Italy for 25th Anniversary in Spring 2017
Apr 2nd, 2016, 10:04 AM
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Italy for 25th Anniversary in Spring 2017
My husband and I want to go to Italy for the first time for our 25th anniversary next Spring (late March/Early April). I am just starting to plan this, but was thinking 2 - 2/12 weeks. Most sites I've seen recommend not more than 3 cities, although I'm interested in perhaps utilizing the point-to-point trains for a day trip or two. We are big on great food & wine, great art & architecture, and generally soaking up the culture - less so on doing every "touristy" thing, big hotels, and giant crowds. We have a very hectic life at home caring for 3 elderly parents in our home as well as 2 teenagers and own a business, so some of every vacation is best suited to "minimal activity and rest" - which makes the train idea appealing, as well. I've seen some articles on seeing Italy by train over 2 weeks (i.e. Rome/Assisi/Florence/Milan/Venice staying 2-3 days in each area). I would like to know if that is a good idea, or if others have advice on what they enjoyed most. We are in our mid-40's, and in reasonably good health, although hubby has had both knees replaced a couple years ago. We last traveled to Europe in 2002 (England & France), and while we had a good time, in hindsight, I wish I had gotten more input before going. So, any suggestions and ideas are greatly appreciated.
Apr 2nd, 2016, 12:59 PM
#2
I wouldn't pick cities based on itineraries you've seen. Select cities that have things that interest you and then we can help you create an itinerary. If there isn't something particular you want to see in Milan, then no point going there. Keep in mind that you need three hotel nights somewhere to result in two days for sightseeing.
Once you get an idea of cities you want to visit, look at open jaw flights (such as in to Venice and home from Rome).
Once you get an idea of cities you want to visit, look at open jaw flights (such as in to Venice and home from Rome).
Apr 2nd, 2016, 01:40 PM
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You wrote:
>>" We are big on great food & wine, great art & architecture, and generally soaking up the culture - less so on doing every "touristy" thing, big hotels, and giant crowds."<<
Unless you are going in very early Spring, you'd be headed into the most tourist-crowded places going to Rome/Assisi/Florence/Milan/Venice, where most visitors don't do any relaxing at all if they are there for 3 nights or less, but instead do non-stop sightseeing. It is pretty hard to resist sightseeing when some of the most famous sights in creation are within walking distance everywhere you turn.
>>"hubby has had both knees replaced a couple years ago"<<
Is your husband perfectly comfortable these days with walking up and down stairs many times a day, and walking on completely uneven surfaces? Venice has hudrends of small bridges with stairs, and Rome and Assisi can be quite a challenge for walkers who do best with flat paved walkways, no need to keep putting weight on knees at odd angles.
What kind of "mistakes" are you looking to correct from the lessons you learned traveling in France and England? If you could provide details about those, people here might help you avoid experiences you don't want -- even if it means sacrificing some of their own sacred cows about first-time Italian travel.
>>" We are big on great food & wine, great art & architecture, and generally soaking up the culture - less so on doing every "touristy" thing, big hotels, and giant crowds."<<
Unless you are going in very early Spring, you'd be headed into the most tourist-crowded places going to Rome/Assisi/Florence/Milan/Venice, where most visitors don't do any relaxing at all if they are there for 3 nights or less, but instead do non-stop sightseeing. It is pretty hard to resist sightseeing when some of the most famous sights in creation are within walking distance everywhere you turn.
>>"hubby has had both knees replaced a couple years ago"<<
Is your husband perfectly comfortable these days with walking up and down stairs many times a day, and walking on completely uneven surfaces? Venice has hudrends of small bridges with stairs, and Rome and Assisi can be quite a challenge for walkers who do best with flat paved walkways, no need to keep putting weight on knees at odd angles.
What kind of "mistakes" are you looking to correct from the lessons you learned traveling in France and England? If you could provide details about those, people here might help you avoid experiences you don't want -- even if it means sacrificing some of their own sacred cows about first-time Italian travel.
Apr 2nd, 2016, 02:00 PM
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Oh sorry! You did in fact say late March/early April. I would suggest planning to go to your southernmost destination first, whatever your ultimate itinerary is, and looking to avoid easter holidays (whenever they are next year) or planning carefully for where you'll be during Easter if you can't avoid it.
