interesting places to stop on the way from Switzerland to Ancona

[dimitri]

We will travelling by car from Switzerland to Ancona and have 3-4 days to spare. Any suggestions of interesting places to visit/stop on the way? We are flexible and don't need to take the most direct route. Thanks

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

Is Urbino too near Ancona?
Where in Switzerland?

 

[Alpinista]

If leaving from Zurich, stop in Vaduz, Liechtenstein -- a very nice town and gives you the chance to add a country to your list that most people have never visited. Bolzano and Trento would also be on your route for stops in Italy, as is Vicenza. Ravenna's mosaics are things of beauty. San Marino is another possibility, but you'll be shoulder to shoulder with hordes of tourists visiting the unending line of souvenir shops on the streets.

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

San Marino is another possibility, but you'll be shoulder to shoulder with hordes of tourists visiting the unending line of souvenir shops on the streets.

There's plenty of great and not touristy places to see in the area instead of San Marino: San Leo, Sant'Agata Feltria, Santarcangelo di Romagna, Urbino, Mondavio, Cagli, Urbania... There is great art (Raphael, Piero Della Francesca...), Medieval and Renaissance architecture, Roman archaeology, glorious nature... Skip San Marino

 

[dimitri]

Is Urbino too near Ancona?
Where in Switzerland?

Thank you Gulia. We'll be driving from Geneva. Urbino sounds interesting

 

[Pauline]

Depending on the time of year, you could stop in the French or Italian Alps. Aosta is a beautiful town in northern Italy, in the Alps. Or stop in the Piedmont region further south. Further into Italy you could stop in Parma or Bologna.

It all depends on what types of things you want to do and where you have been there before. And the time of year.

 

[Ian Sutton]

If coming from Geneva, google maps shows about 8 hours driving, going via places such as Aosta, Fenis, Ivrea, Novara, skirting Milano and continuing on along via Emilia (E35/E45) so plenty of good places in Emilia Romagna.

in addition to all the above, I think Ravenna is a good idea, and not much of a detour at all

One place I've recommended here before, especially if passing on a weekend. Il Cavenago in Ghemme is a good agriturismo, and the typically weekend banquet meals pretty special.

A big decision is whether to go for 3-4 stops and have very modest driving to do each day, have just a single stop in the middle and stay 3 nights there, or something inbetween. Both extremes are perfectly achievable / a good idea when you have a car, so I'd say it all falls on what style appeals best to you