Bella Italia! Met de trein van Milaan naar Napels

About the destination: With something almost Northern European in the air, yet exuding Italian style, Milan is Italy's most cosmopolitan city. The capital of Lombardy is both hardworking and glamorous - powerful in businesses from finance to fashion and, of course, football. But what gives Milan its certain something is its status as the epicentre of Italian fashion and interior design. International fashionistas, designers, supermodels and paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs: Milan, which has carefully guarded its reputation for flair, drama and creativity, is Italy's natural stage. This is certainly one of the best places in Italy to shop, or windowshop. Milan is the main industrial, commercial and financial centre of Italy and as such, is unsurprisingly business-like in appearance. At first glance, it lacks the wow factor, but if you take time and are determined to explore Milan’s streets, you’ll access its aesthetically appealing gems – and they do exist. Cut through the modern metropolitan bustle, and you will stumble across impressive churches and palaces, the pretty Navigli area, the chic Brera district and lively university quarter, and no need to mention a landmark such as the Duomo, or that the city is impressively home to Leonardo da Vinci's 15th century masterpiece The Last Supper. Milan cannot be faulted when it comes to having a good time. The Milanese know how to party – and they don’t waste time getting started. Nightlife tends to kick off at 6pm; enjoying an aperitivo in which locals unwind with post-work drinks and nibbles before heading home is the rule rather than exception. So whether you’re looking for cut-price fashion, an alternative city break or a chance to paint the town red, Milan has undoubtedly got it covered.

About the destination: Venice is a city like no other: a labyrinth of canals, marble palaces, and hidden courtyards floating on the Adriatic. Built on more than 100 small islands, it has no roads—only waterways and narrow alleys that suddenly open onto breathtaking piazzas. At its heart lies St. Mark’s Square, framed by the dazzling Basilica di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the iconic Campanile. From here, you can wander under arcades lined with cafés and listen to live orchestras as the sun sets over the lagoon. The Grand Canal is Venice’s main thoroughfare, curving through the city like a glittering highway of water. Riding a vaporetto (water bus) offers a front-row view of Gothic and Renaissance palaces, their facades reflected in the rippling surface. For a more intimate experience, slip into one of the smaller canals on a gondola and glide beneath low stone bridges, passing quiet neighborhoods where laundry hangs over the water and church bells echo between the walls. Beyond the famous sights, Venice rewards slow exploration. Lose yourself in the districts of Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, where local bacari (wine bars) serve cicchetti—small Venetian tapas—alongside spritz and local wines. Cross the Rialto Bridge to visit its bustling market, where fishmongers and fruit vendors supply the city’s kitchens, and artisans sell Murano glass and traditional masks. Each sestiere (district) has its own character, from elegant San Marco to the more bohemian, artsy feel of Dorsoduro. Venice also makes an ideal base for exploring the lagoon islands. Take a short boat ride to Murano, famous for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition, where you can watch master glassblowers at work. Continue to Burano, a photographer’s dream with its brightly painted houses and lace workshops, and then on to Torcello, a peaceful island with ancient churches and a rare sense of quiet. Whether you come for art, history, or romance, Venice offers a dreamlike atmosphere that lingers long after you leave.

About the destination: People have strained themselves over the years inventing nicknames for wondrous Bologna: la Dotta, the learned, for being the home of Europe’s oldest university, an institution which still attracts thousands of students; la Grassa, the fat, for being a gastronomic marvel with more and better restaurants than many world capitals; finally Bologna Rossa, due to its leftist politics. Stroll among the endless miles of porticos which grace the burnt-orange buildings, and catch the energy which hums quietly in the streets. Check out the elegant galleries of vie dell’Indipendenza and via Ugo Bassi. At piazza Nettuno and Maggiore the crowds gather under the Corinthian columns of the Palazzo del Podestà, shifting in the afternoon with the shade to the steps of the Basilica of San Petronio, a huge Gothic structure with a spectacular doorway. In the fountain outside, the bronze Neptune and Attendants splash happily. The two towers to the west of piazza di Porta Ravegnana are considered the symbol of the city. You can climb the taller of the two for a great view of Bologna and the Po valley. The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is rich in history, art, culture, cuisine and music, and is often overlooked in favour of the country’s more well-known tourism honeypots nearby but is all the more appealing for it.

