Hi everyone, my girlfriend and I are in Venice and have booked a train down to Rome in a few days and then we have a week or so with no plans. What are your favourite places to stay in Italy? We would particularly love to stay somewhere nice in the countryside.

Cheers, James

Castellina in chianti. Not necessarily my favourite place but it is lovely.

On the other hand my daughter and her husband stayed here earlier this year and absolutely loved it.

http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/au/luxu.../poggio-piglia

Orvieto for its stunning cathedral, Ravenna for its mosaics, Florence because there is nothing else like it, San Gimignano outside Florence but only after 5 pm when the crowds leave, Greve in Chianti because it's a little village, Montepulciano, Gubbio,... the list is endless. I have written a blog post on where to go in Tuscany if you're interested.

At this time of year, the lakes district and a town like Varenna or Menaggio would be nice, IMHO, but that would mean backtracking from Rome.

Portovenere
Ravello
Siena
Orvieto

Have fun !

Ravello/Amalfi (we usually stay in-between)
Bellagio and Varenna on Lake Como
Pienza near Montepulciano
Venice
Verona

Will you have a car?If so, check out Radda, near Chianti, and only 45 minutes from either Florence or Siena. Great vineyards nearby, beautiful little town with stunning views and good food!

Are you flying out of Rome after this unbooked week? If so, you should go to the third destination after Venice and then finish in Rome.

Orvieto for me.