As a city for foodies, a food tour seemed like the perfect introduction to Bologna. We had a blast while tasting appetizers, pasta, dessert and sipping drinks while learning from Leonardo, our guide from Depetrini Tours!#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #foodie #FoodTour #italia #BolognaItaly #BolognaItalia #DepetriniTours #FoodAndWineTour #dinner #tastings #pairings #WalkingTour #culture #culinary #cuisine
Although only four are still standing today, the Basilica of Santo Stefano is still known as "Seven Churches"! Exploring the complex is similar to walking through a maze of interconnected buildings.#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #BasilicaOfSantoStefano #SantoStefano #italia #BolognaItalia #BolongaItaly #ChurchOfSantoStefano #SevenChurches #SetteChiese #7Churches #ChurchOfTheCrucifix #ChurchOfTheHolySepulchre #CourtyardOfPilate #ChurchOfSaintsVitaleAndAgricola
We spent our first afternoon wandering from piazza to piazza around central Bologna passing by churches, sculptures, unique architecture, the famous porticoes and more!#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #ExploreBologna #CentroBologna #italia #BolognaItaly #BolognaItalia #PiazzaMaggiore #PiazzaDelNettuno #FontanaDelNettuno #PorticiDiBologna #porticoes #portici #PorticoesOfBologna #PiazzaSantoStefano
We stumbled upon the Chiesa di San Martino as we were wandering around Bologna. Although the exterior is rather plain and simple, the interior is not!#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #ChiesaDiSanMartino #SanMartinoMaggiore #italia #BolognaItaly #BolognaItalia #basilica #catholic #RomanCatholic #architecture #history
It seems that no matter where we were in Bologna, the Twin Towers could be seen overhead ...Fun fact: Superstitious students believe that if they climb the Asinelli tower (the taller of the two) before they graduate, they may not receive their degree!#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #TwinTowers #LeDueTorri #italia #BolognaItalia #BolognaItaly #superstition #AsinelliTower #GarisendaTower #tower #Asinelli #Garisenda #BolognaCitySymbol #fortification #MiddleAges #history
Our next stop was Piazza Maggiore, home of the Basilica of San Petronio and adjacent to Neptune's Square. Fun fact: It is said that Pope Pius IV put a halt to construction plans that would have made the church larger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome!#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #PiazzaMaggiore #BasilicaOfSanPetronio #italia #BolognaItalia #BolognaItaly #church #basilica #cathedral #dome #chapel #ImazingItaly
We ended up in Neptune's Square several times during our two days in Bologna. It's a fun place to watch people searching for the perfect spot to photograph the statue of Neptune standing tall (and provocatively) on the central fountain.#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #NeptuneSquare #NeptuneFountain #italia #NeptunesSquare #PiazzaDelNettuno #FontanaDelNettuno #NeptunesFountain #fountain #MeetingPoint #TheGiant #PiazzaMaggiore
Before leaving home, we learned about the "secret" Canals of Bologna. Once in Bologna, we realized that the canals are not really a secret - just like us, many other tourists were on the hunt to find them! #WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #BolognaItaly #CanalsOfBologna #italia #canals #SecretCanals #historic #HiddenGem #CanalOfReno #RenoCanal #CanaleDiReno
Upon our arrival in Bologna, our first mission was to find the Canals of Bologna. Over the years they have apparently become more and more obscured by buildings, bridges and the like.Fun fact: The water in the canals was used to power wheels used by the silk industry in years gone by.#WordyExplorers #italy #bologna #canals #VisitBologna #italia #CanalsOfBologna #BolognaCentro #BolognaWelcome #MolineCanal #ViaDellaMoline #MolineCanalDrop #RenoCanal #SavenaCanal
Since we couldn't find an open restaurant in Brunate, we ate lakeside in Como City. My Tagliolini Al Pesto and Scott's Braciola di Maiale alla Griglia were both excellent ... and having a view of the lake was the icing on the cake!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #FuniculareRistorante #LakesideDining #italia #lombardy #ItalianLakeDistrict #ComoDiLago #ComoLake #dinner #PestoPasta #PastaWithPesto #TaglioliniAlPesto #GrilledPorkChop #BraciolaDiMaialeAllaGriglia
