Driving Venice to Cinque Terre

Old Jun 9th, 2008, 04:11 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Driving Venice to Cinque Terre

In early May 2009, we will be driving from Venice to Monterosso (Cinque Terre) and would appreciate your help on the following:
1. What day(s) of the week are best for avoiding the worst traffic?
2. Which route is the most scenic?
3. Which route is the quickest?
4. What restaurants in what cities/towns along the way would you recommend for lunch and dinner breaks?
Thank you for all the valuable information provided on fodors.com!
JayK is offline  
Old Jun 9th, 2008, 06:24 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Drive on Sunday if you can.
See viamichelin.com for alternate routes and times
Eat at the Autogrills on the autostrada and save time.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2008, 04:34 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think you're going to run into any heavy traffic - you're not coming close to any major urban areas.

Taking only the autostrada, it's about a 4 hour drive and, as Bob says, you could do it that way.

There's no route that's particularly 'scenic' IMO. However, my suggestion would be to get off the autostrada and make a halfway stop for a visit and lunch at Mantova - a beautiful medieval town. That'd be a total of 6 hours drive time: 3 to Mantova and then 3 to the CT.
TuckH is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2008, 11:51 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if you do stop in Mantova be sure to get for a snack one of those little cakes that are the town's specialty. I forget what yhey're called, but they're sort of like a farinata, only sweeter and nuttier.
Ralphie is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2008, 12:31 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great information!
Thank you so much for your advice and recommendations.
JayK is offline  
Old Jun 10th, 2008, 02:42 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We've done three road trips in Italy and, as much as possible, explore along the secondary roads. We're not afraid of the autostrada; it just doesn't seem as picturesque or give you the opportunity to discover along the way.

One route we took on our first trip - Venice to Lucca - was S10. You can pick it up south of Padova at Monselice (worth a stop to make a pilgrimage to the 7 chapels). You pass Montagnana (a charming walled village), then to Mantova. The route isn't remarkably picturesque but pleasant with little traffic while we were there in August.

While in Mantova, we stopped for lunch at the English Pub and had a salami and brie panini that I remember to this day. Sandwiches don't get much better than that!

Pick up S420 towards Parma. It was a very easy town to drive in if you opt to do lunch here.

Then S62 south of Parma. Now the scenery starts to get quite pretty, climbing into the hills, following the path of the ancient Via Francigena.
toni_g_b is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vishalmodi
Europe
13
Jul 10th, 2014 03:53 AM
nlmb
Europe
9
Jul 29th, 2007 04:52 PM
kywood1955
Europe
5
Feb 9th, 2005 11:19 PM
TJM
Europe
4
Sep 14th, 2004 03:56 PM
nichols
Europe
2
Jan 7th, 2003 11:50 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -