Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Where to go in Southern Italy in December?

Where to go in Southern Italy in December?

Old Jul 5th, 2015, 10:36 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Where to go in Southern Italy in December?

We are planning a Christmas to New Year's trip to Italy. Northern Italy will be too cool for our taste so we are thinking of starting in Rome (4 days), then going to Naples (maybe 3 days). But where to go next? When I look at the map I have heard of very few southern cities. Given that it's not beach weather does it make sense to head to Sicily or to the Adriatic coast? Or, do we brave the colder temps and head to Florence or Venice? Thoughts? We like wandering -- seeing the sights, checking out museums and parks, walking on the beach.
amerych is offline  
Old Jul 5th, 2015, 12:30 PM
  #2  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sicily has a LOT too offer, so you might want to wait until you can give it at least 2 weeks, if not 3.

Have you been to Rome or Naples before? You might want to give each a bit more time that you have now allotted to them.

You might want to spend some time with a few good guidebooks (always a good investment, IME, but you can also check your local library), check the sections on "when to go" (for weather and to find out what places "shut down" in the off season), and see which of the open things most appeal to you.
kja is offline  
Old Jul 5th, 2015, 03:24 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would go to Paestum and Salerno in addition to Rome and Naples, and possibly rent a car in Salerno to do a bit of exploring inland. Flying into Rome, I would head first to Naples, then to Salerno/Paestum, then ultimately Rome.

How many days of travel do you have?
sandralist is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 02:24 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the input. We will be there for 12 days (not including flying there and back).
amerych is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 04:29 PM
  #5  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With 12 days, adding Paestum and Salerno makes a LOT of sense to me.
kja is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 04:47 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,137
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
You might consider a location or 2 in Italy plus Malta. A couple of Decembers ago I disembarked from a ship in Malta, spent about 10 days, then on to Sorrento for a few days and finished in Rome over Christmas. It was warmest in Malta but not bad in Italy, some light rain and cool, but not cold.

I flew from Malta to Rome, train to Sorrento, then train back to Rome before flying home. I enjoyed all the locations very much and I dislike being cold, too. The weather was not a problem at all.
MmePerdu is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 06:15 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It will take half a day to see Paestum and it can be seen easily enough on the train from Naples. Salerno is a port city - it has a nice historic centre but make sure it has enough to hold your interest. Even though it's December/January you could still visit the Amalfi Coast or Capri - they don't 'close' as many think they do. Capri is wonderful for hiking in the off season if the weather is good. An example of one hike on Capri is here:
http://www.capri.net/en/s/towers-and-forts

The area north of Naples - Pozzuoli, Baia, Bacoli has a wealth of history and some amazing things to do there - like visit the Flavian Amphitheatre whose underground area is free to visit (not an additional cost as the Colosseum is), there is the Solfatara which is basically an active volcanic caldera - and very much like a moonscape with fissures of steam, boiling mud pools and so on. There is Lake Aveno - home of the Roman god Vulcan, there is also the Aragonese castle at Baia which houses an Archaeological Museum full of statues and other finds from the area - see information here:

http://www.napoliunplugged.com/location/baia-castle

There are also trips out to Caserta to see the Versailles-like Royal Palace or the amphitheatre at Capua.
http://www.napoliunplugged.com/locat...a-amphitheater

Overall it's a great time to go south and you'll get some really good hotel prices (after January 6th).
Blueeyedcod is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 06:26 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,137
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
We got excellent discounts on hotels in both Malta and Italy (Sorrento & Rome) in December.
MmePerdu is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 06:41 PM
  #9  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Salerno is a port city - it has a nice historic centre but make sure it has enough to hold your interest"

I thought Salerno an underrated gem -- to each his/her/their own! But the advice to "make sure it has enough to hold your interest" is absolutely on target -- and that advice applies to ALL of the locations you might visit on this trip.
kja is offline  
Old Jul 6th, 2015, 11:02 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's possible to rent a car in Salerno and go exploring if you enjoy that. I find Salerno interesting, for its historic sights but also as a contemporary contrast to Naples (Naples is a port city), with its own distinct personality (and even distinct pizza, which I prefer!). But if I had several days to spend, I would rent a car in Salerno and use it to visit the Amalfi coast if the weather was sunny and clear, or attractions that are inland or south of Paestum.

It occurs to me to add that if you enjoy fireworks, Naples has Italy's most spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks show, so you might want to arrange your trip so that you end up in Naples. It wouldn't be hard to go from Rome to Salerno/Paestum, and finish up in Napoli.
sandralist is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
willy22
Europe
14
Jan 11th, 2017 04:23 PM
gentle
Europe
14
Sep 20th, 2016 07:22 AM
macswim
Europe
26
Aug 11th, 2013 01:35 PM
bunnymonk
Europe
16
Dec 19th, 2006 11:27 AM
PaulaD
Europe
4
Apr 21st, 2003 02:45 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -