norman g

I (56) photographer, son (28) architect, artist going to Italy, France(?), Greece(?) Switzerland(?). I am making the plans. I know you'll all say Italy, so that's a GIVEN! Don't really want to do more than two countries. What about Greece, France or Switzerland? We have only three weeks and flying in AND out of Paris. DeGaulle. <BR> <BR>Need suggestions as to not only second country but...train travel, air, rent auto or other means. <BR> <BR>We plan to go to Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi and any other suggestions you might have. As for anything else, we are up in the air so to speak... If Greece, definetely Athens! If Switzerland...??? If France, I though we might just stay around Paris on the way out so maybe three countries are the limit. Thank you for any responses. We are not travelling until late April thru middle of May 1999. Have Air France tickets. Nothing else! I do like to plan ahead. At least 5-6 months ahead. Again thank you.

Martha

Norman-- Three weeks isn't very long, especially since you sound like the kind of people who will want more than a superficial experience. Athens is not particularly pretty, and parts of Switzerland near the Italian border aren't either, while Venice, Florence, and Tuscany are. So are the Italian lakes. There is more than enough right there to take three weeks. And of course Paris will take time, too. I'm sure other people will have great suggestions about where to go. My suggestion is not to do it all. I suspect you'll find that the art and architecture of France and Italy will keep you enthralled, no matter how slowly you travel. Martha

kam

Definitely Italy----once traveled there with a friend who was a Fine Arts major and a photographer. She sent me copies of her photos and they are the best souvenir of a country we've been to repeatedly. She saw things in ways I never could!! In addition to your list of Italian cities, I would suggest Pompeii and Herculaneum if you are going down to Amalfi. Most would warn you away from Naples, but it's getting more tourist friendly and has a marvelous museum. You might also take the hydrofoil out to Capri to see Hadrian's villa--beautiful views You could also stop in Siena or Assisi, with its spectacular double decker basilica, on your way from Florence to Rome.In Spoleto is the famous bridge as well as Filippo Lippi's Life of the Virgin--perhaps the most beautiful fresco anywhere (do research his life if you are going to see his work--he was quite a character!) I think of Switzeland as great natural beauty but not architecture, Greece as very historic but not as in depth as Italy. I would strongly suggest France as the other country----architecturally (my brother-in-law is one) and artistically. The Loire Valley and its chateaux should be of great interest to you both, Reims cathedral, Chartres cathedral, the beautiful art in the Louvre, Paris itself, maybe a trip up to Honfleur in Normandy which the painter, Boudin, made famous and then over to Giverny, Monet's famous home and garden. While in Normandy, see Mont St. Michel.Trains in Europe are great but you will want a car for the countryside. I suggest combining the two, renting the car as you leave a major city such as Florence. Just thought of another architectural interest--the Palladian villas in the countryside near Venice. Have a great trip! <BR>

wes fowler

Norman, <BR>Your son may be interested in some of the architecture of LeCorbusier. Just west of the border of France, Germany and Switzerland at Basel, is the French town of Ronchamps where LeCorbusier's highly imaginative, starkly dramatic pilgrimage chapel is located. Marseilles is the location where his innovative apartment houses were built. <BR> <BR>If you decide to concentrate on Italy and that portion of France in proximity to Paris, consider Brugges, Belgium, a three to three and a half hour drive from Paris. Brugges is a city that time forgot in that it's architecture is that of the richest 16th century city north of the Alps. Well worth a trip for an overnight stay.

Arizona

From many years of travel, we can only offer this simple piece of advice: the more you travel, the less you see. Stick to one country, see it in depth, and build your memories without exhaustion.

BOB THE NAVIGATOR

Hello Norman, As always, Kam and Wes have given you good advice. With your time you can do an excellent itinerary <BR>to include Loire valley, Cote d' Azur, <BR>the art cities of Tuscany, and then head <BR>back via the Italian Lakes and the best <BR>of the Alps. Forget Greece this trip, but ironically I am leaving for Greece <BR>in 3 days. Contact me directly later if <BR>you want some details. I too like to plan my trips 6 months in advance. <BR> <BR>