Long Weekend in Italy - Suggestions...
Discussion
Looking to take the missues away for her birthday, she likes the look of Italy and I absolutely love italian food and coffee, I could eat Pizza , Pasta and any other Italian dishes ten times a day every day! Suddenly realised I haven't actually been to Italy since I was a kid!
Probably would want to spend 3/4 nights, our 2 x teenage kids might come as well
Just finished watching Rick Steins long weekend in Bologna and Palermo, both look of interest, so does Naples, Turn and Milan. Not too keen on Venice, otherwise flexible
Not looking to spend mega money, so budget is a concern, otherwise just looking to experience good food and sight seeing
Spent my 20s exploring European cities, so happy to go off the beaten track and try new things, don't fancy anything too stereotypical or cliched.
Any suggestions of Italian cities/ideas/experience most welcome..Thanks in advance
Probably would want to spend 3/4 nights, our 2 x teenage kids might come as well
Just finished watching Rick Steins long weekend in Bologna and Palermo, both look of interest, so does Naples, Turn and Milan. Not too keen on Venice, otherwise flexible
Not looking to spend mega money, so budget is a concern, otherwise just looking to experience good food and sight seeing
Spent my 20s exploring European cities, so happy to go off the beaten track and try new things, don't fancy anything too stereotypical or cliched.
Any suggestions of Italian cities/ideas/experience most welcome..Thanks in advance
Rome, Rome and Rome. Oh, did I mention Rome? Get a hotel in the centre of Rome. You can walk to all the sites (except possibly Vatican City) and the choices for eating etc are fantastic.
Other interesting cities from my experience are Bologna, Florence, Como and Verona. For the latter get an apartment in the old city (particularly if you take the teenagers). I spent a lot of time in Milan on business years ago but never really fell in love; perhaps because I was there alone......
Other interesting cities from my experience are Bologna, Florence, Como and Verona. For the latter get an apartment in the old city (particularly if you take the teenagers). I spent a lot of time in Milan on business years ago but never really fell in love; perhaps because I was there alone......
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Turin...not the industrial place you'd expect, the centre is great & the Fiat/Ferrari museum is amazing
Milan: fab
Italian lakes:
Smokin........that pic of the Italian Lake looks very much like one of my favourite restaurants in Italy. Could it be the Albergo Milano in Varenna, overlooking Lake Como?Milan: fab
Italian lakes:
b2tus said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Turin...not the industrial place you'd expect, the centre is great & the Fiat/Ferrari museum is amazing
Milan: fab
Italian lakes:
Smokin........that pic of the Italian Lake looks very much like one of my favourite restaurants in Italy. Could it be the Albergo Milano in Varenna, overlooking Lake Como?Milan: fab
Italian lakes:
Hi Smokin
Thought I recognised your sign-in name from my TVR days. Did a 3 week trip to the Italian Lakes in our Tuscan in 2011. Took in various passes (Stelvio etc) and the most scary of all was the Gavia Pass. Someone with a warped sense of humour (a biker) suggested we did it. Never ever do it in a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQL0KBh_S9Y
Garda was beautiful and I knew the lake well as I used to have an office in Desenzano. I had visited Sirmione several times before but wanted to show my wife this gorgeous place.
The Tuscan now resides in Austria and a Porsche 981 has taken its place.
Thought I recognised your sign-in name from my TVR days. Did a 3 week trip to the Italian Lakes in our Tuscan in 2011. Took in various passes (Stelvio etc) and the most scary of all was the Gavia Pass. Someone with a warped sense of humour (a biker) suggested we did it. Never ever do it in a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQL0KBh_S9Y
Garda was beautiful and I knew the lake well as I used to have an office in Desenzano. I had visited Sirmione several times before but wanted to show my wife this gorgeous place.
The Tuscan now resides in Austria and a Porsche 981 has taken its place.
