Amalfi vs Tuscany
May 4th, 2016, 03:47 AM
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Amalfi vs Tuscany
My hubby and I have just booked our tickets . In and our of Rome. June 2016. so just a month away. 10 days of which 3 in Rome so we would like to do either Tuscany - Florence san Gimignano. Lucca, Chianti,
OR
Amalfi region - Sorrento, Positano.
We are in 40s, love to walk, try new food and wine and enjoy the views. Easy paced, get to know the city kind of holiday. We are travelling without Kids.
Weather wise (important) both look nice. Both are places i realy want to go but one at a time.
Any tips or suggestions would really help
OR
Amalfi region - Sorrento, Positano.
We are in 40s, love to walk, try new food and wine and enjoy the views. Easy paced, get to know the city kind of holiday. We are travelling without Kids.
Weather wise (important) both look nice. Both are places i realy want to go but one at a time.
Any tips or suggestions would really help
May 4th, 2016, 04:07 AM
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Really apples and oranges.
In tuscany you are talking about one larger city - Florence - and several larger towns. Florence is likely to be supermobbed and I would have advance tickets to both the David and the Uffizi (and both are closed Monday).
For the AC the city is Naples (great archeological museum) and Sorrento (an easy place to get to other places from - but not sight in itself). Then head to Capri, Pompeii (little shade and VERY hot, do it first thing in the am) and Amalfi and Positano down the coast. Where you will want to stay depends a lot on how much you want to actually see/do versus how much just realax.
In both places lodging will be difficult to get at this point. You don;t mention your budget but do recognize that many decent lower cost places will have been booked long ago.
In tuscany you are talking about one larger city - Florence - and several larger towns. Florence is likely to be supermobbed and I would have advance tickets to both the David and the Uffizi (and both are closed Monday).
For the AC the city is Naples (great archeological museum) and Sorrento (an easy place to get to other places from - but not sight in itself). Then head to Capri, Pompeii (little shade and VERY hot, do it first thing in the am) and Amalfi and Positano down the coast. Where you will want to stay depends a lot on how much you want to actually see/do versus how much just realax.
In both places lodging will be difficult to get at this point. You don;t mention your budget but do recognize that many decent lower cost places will have been booked long ago.
May 4th, 2016, 06:59 AM
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Will you rent a car? If not, I would hesitate to recommend Tuscany, as some of the places you mention are difficult to see without a car. You can get to Sorrento and Positano fairly easily by public transportation, and you can visit other places in the area by boat or bus.
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast; it's on the opposite side of the peninsula from the Amalfi Coast, but it's pretty well connected. In fact, it's a good base for the area, especially if you want to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Naples while you're there.
Naples is not on, nor even near, the Amalfi Coast.
If you decide on Tuscany, and don't want to drive, you should stay in Florence, which is a transportation hub, from which you can easily reach Lucca and Siena, and even, with a little more difficulty, San Gimignano. There is rather spotty bus service to some of the towns in the Chianti area, but if you want to see rural Chianti, you'd have to take one of several day tours that are available from the hotels.
Based on your stated interests, I'm not at all sure you would be interested in the Uffizi, which is a huge art museum full of Renaissance paintings. For someone who's passionate about Renaissance art, it could occupy several days. My daughter and I once spent seven hours there, spread over two days, and still didn't see everything we wanted to see. However, for those who prefer modern art, or who don't care for art at all, and even for those who like to take their art in small doses, I can think of better ways to spend your time.
It's true that Florence can be very crowded, but if your main interest is walking and exploring the city, you can easily avoid the crowds. The Amalfi Coast will also be crowded, but, since the towns are much smaller, avoiding them wouldn't be as easy. Sorrento is a good-sized town, though.
If you're flying in and out of Rome, you might want to go directly to your other destination on arrival. Florence would be easier and quicker to get to than Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast.
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast; it's on the opposite side of the peninsula from the Amalfi Coast, but it's pretty well connected. In fact, it's a good base for the area, especially if you want to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, or Naples while you're there.
Naples is not on, nor even near, the Amalfi Coast.
If you decide on Tuscany, and don't want to drive, you should stay in Florence, which is a transportation hub, from which you can easily reach Lucca and Siena, and even, with a little more difficulty, San Gimignano. There is rather spotty bus service to some of the towns in the Chianti area, but if you want to see rural Chianti, you'd have to take one of several day tours that are available from the hotels.
