Since my sister in North Carolina wasn't able to come…
Italy Ideas?
It’s shaping up that I may go to Italy with my friend Nicole at the end of November. It’s a spur of the moment trip and we haven’t had much time to plan.
My first two trips to Italy were backpacking in college during the Lira days. My last trip was with Rob, we were poor and arrived the day of the Euro switch. Now, Italy is on the Euro and probably a lot different than I remember.
Anyway, I’d love some recommendations for places to stay, visit or see. Both Nicole and I have already done the grand tour; Rome, Venice, Florence, Sienna, Verona, Milan, etc. We’ll be flying out of Rome and there for about a week and a half. Suggestions?
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oh i love italy! i would just spend the whole time eating 🙂
hmm, ideas, what do you want to do? relax? see the sights? shop? we were on the Amalfi coast last year, that was amazing! but im not sure what the weather is like that time of year…
Relaxing and eating both sound pretty good 🙂
I spent a few days in Bologna last year for the Children’s Book Fair. It’s a wonderful old city, small, excellent food, and no where near as touristy as Rome. We stayed at the Parkview B&B, run by this hilarious older woman. She can even help you find a cooking class! We stayed in the annex, but the main B&B is an old, beautiful apartment. http://www.parkview.it/homeeng.htm Prices were good, breakfast was lovely. I highly recommend it!
I’ve wanted to go back to Italy for a few years now (my last trip I hit the major highlights, like you), and everyone I talk to raves about Cinque Terre.
Oops…never mind about Cinque Terre! I just read this on a travel site: “October and November often bring torrential rains, and with them floods and landslides.” (!!)
I studied in Siena for almost 4 months and am in love with Italy! I agree that Bologna is beautiful and I also loved Parma. There’s a beautiful park there and a huge building that reminded me of the house in “The Sound of Music.” Also Sorrento is great.
I’m so jealous. Have fun!
I highly recommend the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy, San Gimignano in Tuscany(most likely I spelled it wrong)and if it’s not too far take the ferry from Piombino to the island of Elba. Elba is absolute paradise–it’s hard to believe they sent Napolean there for exile!
Have a great trip!
I was there in April — swoon! My favorite place was Como, on the Swiss border. Seriously, if I ever win the lotto, I’m buying a house on the lake.
And the food, oh my God. Just everywhere — you are never more than 50 feet from a pastry shop. And these are the people who invented Nutella.
I haven’t been to Italy for a long time. Too long, but my favorite city is a smallish city outside of Naples called Sorrento.. one of the most lovely places in the whole world. I loved it there. It was so beautiful. My hotel, which was quite inexpensive at the time had a terrace looking over the ocean. I ate fresh vegetables from little farmers markets.. carrots just don’t taste like that here… and out of pastry shops and never gained a pound because it was so much walking that was just so wonderful because everything is so pretty. I hope you have the most marvelous time.
I’m so jealous, I truly have the travel bug right now. I love Italy, and who doesn’t, but I think Florence was my favorite; great food, beautiful art, and I remember 3 men singing “Hotel California” with their guitars one late night. How fun!
I just got back from Italy! I kept a journal and wrote down all of the great restaurants we tried. I will have to find them and will send an e-mail. The best food was in Florence, although I loved Rome and Venice the best…
I’d say spend some time in the country in Tuscany and also maybe the Amalfi coast if you’ve already done the big cities? We spent a day in Siena (right outside Florence) and really loved it.
If you’re going to land in Rome and to rent a car, probably you’ll spent some time in Rome.
There are 4 greate shows at the moment and a new museum. Also remember to see the new auditorium from Piano.
Near Rome you can go at “Castelli” (we call so the hills south Rome), to have good time by eating and drinking and if you like ancient Rome, don’t miss Ostia Antica.
In my opinion you can visit north Lazio and south Tuscany: Calcata, Bolsena, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoreggio, Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano, are all little villages, very nice, but more important, there you can have good meals and wines at resenable prices.
Hit up Positano, Amalfi and Ravello – all are gorgeous!!
I don’t want to overstate this, but…Positano is AMAZING. I studied abroad in Italy for 6 months a few years ago and Positano is the place that I miss the most. It is right on the water with generally wonderful weather and the people are fantastic.
There is a hostel in Rome. I think it was called the Beehive House. Something like that. Great prices. Really clean. Perfect location.