Either we were too late for lunch, too early for dinner or the restaurants didn't open because of the rainy start to the day? Either way, we enjoyed exploring around Brunate and soaking in the scenic views from above. #WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ComoCity #brunate #italia #lombardy #ItalianLakeDistrict #LagoDiComo #ComoLake #como #ScenicView #PanoramicView #panorama #scenic #vista
Almost immediately after stepping foot in Como City, we spotted the cable car that connects the city with Brunate, the hillside village above. We finally had a chance to take the round trip funicular ride (and because of the rain, we had no wait on either end)!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #CableCar #funicular #italia #lombardy #ComoCity #como #LagoDiComo #ComoLake #brunate #HillsideVillage #panoramic #PanoramicView #scenic
Our final day at Lake Como was a rainy one so we altered our plans and stayed in Como City. After sleeping in to wait out the heaviest of the rain, we headed back to Piazza Duomo to start our day of exploring!#WordyExplorers #italy #ComoCity #DuomoDiComo #ComoCathedral #italia #lombardy #como #LakeComo #cathedral #church #CathedralOfSantaMariaAssunta #DuomoOfComo #duomo #PiazzaDuomo #dome
Returned via ferry to Como City and enjoyed wandering along the lakefront in the evening en route to our bed and breakfast. #WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ComoCity #ferry #italia #lombardy #ComoLake #LagoDiComo #como #PublicFerry #lakeshore #lakefront #LoveLakeComo #LakeComoItaly #ComoItaly #promenade #ComoPromenade #LakeComoPromenade
We wrapped up our day exploring a few of the villages around Lake Como with a few hours in Bellaggio. Our original plan for our Lake Como stay didn't work out due to rain and not making reservations before traveling, but we enjoyed exploring three of the towns.#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ferry #bellaggio #italia #ComoLake #ComoDiLago #PublicFerry #BellaggioItaly #garden #gardens #SalitaSerbelloni #ViaGaribaldi #lakeshore #SanGiacomo #PiazzaDellaChiesa
Because of the timing of the public ferry, we enjoyed a longer stay (and sipping a hot chocolate) in Varenna. The "Walk of Lovers" was beautiful and oh so colorful!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #varenna #WalkOfLovers #italia #como #LagoDiComo #ComoLake #LakeComoItaly #VarennaItaly #PublicFerry #ferry #LoversWalk #PasseggiataDegliInnamorati #LakesideVillage #lakeside
We had less than an hour to spend in Menaggio in order to meet our goal of visiting three of the towns on Lake Como. It was not nearly enough, but at least we got to wander through some of the town center!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #menaggio #ferry #italia #ComoLake #LagoDiComo #MenaggioItaly #PublicFerry #promenade #TownCenter #ChurchOfStStephen #CurchOfSaintStephen #ChiesaDiSantoStefano #BellTower
Because rain was expected on our last day in Lake Como, we had to make the most of our one "good weather" day for exploring the towns around the lake. We started our day with a ferry ride between Como and Menaggio!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ferry #menaggio #LagoDiComo #LakeComoFerry #LakeComoBoat #LakeComoItaly #como #ComoCity #PublicFerry #ItalyTravel #VisitItaly #FerryTour
Just a quick pause along our evening stroll to soak in the view from Lake Como's Passeggiata Lino Gelpi!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #LinoGelpiPromenade #PasseggiataLinoGelpi #italia #lombardy #ComoCity #como #LagoDiComo #promenade #walk #stroll #lakefront #PanoramicView #PanoramicViews
A stroll around the southern edge of Lake Como and then along the Lino Gelpi Promenade was the perfect end to our first day in the area. Beautiful scenery with the lake and surrounding mountains plus some amazing architecture!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #LinoGelpiPromenade #PasseggiataLinoGelpi #italia #lombardy #ComoCity #como #LagoDiComo #promenade #walk #stroll #lakefront #PanoramicView #PanoramicViews
