Italy on the Maas: Jeker Quarter and 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.
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Listen to the podcast of Ciao tutti
Listen to the podcast of Ciao tutti
'La dolce vita in Maastricht'
Cow Street
Koestraat feels a bit like a street in an Italian village, mainly because of its cobblestones, cosy terraces and Italian eateries. For starters, there is the atmospheric wine bar Via Mucca, the Italian translation of Koestraat. There you can choose from well-known and lesser-known Italian wines, among others. If you walk a little further, you can sit down at TOMATO. Here you can eat the tastiest pizzas and pastas. Cheese lovers can head opposite to De Kaasbar, with an assortment of tasty Italian cheeses and wines on the menu.
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Via Mucca
Via Mucca
Via Mucca, Maastricht's number one wine bar. More info on Via Mucca
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De Kaasbar
De Kaasbar
Benelux's first cheese bar, perfect for true bourgondians. Here you can enjoy many different cheeses with matching wines and special beers! More information about De Kaasbar
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TOMATO
TOMATO
Trendy pizza & pasta bar in Maastricht's picturesque Koestraat. More info about TOMATO
Like an Italian village
Follow Koestraat, which turns into Stenenbrug, and turn left at the end of Stenenbrug, into Sint Pieterstraat. Turn right, at Café De Pieter, into the Lang Grachtje. On your left, the remains of the medieval city walls sparkle; one of the charming features of the Jeker Quarter. On the corner with Sint Hilariusstraat is the city's most photographed house: Huisje Hoogerwaard. It could easily be in an Italian village like 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
On Tongersestraat you will find one of the city's oldest murals. More info on "Human Rights" mural
Through Purgatory
Walk along Tongersestraat back to Ezelmarkt. On the opposite side, opposite the Drama Academy, take Bouillonstraat. Turn left and continue across Sint-Servaasklooster to Henric van Veldekeplein. From the square, take the little street between Sint Janskerk (St. John's Church) and Sint-Servaasbasiliek, with the obscure name: Purgatory. Don't think too much of Dante's depiction of this place of purification, because Purgatory does not take you to hell here, but to Vrijthof, the city's most famous square.
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Vrijthof square
Vrijthof square
This romantic and historic square is Maastricht's largest. More info on Het Vrijthof
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Sint-Servaasbasiliek
Sint-Servaasbasiliek
This oldest basilica in the Netherlands has one of the richest treasuries in Europe. More info on Sint-Servaasbasiliek
Superb scenes - in the mountain portal
Before we settle down there, let me tell you a bit more about Sint-Servaasbasiliek. Like St Peter's in Rome, this church was built on the tomb of its namesake. St Servatius' 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 under the current floor. They also found two Roman coins. Not Roman but very Italian in appearance is the Mountain Portal, with magnificent scenes from the life of Mary and detailed images of Biblical figures. The labyrinth on the floor has Maastricht as its starting point. The four corners are formed 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
At Il Bacaro in Maastricht, you will enjoy authentic Italian dishes, prepared with love and passion, in an atmospheric setting that immediately makes you long for Italy. More info about Il Bacaro
Libri e vini
Leave the Vrijthof via Helmstraat. On your right, you will find Dominicanerplein, with Boekhandel Dominicanen, one of the world's finest bookshops, where you can immediately stock up on a book about Italy to stay in the Italian sphere a little longer. Walking out of Helmstraat, you are on the Grote Gracht. Diagonally opposite is Thiessen Wijnkoopers. You guessed it: a treasure trove of a wine cellar and even a vineyard. The oldest part of the cellar was once part of Maastricht's fortifications. On request, you can take a guided tour and/or attend a wine tasting. With Italian wines, of course.
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Boekhandel Dominicanen
Boekhandel Dominicanen
A stroll through the Dominican Church is an experience in itself, and people don't call it the most beautiful bookstore in the world for nothing! 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 info on Thiessen Wijnkoopers
Italian-Swiss stucco in City 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 peek inside City Hall. Que bello!
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City Hall
City Hall
The City Hall was built in the 17th century under master builder Pieter Post. More info on City Hall
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
Order the walkCurious about more Italian spots in Maastricht? With Ciao tutti's City Walk Maastricht - Italy on the Maas you will discover them all. Buona passeggiata, nice walk!
