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Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The 10 best day trips from Milan
Lying at the heart of Lombardy, Milan is perfectly located to explore some of northern Italy's most beautiful destinations. Only an hour's drive north of the city lies Lake Como, with its bijou villages and magnificent lakefront gardens that feel a world away from the hubbub of the city. Several of the other famed lakes are within easy reach too, offering plenty of opportunities for water sports and refreshing swims come summer, while scenic vineyard landscapes dotted with award-winning restaurants are bound to delight avid oenophiles and foodies alike. Milan is very well connected to major towns and cities thanks to Italy's high-speed railway network, making it all too easy to zip away for the day to explore what lies beyond Italy's capital of fashion and design. Find a day trip by type: History Bergamo Alta Set on a hillside encircled by Venetian walls, the Città Alta (Upper Town) is Bergamo's historical core, connected to the Città Bassa (Lower Town) by a historic funicular railway. Ruled by the Venetians for over 350 years, Bergamo Alta is one of Italy's most delightful urban centres, its narrow pedestrianised streets lined with palazzi in a harmonious melange of architectural styles ranging from medieval to Renaissance. At its heart lies Piazza Vecchia, which Le Corbusier named 'the most beautiful square in Europe'. How to get there: Trains run from Milano Centrale to Bergamo in 48 minutes. Pavia Milan's Naviglio Pavese connects Milan to Pavia – you can cycle some 20 miles or so along the canal, passing fields and fruit orchards before reaching the striking Certosa di Pavia. Commissioned in the late 14th century by the Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti as the family mausoleum, the Carthusian monastery complex was built to resemble Milan's Duomo, taking a hundred years to build. It's well worth visiting before you take a leisurely stroll around the lively university town centre. How to get there: Trains run to Pavia from Milano Centrale to Pavia in 29 minutes. Turin Sitting at the foot of the Alps, Turin has an elegant historical core that can easily be explored on foot, its tree-shaded avenues lined with Baroque palazzi opening onto magnificent piazzas. The city was the first capital of unified Italy and the seat of the House of Savoy, and there's no shortage of magnificent Royal Residences where you can catch a glimpse of its past. For fabulous city views, visit the excellent Museo Nazionale del Cinema and catch the lift to the top of the Mole Antonelliana, the undisputed symbol of Turin. How to get there: High-speed trains connect Milan to Turin in 1 hour. Back to index Culture Borghetto sul Mincio Sitting on the banks of the River Mincio, this charming medieval hamlet is beautifully preserved, with a bell tower and water mills where wheat and grains were once milled. Don't miss without trying the area's famous handmade tortellini before spending the rest of the day at Parco Giardino Sigurtà, a gorgeous 150-acre park with paved pathways meandering through wooded slopes, manicured parterres and expansive green lawns; there's an animal farm and maze, too. How to get there: Drive approximately two hours from Milan. Franciacorta Lying south of Lake Iseo, the wine-producing region of Franciacorta is one of Italy's best-kept secrets, with some excellent sparkling wines produced here. The 50-mile Strada del Vino wine route meanders through pretty vineyard landscapes, passing award-winning restaurants and wine producers where you can stop off and enjoy vineyard tours and tastings. You could easily spend the day hopping from one vineyard to the next, or, if you're pressed for time, you can combine this trip with a visit to Lake Iseo. Lake Como The closest of the Italian Lakes to Milan, Lake Como offers no shortage of quaint villages with picture-perfect lake vistas, Riva Boats zipping across deep blue waters. You can easily reach the provincial capital of Como by train before hopping on one of the regular boat services connecting villages around the lake. Your safest bet for a day trip, though, is to catch a direct train from Milan to pretty little Varenna, which sits about halfway up the lake, with the majority of sights a short boat ride away – don't miss the striking Villa del Balbianello and the gardens of Villa Carlotta. How to get there: Trains run from Milano Centrale to Como S. Giovanni in 37 minutes; trains from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino take 1 hour and 24 minutes. Orta San Giulio The exquisite medieval core of Orta San Giulio – Lake Orta's main town – is an utter delight, its narrow, cobbled streets lined with honey hued palazzos. From the lakefront square of Piazza Motta, boats travel to the itsy-bitsy Isola San Giulio, home to a beautiful frescoed Basilica. You can walk around the island in about twenty minutes or so, following the island's (only) cobbled lane, pausing here and there to take in dreamy lake views. How to get there: Drive 1 hour and 20 minutes from Milan. Back to index Nature Mantua Hugged