A Palace, An Abbey, A Rose Garden, and A Square

This road trip starts in Lugano and will allow you to discover lots of little hidden gems in three wonderful Italian regions.

Park your car here and set out to explore the beautiful Valley Garden.

Begin this journey by exploring this beautiful, almost unknown garden in Cernobbio, on Lake Como.
The garden was created in the 1980s through the efforts of Ida Lonati Frati, who was able to transform an abandoned landfill into a true oasis of peace.
Today the garden is a riot of flowers, pathways, and wooden bridges that make it a peaceful and relaxing place to read, stroll, or simply learn the names of plants, thanks to explanatory plaques.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 24 hours a day

Park your car in this car park in the heart of Monza.

A space that seems almost endless: a palace with princely halls surrounded by acres of parkland and an enchanting garden.
It sounds incredible, but the Reggia di Monza is still a little-visited place and off the classic tourist routes, like a beautiful secret to be jealously guarded.
The handsome building amazes with its beautiful neoclassical facade, with ochre-coloured details that contrast well with the green spaces of the gardens in front.
The interior amazes with the grandeur of the decorations, precious stuccoes, and paintings.
Opening Hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Online Tickets

The Monza Royal Villa Rose Garden is located within the Royal Gardens and is one of the most important rose gardens in Italy. It houses as many as 400 varieties of colourful roses around a small lake.
The rose garden was inaugurated in 1970 by Princess Grace of Monaco, and today it’s a truly enchanting place to walk around.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
We recommend you visit in the month of May.

Lunch at this beautiful restaurant is a great way to start a trip to Italy!
A contemporary twist on Mediterranean cuisine, linked to Italian tradition but with a continuous search for ingredients and combinations: always original, always surprising.
And in case you needed another reason why this place is special, the location is simply unique: Derby Grill is located in front of the beautiful Villa Reale in Monza.
Opening Hours: Lunch Monday – Friday: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Dinner Monday – Saturday: 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sunday Brunch: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Reservations recommended. Email: [email protected] Phone: +393397913900

Park your car in this convenient car park for your visit to the Charterhouse of Pavia.

A Renaissance jewel that cannot fail to amaze even the most skeptical visitor.
The church’s façade will leave you speechless with the minuteness of the details: elegant columns, statues, decorative elements.
The interior is perhaps even more spectacular: have you ever seen a starry sky inside the aisles of a church? Beautiful frescoes frame the elegant stone columns and will keep your head up for a while.
The inner cloisters offer a very beautiful view of the abbey and allow you to try to imagine the life of the monks who lived here.
Opening Hours: Monday: closed November to February: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Month of March: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Month of April: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. May to August: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Month of September: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Month of October: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Park your car here for a stroll through the narrow streets of Piacenza.

You’ll quickly understand why the square is named as such: the two knights are Alessandro and Ranuccio Farnese, dukes of Parma and Piacenza.
This square is the heart of Piacenza; take a walk and have an espresso while watching the bustle of the locals.
Before you leave, take a look at the diagonal line across the square: tradition says that the 45th parallel passes through here. Not exactly geographically correct, but that's what they say around here!

Park your car here to reach Meltemi Restaurant.

The colourful dishes contrast with the minimalist, neutral ambience of this fine restaurant in Parma.
Meltemi speaks of summer, of the sea, of saltiness, and all this can be felt in the scents and flavours of the dishes.
A menu full of fish and pasta varieties, but leave room for dessert!
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday: Closed
Reservations recommended: call +390521030814.

The location is unique: this boutique hotel is located in the heart of Parma, in front of the Ducal Palace.
The Art Nouveau details, small size, and friendly and very knowledgeable staff make it a very special place in Parma.

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