Verona, Venice & Lake Garda

[Disco]

I will be in Verona for a fleeting moment. Does anyone have any restaurant for lunch recommendations?

A long shot I guess!

[Hazey_Jane]

How central will you be if it’s only a fleeting visit?

I’m 95% certain we went to this place http://www.osteriailciottolo.it/?utm_so ... m=referral which is right in the city centre and as trad as they come.

(Stay longer if you can, one of my favourite towns in Italy)

[Tsu]

Donkey meat and horse tartare? Yum!

[Hazey_Jane]

Yeah, donkey is the local delicacy. My husband had it there and I just asked him what it was like and he said “I wouldn’t not recommend it” so make of that what you will.

[Hazey_Jane]

Oh and said fella thinks we went here:

https://osteria-trattoria-al-duomo.wheree.com/menu

They look very similar. Basically any trattoria near the Duomi will be good. Dont go to anywhere near the Juliet balcony

[Lily]

I went to Verona, but it took me so long to find my hotel (in the end a random Spanish chap gave me a lift as I walked past him in despair so many times) that I didn't see much of it (apart from the back roads). I can't remember where I ate either, but it wasn't donkey. #helpful

What an odd thing to eat!

Also every time I see this thread I want to say "this means nothing to me". But it's not Vienna.

Have a good time! What I saw of it was beautiful.

[Tsu]

Shame it wasn't two gentlemen, Lily

[Lily]

Quite! It turned out to be 4 minutes walk from the train station (if I'd gone in the other direction) so it was Much Ado About Nothing in the end.

[Disco]

Oooh I'm quite partial to a bit of donkey. Thanks Hazey. I wasn't expecting that! I might just stick to cheese and sweet treats.

It's a shame I'm not staying in Verona. It sounds lovely, donkey balls aside.

[Disco]

I've edited the title to get more do and do not do suggestions.

I wish we were in Verona for longer than half a day - it's simply because it's the connecting train station from Venice to Garda - and would swap it with the Venice stay but it#s not 'my' holiday (it's my friend's 50th) so I can't.

Anyway, I'm sure Venice is a major tourist trap but are there any hidden gems? Places to definitely avoid? Specific food/ drinks to try?

I haven no idea about Lake Garda at all. I haven't even googled it I will in a minute but it sounds like a beach holiday type of thing? Is it tacky there?

[Cerise]

Whereabouts on the lake will you be?

[Disco]

Oh. I don't know. I will find out. So there could be a tacky side and a more cultured side?

[Cerise]

Oh. I don't know. I will find out. So there could be a tacky side and a more cultured side?

I didn’t find any of it tacky but there are definitely busy and quiet places. Even the busy places were nice to wander around and get food and ice cream though.

[Disco]

Oh great thanks, that sounds good.

[Mountain Goat]

In Venice have a look around Cannaregio for osteria and wine bars serving cicchetti - it's quieter and less madly touristy, lots of little canals so you can sit outside and know you're in Venice but without paying $$$ for a shit pizza.

[Luna]

Just stay away from the perimeter areas of Venice. Wander deeper into the city. It’s so lovely there.

[Epponnee Rae]

I have only been to Lake Garda over a decade ago so not too helpful. I’d love to go back, it really is stunning although Ibdidnt explore everywhere around. We stayed in Riva del Garda at the top of the lake, it was shoulder season so lovely and quiet though that meant not everything was open and it’s obviously touristy. Malcesine is the only other town we visited, very pretty, obviously popular with tourists as there is a castle (I think) and a cable car and walks around at the top of the hill. I get the feeling the southern end of the lake is busier in a more resort-y way?

[Cosmopolitan]

I loved Lake Garda as well, and second the trip to Melcesine, the cable car was lovely. It's really pretty. We did a cooking lesson with a chef around there (La Gemme de Artemesia) , it was an amazing experience. And went to a hot springs resort for the afternoon (Parco Termale de Garda)

And in Venice, we went to Murano and that was great. Dark chocolate sorbet is incredible. I liked Venice a lot more than I expected to.

[Tabitha]

I loved Lake Garda, we stayed in Sirmione. We saw Michael Winner whilst we were there, but you won’t have to worry about that.

[Tsu]

I had an Italian boyfriend back in the early 1980s whose dad owned a hotel and restaurant in Venice. I love Venice but haven't been for years. His restaurant is right on a canal but from the reviews is a bit of a tourist trap and the hotel seems to have new owners and the boy (now in his 60s) and his family run apartments.
I'm jealous and wish I was going.