Italy on the Meuse: the Jeker Quarter and the historic centre
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. Saskia Balmaekers of Ciaotutti.nl already gave you a taste of the Italian atmosphere of Wyck, the Stokstraat Quarter and Onze-Lieve-Vrouweplein in this blog. This time she takes you to Italian spots in the Jekerkkwartier and the historic centre of Maastricht.
The Koestraat
Koestraat feels a bit like a street in an Italian village, particularly because of the cobblestones, the cosy terraces and the Italian eateries. To start with, there’s the atmospheric wine bar Via Mucca, the Italian translation of Koestraat. There, you can choose from a selection of well-known and lesser-known Italian wines, amongst other things. If you walk a little further, you can pull up a chair at TOMATO. Here you can enjoy the most delicious pizzas and pastas. Cheese lovers can head to De Kaasbar opposite, which offers a selection of flavourful Italian cheeses and wines on the menu.
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Via Mucca
Via Mucca
A cosy wine bar in Maastricht's Jekerk Quarter, with carefully selected wines from all corners of the world, from Italy to the New World. More info on Via Mucca
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De Kaasbar
De Kaasbar
The first cheese bar in the Benelux. Here you can enjoy many different cheeses with matching wines and special beers! More info on De Kaasbar
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TOMATO
TOMATO
Trendy pizza & pasta bar in the picturesque Koestraat in Maastricht. More info on TOMATO
Just like an Italian village
Follow Koestraat, which merges into Stenenbrug, and at the end of Stenenbrug, turn left into Sint Pieterstraat. Turn right at Café De Pieter, into Lang Grachtje. On your left, the remains of the medieval city walls gleam; one of the charming features of the Jeker Quarter. On the corner with Sint Hilariusstraat stands the city’s most photographed house: Huisje Hoogerwaard. It could easily be found in an Italian village such as Spello (Umbria)…
Along the city wall - to Southern Italian cuisine
Turn left at the end of Lang Grachtje and walk down Grote Looiersstraat, with the atmosphere of an authentic Italian village square. Turn right into the Looiersgracht, cross the river Jeker via the little bridge and continue along the Looiersgracht. At Ezelmarkt, turn left onto Kakeberg, which you follow until you reach the little artistic square at the intersection with Tongersestraat. Here, a mural by Roland Topor colours the wall. Next to it is a statue of Saint Servatius, looking towards Tongeren. He was bishop there before Maastricht. It is a replica of the bishop's statue, which is incorporated into one of the arches on St Sint Servaasbrug bridge. Look across. If all is well, you'll see the rustic RistoPub Paletti, with lots of goodies from southern Italian cuisine. You'll taste a lot of Pugliese and Neapolitan influences in particular, from wood-fired pizzas to panzerotti and from daily-changing pastas to antipasti that are worthy of your name.
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"Human Rights" mural
"Human Rights" mural
One of Maastricht’s oldest murals. The artwork commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the enduring significance of freedom and human rights. More info about the Human Rights Mural
Through the Vagevuur
Walk back along Tongersestraat to the Ezelmarkt. Across the road, opposite the Theatre Academy, take Bouillonstraat. Turn left and continue along Sint-Servaasklooster until you reach Henric van Veldekeplein. From the square, take the narrow street between St John’s Church and St Servatius Basilica, which bears the rather sombre name: Het Vagevuur. Don’t dwell too much on Dante’s depiction of this place of purgatory, because Het Vagevuur doesn’t lead you to hell here, but to the Vrijthof, the city’s most famous square.
