Whether famous or not, apples are a traditional Italian product, with the most well known being the apples of Trentino-Alto Adige in Italy’s north. An old Italian food festival is being revived though, at Casalnoceto, between Alessandria and Pavia, where the apple was once king.

At the eastern border of Piedmont, the festival or ‘sagra‘ of the ‘pom di moj’ (in Italian dialect), is being held to celebrate the method that was once invented to preserve apples. The ‘moj’ method was one where healthy apples were washed, placed in a demijohn with a large neck, and covered with a slightly alcoholic wine and vinegar. They were kept there for about 40 days and then were taken out towards the end of March to be eaten at the traditional spring festival.

The apple festival of Casalnoceto takes place on Sunday, March 21st, starting at 9:30 am and going all day. You can taste the bitter-sweet local apples and discover this relatively unknown but beautiful part of Italy. Casalnoceto is located about 100 km east of Turin, and only 75 km from Milan, making it a great option for a day tour from Milan. For more information on the town, see the Piemonte in dettaglio site.

Continue reading: Apple 'sagra' in Italy: Italian food festival of 'pom a moj' at Casalnoceto, Alessandria

The new health spa opening in the Monza-Brianza region of Italy just north of Milan will soon be joined by Italy’s first undercover water amusement park. The fun park includes 9,000 square metres of space with a capacity to hold 1,500 people at a time. Just outside Milan, the Parco di Concorezzo will be perfect for those wanting a fun park close to Milan, without having to go to Gardaland or Caneva on Lake Garda.

The centre will be open by the end of 2010 with a modern design, and will be able to host visitors from Italy and around the world even in the cold months. The water fun park will be divided into different areas: one with a swimming pool, waterfalls, lagoon and wave pools, and the other will be an adventure area with nine water slides. A kids zone and relaxation area is included, with warm water, thermal waterfalls, grottos and an external, heated pool. I personally can’t wait!

Continue reading: Water fun park for day trips from Milan

Monza is opening its health spas for the winter season in Italy, and the thermal springs are offering four days’ free entry to celebrate the occasion. The health spas open on December 5th in time for the long weekend in Italy and some relaxing treatments after the first serious snow falls of the season.

The Monza health spas are managed by a group which owns other spa facilities in Italy in Bormio, Milano, and the Pré Saint Didier in the Valle d’Aosta, which is right next to the royal villa and park.

If you decide to drop by, the health spa is also offering a welcome buffet of fruit, homemade yoghurt and other products from the Brianza area north of Milan. For more information, see the health spa website.

Continue reading: Weekend deals Italy: four days' free at Monza health spa

After our Lake Como and Villa Carlotta gallery, here is an idea for a day trip from Milan that takes in the famed Bellagio town on Lake Como. It’s a magical and romantic place, that attracts both Italians and international tourists alike. It is in a strategic position for Lake Como, on a kind of peninsula that separates the two wish-bone arms of the lake with Lecco on one side and Como on the other.

In spring on Lake Como, Bellagio is filled with flowered balconies, wandering tourists and early gelato-eaters. A walk around the centre of the town includes visits to delightful boutique shops selling silk and glass, while following the lake from the ferry stop will take you to the Villa Melzi and its beautiful gardens.

You can reach Bellagio by car but parking is difficult, so we propose a different way of getting there: on foot. A walking tour from Como traces an old mule track along the Antica Via Regina for about 30 kilometres. You can go on foot or by bicycle and what you get are some of the most stunning views of Lake Como to be had.

Continue reading: Day trips from Milan: walking Lake Como to Bellagio

Bergamo “Alta” or high city, is a perfect day out for a stroll around the streets of an Italian medieval town. It is even an option as a day trip from Milan, and is worth the effort.

The name “Bergamo” comes from the dialect term “Bèrghem”, meaning house on the hill. The centre of the old city can be seen from the landscape around, sitting high on the hill above the newer part of the city.

The original foundations of the city date back to the time before the medieval period, with the city bastions erected during the 16th century. The historic Italian town is mostly a pedestrian area, with a characteristic peace and tranquillity from traffic, and the easygoing buzz of visitors on foot. A possibility itinerary is to pass from the Piazza Vecchia, visiting the Palazzo della Ragione and stopping at the Contarini fountain. You can then walk to the Santa Eufemi hill to see Bergamo’s rockface that dates back to the 1300’s.

Continue reading: Day trips from Milan: the medieval city of Bergamo Alta

For a day from Milan, you can always check out the vast area of Monza, Brianza and Lake Como. In fact, it would probably constitute more than one day trip, but today we take a look at what is known as a “ghost town” of Consonno in the Brianza. It’s a kind of Las Vegas paradise in Italy that was born in the 60’s and abandoned soon after.

A small town of about 200 people once lived there, mostly involved in agricultural and sheep farming activities. In 1962, Count Mario Bagno bought the entire town and demolished it, apart from the church of San Maurizio. His aim was to build a casino capital just kilometres from Milan, which would either prove to be a success or an utter failure.

For more information on the town, have a look at the Associazione “Amici di Consonno” site, which has a lot of historic information on the town and its Count Bagno, including the buildings and videos of this interesting place. The blog of Andrea Moro also has many photos of this unusual site, and you can also find Consonno on MySpace. Consonno ghost town also appears in the Italian film “Figli di Annibale” by director Davide Ferrario, a scene from which you can see in the video after the jump.

Continue reading: Italian ghost towns: Consonno or the Las Vegas of Lake Como

Milan has many hidden secrets for the tourist that are worth discovering and exploring while taking your time around the city. Taking a trip out of Milan’s centre, you can visit the Parco Agricolo Sud and its wonderful abbeys, starting with the Cistercian monastery of Chiaravalle.

Founded by Cistercian monks in 1135, the Chiaravalle Abbey is instantly recognisable for its splendid bell tower. Precious artwork is conserved in its complex, including a Madonna and Child by Bernardino Luini and frescoes from Fiammenghini.

Taking a walk through the gothic cloisters is truly worth it, as is a visit to the chapter house. Visit the Borgodichiaravalle site for more information on the area and the history of the Abbey.

Continue reading: Touring Milan: the Chiaravalle Abbey