Apr 3rd, 2016, 07:32 PM
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We are open to suggestions since we have never been. I am certain we need to see Rome, because, well, it's ROME (Colisseum, Pantheon, etc. It seems a waste to travel all that way and not see them). The hubby is sure Venice is a must (he is a romantic at heart, and it IS our 25th). Florence seems like a 'must do' also (Galleria dell’ Academia, Duomo, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Pont Vecchio, etc.) I thought perhaps Milan for Duomo of Milan, the Santa Maria delle Grazie, La Scala Opera House, etc.
Easter next year is April 17, and I would prefer to go mid-March and be home no later than April 8 (our anniversary is 4/4). We own a landscaping business, so April starts major mowing season and we can't be gone too much into it, lest we get backlogged.
As to the hubby's knees, he does pretty well now getting around (mowing isn't always an even ground thing), and plans to continue to up his workouts to increase his stamina between now and then. But he can walk fine (stairs are a larger concern - not a couple flights, as we have a 2 story home, but he's not eager to return to the Statue of Liberty anytime soon.) With another year of exercise and healing, he should be fine. We've done 3 cruises, 2 beach trips, and a NYC jaunt since his first knee surgery, and he hasn't had any real issues. They say it takes 2 years to fully recover and he's approaching 2 years on the first knee replacement and 18 months since the second, so we think next year will be a good bet for a bigger walking trip.
Easter next year is April 17, and I would prefer to go mid-March and be home no later than April 8 (our anniversary is 4/4). We own a landscaping business, so April starts major mowing season and we can't be gone too much into it, lest we get backlogged.
As to the hubby's knees, he does pretty well now getting around (mowing isn't always an even ground thing), and plans to continue to up his workouts to increase his stamina between now and then. But he can walk fine (stairs are a larger concern - not a couple flights, as we have a 2 story home, but he's not eager to return to the Statue of Liberty anytime soon.) With another year of exercise and healing, he should be fine. We've done 3 cruises, 2 beach trips, and a NYC jaunt since his first knee surgery, and he hasn't had any real issues. They say it takes 2 years to fully recover and he's approaching 2 years on the first knee replacement and 18 months since the second, so we think next year will be a good bet for a bigger walking trip.
Apr 3rd, 2016, 07:44 PM
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Oh, and as for the trip to Europe in 2002...we didn't budget enough time to see the important things (I also got sick and then had my wallet stolen in London, which sort of sidelined things). We had a great cabbie take us on a day trip in England which we loved (lots of back stories, antique book stores, lunch at a seriously old British pub, but otherwise only did Buckingham Palace- no Big Ben, etc). In Paris, we did the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre. I know we can't see everything, but I don't want to come home thinking "I should've planned that a little better". If I need to add a couple days, I have that luxury much more now than I did 15 years ago. The last trip was planned in about 3 months; I figure I'm much better off starting now for this one to get more enjoyment from it.
Apr 4th, 2016, 02:46 AM
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I think maybe the best approach is to look at a couple of guide books at the library or use the internet to go to travel sites like this one or Frommer's to look at their "destination" guides for the cities you mention (Time Out is good too), and make a personal list of the top things you want to see in each city -- and then think about how active or how relaxed you want to be on this trip to Italy, and whether your list runs the risk of running you into the same trouble you had last time. Think about whether you need to add days or maybe think hard about giving something up. You can put up posts here asking people how much time to plan to see a particular museum or site. Be aware that restaurant meals in Italy typically take more than an hour, and that sites and museums stay open until 7.30pm.
It sounds to me like one of the most fun experiences of your last trip -- the taxi trip -- had the element of surprise and getting off the beaten track, and doing not so much big ticket things but things to savor. Italy is full of such experiences -- even in its largest cities like Rome -- so you might want to plan to make 1 out of every 3 days the kind of day where you go to bookstores, the back street trattoria, take a special tour just outsidee of Rome for lunch on a farm, a vinyard visit, an amazing little village. (I'm not recommending this tour from personal experience, just giving you an idea -- they exist near Florence and Venice too)
http://antiquatours.com/medieval-tow...ons-from-rome/
Also, either it is the case that the last thing in the world you want to do on your vacation is see things related to your work-life, but there are some exceptional historic gardens in Italy -- places like Tivoli outside of Rome -- that maybe you would find particularly interesting? You might be able to find in the library a book like "The Great Gardens of Italy" and see if it would appeal to you to visit. You can probably google a lot of this information for each city you plan to visit.
