Bern was originally settled by Swabians[1]The Zähringen noble family from around Freiburg im Breisgau in the twelfth century and quickly died out within a century. from the lower parts of Germany, it is the fifth largest in Switzerland and was initially surrounded by the Aare river on three sides, with fortifications protecting it’s west side.
Marktgasse – Zytglogge – Bern, Switzerland
Käfigturm – Bern, Switzerland
Marktgasse – Zytglogge – Bern, Switzerland
Marktgasse – Bern Fresco – Bern, Switzerland
Getting There
Bern does not have a commercial airport, so you will either have use Zürich‘s or Geneva’s and then take a train. We had already started in Geneva, so taking one of the ICE trains from Geneva to Bern was automatic. However, in typical SBB[2]Schweizerische BundesBahnen or Swiss train fashion, it was halted before leaving the Lake Léman area and we had to find another train to continue our two hour journey, which then turned into a three hour trip[3]There have been few times when traveling by train in Switzerland was a normal affair. It is getting to be more like the Deutscher Bahn.
Bern Train Station – Main Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Bern Train Station – Platform – Bern, Switzerland
Bern Train Station – Main Waiting Hall – Bern, Switzerland
Bern Train Station – Main Waiting Hall – Bern, Switzerland
The City
The old medieval city of Bern is rather compact, due to it being confined by the Aare river. The main train station is on the west side of the city, so it is probably best to find a hotel close to it. We stayed at the Hotel Savoy, three blocks away from the train station.
Gerberngasse – Interesting House – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Rose Garden Hill and Paul Klee Center – Bern, Switzerland
Walking from the train station to the Nydeggbrücke, via the Marktgasse of Kramgasse, should not take more than a twenty-five to thirty minutes without stopping. The main shopping avenue is the Marktgasse, which is lined with many watch stores and most other modern shops you expect to see in city that is heavily traveled. See the restaurant section below for where to go for food.
Bundeshaus – Bern, Switzerland
Bundeshaus – Bern, Switzerland
Bundeshaus – Bern, Switzerland
Bärenplatz – Bern, Switzerland
Marktgasse – Anna Seiler Brunnen – Bern, Switzerland
Marktgasse – Porticos and Shops – Bern, Switzerland
Rooftops and Houses across the Aare river – Bern, Switzerland
Old house – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Wasserwerkgasse from bridge – Bern, Switzerland
Brunnen Or Fountains
The city has a lot of brunnen, or fountains in English, especially down the middle of the Marktgasse. Most of these have figures or other mythical forms, stylized perhaps from some historical figure.
There is also the Lischetti-Brunnen, also known as the Postgassbrunnen or Upper Postgassbrunnen, which was erected in 1820 next to the Staatskanzelei (State Chancellery) and is to be used by anyone who wishes to experience being a fountain.
Lischettibrunnen – Kronenbrunner or Upper Postgass Fountain – Bern, Switzerland
Hotel Savoy
A fairly good hotel on the Kramgasse, sharing an entrance with another store. We found it reasonably priced for a Swiss hotel and central for visiting the city. The breakfast is rather expensive, as it is in most Swiss hotels, at 30CHF per person. We found this unreasonable and ventured out each morning to stop at one of the many Konditoreien, or pastry shops, in the neighborhood. This option ran around 9-10CHF per person, but was only coffee and a pastry, which for use was sufficient.
Hotel Savoy – Main Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedrals And Churches
A few religious buildings of note in Bern are the Cathedral of Bern and the Church of Saint Peter and Paul.
Cathedral Of Bern
Cathedral of Bern – Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Nave and Alter – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – History of Tower – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Houses of Patrons – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Intricate Facade over Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Fountain – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Backside – Bern, Switzerland
Cathedral of Bern – Intricate Facade over Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Church Of Saint Peter And Paul
Church of Saint Peter and Paul – Entrance, Rathausgasse – Bern, Switzerland
Church of Saint Peter and Paul – Rose Window – Bern, Switzerland
Church of Saint Peter and Paul – Nave and Altar – Bern, Switzerland
Church of Saint Peter and Paul – Organ – Bern, Switzerland
Bridges And The Aare River
There are two central bridges that span the Aare at the tip of the city. The Untertorbrücke, the first one to be built and is shown on maps of the city from the seventeenth century, and the Nydeggbrücke, which carries the tram and modern vehicular traffic.
