Switzerland and northern Italy roads?

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Deborah King · #1 Post by **Deborah King** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:10 am

Hubby's suddenly had a trip to Italy come up, and he has...er...consented to taking me along. (More like no dinners for a year if he didn't!) At any rate, we're landing in Venice, and will have a rental car for 5 days after his business is finished. We want to drive in northern Italy and Switzerland, spending as much time as possible in the Alps. If anyone has suggestions for things to do in that area, or roads to drive, I'd really appreciate it. We do plan to go to the Ferarri museum in Modena, unless it's not worth it. Comments on that?

Please keep in mind that we'll be in rental wheels--not exactly ideal, but I haven't noticed too many 356s available in the economy car class.

TIA for any hints or suggestions.

Michael Eker · #2 Post by **Michael Eker** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:35 am

I once drove over the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, rather than drive through the San Bernardo tunnel behind fume belching trucks.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_St_Bernard_Pass

We stopped at the deserted Swiss/Italian border customs post at the top of the pass to breath the icy mountain air and take in the panoramic views of the alps.

I could hear a tinkling noise, no it wasn't the car engine recovering from the climb, it was the sound of thousands of cow and goat bells echoing up the valleys, magical.

Found these on the web to give you an idea:

http://www.canneschallenge.com/img/video07.jpg
http://www.canneschallenge.com/img/video08.jpg

Meker

Michael Eker · #3 Post by **Michael Eker** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:40 am

2nd attempt, the "old porsche" movies are at the bottom of the page
http://www.canneschallenge.com/videos.php?id=videos
Meker

Pat Daily · #4 Post by **Pat Daily** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:55 am

Debra

Think hard about going to Bellagio on Lake Como in the lake region of northern Italy. Then you could drive over the alps into Switzerland and on east to Gmund.

http://www.bellagio.info/indexeng.html

Also go to Gmund, Austria ( not really that far from Venice) and visit the Porsche museum of Helmut Pfeifhofer and while nearthere go over Gross Glockner -- one of the best mountain drives in the world. Be sure an view the panoramic cameras on the Website for Gross Glockner.

http://www.auto-museum.at/enter.htm

http://www.grossglockner.com/highalpineroad/motorcycle/

http://it.grossglockner.at/ecard.htm?im ... imer02.jpg

Jon Finkelstein · #5 Post by **Jon Finkelstein** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:33 pm

Hey Deb!

Lucky you. While I don't have any road suggestions for the super North, may I suggest renting an ALFA? While it's no 356 (required content), I do know that EuropeCar rents 147s etc. It may make the windy roads even more fun. I speak from experience.

I have driven the Bellagio and Como area, and it's great. Maybe not as fun as near Sorrento and the Amafi coast way down south... but still. It's Italy. How can you go wrong?

Have fun!

Jon

Deborah King · #6 Post by **Deborah King** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:49 pm

Jon, I've seen Alfa 147s on the rental car list in the upper end of what I want to pay (I'm cheap, especially with the fall of the dollar). I've been wondering whether they were worth it. Any idea on the Lancia Ypsilon? They are cheaper and more common. And how bad are Fiat Puntos?

Sure wish I could find a MINI for the same price as a Fiat...

Also am working on the route. Today I was stuck with 3 new requirements Hubby has dumped on me. Guess I have to pay attention to them, since I'm on a razor blade as it is! The three are the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, maximum Italian coastline, and Monaco, so we can trace the F-1 course. I'm not objecting to them, but it does make a good route through the mountains a real challenge.

I think I've got a route that gives him this, plus as many mountains as I can stand, all in about 707 miles (not km), which is doable in 6 days. It is Milan (our airport) to Maranello to La Spezia to Genoa to Monaco to Briancon, France to Milan. I stumbled on Briancon while doing my usual satellite mapping, and also looked it up on Yahoo. It's where they start Tour d' France bike races, and apparently has quite a history on its own. I was looking for something that ran more or less along the crest of the mountains, rather than on either side. My only concern is whether I will have problems with passage in mid-May. Anyone know?

Ashley Page · #7 Post by **Ashley Page** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:28 pm

+1 for Lake Como

I have only been there once for a day excursion during a business trip to Bergamo but really enjoyed it. If you are adventurous with food go to a resturant at Lake Como and order "the birds".

The old town of Bergamo is also nice. There is a bar near the center of the town that has been in business as a bar for over 2000 years I was told.

Have fun. The Italians are even crazier on the highway so be careful too.