Enjoyed dinner al fresco style following our afternoon of exploring Como City. It was nice to dine with a view of Lake Como - it wasn't until just before dinner that we finally neared the lake for which the area is known!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ComoCity #AlFresco #lombardy #AlFrescoDining #como #dining #dinner #promenade #LagoDiComo #LakeView #LakeComoItaly
We took some time to explore the interior of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (aka Como's Duomo). Located in the Piazza Duomo, the church is said to be one of the most important religious buildings of northern Italy and the main place of worship in Lake Como.#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #DuomoDiComo #cathedral #italia #ComoCity #como #PiazzaDuomo #CathedralOfSantaMariaAssunta #CattedraleDiSantaMariaAssunta #ComoCathedral #church #SantaMariaAssunta
The number one must see destination on my "Italy list" was the Lake Como area. We spent our first afternoon exploring Como City - churches, squares, towers, murals and more!#WordyExplorers #italy #LakeComo #ComoCity #architecture #NorthernItaly #NorthItaly #como #mural #art #LakeComoTravel #LagoDiComo #LakeComoItaly #VisitComo #ExploreComo
During our travels through the years, we've had several opportunities to visit venues that have previously hosted the Olympic Games. Our trip to Milan in late 2025 was our first time to stay in a city getting prepared to host the games just a few months after our departure!#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #cortina #OlympicWinterGames #italia #milano #cortina #WinterOlympics #MilanoCortina2026 #2026Olympics #valtellina #ValDiFiemme #LetTheGamesBegin
Milan's Navigli District was the perfect end to our ever so short (and rainy) day in the city. Dinner, dessert and a stroll along the canals was both tasty and romantic!#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #INavigli #NavigliDistrict #italia #lombardy #milano #navigli #canals #dining #restaurants #dessert #bars #clubs
We spent our only afternoon in Milan exploring primarily on foot. In addition to churches, we were able to walk through the high-end shopping area, a castle with a nearby park and see the Arco della Pace from a distance.#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #ExploreMilan #MilanItaly #italia #lombardy #milano #ViaManzoni #ViaSantAndrea #CastelloSforzesco #SfarzoCastle #ParcoSempione #ArcoDellaPace
We only had one day in Milan (never enough to explore a historic city), so we worked fast to check off the places we wanted to visit. Next up was the Church of Santa Maria.#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #ChiesaDiSantaMaria #ChurchOfSantaMaria #italia #lombardy #milano #church #MadonnaAndChild #ExploreMilan #historic #HiddenGem #OpticalIllusion
After reading that the "Milanese bourgeoisie" use Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II as a meeting point, we knew we had to check it out!Fun fact: It is believed that those who spin their heel 3 times over the bull's testicles in the mosaic on the floor will have good luck!#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #galleria #bourgeoisie #italia #lombardy #milano #GalleriaVittorioEmanueleII #retail #shop #ShoppingMall #ShoppingCenter #LuxuryBrands #exquisite #MeetingPoint #HighEnd
From Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), one last look at the Duomo of Milan and all that surrounds it!#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #PiazzaDelDuomo #CathedralSquare #italia #lombardy #milano #DuomoDiMilano #DuomoOfMilan #CitySquare #MilanCitySquare #square #plaza
I've never been one to spend hours upon hours in museums. I have to admit, however, that the Duomo Milan Museum had more than I expected. I spent much longer exploring the museum than I anticipated!#WordyExplorers #italy #milan #duomo #DuomoMilanMuseum #italia #lombardy #milano #DuomoDiMilano #DuomoOfMilan #cathedral #museum #DuomoMuseum #artifacts #StainedGlass #statues #sculptures #tapestries