I've been travelling with the wife to various parts of Italy a couple of times a year and have found a way I like to do it. I fly to a place that has a number of nearby cities, known to be interesting, rent a small car (I love having a Fiat Panda in Italy), book a nice hotel just outside the major cities and then travel to the known towns, the countryside, and explore whats around, as well as take in some shopping (be canny, and you could save so much that the trip almost pays for itself).
So, for a first trip I would suggest one of these:
Venice/Treviso area. Venice is great outside of the peak tourist season, but I would avoid June-Sept. Basing yourself in Treviso means you could do a daytrip to the Dolomites, Venice, great shopping at Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet, as well as short trips to nice local places like Cittadella. I stayed at Best Western Premier BHR Treviso Hotel - Great value and good parking.
Siena/Florence area: So, I do love this area, but again, during the summer can get way too busy... you get a lot of restrictions for cars into the towns so I would stay a little outside and take public transport in. Florence is great for a day or two to explore, however, I do like the atmosphere of Siena better. If you want to also explore local Tuscan areas more, I may stay somewhere like Pienza which is a lot more peaceful, has wonderful views and easy access to Siena and the local historical hill towns like Montepulciano. Alternatively, you could stay near Siena (I usually stay at Hotel San Marco), or north of Florence, closer to Bologna.
Bologna/Modena area: If you want more of a car enthusiast trip, then fly into Bologna, and base a trip between there and Palma - Great food, lots of car factories and museums to visit... Modena town centre is very nice and often missed as a place to visit. Good shopping at Outlets at Bologna or further north in Fidenza. I found this place good value to stay at, particularly with the family (nice spacious apartments and a good busy restaurant next door)
Milan area: Milan is a great city once you get to know it better, I found. The first couple of trips didn't do it for me - I was left feeling a little cold. Its a bigger city, with particular streets/shops/buildings which are interesting. Here, I would either base myself in the city and not have a car (which I do more now I know the place), or again, stay somewhere cheaper a little outside (like Monza) and come into town (park up outside the car restriction zone), and walk the city. That way, you can also drive out to Como (which I love), explore other areas like Citta Alta just outside Bergamo and visit Monza Race track (€5 entrance fee when no major race is on and can park in the paddock).
What I am not so sure about:
Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Peninsula: I really enjoyed this area when I went last year, however, as has been said, some areas can be a little rough, in fact scarily so when I found myself a little lost driving the back streets of Castellammare di Stabia. The hotel I booked was just outside Castellammare di Stabia, called La Medusa Hotel & Boutique Spa and it was really nice - with a great restaurant called La Brace across the road. From here over 4 days we did Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Naples and a drive around the Amalfi Peninsula. It was a busy trip, but excellent. If you rent a car here, make sure you pay for the zero excess insurance - no car was without dents here and the driving was about the worst I have seen anywhere.
Rome: I have been here only once, and did a whistlestop tour but just do not know enough to recommend either way
I hope this is helpful
So, for a first trip I would suggest one of these:
Venice/Treviso area. Venice is great outside of the peak tourist season, but I would avoid June-Sept. Basing yourself in Treviso means you could do a daytrip to the Dolomites, Venice, great shopping at Noventa di Piave Designer Outlet, as well as short trips to nice local places like Cittadella. I stayed at Best Western Premier BHR Treviso Hotel - Great value and good parking.
Siena/Florence area: So, I do love this area, but again, during the summer can get way too busy... you get a lot of restrictions for cars into the towns so I would stay a little outside and take public transport in. Florence is great for a day or two to explore, however, I do like the atmosphere of Siena better. If you want to also explore local Tuscan areas more, I may stay somewhere like Pienza which is a lot more peaceful, has wonderful views and easy access to Siena and the local historical hill towns like Montepulciano. Alternatively, you could stay near Siena (I usually stay at Hotel San Marco), or north of Florence, closer to Bologna.