Michael Eker · #8 Post by **Michael Eker** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:31 am

I drove over Le col du Grand Saint Bernard in May, at the very top I

drove through a few stretches of "snow corridor" with sides 10ft high.

Here is a panorama at the top with the same view in winter at link:

"Pano 1 en hiver"

http://www.valaispano.ch/stbernard/stbe ... rdete.html

With global warming, etc, these passes are open longer and longer each

year. Don't worry about it though because if the pass is closed you just

continue on through the San Barnado tunnel.

If it is closed the turn off the main road will be marked "strada non

passabile" or suchlike.

Meker

Deborah King · #9 Post by **Deborah King** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:56 pm

The video looks great--lots of fun ahead! Then again, when ISN'T a mountain fun to a flatlander? I remember when we moved to Houston from St. Louis, for a long time we'd go up freeway overpasses and be thrilled!

Fortunately, we've found some real hills since then...

Jon Finkelstein · #10 Post by **Jon Finkelstein** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:37 pm

Hey Deb,

Fiat Puntos are econo-boxes.... But ok. I have no experience with Lancia but I would rather drive one than the Punto.

If you are going to be near Genoa, I would try and stop/drive through the Cinque Terra -- which is part of the Italian Rivera. Cinque Terra means literally "5 towns". Each one is amazing. If i recall, you have to walk into Corniglia.

Also, if I may be so bold... you will be near Milano. Why not take 1/2 day and visit the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum in Arese (about 20 miles from Milano). I have been there several times and it will blow you down. Here is someone's video http://youtube.com/watch?v=AkTv5wwyenE

Yes, I am also an Alfista. (In addition to my 64 356 SC Coupe, I have a 71 1750 GTV and an 84 Spider Veloce).

Bergamo is interesting enough for sure .... I stayed there and commuted to Brescia to catch the start of the Mille Miglia several years ago.

AHHH, I envy you. PM me if you want any more scoop on Italy.

Best,

Jon

Peter Bosch · #11 Post by **Peter Bosch** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:26 am

Hi Deborah,

as i am very fond of that region i can suggest you following restaurants and winery :

http://www.laloggiarambaldi.it/ (In Bardolino - Laga di Garda - Lake Garda)

http://www.fattoriailpoggio.com/ (In Luca, winery but you can have diner there also at good prices)

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/siena/D34430.html (very good restaurant in Siena)

That is if you got any free time left

Greetz

Peter

Luca Bogoni · #12 Post by **Luca Bogoni** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:42 am

Hi Deborah and everybody,

I'm new in this fantastic forum and I try to help you...

One of the best italian northern roads for our 356 and not only is the S.S.#45 bis (S.S. is the acronym of Interstate Road) named "Gardesana Occidentale".
This amazing road start in Salo' and finish to Riva del Garda. 45 km (70 miles approx.) where you can find lots of closed bends with cliffs overlooking the lake and also lots of narrow tunnels (maybe with a red traffic light). During the week end is very dangerous to drive because you can find a crazy riders, not necessarily italian and not necessarily driving on the left side!!!

But the most amazing road in northern Italy is the Dolomiti's tour. 5 alpin passes: Falzarego, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Falzarego again, you drive your car trough enchanting places and town like Arabba, Canazei, Colfosco, Corvara and Cortina d'Ampezzo, also named "the pearl of Dolomiti". The roads are the SS #48 and #244
This "ring" tour start and finish in Cortina d'Ampezzo (approx. 260miles from Venice, while the tour complete is 210 miles) and you can reach it in 2.5 hrs by the freeway A27, that you can find very close to the Venice airport.
I think approx. 2 days for the complete ring tour.

All that I wrote you can find in Google Earth.

So, that's all and...
Sorry for my English, I'm Italian!

Enjoy you trip

Bye bye
Luca

P.S.: Alfa 147 is better than Lancia Y!

Pat Daily · #13 Post by **Pat Daily** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 10:06 am

Luca

Those roads look fantastic. Next time I come to Italy, I will try them.

Wm Lozada · #14 Post by **Wm Lozada** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:08 pm

Steven Wolf · #15 Post by **Steven Wolf** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:26 pm

North to South Tirol. Possible loop - Bolzano - Innsbruck. From here you can go west to Liechtebstein - Davos and St. moritz - rather glitzy resorts, then south through Lugano, Lago Maggiore and Lago Como. You could get to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, further west. Also, someone mentioned the Dolomites - wonderful hiking,if your in to that. Just before you get to Bolzano.

Steve

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