North Italy 2012 - Polluted Wasteland
My husband and I just finished an extended stay in Europe, using Rick Steve's suggestions. One topic I think travelers should be alerted to is the quality of the air they will be breathing in the places they intend to visit.
We started the Italian leg of our tour in Venice, where the air was clear and cool in Octobervery fine. Then we drove to Verona, Milan, and Genoa on the autostrada. We were horrified and disgusted at the vast quantity of hideously polluting factories everywherewith obviously no pollution controls of any kind. They were turning a former paradise into a form of hell on earth. Most communities at least limit their factories to an industrial park of some sort, but in North Italy, every residential neighborhood and every farmer's field seems to have sprouted a big polluter, which has completed destroyed the natural environment and the scenery. One really frightening thing is the way they are growing commercial fruits and vegetables directly right up against the walls of the worst polluting factories, obviously on the toxic sludge coming out of there.
Verona's buildings in the tourist area are the only spot on the journey where we couldn't actually see the big polluters, but if you arrive by train or plane, you might not know why your eyes and lungs sting, and why you can't see much through thick smog.
Jennifer
Chicago 11/4/12
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I answer you with pleasure, I would definitely recommend the Langhe in Piedmont, the city of Alba and the surrounding villages like Barolo and Neive (one of the hundred most beautiful historic towns of Italy). An area of low indistrial intensity, but with extensive wine cultivations, in my opinion here produces the best wines of Italy and the food is fantastic, the Tuscany here has a potential adversary. In Lombardy, my region, worth a visit Bergamo, Mantova, Cremona, whose historic centers are a must see. The air quality is decent, considering that they are highly industrial areas.
The air quality in some of the northern cities here can be bad but it's mostly from automobiles which is why they have occasional bans on driving downtown in many cities, including here in Vicenza. As Claudio said, I'm not sure it really does anything besides make people think they are really doing something to help. It can be a shame too because once a month or so we have a completely clear day and the view of the Alps from is magnificent.
It may be bad for some people but it is nowhere near as bad as places like Hong Kong or Manila. Now THAT is air pollution...
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