I am still searching for a way to get a trip to Europe in as a honeymoon. Due to some changing circumstances with our jobs, the only time we may be able to make this happen would be over Christmas vacation. I am thinking possibly 2 locations in Italy or 2 in Spain. We want to see great architecture and eat great food! If we were to go to Venice, is there a good spot that we could take a 2 or 3 day side trip too to do some wine tasting? Or if we were to start in Barcelona, where would you suggest going from there?

Over Christmas I would head to either southern spain or Italy - to avoid the chance of the worst winter weather. If you do Andalusia or Sicily it will not only be fascinating but you are very unlikely to get snow and weather should be more pleasant (50s?) for touring.

I wouldn't necessarily want to go to Venice for Christmas. At that time of the year, it could be very chilly, foggy, and damp, even if it doesn't rain. Rome would be my choice at the Christmas season. There are some great architectural experiences there.

You can do wine tastings in any city with a reasonable number of tourists. There are highly rated wine tasting experiences in Rome. From Rome, an easy side trip is to Florence, where there are lots of things to see, and also wine tastings.

I wouldn't plan on vineyard tours at that time of year. A good wine tasting has more choices to compare, anyway, than a vineyard tour does.

How much total time do you have?

We have spent the week of New Years in Rome and also in Tuscany and had great holidays.

We lucked out and had mild weather both years.

Our pics may give you an insight into what it is like (if you click my name you should also find our trip reports)

Tuscany
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gir...7639164500734/

Rome
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gir...7637218569466/

We probably have 7 days not including travel. We are thinking of leaving on Christmas ever or day and then coming back on the 2nd. We live in Fargo, ND so considering we had 77 days this winter with below 0 temps, a little 30 degree weather isn't going to scare us! lol.

I found extremely cold weather in the US more bearable than wet, damp foggy weather here in Italy. As a tourist, you'd be outside in that cold more than you would in Fargo.

I spent about 10 days over Christmas in Sorrento & Rome. It was nice, cool, sprinklings of rain but didn't feel cold and damp. I think bvlenci is right about Rome over Venice that time of year.

Just prior to Sorrento I'd been in Malta and the weather there had been even better. You might consider there, instead of Italy, at Christmastime. Valletta was all decorated and the pedestrian streets full of Christmas shoppers, and few tourists. It was a wonderful surprise, my first time there.

I answered the other thread you started asking the same question

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...inter-trip.cfm

One of the problems you face in the cities is that so much will be closed down. Weather-wise the area around Naples and Sorrento is usually favorable (no guarantees) and Pompei stays open except for Christmas day as do other cultural sights. I wouldn't stay in Sorrento because it is too summer-oriented. I would pick Rome or Naples (and Naples in particular if you like art).

I meant to add FOOD as well as art for Naples. I think the food in Naples is better than Rome. There is of course wonderful art in Rome but Naples is the greater adventure.

"...Sorrento... is too summer-oriented."

I don't know what that means. I was in Sorrento the week before Christmas. It was uncrowded by tourists but lots of activity, all the restaurants were open, no waiting, decorated for the holidays, presumably by and for the locals and altogether great.

I thin most people understand that Sorrento is totally oriented toward warm-weather tourism. The request is to see great architecture and eat great food and Sorrento is so inferior on both counts to Naples and Rome or what Spain can offer that needs pointing out before somebody gets on a plane. Presumably they have Christmas decorations in Fargo.

elisabk:

If you are not greatly deterred by lower temps and you want great architecture as well as good eating then you can consider any of Italy's great art cities. If you could arrive the 27th instead of the 26th you would find a lot more places open your first day.

The previous is what I'd describe as "holding forth", that no other opinion but one's own is worth (anything). This sort of attitude tends to leave me speechless, although obviously not quite, this time.

I won't comment on where to go, but flying on Christmas Day is a good idea. It is not usually crowded and since most US to Europe flights leave late in the day, you can probably have Christmas morning at home before catching you connecting flight, particularly if you are flying from Chicago direct to Europe.

It will be interesting to see if you get more information on what is open and closed between Christmas and New Years. With the caveat that in Italy places that say they will be open might well not be, this is worth knowing. Ditto transportation schedules if you plan to trave.

I would be likely to go to Rome, stay there, and "do" it as much as possible. It isn't going to be beach weather anywhere.

Hotel or apartment?

We were surprised how much was open over the week if nye in both Tuscany and Rome. Several restaurants were closed but even on New Year's Day lots more were open than closed! Not sure about tourist sites though.

If you have not been there, I would choose Rome and Florence. If architecture and food are important, you can scarcely do better. My niece's in-laws go to Rome for Christmas most years and say the weather is great.