Explore Northern Italy Like an Olympian with Lonely Planet Recommendations

With the Winter Games in full swing, Northern Italy has welcomed athletes and travelers to participate in and witness all sorts of events and excitement. Whether there now or planning a visit later in the yearLonely Planet compiled a list of the top cities to explore.

Milan

Milan offers the perfect mix of art, architecture and culture, including the Duomo, Leonardo DaVinci’s Last Supper and the contemporary installations at Fondazione Prada, to name a few. Spend days shopping at Quadrilatero d’Oro, experiencing aperitivo along the Navigli canals and enjoying a world-class opera at La Scala.

Cortina

Cortina d’Ampezzo last hosted the Winter Olympics 70 years ago and has since been Italy’s most exclusive ski resort. Although it’s known for its challenging black slopes, there’s plenty for non-skiers to experience. Explore ancient churches, stroll around the piazzas, ride Cortina Skyline gondola, check out luxury boutiques along Corso Italia and soak up the stunning Dolomite scenery.

Bolzano and Trento

Although both cities serve as gateways to the Dolomites, each city has its own cultural attractions. Bozano features Ötzi and Messner Mountain Museum, while Trento has architecture spanning Roman to Baroque styles, as well as museums such as Renzo Piano’s MUSE and a contemporary art museum in Rovereto.

Verona

In addition to the Romeo and Juliet lore, Verona also offers plenty of other cultural attractions. Some must-see attractions include Verona’s historic center, the well-preserved amphitheater, archaeological museum, Castel San Pietro and Galleria d’Arte Moderna Achille Forti.

For travelers visiting later in the year and looking for a more structured visit, Lonely Planet recently launched a new itinerary, Embracing Antiquity and La Dolce Vita in Venice, Rome and Florence. This experience takes visitors on an 11-day tour around the heart of Northern Italy, featuring everything from Venice’s canals to Cinque Terre’s hills to Florence’s Duomo to Rome’s eternal everything.