Home > Blog volontari > August – Summer Travels and Ferragosto
Ciao a tutti!It’s Diana! I’m back with another update on my ESC volunteer journey in Italy. August has been another exciting month, filled with travels, exploring new parts of Milano, and my first trip to Lake Como. Even though the heat in August was intense (seriously, I now understand why people say it’s hot in Italy during the summer), I had some great experiences, both in and out of the city.
One of the best things about living in Milano is how easy it is to travel to other parts of Europe. During the first days of August, I took advantage of that and went on a weekend trip to Vienna with a friend. We had an amazing time exploring the city. Vienna’s architecture is stunning, and the weather was perfect—much cooler than Milano in August, where it was boiling hot, even at night.
One thing I noticed about Vienna is that it’s definitely more expensive than Milano, which surprised me because people always talk about how pricey Milano can be. But Vienna took it to another level! Despite that, we had a lot of fun trying local food, walking around the city, and even visiting a theme park, which was beautiful and really added to the experience. Overall, it was a refreshing break from the summer heat in Italy.
When I got back to Milano, I spent time hanging out with friends and exploring parts of the city I hadn’t visited yet. One area that stood out to me was Garibaldi. It’s super modern and has a completely different vibe from the older parts of the city. Milano really has this unique mix of ancient history and modern architecture, and I love that contrast. Even though the heat made it tough to stay outside for long, it was worth it to see more of what the city has to offer.
One thing I definitely didn’t expect was how empty Milano gets in August. Now I understand why they call it a ghost town! Most of the locals leave the city for vacation, and a lot of shops and restaurants were closed for Ferragosto, Italy’s national holiday in mid-August. While it was strange to see the usually busy city so quiet, it was also nice in a way. Less tourists meant less crowded streets, which made it easier to walk without the usual hustle.
At the same time, it sometimes felt a bit too empty, and finding open places to eat or hang out could be challenging. But, since some of my friends came to visit, we made the most of it. I showed them around Milano, like the more historic areas, which gave them a good mix of the modern and old sides of the city. Even with many places closed, we still had a great time exploring and catching up.
First Trip to Lake Como
One of the highlights of August was my first trip to Lake Como. I had heard so much about how beautiful it is, and it lived up to every expectation. The lake was the perfect escape from the summer heat, and I even got the chance to swim in the lake, which was so refreshing. The scenery around Como is breathtaking, with its mountains and elegant villas lining the shore. I definitely want to go back before my volunteer program ends—it’s one of those places that stays with you, and I can’t wait to experience it again.
Another fun aspect of living in Milano that I’ve grown to appreciate is how you never know what you’ll come across in the city. One thing I’ve started noticing is some luxury cars driving around, especially in certain neighborhoods. It’s pretty impressive to see such fancy cars just cruising through the streets. Milano has this mix of elegance and everyday life that I really enjoy.
August has been full of contrasts—from the lively streets of Vienna to the quiet, almost deserted Milano during Ferragosto, and from the hot city streets to the cool waters of Lake Como. It’s been a month of exploration, both inside and outside Italy, and I’m excited to see what’s next as I continue my ESC journey.
As always, stay tuned for more adventures! I’m looking forward to sharing more about life in Milano and everything I’m learning along the way.
Ciao a tutti!It’s Diana! I’m back with another update on my ESC volunteer journey in Italy. August has been another exciting month, filled with travels, exploring new parts of Milano, and my first trip to Lake Como. Even though the heat in August was intense (seriously, I now understand why people say it’s hot in Italy during the summer), I had some great experiences, both in and out of the city.
One of the best things about living in Milano is how easy it is to travel to other parts of Europe. During the first days of August, I took advantage of that and went on a weekend trip to Vienna with a friend. We had an amazing time exploring the city. Vienna’s architecture is stunning, and the weather was perfect—much cooler than Milano in August, where it was boiling hot, even at night.
One thing I noticed about Vienna is that it’s definitely more expensive than Milano, which surprised me because people always talk about how pricey Milano can be. But Vienna took it to another level! Despite that, we had a lot of fun trying local food, walking around the city, and even visiting a theme park, which was beautiful and really added to the experience. Overall, it was a refreshing break from the summer heat in Italy.
When I got back to Milano, I spent time hanging out with friends and exploring parts of the city I hadn’t visited yet. One area that stood out to me was Garibaldi. It’s super modern and has a completely different vibe from the older parts of the city. Milano really has this unique mix of ancient history and modern architecture, and I love that contrast. Even though the heat made it tough to stay outside for long, it was worth it to see more of what the city has to offer.
One thing I definitely didn’t expect was how empty Milano gets in August. Now I understand why they call it a ghost town! Most of the locals leave the city for vacation, and a lot of shops and restaurants were closed for Ferragosto, Italy’s national holiday in mid-August. While it was strange to see the usually busy city so quiet, it was also nice in a way. Less tourists meant less crowded streets, which made it easier to walk without the usual hustle.
At the same time, it sometimes felt a bit too empty, and finding open places to eat or hang out could be challenging. But, since some of my friends came to visit, we made the most of it. I showed them around Milano, like the more historic areas, which gave them a good mix of the modern and old sides of the city. Even with many places closed, we still had a great time exploring and catching up.
First Trip to Lake Como
One of the highlights of August was my first trip to Lake Como. I had heard so much about how beautiful it is, and it lived up to every expectation. The lake was the perfect escape from the summer heat, and I even got the chance to swim in the lake, which was so refreshing. The scenery around Como is breathtaking, with its mountains and elegant villas lining the shore. I definitely want to go back before my volunteer program ends—it’s one of those places that stays with you, and I can’t wait to experience it again.
Another fun aspect of living in Milano that I’ve grown to appreciate is how you never know what you’ll come across in the city. One thing I’ve started noticing is some luxury cars driving around, especially in certain neighborhoods. It’s pretty impressive to see such fancy cars just cruising through the streets. Milano has this mix of elegance and everyday life that I really enjoy.
August has been full of contrasts—from the lively streets of Vienna to the quiet, almost deserted Milano during Ferragosto, and from the hot city streets to the cool waters of Lake Como. It’s been a month of exploration, both inside and outside Italy, and I’m excited to see what’s next as I continue my ESC journey.
As always, stay tuned for more adventures! I’m looking forward to sharing more about life in Milano and everything I’m learning along the way.
Associazione di Volontariato – ODV
L.go Volontari del Sangue, 1 – 20133 Milano (MI)
Tel. 02 266.66.56 – Fax 02 266.78.18
Codice Fiscale: 97124290152
Iscrizione Registro Unico Nazionale del Terzo settore (RUNTS)
con decreto dirigenziale Raccolta generale n. 9488 del 22/12/2022
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