What part of Italy?
Aug 23rd, 2012, 06:18 PM
#1
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What part of Italy?
Perhaps this question belongs on the lounge. I don't have a specific question, but rather I'm looking for opinions. and I'm very curious
If you only had a month in Italy, where would you go? What is your favourite thing to do there? Would you go to more than one area? Which city do you like the best? ROme? What countryside do you like? Cinque terre? tuscany? Almalfi?
It's such a beautiful country and I wonder what you would think would be the perfect trip.
If you only had a month in Italy, where would you go? What is your favourite thing to do there? Would you go to more than one area? Which city do you like the best? ROme? What countryside do you like? Cinque terre? tuscany? Almalfi?
It's such a beautiful country and I wonder what you would think would be the perfect trip.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 07:38 PM
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ONLY a month? Wow, to be so lucky...
We all have different tastes. I've not been everywhere in Italy but have been a few places. I personally loved the Cinque Terre and have been twice (but it is extremely touristy now - you'll hear American voices everywhere). Love Venice at night and in the morning; hate it during the day with its Disneyland-like crowds and lines. Loved Siena; didn't care much for Florence. Loved the Roman Forum and old ruins in Rome; didn't care much for the city. Loved Parma, kind of liked Bologna (the food is amazing in both towns) - not nearly so many American tourists in these two towns, perhaps because Rick Steves does not cover them.
I saw Verona on a day trip, would like to go back and spend a night. Could do without Milan. Could do without Sorrento - wished I'd spent the night in Naples instead.
Do you like museums and art? If so, you will want to plan more time for Florence and for the other towns with great museums, and your ideal trip will be different than mine.
We'll never all agree on any of these things, so you will have to make your own judgments about what you will enjoy in Italy and what not as much.
We all have different tastes. I've not been everywhere in Italy but have been a few places. I personally loved the Cinque Terre and have been twice (but it is extremely touristy now - you'll hear American voices everywhere). Love Venice at night and in the morning; hate it during the day with its Disneyland-like crowds and lines. Loved Siena; didn't care much for Florence. Loved the Roman Forum and old ruins in Rome; didn't care much for the city. Loved Parma, kind of liked Bologna (the food is amazing in both towns) - not nearly so many American tourists in these two towns, perhaps because Rick Steves does not cover them.
I saw Verona on a day trip, would like to go back and spend a night. Could do without Milan. Could do without Sorrento - wished I'd spent the night in Naples instead.
Do you like museums and art? If so, you will want to plan more time for Florence and for the other towns with great museums, and your ideal trip will be different than mine.
We'll never all agree on any of these things, so you will have to make your own judgments about what you will enjoy in Italy and what not as much.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 07:49 PM
#5
Such choices! I really loved N.Italy (Venice, Verona, Vincenza and that area). Didnt esp like the lake area, but its very pretty. The Dolomites are beautiful and on that trip we spend time in Friuli–Venezia Giulia region and that was wonderful. Talk about no tourists. While I have really enjoyed both Rome & Florence, they both just seem too crowded for me. The Amalfi Coast is gorgeous so like that too. Sicily is fabulous, very different from Rome or Florence or anywhere else I have been in Italy. And of course, can't wait to explore Puglia next month part of it in the apt. u turned me onto... R u planning a trip there or just thinking at this point?
Aug 23rd, 2012, 07:49 PM
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I love the scenery of southern Tuscany; it's what they put on the travel posters. And I love Venice.
So if I had a month in Italy, I'd spend a week in Venice (in an apartment), 2 weeks in southern Tuscany (in a villa) and then maybe devote a week to some part of Italy I haven't yet visited, such as Bologna, the Piemonte, the northern Italian Riviera, or the far south of Italy.
So if I had a month in Italy, I'd spend a week in Venice (in an apartment), 2 weeks in southern Tuscany (in a villa) and then maybe devote a week to some part of Italy I haven't yet visited, such as Bologna, the Piemonte, the northern Italian Riviera, or the far south of Italy.
