plenty of lovely

walks in the surrounding Hills

so a visit to this mystical island of

San Julio is an absolute must

[Music]

number four Lake Garda

[Music]

the largest of the glacial lakes of the

Lombardi province Lake Garda is bordered

by Alpine Peaks to the north and flat

Plains to the South

Gardens Orchards forests all in the

shore providing that Scenic backdrop for

those of you who are looking for rest

and a bit of recreation

now the southernmost town is Simeone

which features natural Hot Springs Small

Castle and The Grotto de katullo the

largest collection of Roman ruins in

northern Italy so that's a good town to

check out

[Music]

and on the Northern shore of the lake

Place Riva Delgado

which is the destination of choice for

those of you that's interested in just

the outdoor activities including sailing

or windsurfing or even kayaking

so you can see there's a contrast

between the two

but very well worth a holiday trip but

very well worth to put on your list

[Music]

number five Bergamot

a city in the Lombardi region of Italy

located in the far north of the country

Bergamo comprises of a walled historic

Center known as the upper town

it's steeped in medieval history and so

much so that some parts seem untouched

since they were first built

the 16th century Venetian defensive

walls and Gates were so impenetrable

that the town was never conquered

[Music]

so the highlights here

Piazza Vecchia

and the upper City itself lachita Alta

perfect for walking around and checking

out the town

and of course don't miss out on visiting

the Basilica de Santa Maria majoring

so overall Bergamo is famous for its

wealth of artistic Treasures very

medieval town and atmosphere and a real

Tale of Two Cities

[Music]

Emilio Romania

[Music]

in a region as overwhelmingly foodie as

Amelia Romania it's only natural that

its capital bologna is dubbed la grasa

the fat one

this is the ultimate foodie destination

where you can organize a whole Gourmet

tour around Artisan producers of let's

say prosciutto Mortadella and some

intense balsamic vinegar and Italy's

king of cheeses Amazon

but in between the eating and the

drinking you have the Magnificent cities

of Bologna armor Ferreira and Ravenna

number seven Genoa

[Music]

sometimes overshadowed by the popularity

of other Italian cities like Rome and

Venice you think why would I need to go

to General especially as an hour of 15

minutes away is Cinque Terre

the Genoa nevertheless is still one of

Italy's true hidden gems

as the capital city of the liguria

region on the northwest coast of Italy

it's most associated as the birthplace

of Christopher Columbus

but the city's shining Crown is clearly

its historic Center

with narrow winding streets that reveal

surprising gems at every turn so you

really need to just walk around a very

compact City because you can see a lot

of things and get a lot of attractions

out of the way in a very short space of

time

give it a go

[Music]

number eight Portofino

a picture perfect Harbor beautiful

scenery and Rose upon rows of Hilltop

and waterfront homes

Portofino is just one of those prettiest

towns on the Italian Riviera

and it's only located just a short drive

south of Genoa which is why I said that

you should base yourself in that City

the little village has been a very

popular day trip destination for

centuries

so it is a favorite stopping point for

cruises that go along the Italian

Riviera foreign

there is a beautiful view of the

Lighthouse at plunto Portofino which

offers photographic views of the

Charming town

choose the time that you visit wisely

[Music]

I find that April Start of May and right

at the end of September are the perfect

times to visit where it's still sunny

and you still get to enjoy the town

number nine Verona

an ancient city with a history

stretching back to Roman times

and it's best known as the setting for

Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet

it's a very picturesque City

filled with Renaissance palaces Roman

ruins and medieval buildings

at the heart of the city lies the mini

Roman Amphitheater

and as you walk around on the banks of

the river adagi you will find Castel

Vecchio

which was built in 1354 or 55 which is a

very impressive defensive Fortress and

you do get some stunning views

and there's another special place just

to Stones throw away from Verona 50

minutes by car

just off Lago de Garda you will find the

century of Madonna de la carono

[Music]

which means Our Lady of the crown

now being located between Milan and

Venice the city does receive a bit less

attention compared to those two so

really really take advantage

foreign

[Music]

ordering the Adriatic and almost

surrounded by Slovenia

for much of its history

was controlled by different powers and

formerly ruled by the habsburgs

it has a lot of different cultural

influences

there's also a little bit of Vienna

about his beautiful cafes

you see the the Coffee Bean folks is

hugely important to Italy's coffee

capital

there are plenty of beautiful Viennese

style coffee houses

one you should check out is Cafe tomasio

it's a very elegant spot for you just to

sit back and relax and enjoy the

atmosphere

and above the old town and next to the

castle the same name is sanjusto a

Hilltop Cathedral parts of which date

back from the 6th Century so plenty of

places to visit and I highly recommend

you stay here for more than just a

weekend

foreign

[Music]

folks that was a taste of Northern Italy

so what do you prefer South Italy or

North Italy let me know in the comments

below

thanks for watching and I will see you

all on the next one as always be good be

kind and be careful peace

[Music]