Beat the winter blues with a bargain break in Italy

At this time of the year, with Christmas now behind us, many people start to look forward to their next holiday.

But because the summer seems a long way away, I would recommend planning a short winter break in Italy to take your mind off the bad weather and having to return to the daily grind.

The next few weeks would be a good time to go with cheap flights and bargain hotel prices being advertised at the moment.

To keep the costs down still further, be prepared to stay in less well-known towns or resorts where meals and taxi fares are usually cheaper.

There are often low cost flights available to airports close to the great cities of Rome, Venice and Milan.

The Venetian lagoon in winter

But if you base yourself just outside these cities you will find you spend less, while still getting the chance to enjoy the same great atmosphere, architecture, food and wine.

If you can find a cheap flight to Rome (Ciampino), consider staying in the ancient, wine-producing city of Frascati, just down the road from the airport.

The city has the feel of Rome, but it is on a smaller scale and life is at a less frantic pace. There are statues, fountains and wonderful architecture, but it is easy to walk around Frascati and there is little crime there, according to a taxi driver I spoke to.

It is said that Frascati’s delicious white wine ‘non viaggia bene’ (does not travel well), which is all the more reason to drink it there, in quaint wine bars serving it cheaply by the glass.

Villas built by wealthy Romans on the hills behind Frascati now lie in ruins, but there are elegant 16th and 17th century villas, such as the imposing Villa Aldobrandini, to look round.

Take the train to Rome (30 mins) and see the sights, but return in the evening to sit on a terrace sipping wine, looking down over the eternal city.

I recommend the Hotel Colonna as a good base in Frascati.

If you can book a low cost flight to Venice (Marco Polo), why not go by train or taxi to nearby Padova, a sophisticated city with good shops, restaurants and hotels.

Padova’s Scrovegni Chapel contains one of the world’s greatest works of art, a complete cycle of frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305, the first time an artist created life-like figures with realistic expressions.

Padova is home to one of the most important places of Christian worship, the Basilica di Sant’Antonio, where pilgrims pray to the saint.

Foodies will be fascinated by the variety of shops and stalls in the Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza delle Frutta.

You could take the train to Venice (35 mins) and arrive in style at Santa Lucia railway station on the Grand Canal, then return to Padova at night to enjoy an excellent meal, at a lower price than you would pay around St Mark’s Square.

Good places to stay in Padova are Hotel Belludi 37 and Hotel Europa.

For more detailed information about Padova visit www.bestofpadova.com.

There are currently some bargain flights to be found for Bergamo Caravaggio airport, also known as Milan Bergamo.  And you will be missing a trick if you don’t stay and explore Bergamo, a historic city with two distinct centres.

Bergamo's beautiful Piazza Vecchia

The upper town is a beautiful, walled city with buildings that date back to medieval times, but there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to welcome visitors.

At the heart of the city is Piazza Vecchia, remodelled during the Renaissance and praised by architects as the most beautiful square in Italy.

Walk through the archways under Palazzo della Ragione to see the Colleoni Chapel, considered the finest Renaissance building in Italy.

The lower town also has elegant buildings and a good choice of restaurants and hotels. From there you could take the train to Milan (50 mins) to see the sights, but in the evening you will be glad to return to the peace of Bergamo and dine within its 16th century walls.

I'd recommend staying at the Hotel Excelsior San Marco or the Hotel Cappello d’Oro while in Bergamo.

For more detailed information about Bergamo visit www.bestofbergamo.com.

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Hotel Cappello d’Oro Bergamo

Ideal location for modern hotel that was former inn

Hotel Cappello d'Oro

Once an old inn in the centre of Bergamo’s Città Bassa (lower town), the Hotel Cappello d’Oro is now a stylish Best Western hotel with every modern comfort.
The Best Western Premier Hotel Cappello d’Oro is in Viale Papa Giovanni XXlll, one of the principal roads of the Città Bassa. It first became a hotel at the beginning of the 20th century and, more than 100 years later, has been completely refurbished to provide 21st century guests with four-star accommodation and the latest amenities.
The reception area is modern and spacious with a marble floor, white statues and potted palms, while the helpful staff are smartly dressed in tail coats. Guest rooms are beautifully decorated and furnished and have satellite television, a minibar and tea and coffee making facilities. The immaculate bathrooms are stylish and well laid out.
An extensive buffet breakfast is served in the hotel’s Ristorante del Moro, which also offers lunch and dinner menus that include traditional Bergamo dishes. All 89 bedrooms have wifi and there is also a computer provided free of charge for the use of guests near reception.
The location of the Best Western Premier Hotel Cappello d’Oro is ideal. It is within walking distance of the railway and coach stations and the funicular railway up to the Città Alta (upper town). It is also on the main bus route that links Bergamo Caravaggio Airport (also known as Milan Bergamo) with the railway station and the Città Alta.
Just round the corner from the hotel at Porta Nuova are some of the best shops and restaurants in the Città Bassa. Via Sentierone, with its smart bars and the renowned Teatro Donizetti, is also within a short walk of the hotel.
Editor’s note: “I enjoyed a very comfortable stay at the Cappello d’Oro, which was quiet and relaxing, even though it is close to many of the shops, bars and restaurants of the Città Bassa.”

For more information, to check prices and to book a room at the Best Western Premier Hotel Cappello d’Oro, try our hotel booking partners Expedia UK or Hotels.com

Why stay at the Best Western Premier Hotel Cappello d’Oro in Bergamo?