Untertorbrücke – Nydeggbrücke over the Aare – Bern, Switzerland
Untertorbrücke – The Aare River – Bern, Switzerland
Untertorbrücke – Patti and the Aare River – Bern, Switzerland
Untertorbrücke – Patti and the Aare River, Rose Garden on the hill – Bern, Switzerland
Untertorbrücke and the Aare River – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Bärenpark – Bern, Switzerland
Bären Park
On one end of the Nydeggbrücke is the Bärenpark, or Bear Park. As early as the beginning of the sixteenth century the city has been known to have a Bärengraben, or Bear Pit, of some type or another. Ostensibly the city becoming eponymously named for the same in 1191 when the Duke of Zähringen killed a bear first on one of his many famous hunts. But seriously, this is just conjecture and there is more evidence that it was from a pre-existing toponym of Celtic origin, possibly berna, meaning cleft.
Nydeggbrücke – Bärenpark – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Bärenpark – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Bärenpark – Bern, Switzerland
Nydeggbrücke – Bärenpark – Bern, Switzerland
Einsteinhaus
On Marktgasse 49, visitors will find the Einsteinhaus, or the apartment that Albert Einstein lived in during his publication of his ground breaking theories of 1905, including his Special Theory of Relativity.
Kramgasse 49 – Einstein House – Bern, Switzerland
Kramgasse 49 – Einstein House – Bern, Switzerland
The Rosengarden Bern
One top of the hill on the other side of the Aare river is the park containing the Rose Garden, or Rosengarden. Unfortunately for us, the roses were not in bloom in May, so we were unable to enjoy their colors. However, there were other flowers, trees and bushes to be enjoyed in the park.
Rose Garden – Patti on walkway up to garden – Bern, Switzerland
Rose Garden – Patti and the garden – Bern, Switzerland
Rose Garden – The garden – Bern, Switzerland
Rose Garden – The garden – Bern, Switzerland
It is here, that Albert Einstein probably contemplated many of the problems around his Theory of Relativity, and a bench here so commemorates his efforts.
Rose Garden – Einstein bench and overlook of Bern – Bern, Switzerland
From this vantage point you get a very good view of the old Medieval city of Bern, with its many churches, bridges and old style houses.
Rose Garden – Overlook of Bern – Bern, Switzerland
Rose Garden – Erick and overlook of Bern – Bern, Switzerland
Restaurants
The Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz are central areas for restaurants and have a good mix of local Swiss restaurants to Italian and other cuisines.
Bärenplatz – Market on Waisenhausplatz – Bern, Switzerland
Santa Lucia Ristorante
Another Italian restaurant which has a very active lunch crowd. Here you can enjoy reasonable prices and a wide selection of Italian dishes, including pizza. Our first evening here we enjoyed the soup and spaghetti.
Santa Lucia Ristorante – Minestrone Soup – Bern, Switzerland
Bärenplatz, Santa Lucia Ristorante – Spaghetti Bolognese – Bern, Switzerland
Bärenplatz, Santa Lucia Ristorante – Spaghetti and Tomatoes – Bern, Switzerland
Bärenplatz, Santa Lucia Ristorante – Banana Split – Bern, Switzerland
The second time we visited was for lunch, then I ordered a pizza, which was very good and typical of the Neapolitan style from Naples. The house wine is also very pleasant.
Santa Lucia Ristorante – Pizza Margherita – Bern, Switzerland
Ristorante Luce
On the corner of Zeughausgasse and Waghausegasse is the Italian restaurant of Ristorante Luce. If you are looking for higher end Italian food, look no further. The service here is also exceptional, though the seating was a bit cramped.
