sha

My DH and I are planning our June trip to Italy. We've been to Italy several times in the last several years and have visited the big 3, Lake Como, CT, SML, Amalfi coast, Chianti, southern Tuscany and Umbria.

We're returning to a couple of favorite places but mostly seeking new territory for us. This is where we could really use your expertise.
Our itinerary so far:

2 nights in Venice (repeat)-staying at the Locanda Orseolo- thanks to all of you

3 nights in Lake Garda area- your favorite towns, restaurants, scenic areas and hotels on the lake would be appreciated.

2 nights on Lake Maggiore--same help being sought

2 nights in Portovenere at the GH Portovenere- visited the CQ and Ligurian coast before

3 nights in Chianti (repeat)-DH loved the inn we visited 5 years ago- La Locanda in Volpaia

last night somewhere accessible to the Pisa airport-not in Pisa-visited before. We have a late flight out to Gatwick where we'll overnight.

Help needed: your thoughts about skipping a return trip to Lake Como and concentrating on Maggiore and Garda. How do they compare? I loved Bellagio and Varenna.

Favorite winery experiences in Chianti and to the south. We spent time in Montepulciano, etc. last year.

Experiences that are important to us are:

architecture, scenery, small towns, beautiful wineries ( possibly that serve great meals in a beautiful ambiance- like Poggiano Antico?), historical venues- museums and renaissance art ( with exceptions)are not high on our list.

Originally we had thought about returning to Rome but decided to concentrate on this more northern itinerary. Thank you all so much for the wonderful ideas you bring to this board. Sorry for all the rambling.

bobthenavigator

You have a good start to the type of itinerary I love most---small villages and natural splendor. Trade Maggiore for Lago Orta---trust me, you will love it. Then, add the Dolomites to your trip if you can---try to stay at Castelrotto. However, you can drive there from the north end of Garda in a bit over an hour. Stay north on Garda---Riva or Malcesine. We have stayed in Portovenere 3 times--great choice.
Have fun !

ira

Hi sha,

>...last night somewhere accessible to the Pisa airport-not in Pisa...

You might want to stay in Lucca - 40 min from the airport by train.

Bailey

I have to agree with Bob.....please try to fit in a stay in the Dolomites. Near Castelrotto is a wonderful Inn that we keep returning to......Uhrerhof Deur.
Wonderful food/fabulous location.
www.uhrerhof.com

Thanks Bob...now I'm going to check out Lago Orta!!

JulieVikmanis

I always concur with BtN on picking Orta. it's lovely and you get an immediate feel of being a villager there yourself. My son-in-law took someone's advice here and went to Castelrotto and he's completely sold on the place. If you don't drop Maggiore for Orta, consider staying in Cannero Riviera on that lake. it is away from the bustle of Stresa but you can catch a ferry to the islands, etc.

sha

These sound like great suggestions. Bob always gives great advice! How far is Castelrotto from Venice? Wouldl it make more sense to go from Venice and then head over to Lake Garda? Any special accomodation suggestions for Lake Orta? Is it mostly beautiful scenery that draws people to Orta or religious inspirtion?
Many Thanks for your helpful ideas.

flybug

sha-My DH and I are going to Montepulciano and Chianti area....also will be in Varenna for last 3 days of trip. Could you share some of your highlights of these areas...wine tours etc.....plz email me @ [email protected]. Thank you kindly. Sg

sha

Hi flybug- I'll e-mail as you requested, but for the edification of others here's a few of our favorites.

tour and luncheon at the VignaMaggio winery in Greve- make reservations.

Volpaia- tiny village with a castello that produces wine and olive oil-in chianti

Poggio Antico winery - have lunch there- great ambiance and food. We didn't have reservations but were able to get a table- not very far from Pienza.

Montepulciano- great town. Be sure to find the entrance to the wine shop where you have to go down several ancient stairways into the cellars- it's across the street from the left side of the enoteca, as you face the enoteca.

There's a great restaurant in Montepulciano- can't remember the name unfortunately. It's down the hill- near the San Biagio church. There's a courtyard in the back that faces the church with its large dome. There aren't that many restaurants in Montepulciano. With that description someone will recognize the one I mean. The food, service and ambiance were great.

Don't miss Pienza. You don't need a lot of time there but it's charming. There's a great little restaurant in Pienza called Cafe Luna. Dining is mostly outdoors. It doesn't look like much but the food is wonderful, the service is casual and friendly and the prices were unbelieveably low.

I'll be glad to provide other ideas as they pop into my head.

Banfi winery- lovely grounds and castle. I understand that they too serve lunch and dinner. We weren't able to reserve that.

janemc

The restaurant in Montepulciano is "La Grotta". A good specialty food shop in Pienza is La Cornucopia.

bobthenavigator

Castelrotto is about 2 hours from Venice---look north of Verona and east of Bolzano. For Orta info, look at www.orta.net--we like Hotel Orta. The village is the definition of quaint--a special place.