Experience Italy in Maastricht with Ciao tutti

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Maastricht is arguably the most Italian city in the Netherlands. Not only because of its Roman history, but also thanks to its many Italian culinary addresses. Discover the Italian atmosphere of Wyck, the Stokstraat quarter and Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein with Saskia Balmaekers of Ciaotutti.nl.

Start the day with an espresso and a cornetto

The perfect place for an Italian start to your stroll through ‘Italian Maastricht’ is Van Wijck. Thanks in part to the superb La Marzocco espresso machine, a cappuccino or espresso here tastes just like it does in an Italian coffee bar. Add a cornetto (croissant) with dark chocolate shavings for a truly Italian breakfast. Continue along Wycker Brugstraat and, after Café Zondag, turn right into Rechtstraat. At number 19, you’ll find Regalo, a unique gift shop with an Italian name, run by people with intellectual disabilities. At number 22 is Toscanella Apuana, an authentic Italian trattoria where you can sit down for lunch or dinner later in the day.

Espresso at Toscanella in Maastricht

All roads lead to Rome...

Walk past St Martin's Church out of Rechtstraat and turn left into Sint Maartenslaan. Walk to the narrow strip of greenery on the Embankment along the Meuse. Here you will find two remnants of the Wilhelmina Bridge. They are two reliefs depicting Maastricht's history, made by Haarlem artist Hendrik van den Eijnde. The left relief shows the arrival of the Romans, who foundedTraiectum ad Mosam, a 'crossing place in the Meuse', here.

Detail Sint-Servaas bridge Maastricht

La dolce vita

Follow the embankment along the Meuse to the Sint-Servaas bridge, the oldest existing bridge in the Netherlands. Walk across the bridge, then turn left and walk along the Vissersmaas to the little square where the Mestreechter Geis stands. It is a playful, dashing statue, characteristics that characterise the average Maastricht person. The Mestreechter Mestreechter Geis symbolises the way the Maastricht people live their lives. The local version of la dolce vita!

The Mestreechter Geis stands with its back to Darq, where both coffee and chocolate lovers can indulge to their heart’s content. Order a delicious espresso, cappuccino or one of the other coffee specialities (made with Illy coffee beans from Trieste in northern Italy) accompanied by one of the chocolate creations from chocolatier Ralph Hagen’s workshop. The Mestreechter punekes (chocolate kisses) make a lovely souvenir.

Mestreechter Geis sculpture Stokstraat Quarter Maastricht Cappuccino at Darq Maastricht

  • Mestreechter Geis

    One of Maastricht’s most famous symbols. The bronze statue symbolises the Maastricht way of life and tells the story behind a concept that has been linked to the city for generations. More info about Mestreechter Geis

    Mestreechter Geis

  • DARQ Maastricht

    DARQ is a coffee and chocolate hotspot in the heart of Maastricht, with homemade pastries, freshly turned Italian scoop ice cream, luxury sundaes, lunch and a unique chocolate hotel. Look through the glass in the floor into the Chocolate Lab, where all creations are made with craftsmanship every day. More info on DARQ Maastricht

    DARQ Maastricht

Even more clues - from the Romans

Continue your walk along Het Bat. Cross the Maasboulevard at Eksterstraat to admire the only visible remnant of the Roman bridge on the Maaspromenade: a stone lion looking out over the Meuse (the original lion is part of the Bonnefanten Museum’s collection).

Walk along Eksterstraat to the small square known as ‘Op de Thermen’, in the heart of the Stokstraat Quarter. This was once the site of the Roman castellum, which, as the square’s name suggests, also included a large thermal baths complex. Unfortunately, the remains of the baths are no longer visible, but you can still make out the outlines of the various buildings in the paving.

Where Romans once enjoyed a few hours of bathing, steaming and swimming, at Vino&Friends you now enjoy a wonderful selection of wines, personally curated by owners Fabian Wijering and Bas Lenoire, accompanied by classic antipasti, beautiful (homemade) pastas and tasty secondi. There is also a changing three- or four-course menu every month highlighting one of the Italian regions.

  • Vino&Friends

    An atmospheric Italian restaurant in the historic Stokstraat Quarter. Enjoy refined Italian dishes prepared with fresh ingredients. More info on Vino&Friends

    Vino&Friends Vino & Friends dish

Just a stone’s throw away lies Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein, where more Roman history awaits, including in the basement of the Derlon Hotel. Archaeologists found the remains of a temple complex dedicated to Jupiter, the supreme Roman god, here. They also uncovered the remains of a section of a Roman road and the western gate of the castellum. On display in the showcases are fragments of statues and the spout of a jug, shaped like a finely crafted animal’s head.

Spot the cornerstones in the Basilica of Our Lady

The castellum is also said to have contained a monumental column topped by a life-size statue of Jupiter. In memory of this, a statue of Jupiter on horseback stands high on a column in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe square. The only visible 'souvenir' of the Romans at Basilica of Our Lady are the spolia, the grey corner stones on the right side of the church. The impressive chapel of Mary, gold-lined statue of the Star of the Sea, has a very Italian feel to it. Like the Maastricht people, light a candle there, at the feet of Mary.

  • Basilica of Our Lady Maastricht front end
  • Our Lady basilica Maastricht chapel maria statue

Italian hotspots - around the square

Contemporary Italy is fortunately also plentiful on Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein, thanks in part to Ristorante Il Giardino, one of the city's oldest Italian restaurants. The owners have Sicilian roots, but the menu features dishes from all over the boot. On the corner with Sint Bernardusstraat is Infinito, a wine bar with mostly Italian dishes and drinks on the menu. For toe get a gelato, ice cream, in summer at Gelateria Luna Rossa, on Graanmarkt, with which you can take a quick stroll through the former Roman part of town.

More international allure - in Maastricht

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