Based on your stated interests, I'm not at all sure you would be interested in the Uffizi, which is a huge art museum full of Renaissance paintings. For someone who's passionate about Renaissance art, it could occupy several days. My daughter and I once spent seven hours there, spread over two days, and still didn't see everything we wanted to see. However, for those who prefer modern art, or who don't care for art at all, and even for those who like to take their art in small doses, I can think of better ways to spend your time.
It's true that Florence can be very crowded, but if your main interest is walking and exploring the city, you can easily avoid the crowds. The Amalfi Coast will also be crowded, but, since the towns are much smaller, avoiding them wouldn't be as easy. Sorrento is a good-sized town, though.
If you're flying in and out of Rome, you might want to go directly to your other destination on arrival. Florence would be easier and quicker to get to than Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast.
May 4th, 2016, 07:21 AM
#4
Ditto nytraveler's comments. Unless you're holding hotel reservations that you didn't mention, you should look into what's available in your budget range in the areas outside of Rome. You're late to be looking for lodging in the most popular summer destinations in Italy, and what you find may determine where you end up going.
May 4th, 2016, 08:22 AM
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Good rating system for hotels on booking.com. Good point that crowds are more concentrated in smaller venues on the Amalfi Coast. You could head directly to Orvieto, a very attractive town, a little over and hour by train from the Termini station once you get to town. Catch a train for Florence the next afternoon, or pick up a car, dropping it later at the Florence airport. Florence back to Rome takes 1.5 hours.
May 4th, 2016, 12:29 PM
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It seems to me your are looking for something that would tip the scales in favor of one over the other. I have been to both places several times and it is difficult to do that. Either pick will seem the perfect choice when you are there. In both areas, many places will be super crowded during the day (almost difficult to walk in main shopping streets), but in most, get five minutes off the main shopping streets and it will be peaceful. They are generally quieter by evening, except for music and restaurants, which are enjoyable.
Here is how I see them.
Tuscany is very hilly countryside, filled with farms, wineries, villas - lovely for renting a car and exploring if you would enjoy a truly beautiful, gentle, rural area. It also has small to large, walled towns perched on top of the hills. The history and origin of the design for each of these towns is very interesting. They are beautiful to wander and walk in, to admire the medieval architecture, and to sit outside in squares or piazzas, eating and relaxing.
There are plenty of areas to hike or bike ride, even some atop city walls, like Lucca, and to Fiesole from Florence. You absolutely must force yourself away from the shopping areas. It may be a bit of a hike from parking to city centers. You can also take trains or buses to some of them. Going from place to place will take time, depending on where you stay. You might want two bases. Plan your stay for a time with a car for very small towns (great because there is little to no shopping, but wonderful restaurants) and perhaps trains for other times. If possible, for Florence, take a train right to the city center for no issues driving or parking and getting a ticket later.
You did not mention art, but Florence is almost sensual overload on Art. It is beyond comprehension that one place could be so rich in Architecture, painting and sculpture. The Accademia, Santa Croce, Baptistery, Duomo, Uffizi just a drop in the bucket. Also, IMHO, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the most unique and beautiful structures anywhere. It will all be crowded though. Doesn't bother some, depends on your tolerance for crowds.
The Amalfi Coast is dramatic - towns so pretty they look like wedding cakes, perched atop cliffs, or built almost vertical on the cliffs, all overlooking the sea. You would be hard put to decide if views looking out to sea or views from the water looking up at the towns are more stunning. Fortunately, you can have both. You can find a beautiful location with a pool and simply luxuriate, eating, drinking wonderful food and soaking in the views, or you can visit different towns and archeological sights (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, etc.) or hike on Capri (get off the main shopping streets), or on the cliffs near Amalfi, Path of the Gods, etc.
Sometimes people lump two areas together, the Bay of Naples (Naples to Sorrento) and the Amalfi Coast (South of Sorrento to Salerno). I won't go into details. Look at a Map. Both are beautiful and have a lot to offer. Where you stay depends on what you want to do. For things on the bay, Sorrento is often the choice, short, cheap train up towards Naples. Positano and further south is often the choice for the AC itself. With several days, people often have two different bases. Ferries go up and down the coast, over to Capri, etc. and are the best way to travel, IMHO! Coastal roads are difficult, especially in summer, and I hate crowded busses.
