We are planning to visit Italy as a family in Jul. We are 2 adults and 2 children, 16 and 11. Could some of you give us recommendations for an itinerary. We would like to see the Historic/artistic side and also get to know the culture and people of Italy. We like both the cities and countryside.

AjGupta,
Suggest you use the search function for trip reports to get ideas then come back to ask questions. Here is one of mine to start you off http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35046872

Henry

Ten days is not enough time to see more than 3 destinations so I would stay very regional. With children that age and in the heat of July I would pick Venice, Lake Como, and the Ligurian coast. Good luck !

Hi Aj,

Good advice from Bob.

Also look up Italy under "Destinations"

Also see Helpful Information: Italy 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568596

Enjoy your visit.

I agree with the others. Considering that you will be going in July, you probably want to stay in the north (in the Po River Basin Area). It will be cooler.

Venice has lots of history. Lake Como has beautiful scenery and countryside.

Between Venice and Lake Como you might consider daytrips or a single night stop at: Bassano, Asolo, Marostica, Vicenza, Bergamo, or Verona.

Thank you folks. My initial throughts were to cover Venice, Rome and Tuscany in the trip. We will be coming from Washington DC, so would try and get a flight to one of the cities and then drive around. I was thinking of 2 days each in Rome and Venice and 3 days in Tuscany. That would give us 2-3 days for short trips around Rome or Venice?

AjGupta, definitely listen to the others' advice. Two days each in Venice and Rome is not nearly enough time to do either justice and you would not have enough time to do day trips from either one. Plus, you will spend most of your time traveling from one place to another and checking in and out of hotels. Good luck.

Does your 10 days include flying back and forth? If so, you really only have 7 or 8 days.

Look for open jaws plane tickets, preferably into Venice, out of Rome. That will save time and money backtracking. Stay in the historic center of your cities also to maximize your time. Rome can fill up many days. Two days is really short. And consider renting an apartment in Rome if you're there for more than 2 nights; it's more comfortable for a family.

Invest in some guidebooks or get them at the library. Rick Steves gives suggested destinations according to the length of your trip. The DK books are good for deciding where you want to go; lots of lovely photos.

I'd say 2 nights in Venice, 3 nights in an agriturismo (working farm that rents rooms) in Tuscany with train/bus access to Florence, and the rest of your time in Rome. But staying at an agriturismo may require a rental car.

July in Italy is also the month of "sagre" meaning happenings in the center of little towns focused, very often, on some typical food.
Then it is also the month of culture Festival: dance, music, teathers, opera.
So, for both these aspects and for more and more, if it is not a big deal for you to avoid Rome, Florence and Venice, I like to suggest you Marche.
And so you can visit Urbino, Pesaro Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, Camerino, Gradara, Senigallia and other many and many very pretty and caratheristic towns that enable you to appreciate a true side of Italy.


Vincenzo

Hi, aj,

do you want a holiday or a route-march?

sorry to be brutal but if you go the 2 days Venice, 2 days countryside and 4 days rome route, you'll wish you hadn't.

For that time of year, I suggest that you fix on an area you like the look of, and rent a "villa" for at least a week of your time, with a nearby city for the rest.

you could pick a lake like garda, and do day trips to Verona, spending the rest of your holiday in Venice, or

tuscany, with a few days in Florence

or Rome, with a few days in the umbrian countryside.

please, please do not try to do the Venice/florence/Rome trip that time of year. your children will be hot and bored and you wil be miserable. rent a nice place with a swimming pool and a car and have some fun.

italy will stil be there another year. will you?

regards, ann

Strong advise! I certainly hear you folks, and thank you for being candid. I will either extend our trip or cut down on locations. I will also look at open jaws to make the best of the time available.