I have taken dozens and dozens of trips to many places, and I have to say I can't remember any where I didn't -- at least for one moment -- think: "I wish I had planned that better." I've definitely learned how to make the majority of the trip work for me, and how to plan my trips better, but it is just almost inevitable that when you go to someplace in a different country/culture where everything is totally new to you, and you are so dependent on the services of transport, hotel, food providers, that sometimes you head in with the wrong picture of how things will go. If you can add more time to buffer some of those perhaps unavoidable moments, minor mishaps don't matter so much.
It sounds to me like one of the most fun experiences of your last trip -- the taxi trip -- had the element of surprise and getting off the beaten track, and doing not so much big ticket things but things to savor. Italy is full of such experiences -- even in its largest cities like Rome -- so you might want to plan to make 1 out of every 3 days the kind of day where you go to bookstores, the back street trattoria, take a special tour just outsidee of Rome for lunch on a farm, a vinyard visit, an amazing little village. (I'm not recommending this tour from personal experience, just giving you an idea -- they exist near Florence and Venice too)
http://antiquatours.com/medieval-tow...ons-from-rome/
Also, either it is the case that the last thing in the world you want to do on your vacation is see things related to your work-life, but there are some exceptional historic gardens in Italy -- places like Tivoli outside of Rome -- that maybe you would find particularly interesting? You might be able to find in the library a book like "The Great Gardens of Italy" and see if it would appeal to you to visit. You can probably google a lot of this information for each city you plan to visit.
I have taken dozens and dozens of trips to many places, and I have to say I can't remember any where I didn't -- at least for one moment -- think: "I wish I had planned that better." I've definitely learned how to make the majority of the trip work for me, and how to plan my trips better, but it is just almost inevitable that when you go to someplace in a different country/culture where everything is totally new to you, and you are so dependent on the services of transport, hotel, food providers, that sometimes you head in with the wrong picture of how things will go. If you can add more time to buffer some of those perhaps unavoidable moments, minor mishaps don't matter so much.
Apr 4th, 2016, 07:14 PM
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You are correct. Hubby has bought Fodor's Italy 2016 to peruse, but I have found that asking others what they've enjoyed will many times yield great ideas also. The idea about the gardens is a great one; will check them out. I definitely want to do several day trips out to see the less touristy things, I do enjoy those a lot. Most trips have a certain amount of 'Well, that could've gone better' somewhere in there - I just think this will be a big trip and best suited to asking advice, instead of winging it alone and hoping for the best like we did before. We had fun (how can you not while traveling abroad and seeing the world?), but I barely remember a lot of it. I'd like this one to be a bit more memorable. Thanks for the links - I will check them out. Hubby decided tonight he's thinking Naples - Rome - Florence - Milan - Venice with a few side trips (Pisa, Cinque Terre, Tuscany countryside and perhaps Pompeii). He may be exceeding his budget - lol. But I'm thinking 3 nights per main city and adding a night for each side trip. Does this seem like enough? I'm trying to stay under 3 weeks. I'm going to follow your suggestion and make a list of what we want to see in each place, that should help with suggestions on the timeline.
Apr 5th, 2016, 01:26 AM
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Hi,
I didn't mean to imply you should ask a lot of other people and get that kind of input. Just suggesting you make a list of specific sites you want to see for each destination on your wish list and then see where you are in terms of time.
Le Cinque Terre is a time consuming day trip from Florence (also consider your husband's knees), and if you also want to see something of the Tuscan countryside and Pisa as day trips, you really do need to figure out how many things you want to see in Florence itself. Mainly depends on your level of interest in religious art. Florence is a very compact place, and it is very easy to walk from site to site, and if you are organized, you can accomplish a lot. Naples is more complex (although it is very simple to get to Pompeii from there) and while the sights of Rome don't necessarily sprawl like London, you usually need to tackle one area at a time, and allow time for the fact that the sights themselves are rather time consuming to visit. Many people typically only spend 1 day seeing the major sights of Milan (all of which are close together), and many people see them on their first or next-to-last day in Italy, if they are using the Milan airport.
