Per Te, Monza, Italy

Sitting at the crossroads of Via Bergamo and Vittoria Emanuelle on the edge of Monza city centre, Per Te is a coolly designed and spacious place to either relax for lunch or an aperitif around tea time with friends.

Per Te is one of a new wave of eateries to crop up in Monza centre and has a similar feel to a British bar or cafe with a mish mash of old tables and chairs against an industrial concrete background. Upon entering the building you'll be faced with a bar and counter area full of pateries ranging from a good old fashioned Italian brioche to a lovely big but light "Krapfen" or doughnut as we know them in the UK or States to accompany your early morning coffee.

Apart from pastries "Per Te" offer a wide range of breakfasts from around the world. If its later in the day "Per Te" has a great choice of seafood dishes, pasta dishes as well as meet dishes. To finish off your meal you must try one of Per Te's amazing deserts which are certainly a specialty along with there home baked breads. Evenings are a little more lively than the day time and the selection of wines on offer are part of Per Te's charm with a large variation of whites and reds on offer from all across Italy.

Per Te is certainly a place to visit whilst in Monza, just check out there Tripadvisor score!

http://www.wbr-italy.com/#!per-te-monza-italy/c22qn

Tratorria Spalto, Monza

Hidden away in the local hotspot of Via Spalto, Tratorria Spalto is a beautiful modern take on a traditional Italian tratorria next to the river Lambro. Via Spalto "Tratorria Spalto's" namesake has a bustling restaurant scene in an evening with a choice of quality local eateries and bars running down the street with plenty of alfresco seating available.

Tratorria Spalto is a tardis like place to rest your legs after a day of shopping or watching the grand prix.

The restaurant is light and open plan and you're welcomed by the staff working away at the pizza oven as you pass through to the restaurant, alternatively you can sit outside and watch the world pass you by.

Tratorria Spalto has a great selection of pizza's, meat dishes along with a good choice of seafood available and traditional Italian deserts. The pizza choices are excellent, the bases thin and crispy and the toppings are light and fresh.

Tratorria Spalto is an excellent place to stop off with friends or family, and is just minutes on foot from the centre of Monza. Tratorria Spalto is certainly worth a visit whilst in Monza and of the staff are friendly and attentive.

Pistacchiodo Gelateria, Monza

Pistacchiodo gelateria is an independent ice cream parlour located only two minutes away by foot from  Monza's central train station in the small residential piazza Indipendenza. Pistacchiodo is a hidden gem of a gelateria with friendly staff and an excellent range of ice creams, granitas, frapes, ice lollies and crepes in the cooler months. They even make whole semifreddo cheesecake-style cakes to take away for special occasions.

In the summer months the counter is frequently covered in fresh melons, strawberries and oranges,  underlining the freshness and quality of the ingredients used in all of the ice creams which are prepared  on site. All of Pistacchiodo's delicious flavours are produced according to the season, and the quality is always excellent. 

Pistacchiodo shouldn't be missed whilst in Monza as it is one of the best gelaterias in the region.

Italian ticket validating machines

Whenever your traveling on the trains or buses across Italy, be sure to validate your ticket. At the entrance to every platform there is a yellow machine (or orange on the bus) that you slot your ticket into, which validates your journey with the time and date. If you accidentally forget to stamp your ticket or have ran to jump on the train, make sure you find the conductor straight away or you will be in for a hefty on the spot fine.

Buying train tickets can be a job in itself in Italy, so I would recommend buying your ticket before your journey, or arrive at the station early. Unfortunately getting onto the train without your ticket will just result in a fine, which can be a little harsh if the machines are not working or only one person is behind the counter?

A good tip for as a second choice is newsagents in train stations often sell tickets for buses and trains from behind the counter and will give you tickets based on the distance you're traveling. They only accept cash.

Gelateria Rinomata, Milano

Rinomata is a beautiful traditional gelateria sculptured with dark wood and copper fittings inside, and is situated on the corner of Navigli, adjacent to the canals.
Amongst many things 'Rinomata' is one of the oldest gelaterias in Milan and hugely famous, but for me and many other customers the crepes are really worth making a visit for. No matter what time of year it is people wait in their droves to get inside and especially in the winter months.

The nutella and ice cream crepes are fantastic, but their is lots of options to choose from.

Noble choice's in Monza

If your heading the forthcoming Grand Prix in Monza, you wont go far wrong in having a bite to eat in the main City of Monza Brianza. There are many quality eateries in Monza centre, but one certainly regarded as one of the best in the centre is Il Noble. This stunning venue is located next to a small series of bridges and waterfalls in the centre and is beautiful, yet understated from outside. Inside is a different thing all together, beautiful food, an amazing courtyard venue and a great atmosphere.
Il Noble is one of the more expensive options in the region, but certainly not unreasonable compared to what you would eat in the UK or Paris for the same money.
 

Lake Garda, Desenzano del Garda

If your visiting any of the Italian lakes in the north of the Country, or towns and cities that sit on the edge, Desenzano del Garda is certainly worth a visit.
Visiting the town from either Verona or Milan is pretty easy as there is good connections by bus or train to the station at the top of the town. Compared to the other lakeside towns Desenzano has much more of a holiday feel to it with beautiful villas and hotels looking down onto the lake as you enter the town centre. The streets are spotless, and it has a confusing mixture of Venetian and alpine architecture as you enter the city, but it is really stunning, a must visit place if you have the opportunity.

Desenzano has a lovely centre with harbours, beaches, great restaurants and wonderful shops.

desenzano del garda