Medieval town in Italy

[t1grm]

Whilst driving through Italy from Florence to Naples last year we went near a medieval town perched on the top of a cliff. When I say near I mean you could see it from the A1 motorway. It was somewhere near Rome I think. Anyone know the name of the place? Quite fancy stopping off there this year. It looked really cool from a distance.

[t1grm]

OK found it. It was Orvieto:



Nice wine too ! Roll on August !

[D_Mike]

Orvieto is great. San Gimigiano and Siena also come recommended

[FourWheelDrift]

Stunningly beautiful.

[Joecooool]

D_Mike said:

San Gimigiano and Siena also come recommended

Been to both places and highly recommend!

[shadowninja]

FourWheelDrift said:

Stunningly beautiful.

[xm5er]

May I further recommend, Rada in Chianti.

[puggit]

For the true Italy, head South of Naples (and South of Amalfi!) along the West coast.

They don't even speak English there

[D_Mike]

I like puglia a lot too, those little round stone houses they have. and the sea urchins that they eat as a delicacy

the south is really quite different from the north.

(I've been all round Italy as I used to live there - its a great country and I love it a lot).

[Tango2]

We love Arezzo, and Castiligano (sp?)SW of Florence. We stayed in an old Machiavelli hunting lodge near there - absoultely stunning. The first Sunday in Sept, they have jousting in Arezzo - not to be missed!

[t1grm]

puggit said:

For the true Italy, head South of Naples (and South of Amalfi!) along the West coast. They don't even speak English there

Oh yes I’m going to Malta so will be driving right to the tip of the boot and beyond so to speak .

Naples is my favourite city in Italy. Great to drive in too – total madness – once you loose your inhibitions and join in it’s quite fun.

Stayed in Maratea on the Amalfi coast last year as well.

I’ll only be in Orvieto for one night so unfortunately the other places will have to wait for another year

[danww]

If you go that way on your way south Lucca is lovely - absolutely amazing walled city. Not far from Pisa, but beautiful and unspoilt (unlike Pisa )

[puggit]

t1grm said:

puggit said: For the true Italy, head South of Naples (and South of Amalfi!) along the West coast. They don't even speak English there Oh yes I’m going to Malta so will be driving right to the tip of the boot and beyond so to speak . Naples is my favourite city in Italy. Great to drive in too – total madness – once you loose your inhibitions and join in it’s quite fun. Stayed in Maratea on the Amalfi coast last year as well. I’ll only be in Orvieto for one night so unfortunately the other places will have to wait for another year

I loved driving in Naples - even forced a German coach to reverse back up Vesuvious cos I was in the right

Never forget stopping for my 1st red lights out of the airport. I didn't make that mistake again

Maratea isn't on the Amalfi coast, it's about 150km south. But the cliffs there are just as good, and not spoilt by Americans!

Will never forget Paestum either, one of the best Roman ruins, and very unspoilt.

[hiasakite]

D_Mike said:

I like puglia a lot too, those little round stone houses they have. and the sea urchins that they eat as a delicacy the south is really quite different from the north. (I've been all round Italy as I used to live there - its a great country and I love it a lot).

I was born there, and half my family is pulgiese..

And yeah.. its totally different world down there.. nicknamed the mezzogiorno (midday) because nothing happens between around 1 and 5 pm in the summer.....

[Twincam16]

Also, can I suggest Montecatini Alto? Monticatini Terme is the main town (complete with classic Ferrari dealership inc. Daytona Competizione, F40, Diablo, 250GT etc), but Alto is a medeival town accessible from Terme by an old funicular railway. It's beautiful, and the restaurant with the terrace overlooking the Tuscan plain is well worth a visit - especially for their ice creams.

BTW If you're visiting Siena or San Gimignano, buy yourself a bottle of Guicciardini Strozzi Chianti. By far the best alcoholic beverage to ever have passed my lips. Not badly priced too - seriously impress the folks back home! (pronounced 'gweecheeardeeny strottzi' if you want to impress them further).

Lovely part of Italy that I intend to make my home one day

[IOLAIRE]

Can I suggest also if you're touring Europe visit the 12th century Templar village of La Couvertoirade in France.
It is in the region of Midi-Pyrenees of the A75 about 50 miles north west of Montpellier.
The whole village is almost perfectly preserved, and I have never felt anything so atmospheric to walk through.
There are some fantastic places to eat and most unusual gift shops to see, all within the original Templar buildings.
This is a link to some pics.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/vt/s/?m=6&l.q=1c913

[Mad Moggie]

Agree with Lucca - it really is lovely.

Then there is Alba (Northwest) medieval and wonderful restaurants.

Oh and a drive to die for ... La Grande Strade delle Dolomiiti :lol: Chock ful of gorges, high passes and views...

If you go to Umbria - visit a place called Todi - medieval walled city...

If you venture down to Sardinia... wonderful drive there Logoduro...starts at Catelsardo and ends at Sassari (boring town when you get there - but the drive across is rather good.

Wildy prefers Switzerland and Austria ... but I like Italy - quaint and not as high! (Hate those cable cars she insists on )

[D_Mike]

If you go to Rome, go to ostia antica. They are the best and most complete roman ruins I've been to. It is the whole ancient port of Rome. There are fantastic mosaics left open to the elements and buildings with several stories still standing. I love it. I used to play there as a kid as it was near my house

[planetdave]

D Mike - any chance of you dropping me a line?

[mojocvh]

hiasakite said:

D_Mike said: I like puglia a lot too, those little round stone houses they have. and the sea urchins that they eat as a delicacy the south is really quite different from the north. (I've been all round Italy as I used to live there - its a great country and I love it a lot). I was born there, and half my family is pulgiese.. And yeah.. its totally different world down there.. nicknamed the mezzogiorno (midday) because nothing happens between around 1 and 5 pm in the summer.....

...spent quite some time in that area, it is very nice, also down to Brindisi and see the arabian influence in the architcture of the old town.

Great how you can go out late at night (they don't get going untill 10-11pm)and the only "conflict" is the effort they put into outposing each other, no drunks or trouble just laid back, happy people.

MoJo

Hmm must go back there when I do my "big tour"