Slept ok, woke up at like 05:45.
Got ready and went downstairs for breakfast which was quite nice.
Headed up to the station with plenty of time to figure out the ticket machines and buy tickets to Novara. We didn't figure out a seniors discount though. Although it was only about a Euro difference so not really worth the effort anyway.
Interior of Milan train station
So hopped on a train to Novara. Had a pair of seats to ourselves for a bit, then a noisy group of young people got on and they didn't stop talking the entire way.
View north towards the Italian Alps
At Novara we wandered into the old town and found a few things to look at. The cupola of the basilica did tours but only at 9:30 and 11:30 so there wasn't going to be time. So just had a look inside.
Me and Mum at Novara train station
View towards the cupola and bell tower of Basilica di San Gaudenzio
Basilica di San Gaudenzio
Interior of Basilica di San Gaudenzio
Government building in Novara from the northeast
Then had a look at the twin gates.
Barriera Albertina
Barriera Albertina
And a modern sculpture outside the old town (didn't include a photo).
And wandered some more.
The government building from the southwest
Piazza Martiri della Liberta
Then the castle (and found a WC).
Castello di Novara
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
And the opera house.
Gate outside Ciesa San Giovanni Decollato
Monumento a Carlo Emanuele di Savoia outside the Teatro Coccia
We looked briefly inside the cathedral but there was a mass being held so didn't explore.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Portico outside Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Interior of Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Photo by Mum
Entrance to Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Then headed back to the station. Bought tickets to Pavia from there (went to a human - I was going to ask about the process for changing trains but he didn't speak enough English to warrant it, so just took the ticket. In fact the only ticket check we had all day was at Milan station getting on our first train to Novara).
Novara train station
The train back to Milan was really crowded but at least we got seats. Next to people not wearing masks. Of course. You're meant to wear FFP2 masks on Italian trains. We gave up after a day or two and have just been wearing surgical masks. On account of it seems to be "masks optional" in the minds of many Italians.
Locomotive vapore 640 143 near Milan Centrale station
We had a forty minute turnaround at Milan so thought we'd get another crispy chicken burger from Burger King. But it was a lot busier today so had to wait ages and by the time we got to the train there was only about 5-10 minutes to spare.
So next was a train out to Pavia. It was fairly quiet, well except for the family with noisy kid that sat right behind us. But wasn't too bad in the end.
Me and Mum at Pavia train station
Pavia train station
At Pavia we headed down to the Ticino River to have a look at the bridges. The medieval bridge was bombed during the war which was pretty sad, so they rebuilt a new one next to it in a similar style.
Statua della Minerva
Ponte Coperto
Ponte sul fiume Ticino
Ponte Coperto
Ponte Coperto
Remnants of the medieval bridge that was destroyed during the war
Me on Ponte Coperto
Photo by Mum
View east along the Ticino River from Ponte Coperto
We stopped briefly in San Michele but it was very dark and the façade was covered in scaffolding.
Old building in Novara
Basilica di San Michele Maggiore
Interior of Basilica di San Michele Maggiore
Then had a look in the cathedral which was light and airy and not over the top decorated.
Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi
Cattederale di Santo Stefano e Santa Maria
Cattederale di Santo Stefano e Santa Maria
Interior of Cattederale di Santo Stefano e Santa Maria
Interior of Cattederale di Santo Stefano e Santa Maria
Didn't have time to look at Santa Maria del Carmine.
Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine
Tribunale di Pavia
Took a wrong turn at Minerva, and our leisurely walk to the station turned into a bit of a panic that we wouldn't make it in time. But we did. Phew.
The train back to Milan was super quiet, I think we had the whole top of the carriage to ourselves.
At Centrale, we headed down to the metro. They colour code things here nicely and have friendly markers on the walkways which makes it super easy to figure out where to go.
Our destination: Duomo. And OMFG it was so worth it - it was SHINING!!! I was so glad we rushed back from Pavia to see it, it was SPECTACULAR!!
Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral
Spires on Milan Cathedral
Madonnina statue on Milan Cathedral
Dude feeding pigeons outside Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral with pigeon
Me and Mum at Milan Cathedral
Then metro back to Centrale, and headed back to the hotel.
Milan's metro is super user friendly. This sticker shows you where to go for the M3 yellow line
Dumped some stuff, did our hair and freshened up, then went out to dinner - to the same restaurant as last night. But the service wasn't nearly as good tonight. Oh well.
Then back to the hotel to do photo stuff and blogging.
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