Ristorante Luce – Entrance – Bern, Switzerland
Ristorante Luce – Patti with her Soup – Bern, Switzerland
Here they serve very good Italian specialties and have an excellent wine list. Here you can find Strozzapreti, or Priest Strangler/Choker Pasta with Mozzarella. A rather large and somewhat gummy pasta with an very interesting history.
Ristorante Luce – Strozzapreti Pasta with Buffalo Mozzarella – Bern, Switzerland
I can specifically attest to spending 150CHF for a 375ml bottle of Ornellaia 2019. A DOC wine from Italy with extremely high ratings which regularly fetches $250-$800 a bottle, a truly amazing wine. So if you are a true wine lover, your pallet might enjoy this restaurant.
Ristorante Luce – Ornellaia Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 – Bern, Switzerland
South of the river Tanaro is the wine region of Langhe and the two of the most well known Italian wine towns, Barolo and Barbaresco. For any wine enthusiast, it is an important stop on par with the fabled wineries of Napa Valley in California, the Saône river valley of Burgundy and the Gironde river valley of Bordeaux in France.
Barolo and its vineyards – Barolo, Italy
Langhe
For the Piedmont this region is by far the most important place for wine and truffles. Every year during the fall, people flock to this small region in Italy to enjoy the Italian harvest of truffles, both black and white, and naturally the wines that are produced in this region. Our recent summer trip concentrated on the wines and to enjoy a wine tour with other wine enthusiasts from Germany and Denmark. Though we did sample the black truffles while here, I can only say we are not fans. So wine it is..!
First, some background. The wine production and labeling in the area is controlled by a Control Denomination of Origin, or Denominazione di origine controllata, as it is in the rest of Italy. Structured after the French model and adopted by the European Union (EU), there are essentially four designations for Italian wines:
Denominazione di origine, or DO, this is rarely used
Indicazione geografica tipica, or IGT, this is used to designate wines typical of the region
Denominazione di origine controllata, or DOC, to indicate wines controlled and designated for the area
Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita, or DOCG, to indicate wines controlled and guaranteed to be from the area
The last two appellations are the most important, since they both assure a rigid and specific level of government oversight, as well as control over the labeling and the origins of the grapes in the wines of these designations.
It should also be noted that no IGT wines are produced in Piedmont or Valle D’Aosta.
DOC
Originally there were only the first three designations, DOC being the highest of them. However, the Italian food industry quickly decided that its designation was far too liberal and included other foodstuffs within the standard, so they requested a more rigorous standard, thus DOCG came into being for wine only and superseded DOC.
Much like DOCG, the DOC requirements demand that such wines use only certain grape varietals, are aged properly, have a certain alcohol content and be produced within certain areas or regions. Though the number of bottles that may be produced for a given wine is somewhat restrictive, the wines do not have the direct governmental wine panel oversight or trails of paper found in the higher classification.
Wines of this category are Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo, all of which are designated grape varieties and may be identified as such on a bottle marked as DOC.
DOCG
DOCG is by far the more rigorous designation and is controlled to such a degree, that the vintner is forced to follow rigid rules regarding the care and quality of the wines throughout its production, all the way down to the number of labels they will receive for their bottles for each wine.
Once the wine is produced, a batch of five (5) bottles are processed, corked, sealed and labeled for the authorities. All of which have the CDO label across the corks, signed, sealed and documented. Four of the bottles are taken for lab analysis and a wine panel judges them to ensure quality, clarity and that the wine produced meets the standard set for DOCG for that wine and region. One bottle is left with the produced. An example from the Grasso Brother vineyard in Barbaresco is shown below.
