The lowest air fares are November 1 (or 15) to about March 1 (or 15 or 31).

Sometimes, fares NEARLY that low are available other times of the year. With diligent watching, you have a modestly better chance of finding those very low fares (or within $100) in the second half of October, and then somewhat similar chances in May (early May, especially); less likely in June, and even less likely in September (but NEVER impossible).

Thank you Rex,

which would you suggest for weather/festivals/events...spring or fall?

What is the weather like in September/October? I am from Massachusetts, just to give you an idea of my weather "reference"

Thanks for all the great information so far, it's giving me lots to research!

Assuming that you mean the "technical" definition(s) of spring and fall (equinox to summer solstice, and equinox to winter solstice), then I think that the 50 last days of spring, with their lengthening days (about May 1 to June 50) are a bit superior to the first 50 days of fall (September 20 to November 10).

September 20 will usually be warmer than May 1, but there are 14 hours of day light on May 1 (2 more than equinox); and of course, spring only gets better as it advances; fall the opposite - - with prices and crowds going in (anti)-parallel fashion.

Most years, the key can be biting your nails to get the best late spring air fares. Diligence, or the lack thereof, could mean the difference between your airfare costing you $300 (per person) less than (or more than) you were expecting.

What used to be the shoulder season is now the fickle season, in the spring. Even worse in September.

there is so much to see.. don´t be discouraged about milan as airport entry/departure,

the sights within 2/3 hours of milan are numerous and breathtaking.. although i do agree, there are other highlights for a first trip that would be interesting elsewhere.

venice.. florence.. and small towns around.

I still like my golden circle of train travel for a first to Italy. Point of entry is not important. You can go clockwise or counterclockwise. Milan to Venice to Florence to Rome to Milan. Check out the train map and you'll see how easily they all connect. Longest ride is Rome to Milan (4 hours).

I personally love Milan. One hour train ride to Lake Como during the day. Lots to do in the city at night. Great shopping.

I vote for Venice, Verona, Florence, Bologna, and Sienna if you want to stay in the North.

I found good rates at decent hotels using venere.com.

The planning is half the fun in my opinion! You will have a wonderful time.

Wow! What a lot of suggestions...keep em coming!

I want to stay in the area around Piemonte, and not venture too far south from there. My grandmother was from Piemonte and I would like to visit the village where she was born and also find my great-grandmother's grave. I may still have cousins in the area, I'm working on finding out about that. So what can I do in that general area? And which is a better choice...lake region or Italian Riviera. I am hearing quite a bit about Cinque Terre, any info on that from anyone wh's been there?

I'm headed to the Cinque Terre (CT) for the 4th time in 2 weeks. I wouldn't recommend going after mid-October. It is the stormy season and many shops and hotels shut down.
The CT is rather overrun with tourists during the months of June, July, and August (Americans, Italians, Germans, Brits are the major groups). There are still tourists in the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-early Oct. but not nearly as many.

Goingtoitalia,

As said above planning is half the fun. Clear out a book shelf (or half a book shelf). You'll look at Michelin (green Guide), DK Books, Rick Steves and others. You need to become an educated consumer and italian travel will be your new hobby

You might be watching air fares. From our recent experience, when the air specials were announced the flight legs we wanted were $660 for adults. We booked about ten days later at $798 for the same flight legs. We have seen significant $ variations for the same flight legs for flights just hours apart.

You will enjoy Italy when you go. Let me second your considering Venice (there are many beautiful places in the world, but there is only one Venice.)

So would most do Venice instead of Milan? Or instead of Genoa and any of the Italian Riviera? Or instead of the lakes region?

So much to choose from!

what are you calling "stay in the piemonte area"?

once you decide how far you want to drive/train in a day, your boundaries will become clearer.

Well, I don't really want to go all the way up into the mountains, I probably wouldn't want to go much more south than Ligueria. I think probably a 3 hour trip (car or train) would be the maximum we'd want to do, but that's someone with no experience talking. As I said, I definitely want to spend at least a day exploring the area where my grandmother was born and her mother and sister lived, which is Villalvernia and Tortona.

So what's the best to see and do within those parmeters?

goingtoitalia i am from mass also the north shore. we have a preference of italy in the fall sept thru oct the weather is ideal. have traveled all over italy and have relatives in the rome aarea. i understand why you want to go to piedmont thats ok. maybe staying on the reviera would be a good idea this way you can get to see ct ,lucca,or go to siena or florence. get maybe a good book on italy and read up on the attractions in each area like tuscany and decide for yourself what matches your interests.

Villalvernia and Tortona are something that you can design an itinerary around. For other place to go, think about what interests you (for example: my wife has a degree in museum operations. I go crazy after 90 minutes in a museum.)
Think about beaches, the alps, the lakes, golf courses, and Italy's history (man came to Italy several thousand years before the rise of the roman empire).

With a ten day trip, you should minimize that number of times that you change places (each change in place is basically a wasted day).

You might want study this Fodor's thread of interesting small towns
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1361869
These run all over the country but an awful lot seem to be in Tuscany.

As Peter wrote decide for yourself.
Good luck

We would be interested in such a mix of things...art, history, architecture, hiking, biking, beautiful vistas, interesting villages and people! I've seen quite a lot about walking the Cinque Terre trails, that sounds so interesting. My fear is trying to cram too much into our 10 days, but I don't know how much would be too much!

Peter, would you say the Sept/Oct weather in northern Italy is similar to Massachusetts Sept/Oct? That is my favorite time of year here, I am in Western Mass.

like last late sept-oct in tuscany(arezzo) and lazio (rome and anzio) the days weere in the 80's and dthe evenings in the 60's so a light sweater or jacket was adequaate. very little rain(1 nite at midnite) to us its ideal in bucca di lupo

<<would you say the Sept/Oct weather in northern Italy is similar to Massachusetts Sept/Oct?>>

I'll go out on a limb and say yes.

okay, here's another question, this one from my boyfriend. We were lookig at some B&B websites last night and in one picture gallery there was a photo of grapes changing color. He saw that and said When does that happen, I want to go then.

so, when do the grapes change color?