rbezzina

Hi..my wife and I are thinking of going to Italy for the first time in September 2012 from the 7th to the 23rd September. We mostly depend on public transport and trains while abroad and we would like to get some suggestions from you on where we can base ourselves. We are thinking of having 3 bases. We can fly to and from Rome and Milan, but we want to avoid visiting Milan. We like history, architecture, nice scenery, lakes and mountains. What do you suggest...we had Rome, Florence, maybe Venice and Lake Garda in mind.

TDudette

rbezzina, I looked at your profile page to see if I need to welcome you and see that you have posted several "2 weeks in..." threads to different places already. So, where ARE you going?

If it is, indeed, Italy, I'd fly into Venice and out of Rome. Since you mention Rome and Milan above, fly into Milan and go directly to Venice or Lake Garda and end in Rome. Florence, with day trips to towns in Tuscany and Umbria is easy to accomplish by train for the most part.

rbezzina

I will be going to Italy definitely.

vjpblovesitaly

I suggest you go to the library and get a guidebook

bobthenavigator

Here is a start---I like the first one:
1. BELLA ITALIA: Five destinations in 15 days—car & train travel
* Arrive in Milan[MXP] & depart from Venice[VCE]or vice versa.
* Itinerary to include the Italian Lakes, Ligurian coast, rural
Tuscany, Florence, & Venice. Suggested timing is 3-2-4-2-4.
* Option: Drop the coast & rent a villa in Tuscany[ 3-7-2-3].
* Best time to go: May & June or Sept. & Oct.

2. LA DOLCE VITA: Three destinations in 12 to 14 days-car & train
* Arrival & departure from Rome[ FCO] or arrival in Naples
* Itinerary to include Rome, the Amalfi coast, and Tuscany
* Best time to go: Easter to end of October
* Option: Fly into Naples & stay at 2 locations on the coast

3. CLASSIC ITALIA: Three destinations in 12 to 14 days-car & train
* Arrival & departure from Rome—may start trip in Florence
* Destinations to include Florence, Rome & Tuscany/Umbria
* Best time to go: Anytime, but May & Oct. are my favorites
* Option: Consider a weekly rental in Tuscany/Umbria

4. SICILIAN CHARMS: Five destinations in 15 days—car travel
* Connections to Catania & Palermo via Rome or gateway city.
* Itinerary to include Taormina, Siracusa, Palermo & more.
* Best time to go: March to November—May is best for flowers
* See: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=634

5. THE VILLAGE SAMPLER: My favorite venues for those who enjoy natural beauty and quaint, small villages. Arranged north to south.
* Arrive Milan & depart Rome—car travel-- 3 nites per location
* Itinerary to include Lago Orta, Castelrotto/ Ortisei[Dolomites],
Portovenere[Liguria], Montalcino[Tuscany], & Spello[Umbria].
* Best time to go: May to October for the lakes

ira

Hi rb,

I would fly into Venice (or Milan if I had to) for 4 nights, train to Florence for 4 nights with a visit to Sienna, train to Rome for the rest, with a visit to Orvieto.

Enjoy your visit.

rbezzina

If I had to swap Lake Garda with Bolzano and spend 5/6 days there, what do you think? Are there easy day trips to do with the trains? I will be getting to Bolzano from Milan and then leave Bolzano to Firenze..What do you suggest?