The Grasso Brothers – One of five bottles the DOCG leaves with proprietor – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – One of five bottles the DOCG leaves with proprietor – Barbaresco, Italy
Our Wine Tour
For our wine tour we chose Alba Wine Tours. We tried to arrange a private tour, but they only offer group tours of up to six people. The cost for us for a one-day tour of Barolo and Barbaresco was 220€/person. Yes, a bit expensive, but unlike our experience in the United States at such venues, we tasted more than 25 wines. Moreover, our hosts were more than happy to provide us with second tastings or additional wine, if we enjoyed it and felt a certain wine was exceptional.
For each wine taste, they dispensed between 5-10dl, which is not bad considering a normal glass of wine is typically around 20dl. Typically in the States you barely get enough wine to get a nose on it, let alone taste it. Which probably shows that most wineries in the States are more interested in mitigating costs, then in pleasing theirs guests and trying to sell their product. This usually indicates to me that their products are typically not good enough to sell to begin with, let alone taste.
Unfortunately, as is true of most wine tastings, most of the wine was dumped. However, by the end of the day, it was very evident that we all had more than our fair share.
Barolo
Our first stop was in the small town of Barolo, a castle turned museum being its most prominent feature. There are of course numerous wine stores, most belonging to vineyards in the region, which have tastings and sell wine. We only stopped to see the town and to continue to our first stop, the Azienda Agricola Stra, also known as Stra Winemakers with Foresteria.
Commune of Barolo – Town Map – Barolo, Italy
Commune of Barolo – Sights – Barolo, Italy
One of the most notable features of Barolo is its soil and topology. Not only is the soil a kind of hard-pack mixture of sand, clay and other components, its valleys are steep and almost treacherous.
The chaulky, silty and sanding earth of Barolo – Barolo, Italy
Alba in the distance – Barolo, Italy
The town – Barolo, Italy
Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo – Barolo, Italy
Castle and wine museum – Barolo, Italy
Church of San Donato – Barolo, Italy
Vineyards – Barolo, Italy
Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo – Barolo, Italy
Castello Comunale Falletti di Barolo – Barolo, Italy
Town streets – Barolo, Italy
Azienda Agricola Stra
Our stop at Agritourism Stra was very informative and our hosts, including our tour driver, Saverio Molinai, were very instructive about the wines and the process to make them. This included a tour of the wine producing facilities and their cellars, where the wines are stored and kept during the aging process.
Agritursimo Stra – Old wines from the vineyard – Barolo, Italy
The tasting included a flight of all the wines they produce, with one exception, the Dolcetto 2022 for 8€. The list below shows some of the wines offered and we essentially when from the top of the list to the bottom.
Azienda Agricola Stra – Initial Tasting List – Barolo, Italy
All during our tasting, our tour guide explained the various aspects of Barolo, its soil, the wines and the wine making process they used. He was actually very knowledgeable and when he was not sure about something that was particular to this producer, he would ask our host and she provided the necessary explanation.
Agritursimo Stra – Tasting room – Barolo, Italy
Impressed with the quality of the wines, we purchased almost half a case of five bottles, two bottles of DOCG Stra La Volta 2019 Barolo and three bottles of DOC Stra Barbera D’Alba 2021. Of course, the Barolo is kind of young to drink right now and needs a handful of years to mellow. But the Barbera is young and fruity, with plenty of tannin, cherry and tobacco overtones and ready to drink now. It would be great with a nice steak or any other dish that could compete with its strength.
Azienda Agricola Stra – DOCG Barolo La Volta 2019, Front – Barolo, Italy
Azienda Agricola Stra – DOCG Barolo La Volta 2019, Front – Barolo, Italy
The last thing that we tried here that was not on the list was their Grappa. I actually forgot what they labeled it as and what the year was, but for a grappa is was very good. Most grappa can be a bit strong, even harsh, this one was actually a pleasure to drink, even Patti liked it, and she doesn’t even like grappa.
Barbaresco
Our stop in Barbaresco included two stops, one in town for a tasting at Produttori del Barbaresco S.A.C., or the commune wine store; the other at the Grasso Brothers to the south of Barbaresco in Giacoso. The town, Barbaresco, is unmistakable from a distance, due to its distinct tower which is so prominent on the horizon.
