Experience Italy in Maastricht with Ciao tutti

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 espresso e un cornetto

The perfect place for an Italian start to your stroll through Italian Maastricht is Van Wijck. Thanks in part to the beautiful La Marzocco espresso machine, a cappuccino or espresso here tastes just like in an Italian coffee bar. Add a cornetto (croissant) with dark chocolate shavings for a real Italian breakfast. Continue along Wycker Brugstraat and turn right into Rechtstraat after Café Zondag. At number 19 you will find Regalo, an unusual 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 join them for lunch or dinner later in the day.

Espresso at Toscanella in Maastricht

  • Van Wijck | Wyck

    Welcome to Van Wijck in Wyck. Pure enjoyment in the city of coffee, breakfast, lunch, drinks and takeaway. Open every day from 8 am to 6 pm. More information about Van Wijck | Wyck

    Van Wijck | Wyck

  • Regalo Cadeau

    Regalo Cadeau combines selling and making the most creative gifts with a daytime activity for people with a mental disability. More about Regalo Cadeau

    Regalo Cadeau Regalo Cadeau

Several 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 has its back to Darq, where both coffee and chocolate lovers can indulge. Order a delicious espresso, cappuccino or one of the other coffee varieties (made with Illy coffee beans from Trieste in northern Italy) with one of the chocolate creations from chocolatier Ralph Hagen's workshop. Nice souvenirs are the Mestreechter punekes (chocolate kisses).

Mestreechter Geis sculpture Stokstraat Quarter Maastricht Cappuccino at Darq Maastricht

  • Mestreechter Geis

    A difficult to translate concept made visible by sculptor Mari Andriessen (1897-1979) in a sculpture of the same name. More info on Mestreechter Geis

    Mestreechter Geis

  • DARQ Maastricht

    On the banks of the river Meuse and at the start of the idyllic Stokstraat quarter is DARQ, a unique chocolate and coffee concept. More info on DARQ Maastricht

    DARQ Maastricht

More tracks - of the Romans

Continue walking along Het Bat. Cross the Maasboulevard at Eksterstraat to admire the only visible remnant of the Roman bridge on the Meuse promenade: a stone lion overlooking the Meuse (the original lion belongs to the Bonnefanten collection).

Walk down Eksterstraat to the little square called Op de Thermen, in the heart of the Stokstraat quarter. This was once the site of the Roman castellum, which also included, as the square's name suggests, a large thermal complex. Unfortunately, the remains of the baths are no longer visible, but you can still see the contours of the various buildings in the pavement.

  • Op de Thermen square

    Op de Thermen is an intimate, quiet square in Maastricht, with a historical reference to a Roman bathhouse. More info on Op de Thermen

    Op de Thermen square Op de Thermen square Maastricht

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 about Vino&Friends

    Vino&Friends Vino & Friends dish

A stone's throw away is Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein, where more Roman history awaits, including in the basement of the Derlon Hotel. Archaeologists found here the remains of a temple complex dedicated to Jupiter, the Roman supreme god. But also the remains of a section of Roman road and the western gate of the castellum. In the showcases, remains of statues and a spout of a pouring jug, in the shape of a delicately rendered animal head, sparkle.

  • Museum cellar Derlon

    Many Roman remains have been found in and around the Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein square. These remains are kept in the museum cellar of Hotel Derlon. More info on Museumkelder Derlon

    Museum cellar Derlon Museum Cellar Hotel Derlon

Spot the cornerstones in 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.

  • Ciao tutti's City Walk Maastricht

    Curious about more Italian spots in Maastricht? With Ciao tutti's City Walk Maastricht - Italy on the Meuse you will discover them all. Buona passeggiata, nice walk!

    Order the walk
    Ciao tutti Maastricht City Walk

More international allure - in Maastricht

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