Bologna/Modena area: If you want more of a car enthusiast trip, then fly into Bologna, and base a trip between there and Palma - Great food, lots of car factories and museums to visit... Modena town centre is very nice and often missed as a place to visit. Good shopping at Outlets at Bologna or further north in Fidenza. I found this place good value to stay at, particularly with the family (nice spacious apartments and a good busy restaurant next door)
Milan area: Milan is a great city once you get to know it better, I found. The first couple of trips didn't do it for me - I was left feeling a little cold. Its a bigger city, with particular streets/shops/buildings which are interesting. Here, I would either base myself in the city and not have a car (which I do more now I know the place), or again, stay somewhere cheaper a little outside (like Monza) and come into town (park up outside the car restriction zone), and walk the city. That way, you can also drive out to Como (which I love), explore other areas like Citta Alta just outside Bergamo and visit Monza Race track (€5 entrance fee when no major race is on and can park in the paddock).
What I am not so sure about:
Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Peninsula: I really enjoyed this area when I went last year, however, as has been said, some areas can be a little rough, in fact scarily so when I found myself a little lost driving the back streets of Castellammare di Stabia. The hotel I booked was just outside Castellammare di Stabia, called La Medusa Hotel & Boutique Spa and it was really nice - with a great restaurant called La Brace across the road. From here over 4 days we did Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Naples and a drive around the Amalfi Peninsula. It was a busy trip, but excellent. If you rent a car here, make sure you pay for the zero excess insurance - no car was without dents here and the driving was about the worst I have seen anywhere.
Rome: I have been here only once, and did a whistlestop tour but just do not know enough to recommend either way
I hope this is helpful
b2tus said:
Hi Smokin
Thought I recognised your sign-in name from my TVR days. Did a 3 week trip to the Italian Lakes in our Tuscan in 2011. Took in various passes (Stelvio etc) and the most scary of all was the Gavia Pass. Someone with a warped sense of humour (a biker) suggested we did it. Never ever do it in a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQL0KBh_S9Y
Garda was beautiful and I knew the lake well as I used to have an office in Desenzano. I had visited Sirmione several times before but wanted to show my wife this gorgeous place.
The Tuscan now resides in Austria and a Porsche 981 has taken its place.
Thought I recognised your sign-in name from my TVR days. Did a 3 week trip to the Italian Lakes in our Tuscan in 2011. Took in various passes (Stelvio etc) and the most scary of all was the Gavia Pass. Someone with a warped sense of humour (a biker) suggested we did it. Never ever do it in a car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQL0KBh_S9Y
Garda was beautiful and I knew the lake well as I used to have an office in Desenzano. I had visited Sirmione several times before but wanted to show my wife this gorgeous place.
The Tuscan now resides in Austria and a Porsche 981 has taken its place.
Did you drive through Sirmione where you are in the pedestrian area? Very disconcerting.We toured Northern Italy for our Honeymoon.
Rome-Siena-Florence-Genoa-Parma-Venice-Verona-Bolzano-Varenna(Lake Como)-Milan
Over three weeks, 2 or 3 nights in most. All the places had their charm except Genoa. Not it's fault but it's a working port city, not really a touristy place - Bit like visiting the UK and going to Swindon.
Parma had the best food, Bolzano was epic surrounded by mountains with a weird but cool Italian/Austrian vibe.
The one regret was not staying in Venice longer - we thought it would be naff and touristy so only had the one night. It was magical and we will go back and make more of it in the future. Wonderful place.
I've not been to southern Italy and don't really have an urge to for some reason.
Rome-Siena-Florence-Genoa-Parma-Venice-Verona-Bolzano-Varenna(Lake Como)-Milan
Over three weeks, 2 or 3 nights in most. All the places had their charm except Genoa. Not it's fault but it's a working port city, not really a touristy place - Bit like visiting the UK and going to Swindon.
Parma had the best food, Bolzano was epic surrounded by mountains with a weird but cool Italian/Austrian vibe.
The one regret was not staying in Venice longer - we thought it would be naff and touristy so only had the one night. It was magical and we will go back and make more of it in the future. Wonderful place.
I've not been to southern Italy and don't really have an urge to for some reason.
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