Where in Italy for a Weekend break?

[GreigR]

Looking at taking the Mrs to Italy for a long weekend in August. Neither of us have been before so I don't have a clue where is best.

Can anyone suggest anywhere nice?

Thanks

[sidicks]

Well I'm taking my wife to Florence / Pisa for a couple days later this month to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, so I'll let you know how I get on!

Sidicks

[whirly]

I would recommend Rome, purely from a practical point of view it is well served by airports and is easy to get about.

There are obviously loads of fantastic places to go, but for a weekend from the UK, you don't want to be faffing about travelling.

Florence is nice, but not sure what getting there is like from the UK. Expect queues, lots of, try to prebook everything. We went in November and the Uffizi had a 4 hour queue to get in (only one hour if you prebook).

Venice is fantastic. I would recommend not staying in Venice itself, as it dies after dark.

I live just outside of Milan, unless you have specific things to see, it would struggle to sustain a weekend.

Turin is nicer, but again do not know about flights.

Anywhere else in the north, I can probably give you a commentary!

[MonkeyBusiness]

Lake Garda?

[Puggit]

Rome is great for a weekend - but would be unbearably hot.

I'd suggest the lakes for that time.

[Dr John]

My wife and son have just come back from weekend in Rome.
Very hot but lots to see and do. They thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Lastinclass]

sidicks said:

Well I'm taking my wife to Florence / Pisa for a couple days later this month to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, so I'll let you know how I get on!

Sidicks

Don't plan on being in Pisa too long!!! If they had built that tower straight nobody would ever visit the place!!!
Florence on the other hand is lovely - I would rather go to Lucca than Pisa!!

[minimoog]

Maybe fly into Bergamo and drive up to Bellagio on Lake Como?

[Bonne Route]

minimoog said:

Maybe fly into Bergamo and drive up to Bellagio on Lake Como?

Seconded! Or take the train to Varenna and then to Belaggio by Water Taxi?

[Lastinclass]

Don't tell the wife about Italy's biggest indoor shopping mall across from Bergamo airport!!

[minimoog]

Bonne Route said:

minimoog said:

Maybe fly into Bergamo and drive up to Bellagio on Lake Como?

Seconded! Or take the train to Varenna and then to Belaggio by Water Taxi?

Good idea - avoids the crappy roads and it's easy to get around the lake by ferry.

[blueST]

I can recommend flying to Bergammo and staying local. Then hire a car to drive out to the lakes, Monza or wherever takes your fancy.

We had a very enjoyable time here http://www.lavallettabergamo.it/eng/index.htm
Host will even drive you into town of an evening and pick you up, so no worries about taxis etc.

[Busamav]

minimoog said:

Maybe fly into Bergamo and drive up to Bellagio on Lake Como?

That is what I would suggest too.

Took my wife there for her 50th .

[Olivero]

For food, you should really go to Bolognia. Art, go to Florence but is much better in the winter. Rome is also better in the winter.
I have been to most places in Italy and used to live just a bit south of Bolognia and always had a good time.

[whirly]

blueST said:

I can recommend flying to Bergammo and staying local. Then hire a car to drive out to the lakes, Monza or wherever takes your fancy.

We had a very enjoyable time here http://www.lavallettabergamo.it/eng/index.htm
Host will even drive you into town of an evening and pick you up, so no worries about taxis etc.

Agree with this. Bergamo is lovely, old town, lots of old shops and restaurants. You can easily get the bus or train to Milan for the day. Como would mean going to milan then back out, unless you are driving. I recommend the ferry from Como to Bellaggio, but to get there for lunchtime means getting to Como by about 9.

If you wanted to drive from bergamo, I would recommend going north into the valle brembana, through san pellegrino (of the water), then over passo san marco. You can then come back down the east side of lake como.

[Louis.]

I personally would choose somewhere near the coast (very close to the beach) or as suggested some of the lakes in the north.

Here in Tuscany (Val Di Chiana) the temperature is hitting 40+ and my only source of relaxation at the moment is the swimming pool !

[minimoog]

whirly said:

Agree with this. Bergamo is lovely, old town, lots of old shops and restaurants. You can easily get the bus or train to Milan for the day. Como would mean going to milan then back out, unless you are driving.

I've never tried it personally but a post on Tripadvisor says it's do-able without going via Milan.

tripadvisor person said:

Actually you can get a train direct from Bergamo train station (10 minute bus ride from airport) to Varenna on Lake Como - .

Bergamo to Varenna Esino leaves 12.04 arrives 13.18 with 1 change.

Check out trenitalia or this german site which is excellent.

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=2...

Change in Lecco.

Edited by minimoog on Saturday 10th July 13:32

[whirly]

minimoog said:

whirly said:

Agree with this. Bergamo is lovely, old town, lots of old shops and restaurants. You can easily get the bus or train to Milan for the day. Como would mean going to milan then back out, unless you are driving.

I've never tried it personally but a post on Tripadvisor says it's do-able without going via Milan.

tripadvisor person said:

Actually you can get a train direct from Bergamo train station (10 minute bus ride from airport) to Varenna on Lake Como - .

Bergamo to Varenna Esino leaves 12.04 arrives 13.18 with 1 change.

Check out trenitalia or this german site which is excellent.

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?ld=2...

Change in Lecco.

Edited by minimoog on Saturday 10th July 13:32

Having a company car and living on the otherside of Milan, does mean that I was guessing a bit there. If you do do it, remember to validate your ticket before getting on the train. It is a fine otherwise.

[Trophybloo]

Flying into Pisa and hiring a car is remarkably easy. If you can delay until early Sept you won't be paying Rugrat-time money. Lucca, Florence, Sienna all lovely and cooler in Sept (still in the mid to high 20s). Pisa is worth a day but no more IMO. Look up the Turismo Agricole site for farmhouse stays in the Tuscan countryside
PS You could wait until the end of Sept then go to San Remo for the rally;) Very romantic, Talented Mr Ripley country.

Edited by Trophybloo on Wednesday 14th July 16:28