The Hotel Cappello d’Oro is in a good position, right in the centre of Bergamo’s Città Bassa but it is also handy for both the bus and the funicular railway up to Bergamo’s historic Città Alta.
It is within walking distance of the main sights in the Città Bassa and all the shops, bars and restaurants.
The hotel is close to the stops for the bus service that runs between the airport and the Città Alta. It is also handy for the railway station and the regular train services to Milan, Brescia, Lecco and Cremona. From the nearby bus station there are coaches to resorts on Lago d’Iseo and the countryside north of Bergamo.

What to see in Bergamo

Bergamo is a fascinating historic city with two distinct centres.
The Città Alta is a beautiful walled city with buildings that date back to medieval times but there are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants to make it comfortable for visitors today.
At the heart of the Città Alta is Piazza Vecchia, which was remodelled during the Renaissance and has been hailed by architects and writers as the most beautiful square in Italy.
It is surrounded by old palaces and has a 12th century bell tower that still strikes 100 times at 10pm each night to mark the ancient curfew.
With bars on two corners and prestigious restaurants along two sides, Piazza Vecchia is the perfect place to stop for something to eat and drink.
You can walk through the archways under Palazzo della Ragione to Piazza Duomo where you will see the Duomo, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel and the Battistero - all of them architectural gems.
Streets of shops and restaurants lead off Piazza Vecchia to other squares with fountains, beautiful buildings, old churches and museums.
The elegant Città Bassa grew up on the plain below and still has buildings that date back to the 15th century.
More imposing and elaborate architecture was added in the 19th and early 20th centuries and it is now a vibrant city with a wealth of shops, bars and restaurants. There are also palaces, churches, art galleries and museums to visit as well as a theatre and other venues providing concerts and entertainment.

Directions: From the airport, either take a taxi - local prices are very reasonable - or the No 1 bus that passes the railway station before turning along Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII in the direction of the Città Alta. The hotel is at number 12 on the left hand side.

Restaurant recommendation:

Taverna Valtellinese in Via Gerolamo Tiraboschi is a short walk from the Hotel Cappello d’Oro.
Once inside the Taverna Valtellinese you feel as though you are in an alpine chalet. Although it is a large restaurant, the wooden walls and floor and the check tablecloths make the atmosphere warm and intimate. The Taverna Valtellinese has been serving dishes made with authentic cheeses, butter, meat and wine from the Valtellina, a valley north of Bergamo, since opening in 1967. For antipasti there is a choice of bresaola, prosciutto and salame from the Valtellina.
Among the primi on offer is the classic pizzoccheri di Teglio, a variation on fettucine, served with Swiss chards, boiled potatoes and Bitto and Casera cheese. There are also panzerotti, gnochetti and tortelloni dishes cooked alla valtellinese and rice dishes.
For secondi there is a good choice of meat dishes including the local staple, stufatino ai funghi e polenta (meat with mushrooms and polenta), or culaccio di manzo al Sassella (beef braised in red wine from Sassella), spiedini alla griglia (a selection of meat grilled on a spit) or rognoncino in terrina con funghi (kidneys cooked with mushrooms). There are also some vegetarian and fish options.
Editor’s note: “On my visit to Taverna Valtellinese I found there was a good atmosphere and the restaurant was full of local people. I was particularly impressed with the antler-shaped chandelier on the ceiling and the white wine recommended by the waiter, which was a delicious Chiavennasca from the Valtellina.”

Local specialities: Try casoncelli alla bergamasca ( Bergamo’s own version of stuffed pasta), polenta taragna (polenta mixed with Taleggio cheese) and stinco al forno (pork shank braised in red wine with vegetables and herbs).
Local wines: White: Try Valcalepio Bianco, a light dry wine with a delicate fragrance, produced in the small valley between Bergamo and Lago d’Iseo. Red: Valcalepio Rosso is dry and soft with an intense scent. It is placed on sale every year after 1 November following six months’ refinement in wooden casks. It goes well with red meat, game and polenta and local cheeses, such as taleggio.
Shopping: One of the main thoroughfares in the Città Bassa in Bergamo is Via XX Settembre, which leads from Piazza Vittorio Veneto in the centre to Largo Nicolo Rezzara at the lower end of Via Sant’Alessandro.
Dubbed ‘the shopping street’ by the Bergamaschi because of the wealth of smart shops that line both sides, Via XX Settembre is actually named after an important event in Italy’s history.
It was on 20 September 1870 that Italian troops under Victor Emanuel II finally entered Rome and completed the unification of Italy. Rome had remained under French control even after the first Italian parliament had proclaimed Victor Emanuel King of Italy, despite repeated attempts by nationalists to liberate it.
But after the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war Napoleon III withdrew his troops. Italian soldiers seized their chance and after a brief bombardment were able to enter Rome through a breach in the walls at Porta Pia. Victor Emanuel took up residence in the Quirinale Palace and Italy was declared officially united.
These days shoppers, perhaps unaware of the anniversary, enjoy visiting the top establishments that grace the elegant street such as Calvin Klein, Stefanel, Benetton, Max Mara, Luisa Spagnoli, Marina Rinaldi and Sisley.

Book a room at the Best Western Hotel Cappello d’Oro Bergamo with Expedia UK or Hotels.com

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