Aug 23rd, 2012, 07:59 PM
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We had a month in Italy last year (September) We spent a week--actually 8 days--- in Rome (our second visit, so we just enjoyed a few big sights, and played in the city. Then we picked up a car and spent 2 weeks in a flat outside Spoleto in Umbria, It was so wonderful, that I would probably have been just as pleased if the trip ended right there. Then we had a couple days in Cinque Terre (never been before and were blessed with perfect weather. After a serendipitous day/night in Parma and Cremona, we finished in Bellagio for 5 days.
We loved everything, but frankly, now that I've covered a lot of Italy (our previous trip was 3 weeks), I think I would be happy spending anywhere from two weeks to a month in a single spot.
Whether that be Umbria, the Veneto, or Pulia or Sicily (the later two we've not yet seen.)
When you stay in one place, you really can explore the region. We enjoy museums, and art galleries, and just plain people watching. We stumbled on a fantastic Classic Car rally in Cortona that was much more interesting than the market (also in town that day.)
We loved everything, but frankly, now that I've covered a lot of Italy (our previous trip was 3 weeks), I think I would be happy spending anywhere from two weeks to a month in a single spot.
Whether that be Umbria, the Veneto, or Pulia or Sicily (the later two we've not yet seen.)
When you stay in one place, you really can explore the region. We enjoy museums, and art galleries, and just plain people watching. We stumbled on a fantastic Classic Car rally in Cortona that was much more interesting than the market (also in town that day.)
Aug 24th, 2012, 09:23 AM
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Oh such fabulous answers ..I can't wait to get home from work so I can really go over the answers again .
Yestravel, just daydreaming now and wondering where I would go . There is just so much , it seems like it would be very difficult to narrow down .
Yestravel, just daydreaming now and wondering where I would go . There is just so much , it seems like it would be very difficult to narrow down .
Aug 24th, 2012, 09:34 AM
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Kodi...
You know how much I love Rome, but given a month I would have to say (for me) Bologna would be the place I'd want to base myself for a month. The food alone in that region of Italy would keep me happy for years!
Not to slight southern Italy (I enjoyed the Amalfi Coast as much as the next guy) or northern Italy (which I haven't been to in ages). But one of the things I really liked about Bologna (and I was only there for 1 week a couple years ago) was the easy train connections. I believe you can easily access most of the major Italian cities from Bologna and many of the smaller towns in the Emilia-Romagna region from there.
Also, I felt the city of Bologna, although large, (but not as large as Rome) was very manageable, had a vibrant population (probably thanks to the university there) and the people I came in contact with there were friendly and helpful. Plus I got to practice more of my fledgling Italian since although English is spoken by many, not as many as in the larger cities. At least that has been my experience.
You know how much I love Rome, but given a month I would have to say (for me) Bologna would be the place I'd want to base myself for a month. The food alone in that region of Italy would keep me happy for years!
Not to slight southern Italy (I enjoyed the Amalfi Coast as much as the next guy) or northern Italy (which I haven't been to in ages). But one of the things I really liked about Bologna (and I was only there for 1 week a couple years ago) was the easy train connections. I believe you can easily access most of the major Italian cities from Bologna and many of the smaller towns in the Emilia-Romagna region from there.
Also, I felt the city of Bologna, although large, (but not as large as Rome) was very manageable, had a vibrant population (probably thanks to the university there) and the people I came in contact with there were friendly and helpful. Plus I got to practice more of my fledgling Italian since although English is spoken by many, not as many as in the larger cities. At least that has been my experience.
Aug 24th, 2012, 10:19 AM
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ONLY a month,heck i can travel from Veneto to Sicilia in 30 days and see most places in between.. if i wanted to. what is your budget? what do you like to do and why Italia? , what is the main purpose of this trip,? are you single traveler ? you may have the answer to your questions.