Patti with the town in the distance – Barbaresco, Italy
The town – Barbaresco, Italy
Commune wine shop map – Barbaresco, Italy
The land here is flatter and clearly more rolling than in Barolo. The valleys are not as steep and the vineyards appear to be able to employ more of their land to grapes. However, our guide told us that the primary reason some of the land still has trees was for truffle production in the area, its not necessarily unproductive, just used for another purpose.
Traveling to Barbaresco – Barbaresco, Italy
Vineyards of Barbaresco – Barbaresco, Italy
Produttori del Barbaresco S.A.C.
The inside of this store is rather modern, almost sterile in a contemporary way. Here we tasted the DOC Langhe Nebbiolo 2021 and two DOCG Barbarescos, a 2018 and a 2019. The nebbiolo was rather dry with little fruit and unimpressive, but clear with a crisp ruby color and a distinct nose. The 2018 and 2019 Barbarescos were a bit disappointing. Although they were typical of a nebbiolo varietal for Barbaresco, there price was rather high. I felt I could find a similar one that was less expensive in Turin.
Commune wine shop – Barbaresco, Italy
Commune wine shop wines – Barbaresco, Italy
Commune wine shop map – Barbaresco, Italy
Commune wine shop – Barbaresco, Italy
The last thing we tried was their Grappa. It was typical for grappa, lots of alcohol and perhaps a bit harsh. So this stop was a bit disappointing, but we got to see that town.
Vineyards of Barbaresco – Barbaresco, Italy
Patti getting into our vehicle – Barbaresco, Italy
We left here without purchasing anything.
Azienda Agricola Grasso Fratelli
The Grasso Fratelli, or Grasso Brothers, have a rather unassuming winery. From the outside the construction is typical for Piedmont and it is adorned with signs of the wines they make, like Barbaresco, Bricco Spessa, Barbera, etc. One could call it a typical farm.
Grasso Brothers – Barbaresco, Italy
Grasso Brothers – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – Inside the bodega – Barbaresco, Italy
The vineyards – Barbaresco, Italy
The building houses two large rooms for tasting and the atmosphere is rather laid back. The wines for the tasting contained Chardonnays, Dolcettos, Barberas, Nebbiolos, a Moscato, a Rosato and a wine called Vino rosso Trej. All of these wines were very good, including the Chardonnays which I thought were very clean and not overly oaked, like most complain about in the United States.
The Grasso Brothers – Our group and Saverio Molinari, our tour guide, explaining Barbaresco wines – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – Saverio Molinari, explaining DOCG rules and requirements – Barbaresco, Italy
There were however no Barbarescos on the list to taste, so we were all a bit taken aback. Once we mentioned this, our host and driver Saverio went to retrieve a few bottles for us to try
The Grasso Brothers – Initial Tasting List – Barbaresco, Italy
A map of Barbaresco – Barbaresco, Italy
There was an immediate reaction and the brothers appeared, looking a bit hesitant. However, Saverio convinced them that if they don’t let people try the wines, they won’t sell them.
The brothers have never marries and still work on the farm, though some of the work is done by the cooperative. They have been working their plot of land for over sixty years. The eldest, Alfredo, is eighty-two (82) years old this year and the other brother, Luigi, about ten years his junior. The two brothers came to the table and talked with our guide, while we tried the wine.
The Grasso Brothers – Luigi and Alfredo Grasso – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – Luigi and Alfredo Grasso – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – Luigi and Alfredo Grasso – Barbaresco, Italy
The best bottle was their DOCG Giacosa Spessa Barbaresco 2017. This is an amazingly good wine, full of cherry and other fruity undertones along with plenty of alcohol for longevity, coupled with an amazing nose and a rich red color typical for a nebbiolo, and best of all, ready to drink now. The vines that it is produced from are of the oldest in the vineyard, being planted by Alfredo when he was only twenty years old. This means that the roots of these vines have driven over a meter deep into the ground, allowing them to access different soils and salts. It is so good, I had to purchase two bottles. Unfortunately, I was not able to carry more, so I had to keep to that limit. A planning mistake I will not make again in the future.