It occurred to me later that you are going to Italy a bit before the flower-blooming/garden season (although this year winter was so mild there were early blooms). Some of the gardens of Italy are as much about the decorative statues and hardscape as they are the flowers, so they still might be rewarding. But you might be interested in the Vatican gardens (I've never been, so have no opinion), and if it isn't too hard on your husband's knees, you might enjoy the terraced Boboli gardens in Florence. Finally, if you go to Naples (which I highly recommend) take a moment to see the unforgttable cloister garden of the church of Santa Chiara in the heart of town.
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...aples-campania
There are also a few historic botanical gardens within easy reach of your itinerary, including the botanical garden of the Brera in Milan, the tiny herb garden associated with Farmacia of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, and the botanical gardens of the University of Padua, 30 minutes from Venice, which is the oldest university garden in the world
http://www.brera.unimi.it/index.php?...mid=85&lang=en
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...ts-5th-century
http://www.ortobotanicopd.it/en/lort...nico-di-padova
I didn't mean to imply you should ask a lot of other people and get that kind of input. Just suggesting you make a list of specific sites you want to see for each destination on your wish list and then see where you are in terms of time.
Le Cinque Terre is a time consuming day trip from Florence (also consider your husband's knees), and if you also want to see something of the Tuscan countryside and Pisa as day trips, you really do need to figure out how many things you want to see in Florence itself. Mainly depends on your level of interest in religious art. Florence is a very compact place, and it is very easy to walk from site to site, and if you are organized, you can accomplish a lot. Naples is more complex (although it is very simple to get to Pompeii from there) and while the sights of Rome don't necessarily sprawl like London, you usually need to tackle one area at a time, and allow time for the fact that the sights themselves are rather time consuming to visit. Many people typically only spend 1 day seeing the major sights of Milan (all of which are close together), and many people see them on their first or next-to-last day in Italy, if they are using the Milan airport.
It occurred to me later that you are going to Italy a bit before the flower-blooming/garden season (although this year winter was so mild there were early blooms). Some of the gardens of Italy are as much about the decorative statues and hardscape as they are the flowers, so they still might be rewarding. But you might be interested in the Vatican gardens (I've never been, so have no opinion), and if it isn't too hard on your husband's knees, you might enjoy the terraced Boboli gardens in Florence. Finally, if you go to Naples (which I highly recommend) take a moment to see the unforgttable cloister garden of the church of Santa Chiara in the heart of town.
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...aples-campania
There are also a few historic botanical gardens within easy reach of your itinerary, including the botanical garden of the Brera in Milan, the tiny herb garden associated with Farmacia of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, and the botanical gardens of the University of Padua, 30 minutes from Venice, which is the oldest university garden in the world
http://www.brera.unimi.it/index.php?...mid=85&lang=en
http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...ts-5th-century
http://www.ortobotanicopd.it/en/lort...nico-di-padova
May 21st, 2016, 04:04 PM
#11
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SO - to update...here is what we've decided. 3 weeks it is (we already bought the plane tickets, so we're committed - lol). Hubby has this as a tentative breakdown of the time...
March 15th - Arrive Naples - Head to Amalfi Coast (probably Amalfi or Ravello for the views)
March 16th - Relax / Sightsee (Terrace of Infinity, Amalfi)
March 17th - Depart AC, Visit Pompeii, end in Naples
March 18th - Naples sight-see
March 19th - Depart Naples, Arrive Rome
March 20th thru 22nd - ROME
March 23rd, Depart Rome, Travel to Florence
March 24th - Day trip to Tuscany
March 25th - Tuscany
March 26th - Pisa
March 27th - Depart Florence, Travel to Cinque Terres
March 28th - Cinque Terres
March 29th - Depart Cinque Terres, Arrive Milan
March 30th - Milan
March 31st - Depart Milan - train to Zurich (think DH is just interested in more stamps in Venice for home.
Does anyone see anything here they think should be adjusted? All input greatly appreciated.
