Travel Bucket List Series-Northern Italy & Switzerland

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A year or so ago, I started my Travel Bucket List Series. The list has my top 30 destinations to visit, 15 U.S. destinations, and 15 international destinations. I have written about the Canadian Rockies, Savannah, GA, Greece, Wyoming, Germany, Alaska, and more. Today I am headed back to Europe and will share a bucket list trip my husband and I plan to make in the next couple of years. In 2023, we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. To celebrate this momentous event, we are headed to Venice, Northern Italy, and Switzerland.

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First Stop- Venice, the “City of Canals”

Where to Stay in Venice?

Venice has been on my husband’s travel list for quite some time. The architecture and canals have always fascinated him. Our adventure starts at the magnificent Hotel Biennale Hilton Molino Stucky.

The hotel is in a restored flour mill on the island of Giudecca. There is a shuttle boat to central Venice to take you to attractions like St Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge, and Doge’s Palace. All can be reached in around 20 minutes. The hotel has a rooftop pool and bar with panoramic views of the city and its surrounding canals, a Nutella Bar, and exceptional views of Venice.

Things to do in Venice.

Gondola Ride

The first thing on the list is to explore the City of Canals by gondola, the traditional mode of Venetian transportation. Gondolas allow you to see Venice from a completely different perspective and better appreciate how the city functions with canals instead of streets.

Doges Palace

Get an up-close look at this monumental palace built in Venetian Gothic style. Now a museum, this landmark was once the residence of the Doge, the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice. For centuries, the Doge’s Palace had three fundamental roles: the Doge residence, the seat of government, and the palace of justice.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is the city’s main public square and contains its most famous buildings, such as St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. We plan on doing a walking tour and visiting the piazza’s top sites. In addition to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, I want to:

• Have coffee at Caffe Florian, one of the most famous and traditional coffeehouses in all of Venice.
• Climb the Campanile di San Marco a 99-meter-high tower in the center of the square. At the top are the largest of the tower’s five original bells and a breathtaking view over the whole city of Venice.
• Walk over the Bridge of Sighs, one of the most famous bridges in the world. A popular local legend also says that lovers, who kiss on a gondola at sunset under the Bridge of Sighs, will be granted eternal love and happiness.
• Have a delicious meal.
• Shop!

Tragicomica – Venetian Carnevale Mask-Making

Tragicomica—a shop where you can participate in a private, hands-on workshop in the art of mask-making under the guidance of an artisan. And create a masquerade masterpiece of your own! How fun does that sound???

Stresa, Italy

After a few days in Venice, our next stop on our itinerary is Stresa, Italy. Stresa is a picturesque town on Lake Maggiore in a lovely setting. It looks right out at the lake’s Borromean Islands.

Where to Stay in Stresa?

On the shores of Lake Maggiore, the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées & Spa in Stresa represents the sumptuous and charming elegance of Italy’s Grand Luxury Hotels.

Things to do in Stresa.

Isola Bella

Board a ferry and cross the water of Lake Maggiore from Stresa to Isola Bella, which means “Beautiful Island,” for a tour of the historical Palazzo Borromeo and its scenic baroque gardens.

From Isola Bella, take a ferry to the charming Isola dei Pescatori, or Fisherman’s Island. The island is known for its promenade and cobbled alleys lined with restaurants, gift shops, and boutiques filled with
local crafts.

Lake Como

Take an Italian Cooking Class

Enjoy pasta-making at a beautiful villa on the banks of Lake Como with hands-on instruction by a professional Italian chef.

Explore Lake Como

Embark on a boat tour of one of Italy’s most famous lakes and drink in the
scenery, dotted with Baroque and Neoclassic villas, Romanesque churches, lush gardens, and small medieval villages.
While exploring the lake, visit the Gardens of Villa del Balbianello, famous for its elaborate terraced gardens. The garden was built on the site of a monastery. Several films have been filmed here, including a scene from Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.

Wine Tasting

No trip to Italy is complete without a wine tasting. A friend recommended the family-owned La Cambusa Wine Shop. It is known to have some of the best wines in the area.

Zermatt

After some time in Stresa, we will head north toward Zermatt, Switzerland. We intend to drive the Simplon Pass to Zermatt. It is a road that dates back to the Stone Age and crosses between the Pennine Alps and
the Lepontine Alps in Switzerland.

Zermatt lies at the foot of the Matterhorn and is considered the most beautiful of all the Alpine villages. It is known for skiing and hiking, climbing, and biking. It is also an automobile-free town.

Where to stay in Zermatt?

Mont Cervi Palace has come highly recommended to us. The description is taken straight from the website. “Experiences at the foot of a glacier, on a green alpine meadow, at an idyllic mountain lake. The air is crystal clear. The view of the world-famous Matterhorn. The windows of the Mont Cervin Palace cast a warm glow against the darkening skies. You enter our hotel, and our staff warmly welcomes you. For us, that means No empty phrases, no fuss – just heartfelt hospitality. A smile surrounds you. You have arrived.” Now, doesn’t that sound amazing?

Things to do in Zermatt.

Cheese Fondue Lunch

One cannot go to Switzerland and not have cheese. A fondue lunch is a perfect way to sample the melted cheeses of the Alps.

Gornergrat Cogwheel Train

Take the cogwheel train up the mountain for a stunning view of the Matterhorn and lake-dotted countryside below. Take in the view of 29 peaks that are 2.5 miles high, the most in the Alpine region.

Visit Gorner Gorge

The gorge is a chasm carved out by the Gornervispa River. The walk along the rocks offers a marvelous view across the gorge.

Final Stop- Lucerne

Where to stay in Lucerne?

Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern is located directly on Lake Lucerne and in the immediate vicinity of Lucerne city centre.

Things to do in Lucerne.

Walking Tour of the City

Visit tourist hotspots such as The Chapel Bridge and the Lion Monument. Stroll through the old town and see the fantastic architecture.

Boat ride on Lake Lucerne

We did this back in 2019 and plan on doing it again. The scenery on the lake is amazing.

Swiss Chocolate Adventure

“Swiss Chocolate Adventure explains the discovery, provenance, manufacture, and transport of chocolate in around 20 minutes. Immerse yourself in the world of chocolate in Switzerland’s most-visited museum. With its focus on this sweet specialty, the experience is a feast for the eyes, ears, and taste buds. After the adventure ride, you have a chance to taste various creations provided by Lindt’s master chocolatiers.” – Swiss Chocolate Adventure website.

Mount Titlis

Ride in the rotating Rotair aerial cable car up to Mount Titlis, Central Switzerland’s highest peak at 10,000 feet. Once at the top, delight in some of these snow experiences:

Glacier Viewing
Get closer to the crevasses of a glacier on the “Ice Flyer” chairlift.

Snow Tubing
Snow tube down the side of the mountain for a thrilling way to experience the Swiss Alps.

Hiking
Hike up one of the trails to see the mountain and its environs up close, enjoying the amazing views along the way.

The Titlis Cliff Walk
Stroll across Titlis Cliff Walk, the highest suspension bridge in Europe at a height of 1,600 feet (487.68 meters) and be awestruck by the astounding views.

The Glacier Cave
Venture into the very heart of Mount Titlis where ice crystals sparkle on turquoiseblue walls of ice in a cave that lies 65.6 feet (20 meters) below the glacier’s surface.

Cheese Factory in Engelberg

Head to a monastery for a tour of Switzerland’s only show cheese factory. Watch cheese being made by hand and see how milk is transformed into the famous EngelbergerKlosterglocke—a mild cheese pressed into the shape of a monastery bell.

Dinner at the Old Swiss House in Lucerne

From what I have been told, this is a must for anyone visiting Lucerne. We were unable to get there on our last trip, so looking forward to having a meal or two next time. The restaurant has 3 Swiss Alpen Horn Players playing traditional Swiss music—and then be served by wait staff wearing traditional Lucerne garb! The restaurant boasts a selection of
gourmet menu items, including the authentic Alpine specialty Wienerschnitzel.

Have I convinced you that this is a trip that needs to be on everyone’s list? We are looking forward to experiencing all that Venice, Northern Italy, and Switzerland have to offer. I would love to know if you have been to any of the destinations. If so, let me know what other things we can add to the list.

Until next time,

Heather