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Anniversary trip - Milan, Lake Garda, Tuscany

Anniversary trip - Milan, Lake Garda, Tuscany

Old Sep 26th, 2015, 09:55 AM
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Anniversary trip - Milan, Lake Garda, Tuscany

Tentative Itinerary for 2016 Anniversary trip:
July 1, 2015 –Depart Philadelphia
July 2, 2015 – Arrive Milan Linate
• 7/2 & 3 – Milan
o Accommodations – net yet booked
July 4 – 7 –
• 7/4 - Pick up rental car at Europcar in Milan Linate AP
o Drive to Lake Garda
 Stop on way at Bergamo
• Accommodations - B&B Bocca di Croce, Salo, Lake Garda
o (free parking)
July 7 – 11 – Tuscany
• Accommodations - Fattoria La Loggia, Montefirodolfi (about 20-25 minutes South of Florence)
7/11 – Pisa
• Accommodations - Royal Victoria Hotel

Background information: We are a couple in our late 50s and 60s and very active. We have been to Italy several times and are planning this trip for our 10-year anniversary. This is our first trip to Milan (although on our way by train from Florence to Switzerland a few years back, we had a short stop in Milan and decided to take advantage of this time. We hopped in a taxi and took a quick visit to the cathedral). Our flights are booked using frequent flyer miles. We are picking up a rental car just before we leave for Lake Garda and will return it at the Pisa airport.
We like to visit churches (although we limit them to those of special interest – art, history, etc.), museums, scenery, shopping, wine, food.
• On this trip I would like to
o take a cooking class
o spend some time at a natural spring such as Saturnia (but that location is too far – HD does not like to travel more than 1.5 hours from base). I read that there are natural spas in the Lake Garda area and was looking on advice on that.
o view the Last Super in Milan – it is a must and I understand advance reservations are as well
o stop at Beragmo on the way to Lake Garda.
o get advice on small towns in Tuscany would be appreciated – off the beaten path is best for us. To name a few of the towns we have visited – Certaldo, Chianti region (Greve, etc.), Montalcino, San Gimignano, Siena, Monteulciano, Pienza, Monteriggioni, Volterra, Todi, Pisa. Note that we have visited Florence several times and will take a stop to visit one or two sights that we haven’t yet seen.
o get advice on last day – should we stay in Pisa for the night since it is close to the airport or stay in Lucca, which is not much further to the airport?
All hotels except for Milan are booked. However, all were booked on Booking.com and can be cancelled/changed if there are better suggestions from Fodorites. Note that many of the hotels I saw suggested on this forum and TripAdviser were booked for the dates we wanted.
As far as making changes to the itinerary, we want to be at the farmhouse on 7/9 for our anniversary. We have been here at least 8 times, and it is my husband’s favorite place (I love it too).
I look forward to your suggestions, which are much appreciated.
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 12:19 PM
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Only a 20 minute drive from your farmhouse stay in Tuscany is the family home of Machiavelli in the very pretty borgo of Sant'Andrea in Percussina. It is where he wrote "The Prince" when he was in barred from living in Florence. To tour the house -- which is very atmospheric -- it is really best to call and make an appointment or e-mail in advace. (I e-mailed and got a prompt response).

Also, in the same direction, not far from there, is the American Cemetary, if you have any interest.

Look up the small town of Loro Ciuffeno as another off-the-beaten track destination. It is about an hour's drive from your farm stay.

Pisa and Lucca are very different in feeling and attractions, so maybe reading up on the differences will help you decide. Functionally, one is really not more convenient than the other to the airport.
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 02:12 PM
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We have stayed at the Royal Victoria in Pisa twice - once on our first tour of Italy about 30 years ago, and again, 7-8 years ago with our kids. on both occasions we were catching a plane the next day from Pisa airport, but there the similarity ends. The first time we had a huge room with an adjoining bathroom the size of our bedroom at home. The atmosphere of faded splendour was palpable and we loved it.

The second time we had a room where they had divided one of the large rooms in two and squeezed a tiny bathroom into a corner. The faded atmosphere was still there but the splendour sadly had gone.

Unless you can get one of the large rooms [if they still exist] do yourselves a favour and stay somewhere else.
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 03:18 PM
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http://www.villamachiavelli.it/en/
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Old Sep 27th, 2015, 03:42 AM
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Sandralist - I looked up your suggestions and am adding to our list of places to seek out. Thank you for the link. I will also look into the cemetery. Oddly enough, we like visiting cemeteries.

We have been to Pisa several times and I love it. However, we had only a quick visit when we were in Lucca previously. Functionality was really what I was looking at. So I may change our over night to Lucca as opposed to Pisa since the travel to the airport won't be greatly affected. Our flight home is not until 1pm, which helps make the morning to the airport not so hectic.

