October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium.
When you think of culture capitals in Italy, you think of Rome, Venice or Florence (Firenze). But Bologna is (almost) up there, surely. A bigger city than expected, Bologna houses the oldest university in the world.
Bologna feels Italian as you expect an Italian feel to be. Trieste had an Austrian vibe, as it was part of Austria-Hungary until 1918. The colour palette, the cityscape, the food.
Bologna is less filled with tourists than Rome, Venice and Florence. It’s an university city, so there are many young people.
Opening hours
An issue we didn’t have in Trieste, was opening hours of museums. They’re open late, but they close for a long time over lunch. Some are only open in the morning, others will only be open in the afternoon. So it’s something to take into account.
And don’t forget dinner is not before 7.30 PM.
Modena
We we were only a short while in Modena. It is quieter than Bologna, but still has a lot of history and culture on offer.
So?
We tend to travel ‘fast’. We don’t stop for coffees or other drinks (often). Also we don’t tend to spend a lot of time in art museums. So for us, two days felt enough.
Paris – Italy – Basel 2022
- REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
- REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
- FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
- REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
- TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
- History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
- ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
- History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
- REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
- BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
- REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
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