Going to Italy in Nov. Where should I go?
Oct 7th, 2011, 12:37 AM
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Going to Italy in Nov. Where should I go?
I will be in Italy Nov.17-27 and I need to start planning what I want to see. I am flying into Turin and that will have 3-4 day to travel then back to Turin followed by 3-4 more days of travel time. I have never been to Italy so everything will be new to me and I have no idea where to start! Any advice?
Oct 7th, 2011, 01:22 AM
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Hi Dom62,
first of all be sure to visit Turin, the highlights are:
1) Mole Antonelliana (1800 building with magical symbols in it and an interesting story)
2) Egyptology Museum (one of the best worldwide)
3) Duomo di San Giovanni,(wonderful renaissance church where they keep a shroud believed to be the one that wrapped Jesus' corpse, the "sindone")
4) Valentino park and Castle
then from there (with a 40 minutes train ride) you can go and visit Milan, her wonderful Gothic Duomo and her shopping streets (Milan is the place where Italian Fashion comes from).
from Milan go to Venice (2,5 hours train ride) and spend there at least 24 hours. It's a wonderful place, unlike any other place in the world...unmissable. Then back to Turin (4 hours more or less).
For the second stint try and stay a couple of days in Florence or Rome (respct 3 and 5 hours away by train)
if you want more info feel free to contact me.
first of all be sure to visit Turin, the highlights are:
1) Mole Antonelliana (1800 building with magical symbols in it and an interesting story)
2) Egyptology Museum (one of the best worldwide)
3) Duomo di San Giovanni,(wonderful renaissance church where they keep a shroud believed to be the one that wrapped Jesus' corpse, the "sindone")
4) Valentino park and Castle
then from there (with a 40 minutes train ride) you can go and visit Milan, her wonderful Gothic Duomo and her shopping streets (Milan is the place where Italian Fashion comes from).
from Milan go to Venice (2,5 hours train ride) and spend there at least 24 hours. It's a wonderful place, unlike any other place in the world...unmissable. Then back to Turin (4 hours more or less).
For the second stint try and stay a couple of days in Florence or Rome (respct 3 and 5 hours away by train)
if you want more info feel free to contact me.
Oct 7th, 2011, 02:39 AM
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Everybody has a different list of what is exciting to see in Torino. Mine would include the Palazzo Castello and the movie museum ahead of the Egyptian Museum or the Parco Valentino. So get a good guide book for Torino.
I also think you need a good guidebook for Italy so you can decide what would most interest you. Torino has a lot of good train connections. At that time in November, you won't need to make hotel reservations in advance in most places, and you might want to wait to decide so you can see what the weather is like.
For instance, it is only about 2 hours to take a train to the Italian Riviera from Torino. It's a great place to go hiking and eat seafood and relax, but only if it is sunny. If you don't mind cold air, the beautiful valle d'Aosta in the Alps is only 2 hours the other way, but again, you don't want to go if it is raining.
As mentioned above Florence isn't hard to get to, but neither is Bologna. If you love food more than religious art, Bologna is a great place to spend 3 days, because you can also take an easy train trip to Ravenna and to Florence if you like, or Parma for more great food.
But if what you really love is a nighttime scene and some dancing, then hanging out in Torino and visiting Milano makes sense, maybe with a jaunt to Verona.
If you want to go to Venice or Milan, you need to think about booking in advance. For Venice in November, don't book a hotel near San Marco because sometimes that area floods during the morning tides in November.
I also think you need a good guidebook for Italy so you can decide what would most interest you. Torino has a lot of good train connections. At that time in November, you won't need to make hotel reservations in advance in most places, and you might want to wait to decide so you can see what the weather is like.
For instance, it is only about 2 hours to take a train to the Italian Riviera from Torino. It's a great place to go hiking and eat seafood and relax, but only if it is sunny. If you don't mind cold air, the beautiful valle d'Aosta in the Alps is only 2 hours the other way, but again, you don't want to go if it is raining.
As mentioned above Florence isn't hard to get to, but neither is Bologna. If you love food more than religious art, Bologna is a great place to spend 3 days, because you can also take an easy train trip to Ravenna and to Florence if you like, or Parma for more great food.
But if what you really love is a nighttime scene and some dancing, then hanging out in Torino and visiting Milano makes sense, maybe with a jaunt to Verona.
If you want to go to Venice or Milan, you need to think about booking in advance. For Venice in November, don't book a hotel near San Marco because sometimes that area floods during the morning tides in November.
Oct 7th, 2011, 06:41 PM
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Dom62- I have a few suggestions.
1) Read 10 or 12 "Italy" trip reports at this website. It will help you "see" different parts of Italy and you may find something in one that sounds fascinating to you.
2) Go to the nearest big box book store (Barnes+Noble, etc) and browse through the Italy guide books in the travel section. Plan on spending a few hours.
Find a book you really like and then settle on the places you really want to see. (I personally love the DK Eyewitness travel guides.)
3) If you tell this board what you like to do/what you are interested in/how old you are-what kind of health you are in (we don't want to point you to anyplace that has lots of steps/hills if you are not a hiker ;]), we will be able to offer more informed suggestions. Do you like art, history, food, beaches, scenery, quiet or cosmopolitan? etc.
You will love Italy, no matter where you are. (Check out your library. Many have free language courses. Mine has free online called "Mango". DO try to learn some basic Italian, like please, thank you, where is... before you go.)
Buon viaggio!
1) Read 10 or 12 "Italy" trip reports at this website. It will help you "see" different parts of Italy and you may find something in one that sounds fascinating to you.
2) Go to the nearest big box book store (Barnes+Noble, etc) and browse through the Italy guide books in the travel section. Plan on spending a few hours.
Find a book you really like and then settle on the places you really want to see. (I personally love the DK Eyewitness travel guides.)3) If you tell this board what you like to do/what you are interested in/how old you are-what kind of health you are in (we don't want to point you to anyplace that has lots of steps/hills if you are not a hiker ;]), we will be able to offer more informed suggestions. Do you like art, history, food, beaches, scenery, quiet or cosmopolitan? etc.
You will love Italy, no matter where you are. (Check out your library. Many have free language courses. Mine has free online called "Mango". DO try to learn some basic Italian, like please, thank you, where is... before you go.)
Buon viaggio!
Oct 8th, 2011, 03:46 PM
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The library is also a good place to look through travel guides. I would recommend you concentrate on northern Italy, just because of your starting place. On your first outing, head in an eastern direction and then the second time go west, unless you get captivated by some place like Venice or Bologna or
Florence or the lakes and want to return.
Florence or the lakes and want to return.