On one of our first trips to Italy, we made the mistake of not staying in or near our town of departure. We drove from florence to Rome. We not only miscalculated the time the drive would take - we also did not allow for delays such as road construction and there was plenty. At the airport, we practically threw the keys to the rental car rep and ran to catch our plane. When we got to check in, it was dark - no one around. In a dark booth off to the side, we found one man there who was disconnecting the phone and about to leave. We told him that our flight was leaving in half an hour. He made a quick call, and we were given the ok to head to the gate. (Bless that man.)The trek to the gate was long - we ran with our bags (thank goodness we don't check luggage). Breathless we arrived at the plane. The flight attendant was expecting us. She checked our Id and let us on the plane (pre 911). When we sat down in the plane, they closed the door. We made it by the skin of our teeth. Ironically, the evening prior, we were kidding around saying it would be great the plane was over booked and we got to stay another day. Yes, functionality is important.

annhig-thanks for the advice. Any suggestions for accommodations in Lucca?

Thank you both for your suggestions.
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Old Sep 27th, 2015, 03:55 AM
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What an exciting departure story. One of the things I love best about Italy is the high percentage of "officials" you encounter who are humane, and will try to solve a problem ahead of enforcing a rule or a schedule.
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Old Sep 27th, 2015, 04:55 AM
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A little info. http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memor...y#.Vgfkw_1dHIU
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Old Sep 27th, 2015, 06:13 AM
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Thanks ot iris for looking up that link. I should have included it. It is very easy to combine a visit to the borgo of Machiavelli's family, including a tour of the wine cellar, and a visit to the American cemetery because they are very close to each other, but I do recommend contacting the Villa Machiavelli by e-mail to make sure the house is open the day you want to see it. There is a small restaurant at the bongo in Sant'Andrea di Percussina. Don't know if the food is any good. I have gotten the impression that there are tour buses that stop at these places, so be prepared for that.

Since you also mentioned that you are interested in wine, the Frescobaldi wine estate at Castello di Nipozzano is not far from your farm stay. If you want a tour and tasting, you do need to book a week in advance:

http://www.frescobaldi.it/en-us/home...theestate.aspx

Again, you are likely to see tour buses there.

The Vallombrosa abbey is not far from there, and on a hot summer's afternoon in July, maybe the surrounding forest would be a cool place to be.

http://www.italythisway.com/places/vallombrosa.php
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Old Sep 27th, 2015, 09:47 AM
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shame I've never stayed in Lucca, DreamOfItaly so I can't recommend a hotel there.

another snag in Pisa is that [according to the receptionist at the Royal Victoria] you can't book taxis. However I would recommend spending a night there if you can find somewhere decent to stay - the Campo dei miracoli is indeed truly wonderful when all the coach parties and associated hawkers have gone home.
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 02:07 AM
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Annhig - in Pisa, we will still have our rental car. We are dropping it off at the Pisa airport.

Any other suggestions for places of interest would be appreciated.
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 03:28 AM
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Driving from Montefirodolfi to Lucca (or Pisa) there are several off-the-beaten track towns that are easy to access that offer different kinds of charms. You can find these places on the internet. You might find it nicer to arrive in Lucca after the tour buses have left, so making a stop en route for a bit of sightseeing and lunch might be nice.

Montecatini Terme, is an old-fashioned italian spa town, which might interest to you. It would also be worthwhile to take the historic funicular up to the classic hilltown that sits right above it, Montecatini Alto.

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...to-see-and-do/

Pistoia has beautiful Renaissance architecture and artwork in a very compact space. In addition, it has a highly regarded morning food market plus at least 2 and possibly 3 Slow Food restaurants in town.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/tuscany/pistoia

Nearby Pescia also has nice restaurants and is a particular favorite of people who enjoy gardens. (There are also several important gardens right around Lucca that are best seen with a car if gardens are your thing.) The higher elevation of Pescia might make it a nice place to visit on a hot July day if you don't feel like going to a spa.

http://www.welcometuscany.it/tuscany...cany_italy.htm

And just in general you might find these links interesting, even though some of the towns mentioned in them are too far for you to drive this trip

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...near-florence/

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...th-in-tuscany/

http://www.turismo.intoscana.it/allt...towns-tuscany/
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 05:40 AM
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I'm probably saying something quite obvious, but do you visit the exposition at Milano ? seems it is quite nice.
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 07:59 AM
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Annhig - in Pisa, we will still have our rental car. We are dropping it off at the Pisa airport. >>

of course -I've missed that.

pariswat - we were looking at some materials about the Expo in Milan and it looked fun. if the OP in is the area, it sounds like a good idea.
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 08:13 AM
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As far as I know, the MIlan Expo is closing at the end of this month (don't know what will become of the pavillions) and the OP is taking the trip next July.
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