RePete1183

Looking for detour between Rome and Naples any suggestions?

I was thinking of Tivoli or Sperlunga. Can anyone suggest a not so far out of the way place for 2 nights, easily accessable by bus or train. I would prefer a spot off the beaten path. I speak Italian and love going where the tourists usually don't.

thanks Pete,

PalenQ

tivoli is about due east of Rome - not en route to Naples and I cannot fathom spending two nights that that so-so towns even though it has two astounding sites in the Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa - may as well do them as a day trip from Rome and not have to pack up.

Try Annunzio and nettuno (spellings) two seaside towns with memorials to Allied soldiers who died in this major beachhead into Italy in WW2.

RePete1183

Thanks they sound interesting. I'll look into them. Let me just go back a second. I have no problem keeping Rome as a home base and traveling outside of the city with a small bag overnight. I have a friend there I can leave my things with, so I don't really care which direction I go. I would just like to jump on a close by bus or train for an hour or two and be in a cool little town that doesn't get the publicity it deserves if you know what I mean.

ekscrunchy

See if there are any ideas in this thread that I began a few years ago.


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-near-rome.cfm


I did a daytrip to Nettuno on one of my visits to Rome. I think it might fit the bill for you.

StCirq

It's Anzio, and yes it's an interesting town - the Italian D-Day landings took place there.

I didn't like Nettuno anywhere near as much as Sperlonga and Gaeta, both of which I think would be wonderful venues for a 2-night stay.

ekscrunchy

St.Cirq: I remembered that you liked Sperlonga! I need to get there myself someday!

Here is more info:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/b....htm#Sperlonga

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Sperlonga is popular with visitors, but when we've been there (admittedly rather a while ago now!) just about everyone had come from no further away than Rome...

It's perhaps the equivalent of London's weekend getaway, Brighton, which you may or may not count as tourism?

Anyway, this is how it looked back then!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/slides_sperlonga

The combined Fondi/Sperlonga station is on the old route between Rome and Naples, and the Regional trains take about the same time as the fast Eurostars do when coming all the way down to Naples - thanks to their dedicated new line.

It's an easy walk to Tiberius' villa, or else there are several interesting towns within easy reach by bus...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/lazio_more

Peter

A_Brit_In_Ischia

As a PS: to get the summer timetable for the station to town Piazzoli buses, click on "Orari" here...

http://www.piazzoli.it/home.htm

... and then on the second of the Adobe Acrobat symbols.

It can take rather a while, so I hope you enjoy

La, la, la la la la....

Peter

zeppole

If you speak Italian and love to get off the beaten path, why ask people who never get off the beaten path where to go -- or ask anybody for that matter, except possibly a passing Italian? All the places mentioned above are extremely popular with tourists, and written about frequently in the British press.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

Indeed - and those who also write Italian can skip to....

http://www.tripadvisor.it/ShowForum-...i20-Italy.html

Peter

PalenQ

Volterra is one such town you may be interested in hopping to from Rome - a town where you could spend a lovely few days - it is north of Rome but you mention just hopping on a train and heading to a nice town that is not a mega touristed place though there are indeed tourists there but not the hoardes like in Rome.

RePete1183

Thanks for all the info. I am very interested in Anzio. It took me about 2 minutes to figure out PalenQ meant Anzio. It looks really cool and I am a history buff so that would be nice. Volterra I've heard of and I'm sure once I look into it I'll be interested but I'm actually leaning toward Sperlonga or Gaeta becasue they are on the way to Naples/Sorrento.

Waldo

If you go to Gaeta, make sure you stroll along Via Del'Independenza. It is right at the main square in Gaeta, right at the sea. It is a very interesting little street, with lots of unique shops and attractions. When I lived there, the US Navy Sixth Fleet called their home port (it may still be so), and the Americans stuck a name to the street. They called it "Piccolo Alley". That name has stuck, and even the Italians call it so. You will love Gaeta. I think it's one of the prettiest towns in Italy.