First trip to Italy: Need help planning
 

Hello bobthenavigator and many who could help. This is Purplerose. Sorry I didn't know the protocol and barged in on others people question. Very Sorry.

I want to travel to Italy in early Sept. this year from Nice, France. I am a chef who teach cooking school, and doing small party(upscale catering).

Is it possible for someone to travel alone to Italy? I don't want group tour but am afraid that I may not be able to navigate Rome, Florence and the big cities of Italy by myself.

I have approximately 10-12 days for this trip. I prefer not to drive. I love quiet and peaceful small town. I dream of going to markets ( farmer markets, food market and such in Italy).

I have no plan beside seeing Rome, Florence, Venice and some quaint and small town.

l love to stay in bed and breakfast instead of big hotels.

I stayed with a French family in Nice to learn how to cook and to visit my student. This is my 2nd trip to France at the family invitation.

Should I fly into the North of Italy or should I take a train? Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

I suggest use one of the many cooking schools in Tuscany as a point of departure. Do a "Search" here. I found this for instance...

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-170492-2.cfm

Thanks TuckH:
I rather not going to cooking school. This is a vacation for me and I rather be seeing the country and markets, eat good foods and such.

With 10-12 days I would not try to visit 3 cities AND a smaller town.

Since you are coming from Nice, I recommend spending a few days on the Italian coast in Liguria. Santa Margherita Ligure and Camgli are port towns of great appeal to those with an interest in food/cooking.

From there you could move on to Lucca, another good food town. Then on to Florence, and last, spend a few nights in Venice.

You'll notice I said "...as a point of departure", not suggesting that you attend. I think this would be the atmosphere you'd find in such a place - >> I love quiet and peaceful small town . I dream of going to markets ( farmer markets, food market and such in Italy). <<

Hello TuckH and ekscrunchy:
Thanks both. I am a senior lady(strong) and want to travel alone. Since this is my first trip, how do I get around without car? I prefer not to drive . So...how many days do I need to cover Rome, Florence, Venice and small towns?
Prefer Bed and breakfast and not big hotels.
Thanks.

HI PR,

>how many days do I need to cover Rome, Florence, Venice and small towns?<

A lifetime wouldn;t be too long. :)

Rome Florence and Venice will fill your 12 days, and you won't need a car.

>Prefer Bed and breakfast and not big hotels.<

In Florence, I can highly recommend
http://www.florenceby.com/peterson/pages/profile.htm

The bedroom pictured on the opening page is the one in which we stayed.

((I))

Sorry to be tardy PR, With so little time, and starting in Nice, I would NOT try to include the big 3 art cites. I would pick 3 destinations and use rail travel to get there. Let me offer some potential itineraries--all in the north of Italy:

1. Parma[ food haven], Lucca, Florence
2. Bologna, Florence, Venice [ all big cities]
3. Santa Margherita[Ligurian cuisine], Lucca, and either Florence or Venice

That will be easier logistics in travel and give you a better feel for diverse cuisines. Let me know what help you may need after you pick your itinerary. I try to keep my next destination a max of 4 hours from the last. These fit that criterion.

Hello: This is purplerose. Thanks everyone for you help.
Answer to Bob: Nice is my starting point and it is not a problem because I am staying with my French family (friends/ free of charge.) I will go back to Nice and stay with them for ten more days before retuning to the U.S.
Since this is my first time in Italy, I don't know which one to pick? I think that I would be quite disappointed if I did not get to see Rome. I wonder why tour book never mention Parma? it is always go to Rome, Florence and Venice.
For your #3 Santa Margherita( I have no idea? and Lucca.?) You travel to Italy a lot and must know what you are talking about so..., please give me info. I don't know what to pick when I only know the name only??? Do I need more than 12 days?

Let me suggest you buy a a good guide book--I like the Michelin Green Book for all of Italy. And, try to get a good map so you can see the relative distances. It was my 8th trip to Italy before I saw Rome--and that was a week then. I would stay north if you plan to start and end in Nice.

Hi PR,

>I wonder why tour book never mention Parma? it is always go to Rome, Florence and Venice.<

Because there are many reasons why The Grand Tour is R, F, V: a few are the Art, the Architecture and the History.

Since this is your first visit, I suggest that you see the Big 3.

The smaller towns and villages will still be there when you return.

((I))

Every decent tour book has a section on Parma!