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Vrijthof square
Vrijthof square
Maastricht’s most famous square, where history, monuments, outdoor cafés, culture and events have come together for centuries. More info about the Vrijthof
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Basilica Of Saint Servatius
Basilica Of Saint Servatius
A centuries-old basilica on the Vrijthof, built over the tomb of Saint Servatius and an important pilgrimage church for centuries. More info about Saint Servatius Basilica
Stunning scenes - in the mountain portal
Before we settle in there, I’d like to tell you a bit more about St Servatius Basilica. Just like St Peter’s in Rome, this church was built over the tomb of its namesake. St Servatius’s final resting place is said to have once been a Roman burial ground. During excavations carried out in the late 1980s, the remains of a Roman building with a water basin were found beneath the current floor. Two Roman coins were also found. Not Roman but very Italian in character is the Berg Portal, featuring magnificent scenes from the life of Mary and intricately detailed sculptures of Biblical figures. The labyrinth on the floor has Maastricht as its starting point. The four corners are marked by the cities of Aachen, Cologne, Rome and Constantinople; the centre is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Imagine yourself in Venice - at the Vrijthof Square
On Vrijthof itself, you can imagine yourself in Venice, courtesy of Il Bacaro. In good Venetian tradition, you can accompany your glass of wine or Aperol Spritz with a selection of cicchetti, a kind of tapas but one hundred percent Venetian. You can choose from the most delicious dishes: baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, polpette, arrosticini, zucchini fritti, bruschettas... If you are more hungry, there are also delicious pasta dishes on the menu.
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Il Bacaro
Il Bacaro
Enjoy authentic Italian dishes, prepared with love and passion, in an atmospheric setting that immediately makes you long for Italy. More info on Il Bacaro
Books and wines
Leave the Vrijthof via Helmstraat. On your right, you’ll find the Dominicanerplein, home to Boekhandel Dominicanen, one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world, where you can pick up a book on Italy straight away to linger a little longer in that Italian atmosphere. As you walk down Helmstraat, you’ll find yourself on the Grote Gracht. Diagonally opposite is Thiessen Wijnkoopers. You’ve guessed it: a gem of a wine cellar and even a vineyard. The oldest part of the cellar once formed part of Maastricht’s fortifications. On request, you can take a guided tour and/or attend a wine tasting – featuring Italian wines, of course.
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Boekhandel Dominicanen
Boekhandel Dominicanen
A walk through the Dominican Church is an experience in itself; it is not for nothing that people call it the most beautiful bookstore in the world! More info on Boekhandel Dominicanen
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Thiessen Wijnkoopers
Thiessen Wijnkoopers
Discover the rich wine selection, historic wine cellars, city vineyard and experience special wine tastings and events. More about Thiessen Wijnkoopers
Italian-Swiss stucco work in the Town Hall
Walk down the Grote Gracht to the Market Square, with its impressive City Hall. Inside, you'll find a beautiful piece of Italian history. Yes, you hear that right. Indeed, Italian-Swiss stucco maker Tomaso Vasalli created some stunning rococo-style ceilings here between 1735 and 1737, including in the mayor's room. The enchanting stucco in the Gagini room was realised by a colleague of Vasilli's: Pietro Gagini. On the fireplace you can see the personification of caritas, charity. On the walls sparkle fairytale mountain landscapes surrounded by ornate flowers, birds, putti and mythological figures. These include Venus, the goddess of beauty, Diana, the goddess of the hunt, and Amor, the god of love. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to enter. Still curious what it looks like? Via the video 'Grandeur op de Markt' you can take a look inside the Town Hall. Que bello!
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City Hall
City Hall
A monumental 17th-century town hall, designed by architect Pieter Post, which has been the administrative heart of Maastricht for over 350 years. More info about the Town Hall on the Markt
A toast to Mestreech
From Market Square, take Mint Street, turn left into Mariastraat, then turn right onto Kesselskade. There is the last stop of this walk: Il Fiore. Here, flavoursome Italian cuisine flourishes thanks to Dino's high-level cooking skills and Diana's hospitality. Feel free to let Dino surprise you; that challenge is right up his street. Also order a nice, full bottle of wine for a toast to Mestreech. Cin cin!
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Il Fiore
Il Fiore
Experience the rich culinary traditions of Salento and Sardinia at Il Fiore, where chef Dino and hostess Diana welcome you with passion and hospitality. More about Il Fiore
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Ciao tutti’s City Walk Maastricht
Book the walking tourCurious 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!
