Italy - hiking, active, with Sicily
Mar 7th, 2017, 12:47 PM
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Italy - hiking, active, with Sicily
My partner and I are in Europe in early June this year. We only have 1 week unplanned and want to spend in Italy. We have both been in Tuscany and spent time in Cinque Terre. We are more passionate about outdoor beauty than the cities- and we are deciding between the Lakes area (and which Lake), or Naples and the Amalfi Coast (we do live in SF Bay so have lots of gorgeous coastline), or Sicily. Any thoughts - could we do 2 places?
Mar 7th, 2017, 01:08 PM
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You could certainly do two places, but I would not do two of the places you mentioned because I would not want to waste time getting between them. We spend a lot of time outdoors on our vacations, and we particularly enjoyed combining the Amalfi coast with the less bustling Cilento coast, about an hour or two south (though I could easily fill a week with Naples, the AC, and the nearby islands).
If you chose the lakes, you could maybe make your way over to somewhere like Aosta. If you choose Sicily, I would stick to Sicily.
If you chose the lakes, you could maybe make your way over to somewhere like Aosta. If you choose Sicily, I would stick to Sicily.
Mar 7th, 2017, 05:41 PM
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Much as I love Sicily, you might want to defer your time there until you can give it at least 2, if not 3, weeks.
Given your stated interests, I would think a week in the Lakes area might make sense. I haven't been to Lake Como, but loved Lake Maggiore -- but to be clear, I visited it from the Swiss side (which you can, of course, reach if you want). There are definitely some great nature / hiking areas on the Swiss side! You might find some ideas in my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm
I also enjoyed the Amalfi Coast, and it also offers some great hikes and natural scenery. It also offers some astounding "man-made" options -- Pompeii and Herculaneum and Paestum; the duomos of Amalfi and Salerno; etc. If you want to combine some nature and some "culture" (for lack of a better term) into one week, that might be your better option.
Like yorkshire, I'm not sure splitting these two areas makes good sense given the rest of your plan.
Hope that helps!
Given your stated interests, I would think a week in the Lakes area might make sense. I haven't been to Lake Como, but loved Lake Maggiore -- but to be clear, I visited it from the Swiss side (which you can, of course, reach if you want). There are definitely some great nature / hiking areas on the Swiss side! You might find some ideas in my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...any-thanks.cfm
I also enjoyed the Amalfi Coast, and it also offers some great hikes and natural scenery. It also offers some astounding "man-made" options -- Pompeii and Herculaneum and Paestum; the duomos of Amalfi and Salerno; etc. If you want to combine some nature and some "culture" (for lack of a better term) into one week, that might be your better option.
Like yorkshire, I'm not sure splitting these two areas makes good sense given the rest of your plan.
Hope that helps!
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:24 PM
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Thank you both for your replies. We have booked flights into and out of Naples and have 5 nights. We are thinking of staying in a town called Nocelle, instead of Positano and wonder how to plan our time.
I am sad to miss Sicily but probably should schedule that for another time, no?
Warmly,
Lynne
I am sad to miss Sicily but probably should schedule that for another time, no?
Warmly,
Lynne
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:28 PM
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Yes -- plan on visiting Sicily when you can give it the time it deserves.
Any good guidebook would give you ideas about how to plan your time in and around Naples.
As people who enjoy hiking, you might want to look into the Path of the Gods.
Any good guidebook would give you ideas about how to plan your time in and around Naples.
As people who enjoy hiking, you might want to look into the Path of the Gods.
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:38 PM
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Hi kja,
Thank you for your reply... The hike you mention sounds great. Have you spent time on the Amalfi Coast? we will be there June 9-14 and wonder if it will be so touristy? Shall we go to Sorrento? maybe 1 day in Naples? There is a post on Naples with 44 replies and people mostly liked Naples although my daughter said it was sketchy.
Lynne
PS Tell me what you loved about Sicily and if you are willing, where you hail from.