by the River Mincio and its lakes, Mantua was ruled by the House of Gonzaga for nearly 400 years. The family left an indelible mark on the city, calling in Renaissance greats such as Andrea Mantegna and Leon Battista Alberti to design churches and embellish palazzi. The surrounding area offers excellent cycling opportunities, with plenty of cruises also serving the lakes. Most boats allow you to take your bike on board, so you can easily combine a stroll around the historical centre with scenic cycling and cruising. How to get there: Trains connect Milan to Mantua in 2 hours. Lake Iseo Hemmed in by wooden slopes, pretty Lake Iseo is home to Europe's largest lake island. You can walk or cycle the six-mile road that traces the island, refuelling with a bite to eat at one of the fishing villages that dot the shore. Back on the mainland, there are plenty of lidos and secluded beaches for a refreshing swim, with grassy areas where little one can run around as you lie back and catch a few rays. How to get there: Drive 1 hour and 15 minutes from Milan. Lake Maggiore & Lake Mergozzo Lake Maggiore is best known for its islands of Isola Bella and Isola Madre, with their lakefront villas and stunning gardens where peacocks strut about, although it's also a great spot to try your hand at watersports, including wakesurfing, wakeboarding, water skiing and windsurfing. Only a ten-minute drive from Lake Maggiore, yet well away from the tourist crowds, lies the itsy-bitsy Lake Mergozzo, one of Italy's cleanest alpine lakes – perfect for a refreshing swim. How to get there: Drive 1 hour and 30 minutes from Milan. Back to index How we choose Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Kiki Deere I was raised bilingually in northern Italy, and you can often find me strolling the cobbled streets of Brera while sussing out the latest spots in the city for a top-notch aperitivo.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Not Just Asllani – Iran & Germany Stars Determined To Convince New Inter Milan Coach To Take Them Off The Market
Mehdi Taremi and Yann Bisseck have not given up hope of regaining the trust of Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu. According to La Repubblica via FCInter1908, they're working hard to convince the manager to take them off the market. Both players are keen to earn back Inter's trust. Meanwhile, the Serie A runners-up have put them up for sale alongside Albanian flop Kristjan Asllani. However, the 23-year-old midfielder has already rejected a move to Real Betis to fight for a place at San Siro. Inter Milan Stars Mehdi Taremi & Yann Bisseck Eager to Earn Back Cristian Chivu Trust RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 06: Mehdi Taremi of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Italian Super Cup Final between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Kingdom Arena on January 06, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by) Following Asllani's example, Yann Bisseck is keen to secure a lifeline in Lombardy. Despite Inter's intention to sell him, the German hopes to return to the club's good graces. The same applies to Taremi, who had a forgettable first season in Italy. He arrived from Porto as one of Europe's most lethal goal-scorers, only to become a scapegoat at San Siro. Therefore, Inter are determined to cash in on the 33-year-old.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The 21 best restaurants in Milan
Milan offers one of the most exciting restaurant and dining landscapes in Italy. Although a constantly changing culinary scene, with new fads and foods coming and going to serve the city's cosmopolitan crowd, it would appear that traditional Italian cuisine remains at the vanguard – though you'll still find quirky pop-ups, cute cafés, designer restaurants and fashionable hangouts aplenty tucked away in all pockets of the city. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Milan. Find out more below, or for more Milan inspiration, see our guides for the best hotels, bars, attractions and shopping. Find restaurant by type: Best all-rounders Frangente Headed up by chef Federico Sisti, this intimate little spot surprises with its elevated fare prepared with carefully sourced ingredients. With its open-plan kitchen, you can watch the chef hard at work plating sophisticated creations designed to use every part of the ingredients, buoyed by a desire to reduce waste. The compact menu includes the likes of grilled squid with chicory and Cantabrian anchovies as a starter, and meat cappelletti served with butter, aged vinegar and tuna bottarga lending a punchy, briny flavour to this much-loved primo. The cotoletta alla Milanese is a firm favourite; veal cooked to perfection, its juicy centre and crunchy golden breadcrumbs burst with flavour, marrying beautifully with a bed of creamy mashed potato. A carefully thought-out, 200-strong wine list completes the offer.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eric Bailly handed career lifeline by two surprise Italian clubs
Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly is wanted by two Italian clubs. Difficult career after United The Ivorian has had his difficulties since leaving England. He struggled whilst in Turkey for Besiktas after leaving United and had his contract cancelled after only a matter of months at the club. Bailly then signed for his former club Villarreal but failed to make much of an impact. The Ivory Coast international was then released from the Spanish side earlier this summer. Saudi move fell through The 31-year-old centre back looked like he would be on his way to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Najmah SC. Nonetheless, this deal never came to pass as Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that the move broke down due to Bailly deciding to walk away from negotiations. Italian interest Italian website Calciomercato have reported that there are a couple of teams in Italy who hold an interest in the centre back. They claim that Serie A could be in Bailly's future very soon. The website states that 'the player's team has offered him a Serie A deal with Cagliari and Cremonese: both the Sardinian and Lombard clubs are interested in him.' Salary Obstacle Nonetheless, a deal will not be plain sailing for the free agent. The site reports that 'the biggest obstacle at the moment is a salary request of at least €1 million.' A move to Italy would add to 'an impressive CV', after spells in Spain, England, France and Turkey. Bailly will hope wherever he lands, he can put together some significant time on the pitch. He has not been able to play more than 25 games in a season since his debut campaign with Man United back in 2016/2017. Follow us on Bluesky: @
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NewPrinces strikes €1bn deal to buy Carrefour stores in Italy
NewPrinces is acquiring Carrefour's operations in Italy for €1bn ($1.18bn) in a move described as "vertical integration between production and distribution". The Italy-headquartered food and drinks giant said Carrefour's store network in the country stretches across more than 1,000 sites in regions such as Piedmont, Lombardy and Liguria. Subject to regulatory approval, NewPrinces added the deal is expected to close by the end of the current third quarter. Carrefour is the latest acquisition target by NewPrinces, which was trading as Newlat Food before it acquired UK-based Princes Group last year. More recently, the company has entered an agreement to buy a clutch of baby-food brands in Italy from US heavyweight Kraft Heinz. "The acquisition of Carrefour Italia represents a significant milestone in our group's growth trajectory," Angelo Mastrolia, the chairman of NewPrinces, said in a statement. "With this transaction, we are taking a decisive step towards verticalintegration between production and distribution, strengthening our ability to create value along the entire supply chain." Mastrolia added: "We have made the bold decision to invest in a strategic asset for Italy, with the aim of relaunching a widespread retail network and maximising synergies between industry and distribution. "Our ambition is clear: to build a sustainable, solid and long-term model that can offer concrete benefits to customers, employees, suppliers and shareholders alike." As part of the transaction, NewPrinces said Carrefour has committed to reinvest €237.5m in its Italian stores in a "one-off contribution" to support the retailer's "industrial relaunch and operational continuity". Meanwhile, NewPrinces has pledged €200m to invest in "development initiatives, logistics innovation and brand renewal". Carrefour acknowledged the agreement with the Italian group in its full year 2025 results yesterday (24 July). The retailer said its stores in Italy had gone through a "recovery" period from 2020 to 2022 but sales then declined last year. The same year, Carrefour Italia booked a €67m loss in recurring operating income and had negative free cash flow of €180m. "This operation covers all of Carrefour's activities in Italy. It will allow Carrefour to refocus on its key markets in Europe and Latin America," the France-based retailer said. With the deal, the owner of the Princes, Napolina and Delverde brands said it aims to 'optimise synergies' between production and distribution and 'enhance' its brand portfolio. NewPrinces also hopes to 'develop new omnichannel platforms' for the sale and delivery of fresh and packaged products and 'strengthen' its position in 'key' European markets. The company added that the Carrefour stores in Italy generated around €3.7bn in sales last year and EBITDA of €115m. Post the transaction, the pro-forma consolidated turnover of the food and drinks group will reach circa €6.9bn, it said. In the first quarter of 2025, NewPrinces generated revenues of €672.2m, a dip from the €699.9m made in the corresponding period of 2024. EBIT stood at €28.9m, against €5.9m a year earlier. NewPrinces booked a first-quarter net profit of €13.5m, versus a loss of €2.2m the year previous. Aside from the agreement with Carrefour, NewPrinces is reportedly considering floating the UK Princes unit on the London market in October. "NewPrinces strikes €1bn deal to buy Carrefour stores in Italy " was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