The Grasso Brothers – DOCG Giacosa Spessa 2017, Front – Barbaresco, Italy
The Grasso Brothers – DOCG Giacosa Spessa 2017, Back – Barbaresco, Italy
Restaurants
We visited one restaurant for lunch, which we had to inform the tour operator in advance of how much we wanted to spend. At the time, the limits were 30€/person, 50€/person and 70€/person, for which the unnamed restaurant would provide a basic lunch with appetizer and primi, or a heavier lunch with appetizer, primi and secondi, or a culinary delight of the same, but made personally by the chef. We both thought it was overpriced. So we went off-menu and ordered from the daily specials and only what we wanted.
Locanda La Gemella
For lunch we stopped at Locanda la Gamella on the edge of town. A very nice, I would say upscale restaurant with a very dynamic menu. They also have daily and chef’s specials, so there seems to be something for everyone.
We went a la carte with the special Tajarin al ragu, some still water and a glass of wine. Our total bill came to 51€ total for the both of us, which wasn’t too bad, but still a bit pricey. Unfortunately, neither myself nor my wife took any photographs of our dishes or the place, though they were kind of normal and not very special for the Piedmont.
Across Lake Maggiore from Stresa lies Verbania and the town of Pallanza. This is another destination one may reach by purchasing a ferry ticket with the Lake Maggiore Ferry transportation system.
Boat launch – Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Stresa to Pallanza – Tickets For Two – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Verbania
Since we had an extra day, we took a day trip there to discover if Pallanza had anything to offer and to visit the Gardens of Villa Taranto.
Looking toward Stresa – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Looking toward Pallanza – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Looking toward the tip of Verbania – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Pallanza – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Looking toward Bevano – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Pallanza dock – Lake Maggiore, Italy
Pallanza
There is not much to see here, though during our visit there was a lot of lake side construction, which not only blocked our view of things but made for a rather noisy visit. Hence, we did not stop here to eat anything.
Our ferry – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The town is actually quite simple and the only things there that stand out are the Church of Saint Leonard and its bell tower, and a few World War I memorials.
War memorial – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Soldiers that died in WWI from the town – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Church tower – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Church of Saint Leonard – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The water show off the beach appeared a bit to much for a destination offering so little, but we took a photograph of it anyway.
The town’s welcome float – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
After a quick tour of Pallanza, we attempted to walk to the Villa Taranto gardens. After about forty minutes of frustration with a well known map application, we decided to turn around and take the ferry instead, which has service to the gardens.
The gardens are completely walled off – Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Italians and their walls – Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Regardless what the phone application tries to tell you, you may not enter the gardens from any side other than from where the boat launch is, so do not try unless you want to walk on a state road or you want to waste a lot of your time trying. The entire garden is surrounded by immense walls or fences and all of the entry points are locked. I walked all the way up to the Oratory of Saint Remigio just to make sure.
Oratory of Saint Remigio – Pallanza, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Villa Taranto
Villa Taranto is the ferry stop right after Pallanza and before Intra. It is about a ten to fifteen minute ride from Pallanza, so we purchased a round trip ticket from Pallanza to Villa Taranto to make up the difference with our ticket from Stresa to Pallanza, since we would be taking the ferry directly back once we finished the gardens.
Villa Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Tickets For Two – Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The Gardens
The gardens of Villa Taranto are very well kept and marked. Each section is dedicated to some specific type of flora or theme. The walkways are well maintained such that you will have no issues ascending the hill that the gardens are planted on.