March 15th - Arrive Naples - Head to Amalfi Coast (probably Amalfi or Ravello for the views)
March 16th - Relax / Sightsee (Terrace of Infinity, Amalfi)
March 17th - Depart AC, Visit Pompeii, end in Naples
March 18th - Naples sight-see
March 19th - Depart Naples, Arrive Rome
March 20th thru 22nd - ROME
March 23rd, Depart Rome, Travel to Florence
March 24th - Day trip to Tuscany
March 25th - Tuscany
March 26th - Pisa
March 27th - Depart Florence, Travel to Cinque Terres
March 28th - Cinque Terres
March 29th - Depart Cinque Terres, Arrive Milan
March 30th - Milan
March 31st - Depart Milan - train to Zurich (think DH is just interested in more stamps in Venice for home.
Does anyone see anything here they think should be adjusted? All input greatly appreciated.
May 21st, 2016, 04:29 PM
#12
This isn't 3 weeks unless you're spending the last 5 days in Switzerland (or did you mean Venice, not Zurich). I think it's very little time anywhere (6/7 hotels in 16 days!) and a bit too early in the year for Amalfi and the CT. Only a partial day to see all of Florence?
May 21st, 2016, 05:06 PM
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So I'm not an expert. There are many, many people on this board more qualified to help you plan,but I can tell you how I wish I'd done our 20 th anniversary trip if we had more time and using your desired destinations.
15th Fly into Naples
16,17 Naples
18th Trip to Pompeii and on to Rome
19-22 Rome
23- Train to Florence
24-26th Florence
27, 28th- Tuscany maybe staying in Siena We used Hill and Road car service and they set up a lovely farm to table lunch at a working farm
29 th- To Venice
30, 31st 1 daytrip
April 1 train to Milan
Here I am confused. Do you have another week? Are you planning to go to Zurich as well? You could always add more time to any of ther other destinations and then finish up with a few days in Milan.
Anyway just my thoughts. I'm sure others have more insightful information
15th Fly into Naples
16,17 Naples
18th Trip to Pompeii and on to Rome
19-22 Rome
23- Train to Florence
24-26th Florence
27, 28th- Tuscany maybe staying in Siena We used Hill and Road car service and they set up a lovely farm to table lunch at a working farm
29 th- To Venice
30, 31st 1 daytrip
April 1 train to Milan
Here I am confused. Do you have another week? Are you planning to go to Zurich as well? You could always add more time to any of ther other destinations and then finish up with a few days in Milan.
Anyway just my thoughts. I'm sure others have more insightful information
May 21st, 2016, 05:21 PM
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Apparently my last several days got cut off somehow...let me clarify.
April 1st - Arrive Munich (again with the train, he's just got to see everything, but it IS some nice scenery)
April 2nd - Depart Munich, Arrive Venice
April 3rd - Murano or Venice
April 4th - Venice (anniversary - gondola, dinner, etc.)
April 5th - Depart Venice for US
April 1st - Arrive Munich (again with the train, he's just got to see everything, but it IS some nice scenery)
April 2nd - Depart Munich, Arrive Venice
April 3rd - Murano or Venice
April 4th - Venice (anniversary - gondola, dinner, etc.)
April 5th - Depart Venice for US
May 21st, 2016, 05:38 PM
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This is his rough outline, but again, I am trying to determine what works and what must go. I grew up on the beach, so at this point MY only MUST SEE things are the Terrace of Infinity, Florence for the art and Venice, because that's where he will be on the 4th - lol. I agree that it is several moves, but the entire point of taking the full 3 weeks is to see as much as possible. Given those in our care, the question of WHEN we might be able to go again is problematic. My thoughts are to arrange for direct transport in some areas, i.e. direct car service from Naples airport to Amalfi or Ravello, and also water shuttle/taxi directly to airport from hotel in Venice to eliminate a little insanity. Some of this may get pared down, but the point (for him) is to see as much as he can, in case he can't later. All I know is our flight into Italy arrives the morning of the 15th, and we leave April 5th. The rest in between is what we've got to settle on.
May 21st, 2016, 07:56 PM
#20
Three weeks. "Some... minimal activity and rest." "See as much as possible." "Florence for the art," but only one full day there. Munich=Milan. Zurich=Venice.
I think we're all confused. Can we start over?
I think we're all confused. Can we start over?
