tyrone

We are going to Rome this week. Tuscany or Venice as a side trip???
Thank you!!!

sneep

Venice. Enchanting this time of year, and always worth it regardless of the weather. Tuscany - for me - leaves a lot to be desired in the winter months -as much of the point of Tuscany is its bucolic atmosphere.

subcon

i'm not trying to be snide, but tuscany is bucolic year round. while the area may not be as pleasant or accessible as in other seasons, wintertime in the hill towns has its own peculiar charm.

the early morning mists shrouding the valleys, the not infrequent dusting of snow, the crystalline purity of the air (not to mention the absence of crowds of tourists) tend to enhance the isolation characteristic of a medieval hill town.

i've found myself to be more absorbed and reflective during wintertime in italy. yet everything else moves along like any other time of the year. cafes and shops open, townspeople go about their business and churches function.

that said,as to your immediate concern, i'd save venice for another time. first, it deserves more than a side trip and, second, it unfortunately does not have the winter charm alluded to in tuscany. actually, i've found it to be dreary as opposed to romantic.

tailsid

Venice is not to be missed. Tuscany is charming as well. If you can do both - go for it.

Nickster

Since you are touring Rome - even though Venice is must see at some point - I would recommend Tuscany/Umbria - we toured (by car) this region recently - exploring hill towns such as Cortona, Assisi, Siena, Spoleto and Todi - we stayed in Cortona & Spoleto - Cortona being our favorite. I would choose a location fairly close to Rome though - getting around Italy by car can be harrowing.

sneep

as you can see tyrone - each has its place in terms of a transportive experience. I am partial to Venice during the winter months - fond memories of wandering the streets as a child holding my fathers hand and running down an isolated wet street towards the warm light of a small restaurant across a tiny bridge. But as subcon has truly portrayed, tuscany too holds many charms. The choice is yours and neither one will disappoint.