About the destination: Florence is as vital and beautiful today as when its wool and silk merchants and bankers revolutionized the economy of 13th century Tuscany, and the art of Dante and Michelangelo stunned the world. Florence was the centre of the Italian Renaissance. The fruits of the city’s rebirth are still evident in its seemingly endless array of museums, churches and palazzi. With its historic centre classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Duomo, the elegant and beautiful cathedral, dominates the city and is an unmistakable reference point in your wanderings. The River Arno, which cuts through the oldest part of the city, is crowned with the Ponte Vecchio bridge lined with shops and held up by stilts. Dating back to the 14th century, it is the only bridge that survived attacks during WWII. Standing by the river at night, when the city is illuminated with a myriad twinkling lights, is unforgettable. But more remains of Florence’s incomparable heritage than stones and paint, the city’s indomitable spirit has also survived the centuries, ensuring Florentine life today its liveliness and sophistication.

About the destination: Modern and old, past and present go side by side, all the time. Whether you are in Rome for 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months, be prepared to step into the world’s biggest open air museum. Rome will seduce you and it will hardly leave you indifferent. It will surprise you, since has so much to offer to any visitor, and it’s beauty is just been merely blurred by time passing by. Rome is one of world's most photogenic cities - not surprising when you remember what's here - The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Colosseum... Whether you spend your time sightseeing, or lazing in cafés watching the world go by, it will be your turn to feature in your very own Roman Holiday. If you can plan to stay as long as a week, you won't run out of things to do and you'll still feel like you're leaving too soon.

About the destination: Naples is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 967,069 within the city's administrative limits as of 2017. Its province-level municipality is the third-most populous metropolitan city in Italy with a population of 3,115,320 residents, and its metropolitan area (that stretches beyond the boundaries of the Metropolitan City of Naples) is the second-most populous metropolitan area in Italy and the 7th-most populous urban area in the European Union. First settled by Greeks in the first millennium BC, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world. In the ninth century BC, a colony known as Parthenope or Παρθενόπη was established on the Island of Megaride. In the 6th century BC, it was refounded as Neápolis. The city was an important part of Magna Graecia, played a major role in the merging of Greek and Roman society, and was a significant cultural centre under the Romans. It served as the capital of the Duchy of Naples (661–1139), then of the Kingdom of Naples (1282–1816), and finally of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861. Naples is also considered a capital of the Baroque, beginning with the artist Caravaggio's career in the 17th century, and the artistic revolution he inspired. Due to poverty and lack of opportunity, waves of Italians emigrated from Naples in the late 19th and early 20th century, with most going to the United States, where they settled in industrial cities. Between 1925 and 1936, Naples was expanded and upgraded by Benito Mussolini's government. During the later years of World War II, it sustained severe damage from Allied bombing as they invaded the peninsula. The city received extensive post-1945 reconstruction work. Since the late 20th century, Naples has had significant economic growth, helped by the construction of the Centro Direzionale business district and an advanced transportation network, which includes the Alta Velocità high-speed rail link to Rome and Salerno and an expanded subway network. Naples is the third-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan and Rome. The Port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe. In addition to commercial activities, it is home to the Allied Joint Force Command Naples, the NATO body that oversees North Africa, the Sahel and Middle East. Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A wide range of culturally and historically significant sites are nearby, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is also known for its natural beauties, such as Posillipo, Phlegraean Fields, Nisida, and Vesuvius. Neapolitan cuisine is noted for its association with pizza, which originated in the city, as well as numerous other local dishes. Naples' restaurants have earned the most stars from the Michelin Guide of any Italian city. The best-known sports team in Naples is the Serie A club S.S.C. Napoli, two-time Italian champions who play football at the San Paolo Stadium in the southwest of the city, in the Fuorigrotta quarter.

About the destination: "Salerno is the capital of the province of Campania. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Salerno is the main town close to the Amalfi Coast, and is mostly known for its Schola Medica Salernitana, the first medical school in the world. The Duomo of Salerno is amazing to see. Build in 12th century, it is a peaceful place. At night, you can take a walk at the Lungomare, a boulavard with palmtrees and a nice view at the sea and the surrounding hills. The Villa Communale is an oasis of green at the centre of the city. Big plants, giant flowers, lots of spaces to sit."