Our week in Italy

We have just been back to visit Jenny & Stephen in Milan for a week. We spent most of the time doing more sightseeing in the Veneto region in the North East with Treviso, the home town of one of Stephen's co-workers, as our base. We were very lucky with the weather, sunny & mild (9-18 deg C) most days, the scenery and food was amazing. We drove nearly 1200km in 4 days but still had a lot of fun, with no dramas. Day 1 - Milan: it's a 7 hr red eye flight from JFK to MXP, so we were pretty pooped on arrival.

Day 2 - Lake Como. it was sunny but a bit foggy. we really liked the town of Varenna

Day 3 - Milan to Bassano del Grappa. rented this Citroen C4 from Thrifty at Linate airport and headed out on the A4 East towards Venezia, making it as far as this cute town of Bassano.

Day 4- Bassano to Treviso, via Monte del Grappa. Very steep and winding climb to the top of the mountain (2000m) but worth it for the solemn WWI memorial (12,561 caduti) on the summit, and spectacular views of the Dolomites, then on to Treviso where we rendez-voused with J&S.

Day 5 - day trip to Padua. Home of the 2nd oldest university in Italy (founded in 1222) and also of St. Anthony. Also famous for its frescos by Ghiotto. And pretty good gelato, according to the afficionadi

Day 6 - day trip into Prosecco country (Vittoria Veneto to Asolo). Spectacular vineyard scenery to rival the Piemonte region.

Day 7 - Mantova. The weather not so good today for this amazingly well-preserved town in the Po valley (Lombardia) about halfway back to Milan.