Inspired by the great British weather I decide to undertake a Railbookers rite of passage – to Italy via the Swiss Alps. I made my way on the London DLR to London City Airport, fantastic for its tiny size and smaller queues, and set off for Zurich airport. The grey clouds and rainy weather melted away as we head over France and into Switzerland, touching down in Zurich airport where the sun most definitely had his hat on. After a 15 minute journey from the airport I was in the centre of Zurich.

As I stepped out of the main station I was met by a patchwork skyline of bell towers, greenery and alpine mountain tops. I quickly dropped my bags off at the hotel and head out to explore and make the most of the sunny day. It looked like every one in Zurich was out enjoying the sunshine, either in the cobbled streets of the old town or by the crystal clear waters of Lake Zurich. The historic part of Zurich is quite compact and you can easily explore on foot. In a few hours I had seen Zurich’s most familiar sights, such the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, whose clock faces stare at each other across the River Limmat.

Zurich is synonymous with international banking, and you definitely get a feel for the cities affluence when walking along the Bahnhofstrasse, passing by the designer boutique shops. I had enough time to squeeze in some all-important shopping and to head to the viewing point to photograph some of the idyllic setting before heading back to the hotel. The regret of only spending one night in this beautiful place was eased by the anticipation of the best part of the journey that was to come the following morning – taking the train through the alpine Gotthard Pass.

The next morning I head to the train station. Some thing that I quickly realised was that Zurich breathes a sunny Sunday afternoon kind of feel regardless of what day it is. Even on a Monday morning there is an air of calm and contentment, with green mountains on a blue background. But I was heading onwards to Milan and the picturesque Gotthard Pass. Passing through the Alps is a fantastic experience. The train winds a path through the mountains along the south coast of Lake Zurich, passing by idyllic little towns that I promised myself I would go back to some time. It is so picture perfect there are even cows with bells and I was waiting for Heidi to come skipping over the mountain any moment now. I made full use of my camera and the almost empty first class carriage to bounce from one window to the next taking slightly blurry pictures of the passing scenery.

I arrived in Milan and a quick change of platform had me heading in the direction of Venice watching a sunset over poppy strewn fields. There are not many things that could have topped going through the Alps in terms of visual brilliance, but Venice is definitely a high ranking contender. It is my favourite city in the world and it amazes me every time I see it. I love the faded elegance and perfectly unique design, a romantic, opulent city sinking slowly into the sea. Venice is a city full of mysteries and secrets, buildings below the water, and a rich history hidden away in its labyrinth. I get very excited about Venice, even more so when I’m treated to a suite in the Pallazzo Saint Angelo, complete with Jacuzzi and a balcony over looking the canal. I couldn’t have stayed here long enough.

After a few nights cultural indulgence I took a short train journey over to Florence. Florence has probably the best ice cream in the world, and that coupled with the hot weather meant that I cold allow myself to eat lots of it without feeling guilty. The Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza della Signoria are in the heart of Florence and are generally the busiest places. With good reason though, as that’s where the grand structure of the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery and the Michelangelo’s David all are. It is also a short walk to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge crossing the River Arno.

 As I was only in Florence for a short time I focused my time around this area as there is more than enough to do here to fill a few days. Early one morning I decided to brave the 463 steps of the Duomo. Even at 8.30am the heat inside the huge stone building was intense, and was glad it wasn’t later in the day when it is full of people. To make the most of the amazing frescoed ceilings and beautiful view inside and outside when you get to the top it is really worth the early morning start to beat the crowds. I celebrated the climb with a well earned ice cream.

The last section of my holiday was in Rome, grandly sat beside the River Tiber. Rome was once the capital of the world, and the confidence and glory of this status is echoed in its fantastic architecture. The Colosseum and the Pantheon are awe-inspiring buildings on a scale only appreciated once seen. But Rome isn’t just about size, its about detail, and every where etched into building, the paths and the walls are small masterpieces of artwork easily overlooked but telling stories of Rome’s great history. It can get quite busy in some places but its worth handling the crowds and fake handbag salesmen to see everything. I chose to get up early when no one else was about and enjoy the quiet streets whilst and watch Rome waking up before it becomes its energetic self again.

The flight back home was as easy as the outbound one, returning to Gatwick and being back in London within an evening, carrying a suitcase stuffed with the inevitable bits and pieces that you pick up along the way. After experiencing the holiday for myself, I can see why Venice, Florence and Rome via the Alps is one of the most popular Railbookers holidays.

Tags: florence, Scenic journey, Venice, Via the Alps, Zurich | Posted in: Italy | Author: Heather