Villa Taranto, or the Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Hydrangea – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Fountain in gardens – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The flora – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Tropical lillypads in greenhouse – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Small chapel – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The chapel – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Itea ilicifolia or Chinese Sweet Spire – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Small bridge – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Grand lawn, fountain and out building – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
More flora – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Beautiful flowers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
More flowers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Flowers near pond – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Beautiful landscaping – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Monument to garden creator – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Architectural garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Architectural garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana or Lawson Cypress – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Architectural garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Architectural garden – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Erica or Heather – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
A small well – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Large conifers – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Restaurants
In Villa Taranto we ate at the bistro within the park, having no desire after a long walk through the gardens of venturing any further out.
Cafè & Bistrot
Nothing much to rave about here, it is just a simple bistro and cafe. In one section you may sit and enjoy a drink, in the other you may order lunch or whatever they are serving at the time, if they are open. For lunch, we just had a simple salad with tomatoes and Tropea onions and olive oil, along with some white wine on the side, which was very dry and very good.
Villa Sparina, Gavi di Gavi – Cafè & Bistrot – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Villa Sparina, Gavi di Gavi – Cafè & Bistrot – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Aside from the failed attempt to walk to Villa Taranto Gardens, the ferry and the gardens, saved what could have been a sweaty miserable afternoon looking at flowers. So after eating, we thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip back to Stresa and would commend others not to stop in Pallanza, but go straight to the gardens and perhaps even Intra later, if the traveling bug moves you so.
To the boats – Taranto Gardens – Verbania, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Though we have been in Mainz at least several times, it was before the beginning of this blog. Therefore, after a brief visit to the city to meet our friends and have a walk or stroll throughout the city (also known as a Stadtbummel), a quick mention here seemed almost required.
Day Trip To Mainz
This week we met our good and long time friends Karl Heinz and Isolde in Mainz for lunch and a customary Stadtbummel, if only to see some of the sights Patti has never seen.
Fastnachtsbrunnen – Mainz, Germany
To get there, we had to take the RMV S8 line from the Marktplatz in Offenbach to the Römisches Theater in Mainz. Unfortunately for us, there a typical issue which held the train up for forty-five minutes after we boarded and only went for two stops. Apparently something fell onto the tracks and tripped the signal on the line.
17th Century Fortress – Zitadelle – Mainz, Germany
Karl Heinz – Römisches Theater – Zitadelle – Mainz, Germany
Römisches Theater – Zitadelle – Mainz, Germany
Mainzer Dom
Once the item was removed from the tracks, there were no further difficulties and we reached Mainz with plenty of time before lunch. We toured the Mainzer Dom and the Marktplatz, which are side by side, while we enjoyed the exceptional weather we were having for Germany.
Mainzer Dom – Mainz, Germany
Altar – Mainzer Dom – Mainz, Germany
Side Altar – Mainzer Dom – Mainz, Germany
Saint Ignatius Church
One of the more colorful churches inside is Saint Ignatius church. Though rather plain from outside the inside is definitely worth a look. The baroque style and paintings are impressive.
Saint Ignatius Church – Mainz, Germany
Saint Stephan’s Church
A must stop is Saint Stephan’s church, if only to see the famous church windows designed by Marc Chagall. Once inside, the eerie blue glow that occurs inside a bright sunny day is indeed a treat for the eyes.
Courtyard and St. Agnes Denkmal – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Courtyard and St. Agnes Denkmal – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Courtyard and St. Agnes Denkmal – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Courtyard and St. Agnes Denkmal – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Almost totally destroyed during World War II along with the rest of Mainz, the church was rebuilt in the late 1950s. Marc Chargall created a number of stained glass windows from 1978 and 1985 depicting scenes from the Bible.
Chagall Windows – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Chagall Windows – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Chagall Windows – Saint Stephan’s Church – Mainz, Germany
Restaurants
Since we did not actually stay in the city we only had time with our friends to try the following restaurant for lunch.
Hof Ehrenfels – Mainz, Germany
Hof Ehrenfels
For lunch we ate at Hof Ehrenfels, a stone’s throw away from the Mainzer Dom on Greberstraße. It is actually a three star hotel that also has a very good restaurant with a garden. The four of us ate outside in garden and had Wiener Schnitzel.
