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Italy is a beautiful country where, in general terms, you can find everything. The northern part is the region that has developed the most, with large industries; which offers many job opportunities and a very dynamic market. Therefore, it is an area to travel around and get to know; from very romantic lakes and spectacular landscapes of the Alps to, of course, beautiful cities and towns.
Another important detail is that this area can be visited both by car and by train, thanks to the good roads and transport connections that are found; which allows a more economical and varied route; either from east to west or the other way around.
There are official lists that indicate according to rankings which are the best cities to live in this area. Among them, the 10 with the highest scores for quality of life are located in Milan, Trento, Bolzano, Trieste, Bologna, Turin, Verona, Parma, Bergamo and Siena; that is, these positions almost never vary. However, this does not mean that there are not others where you can also live very well.
Among them are Treviso, Aosta, Reggio Emilia, Padua, Genoa, Venice, Brescia, Vicenza, Modena, among others. Of course, the towns near these localities will also be favored, because they have an acceptable quality of life. Many tourists, when they visit these areas of Italy, are so enchanted that they decide to move for a while.
What does the choice of a specific place to live in Northern Italy depend on?
There really are certain criteria to take into account when choosing any place in the world to live, and not only in northern Italy, such as, for example, job opportunities. How is the job market in the area? Also, the quality of a good health service and, of course, the means of communication, so that you can move from one place to another without any problem.
Also the safety of the place, which must have low crime rates, which brings you happiness and, above all, tranquility. Of course, an environment with quality air, with minimal pollution and leisure activities to enjoy with the family; all this will make you have a good quality of life.
Some villages to visit in the northeastern part of Italy:
In the Aosta Valley, the municipality of Bard:
Near the city of Turin, exactly 78 km from it, is located, at the level of the Aosta Valley, a small municipality of approximately 134 inhabitants, called Bard. The most important monument of the place is the Fort of Bard, at the level of the mountain and 467 m high. This fort dates back to the 19th century, and is known for the history of certain battles, especially the resistance against Napoleon’s troops.
The municipality also has an old medieval town, which has been recovered and rehabilitated to preserve the residential buildings dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. At Christmas time, the nativity scene is very famous, as well as the carnival festivities and the different days of August, in terms of gastronomy.
The Fort also houses the Museum of the Alps, showing both the birth and evolution of the Alps. As for transportation, the nearest airport is Turin airport, with rail connections to the Ivrea-Aosta line at the Hône station and the main road connection is the Turin-Aosta A5 highway.
In the Piedmont region, Orta San Giulio:
Orta San Giulio is a small municipality with about 2,000 inhabitants, located in the Piedmont region, which belongs to the province of Novara and whose meaning is “at the foot of the mountain”; it is located between the Aosta Valley, the Apennines and the Alps. Its charm is formed both by the town and the island of San Giulio, which is located about 400 m from it.
The center of the town of Orta has narrow streets and alleys but very picturesque, so it can only be explored on foot; being the main street that runs parallel to the shore of Lago di Orta; crossing with other alleys that go away to find the chapel Sacro Monte di Orta, a World Heritage Site. We will also find the old town, the Town Hall and typical stone houses of the region.
If we want to visit the island of San Giulio, we must get there by boat from the town of Orta. Here we will visit the Basilica, which dates back to the 12th century; also the seminary of the Benedictine monks, from 1844 and a building from the 18th century, where you will see some frescoes in the restaurant of San Giulio.
Some villages to visit in the northwestern part of Italy:
At the level of the gulf of Venice, Treviso:
The town of Treviso is located between the Alps and the Gulf of Venice; that is, if you take the train from the city of Venice in 30 minutes you reach Treviso. A city with about 8000 inhabitants, it has many monasteries and churches, almost as many as in the north of the country: a little more than 10, and within the walled area.
The historic center is well known in a single day, where the Piazza dei Signori, the Palazzo dei Trecento, dating from the twelfth century and the Fontana delle Tette are located. The Cathedral of Treviso and the Palazzo del Podestà, as well as the University, should not be overlooked. It is important to walk along the famous canals of the Botteniga River, the best known being the Buranelli or Middle Cagnan.
In the region of Lombardy, Gardone Riviera:
Towards the western part of Lake Garda is located Gardone Riviera. This lake is located between the Padana plain and the Alps, 27 km east of Brescia and 25 km west of Verona; considered the largest lake in Italy; between Venice and Milan.
Gardone Riviera is an international destination for relaxation and as a summer village. In this region of Lombardy the Grand Hotel di Gardone was built in 1879. It is a region that was formed by glaciers during the last thaw, and is divided between the provinces of Trento, Brescia and Verona.
Gardone has many attractions in addition to Lake Garda, such as its elegant villas of the seventeenth century, fine restaurants and very pleasant climate; there is also the Botanical Garden, with an area of 8000 square meters and the citadel Vittoriale degli Italiani, formed by a group of buildings, houses and gardens built between 1921 and 1938 by the architect Maroni Giancarlo.
In Lombardy, the village of Sabbioneta:
In the region of Lombardy, whose capital is the city of Milan, there is a town called Sabbioneta; not far north of the Po River and 30 km north of Parma. It is the most developed, richest and most populated area of all the regions of Italy. Privileged also for its beautiful scenery of the Alps mountains and for having the most important lakes in the country.
The village of Sabbioneta is full of architecture and history of the Roman, Jewish and Christian civilizations, which have left their various traces. Among them those of Vespasiano Gonzaga, founder of the village in the sixteenth century, following the criteria of an ideal village, according to the principles of the Renaissance.
It contains a hexagonal wall, which surrounds a citadel where the Palazzo Ducale, the Teatro All’Antica and the Palazzo Giardino are located. It also houses the Galleria degli Antichi, where the most valuable work of the Italian Renaissance is exhibited: the Golden Fleece.