What a choice! Whenever I am at any one place, it is my favorite. I love Florence! From some perspective, however, it is the AC because I love water and water views, and archeological sites. If you have a beautiful spot and do no traveling around, you can fall in love with just being there. Also, the AC is harder to get to from other parts of Italy. If you go again sometime, arriving in Venice or Milan, it is an easy train ride to Tuscany from those places (so a good combo) and not easy to get to the AC. If it is a toss up for you, that would affect my decision.
Here is how I see them.
Tuscany is very hilly countryside, filled with farms, wineries, villas - lovely for renting a car and exploring if you would enjoy a truly beautiful, gentle, rural area. It also has small to large, walled towns perched on top of the hills. The history and origin of the design for each of these towns is very interesting. They are beautiful to wander and walk in, to admire the medieval architecture, and to sit outside in squares or piazzas, eating and relaxing.
There are plenty of areas to hike or bike ride, even some atop city walls, like Lucca, and to Fiesole from Florence. You absolutely must force yourself away from the shopping areas. It may be a bit of a hike from parking to city centers. You can also take trains or buses to some of them. Going from place to place will take time, depending on where you stay. You might want two bases. Plan your stay for a time with a car for very small towns (great because there is little to no shopping, but wonderful restaurants) and perhaps trains for other times. If possible, for Florence, take a train right to the city center for no issues driving or parking and getting a ticket later.
You did not mention art, but Florence is almost sensual overload on Art. It is beyond comprehension that one place could be so rich in Architecture, painting and sculpture. The Accademia, Santa Croce, Baptistery, Duomo, Uffizi just a drop in the bucket. Also, IMHO, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the most unique and beautiful structures anywhere. It will all be crowded though. Doesn't bother some, depends on your tolerance for crowds.
The Amalfi Coast is dramatic - towns so pretty they look like wedding cakes, perched atop cliffs, or built almost vertical on the cliffs, all overlooking the sea. You would be hard put to decide if views looking out to sea or views from the water looking up at the towns are more stunning. Fortunately, you can have both. You can find a beautiful location with a pool and simply luxuriate, eating, drinking wonderful food and soaking in the views, or you can visit different towns and archeological sights (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, etc.) or hike on Capri (get off the main shopping streets), or on the cliffs near Amalfi, Path of the Gods, etc.
Sometimes people lump two areas together, the Bay of Naples (Naples to Sorrento) and the Amalfi Coast (South of Sorrento to Salerno). I won't go into details. Look at a Map. Both are beautiful and have a lot to offer. Where you stay depends on what you want to do. For things on the bay, Sorrento is often the choice, short, cheap train up towards Naples. Positano and further south is often the choice for the AC itself. With several days, people often have two different bases. Ferries go up and down the coast, over to Capri, etc. and are the best way to travel, IMHO! Coastal roads are difficult, especially in summer, and I hate crowded busses.
What a choice! Whenever I am at any one place, it is my favorite. I love Florence! From some perspective, however, it is the AC because I love water and water views, and archeological sites. If you have a beautiful spot and do no traveling around, you can fall in love with just being there. Also, the AC is harder to get to from other parts of Italy. If you go again sometime, arriving in Venice or Milan, it is an easy train ride to Tuscany from those places (so a good combo) and not easy to get to the AC. If it is a toss up for you, that would affect my decision.
May 4th, 2016, 12:33 PM
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I would rent a car and spend a week in Tuscany. The Amalfi will be busy and booked up at this point. We spent a week just outside of Montepulciano which was a great home base for exploring the area. If you want great wine and food, in my opinion Tuscany is the way to go. Great hikes to do as well.
May 4th, 2016, 12:45 PM
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Been to both various years back...ah what memories. Sorrento has its charming coastline, Tuscany its hills and vineyards.
But if priceless museums, Florence and Rome of course. Sassafrass has said it as have others. And no you can't place one area over the other. Too many ohs and ahs.
But if priceless museums, Florence and Rome of course. Sassafrass has said it as have others. And no you can't place one area over the other. Too many ohs and ahs.
May 4th, 2016, 10:14 PM
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Because you've left it so late to book, you may end up with Tuscany by default.
Positano's special hotels will be full, there will just be rooms available in the higher villages. Ditto Amalfi and Ravello.
Positano's special hotels will be full, there will just be rooms available in the higher villages. Ditto Amalfi and Ravello.