Thank you for your reply... The hike you mention sounds great. Have you spent time on the Amalfi Coast? we will be there June 9-14 and wonder if it will be so touristy? Shall we go to Sorrento? maybe 1 day in Naples? There is a post on Naples with 44 replies and people mostly liked Naples although my daughter said it was sketchy.
Lynne
PS Tell me what you loved about Sicily and if you are willing, where you hail from.
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:46 PM
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Kja,
One other thing - I saw your post last year when someone wrote about Naples and Capri. Perhaps we could include Capri? we are thinking of staying in Nocelle on the Amalfi coast. Can we exchange emails so I could correspond with you directly?
One other thing - I saw your post last year when someone wrote about Naples and Capri. Perhaps we could include Capri? we are thinking of staying in Nocelle on the Amalfi coast. Can we exchange emails so I could correspond with you directly?
Mar 28th, 2017, 10:53 PM
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Yes, I've been to the Amalfi Coast, but in May -- and it was already very busy then -- but for good cause, as it is well worth seeing!
Where to go depends on what YOU want to see and experience, and NONE of us can make that decision for you. Seriously, you need to consult some guidebooks. The cost will be nugatory in comparison to the cost of your trip, and you will learn things you never realized you should ask. And for that matter, you can consult them in your local library.
Some of us adore Naples and would give it a week; others find it too hectic and visit only for its extraordinary archeology museum. I wouldn't call it "sketchy," but it is dynamic and energetic and "gritty," and one would, I think, be wise to be mindful of one's surroundings when in Naples -- but then, I'd say one should be mindful anywhere. ;-) Many people choose Sorrento as a base for the area; others of us choose to move around a bit to better satisfy our interests. Other options include Ischia, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Salerno, and various smaller towns and villages scattered among them. Again, your trip, your call.
Although I didn't write a trip report on my time in Sicily, I've posted about Sicily frequently; you can find comments that I've offered by looking at just about any planning thread on a trip to Sicily on this board over the last decade. And if you look, you'll probably find that I'm currently in the DC area -- though why that should matter to you is beyond me.
Where to go depends on what YOU want to see and experience, and NONE of us can make that decision for you. Seriously, you need to consult some guidebooks. The cost will be nugatory in comparison to the cost of your trip, and you will learn things you never realized you should ask. And for that matter, you can consult them in your local library.
Some of us adore Naples and would give it a week; others find it too hectic and visit only for its extraordinary archeology museum. I wouldn't call it "sketchy," but it is dynamic and energetic and "gritty," and one would, I think, be wise to be mindful of one's surroundings when in Naples -- but then, I'd say one should be mindful anywhere. ;-) Many people choose Sorrento as a base for the area; others of us choose to move around a bit to better satisfy our interests. Other options include Ischia, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Salerno, and various smaller towns and villages scattered among them. Again, your trip, your call.
Although I didn't write a trip report on my time in Sicily, I've posted about Sicily frequently; you can find comments that I've offered by looking at just about any planning thread on a trip to Sicily on this board over the last decade. And if you look, you'll probably find that I'm currently in the DC area -- though why that should matter to you is beyond me.
May 18th, 2017, 08:10 AM
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Back with a further set of questions based on you and what we decided -
We arrive in Naples June 9 and fly out on June 14th. We want to experience it less as a tourist although that will be hard...We are staying in Sorrento and thinking maybe we skip Capri and go to Prochida or Ischia. Anyone's thoughts? Also whether to go to the peninsula west of Sorrento and not even try to go to Amalfi except on a boat. Does anyone have good names for boat captains or suggested itineraries?
Thank you, Lynnie
We arrive in Naples June 9 and fly out on June 14th. We want to experience it less as a tourist although that will be hard...We are staying in Sorrento and thinking maybe we skip Capri and go to Prochida or Ischia. Anyone's thoughts? Also whether to go to the peninsula west of Sorrento and not even try to go to Amalfi except on a boat. Does anyone have good names for boat captains or suggested itineraries?
Thank you, Lynnie
