NeilWT

Hi all,

We are a 30-something couple from Scotland, looking for advice on planning rail travel around northern Italy.

Trains to/from UK already booked, arriving in Italy on 13th July and departing on 25th July, so that leaves us 11 nights to fill in the blanks.

Our interests on this trip include good food & drink, Renaissance art & architecture, UNESCO world heritage sites, museums, parks, gardens.

Current rough itinerary is as follows. Does this seem too ambitious for the number of days available? Are all these easily accessible by train (or bus/taxi)?

- Paris 1 night (already booked)
- Zurich 1 night (already booked)
• Bernina Express through Alps
- Lecco 1 night (already booked)
• Cruise Lake Como, visit Bellagio
- Bologna 2-3 nights (is this a good base for Emilia-Romagna?)
• Day trips to Parma, Modena, Po Delta?
• Foodie tours – Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, Balsamic vinegar
• Visit Lamborghini factory (possibly Ferrari factory museum too)
- Florence 3-4 nights
• Day trips to Pisa, Lucca? Is Assisi worth a detour?
- San Gimignano / Siena 1 night (or as day trip from Florence instead?)
- La Spezia 1 night (or as day trip from Florence instead?)
• Walk Cinque Terre
- Milan 3-4 nights
• Expo 2015
- London 1 night (already booked)

Originally, we had also considered Venice and other areas in Veneto, but now think time may be too tight for this; plus Venice will be worth a dedicated visit another time.

Any and all comments/suggestions welcomed, including places to eat/drink/be merry! Thanks

Neil & Fiona

Dukey1

Why Lecco vs. Varenna-Esino?

PalenQ

Nearly all of your train trips are short and can be done on regional trains - no need to hassle with advance booking - flat dirt cheap fares - just buy tickets at station and don't forget to cancel them yourselves before boarding the train in machines at the entrance to the platforms. For lots of great info on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I've done the Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence but I had already been there and hiked the whole 7 miles between villages - La Spezia is a decent city but I'd stay in one of the 5 Lands like Vernazza which will be much more romantic - but the CT can be mobbed in July and some folks just think too mobbed to enjoy but at night when day trippers and bus tours have gone the towns become magical.

Assis is a typical large hill town but unless into St Francis or St Clare of Assisi there are better ones for your precious time - better hill towns - classical hill towns like Siena - an hour or so by bus from Florence.

kja

"Does this seem too ambitious" From my perspective, definitely! As one example: If you love Renaissance art & architecture, you could easily spend 5 full days in Florence without leaving that city and without seeing everything you might want to see.

I recommend that you get a few good guidebooks (always a good investment, IME) or consult some at your library, identify the things you want to see and experience, note their opening hours, and plot them on a calendar. Add in your transportation, time to check into / out of hotels, etc. Then see how things fit together.

sandralist

At the end of July you might find that quality food tours are not operating in Emilia-Romagna because of the intense heat. But Bologna is good base for visiting many other smaller towns in the area.

Also in July, I would give up on the idea of hiking le Cinque Terre but would surely enjoy at night at the seaside. I wouldn't pick La Spezia, but instead either stay in one of the Le Cinque Terre towns if you don't mind super touristy -- but since you are headed up to Milan, also consider Sestri Levante, Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli.

bobthenavigator

Lecco and La Spezia make little sense.
I suggest Varenna and Monterosso instead.

sandralist

If you pick staying in le Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is the least scenic of the towns (and Corniglia is the most difficult to conquer with luggage).

PalenQ

Why Lecco vs. Varenna-Esino?>

Yes why Lecco - I stayed there once and it was so smoggy - just not nearly as romantic as say Varenna or any lakeside town - Lecco is on a lake too but has little ambience of a lakeside town.

NeilWT

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.

No particular reason for Lecco - we thought it would be good for access from the railway to Lake Como, but in hindsight, Varenna would have been as easy and more attractive (ah well, we can still visit Varenna by train/ferry).

We are currently reshuffling our dates a little, to allow more days in Florence and fewer in Milan, and perhaps missing out Cinque Terre this time if too mobbed with tourists (not sure yet though!)

sarge56

I agree that fewer days in Milan and more in Florence is the way to go. Day trips from Florence are easy and plentiful, too. So, not only will you want to spend at least 3-4 days IN Florence, you could save yourself some packing/repacking/checking in/checking out time by basing in Florence for day trips to Siena and San Gimiagno. (For instance, pick up the Express Bus to Siena- it's only a 60-minute trip and the bus drops you off right outside the main square.)

Due to high tourist volume, highly recommend you book your tickets online for Uffizi and Accademia in Florence. Small fee, but so worth not having to wait 2 hours or more in line!

One final suggestion. One evening in Florence, taxi up to Sal Miniato al Monte, view the church and the amazing cemetery, then walk down to the Piazzale Michelangelo about 20 minutes before sunset. You will find the most amazing views of Florence, the bridges over the Arno and the Tuscan hills. (Taxi stand at the SW corner of the piazzale, if you need one.)

Buon viaggio!

NeilWT

Great tips sarge56, thanks for the info.
Will definitely book in advance for the galleries; and the evening stroll with views sounds delightful.

Grazie!

PalenQ

ah one of my favorite picnic spots - the Piazza Michelangelo in Florence - such an appetizing view of Florence's swirl of reddish tiled roofs.

Mimar

The OP and his partner are in their 30s, could walk up to San Miniato or take the bus.

Another good excursion from Florence is Fiesole, a small town in the hills to the north, with Roman ruins and a good view of Florence, accessible by bus.