Aug 24th, 2012, 10:33 AM
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I am trying to think of what part of Italy is my least favorite and I can't do it. I can't think of anyplace in Italy I wouldn't want to go back to - even Milan, which I thought I wasn't going to like but did. But I guess if I had to choose it would be the area of the Veneto and Emile Romagna/Lombardy. I loved Bologna, Padua, and Verona - all places I have been to more than once and stayed in. I also really like many of the other towns in the area - Ferrara, Modena, Mantua. I completely agree about Venice being wonderful early and late but not mid day when the cruise ships are in. If I had to pick one town to base in it might be Padua - has many of the same attributes as Bologna (university population, less tourists) at least partly because of good location between all those other places. Including the lakes.
But when I think of all my trips to Italy (seven so far) the ONE that really stands out is the Amalfi Coast (and I did like Sorrento).
Andrew - curious what you liked about Parma? I know you are not alone in that feeling on this board but it was my least favorite place on my trip this summer (LOVED Slovenia by the way). I was actually thinking of posting a question as to what it is people liked so much cause I clearly missed it and am curious as to why.
But when I think of all my trips to Italy (seven so far) the ONE that really stands out is the Amalfi Coast (and I did like Sorrento).
Andrew - curious what you liked about Parma? I know you are not alone in that feeling on this board but it was my least favorite place on my trip this summer (LOVED Slovenia by the way). I was actually thinking of posting a question as to what it is people liked so much cause I clearly missed it and am curious as to why.
Aug 24th, 2012, 12:44 PM
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Thank you all so much. I really appreciate the detailed answers and the time and thought it took to post them.
I would love a trip to Italy, but their are so many choices, it gets overwhelming.
As for what I like, I like beautiful scenery, I like to wander in the towns and cities and soak up the lifestyle, the atmosphere , the architecure. I'm not big on museums, just love wandering the streets. I love Italian food, although I'm not a foodie.
In Rome, I loved the Forum , in Venice, the little back alleys, and watching them unload boatloads of stuff into the little shops.. the life they live.
So I've been to Rome, Venice, Florence, but only for a couple of days each, and that was a long time ago. I think I'd appreciate them more now.
Thanks again for all the great ideas.
Yestravel, you know I'm particularly interested in how you make out in the apt.
I would love a trip to Italy, but their are so many choices, it gets overwhelming.
As for what I like, I like beautiful scenery, I like to wander in the towns and cities and soak up the lifestyle, the atmosphere , the architecure. I'm not big on museums, just love wandering the streets. I love Italian food, although I'm not a foodie.
In Rome, I loved the Forum , in Venice, the little back alleys, and watching them unload boatloads of stuff into the little shops.. the life they live.
So I've been to Rome, Venice, Florence, but only for a couple of days each, and that was a long time ago. I think I'd appreciate them more now.
Thanks again for all the great ideas.
Yestravel, you know I'm particularly interested in how you make out in the apt.
Aug 24th, 2012, 02:31 PM
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isabel, what I liked most about Parma was how untouristy it was compared to elsewhere: a vibrant, real Italian city. Many people barely spoke English. (I bought a SIM card and no one at the TIM store could speak almost any English.) It's small, compact, and walkable. I happened to be there on a Saturday night during some sort of festival perhaps, so it was a lively place.
Oh, that and the great food.
Did you stay in the center in Parma? I stated at the Hotel Button, one of the few hotels in the center of town, and was able to walk everywhere. (I had no car.)
Contrast Parma to a place like Florence, which is full of history and culture but also is so overwhelmed with tourists that it's hard to have an authentic experience. Venice is largely the same as Florence in that regard, except that Venice is so beautiful and unique that I was able to put all of that aside.
Oh, that and the great food.
Did you stay in the center in Parma? I stated at the Hotel Button, one of the few hotels in the center of town, and was able to walk everywhere. (I had no car.)
Contrast Parma to a place like Florence, which is full of history and culture but also is so overwhelmed with tourists that it's hard to have an authentic experience. Venice is largely the same as Florence in that regard, except that Venice is so beautiful and unique that I was able to put all of that aside.
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