OK - My husband and I are flying into Milano in mid May and have two weeks free before we meet up with our group in Acqui Terme where we will stay for 10 days, visiting that area (suggestions for that area also welcome).

We love Milan and have stayed in that city a number of times. We've visited Lake Garda, and have hiked the area of Ligure (Santa Margherita, Portofino, Portovenere, Lerici, Cinque Terre,etc). We have never spent any time in the area of Piemonte - Torino etc. But I'm thinking that is a day trip from Acqui Terme..maybe not - maybe a few days?
We've also been many times (going in March) to Venice. And we've trooped about Tuscany, Umbria, Le Marche - Florence and Rome! I know there is more out there for us to appreciate and enjoy. I am in a quandry re. how to plan this trip and would appreciate all the help I can get!
Thanks, Giannetta

Hi G,

Let me be the first to say:

Lousy Title

Yes, you do need help with a title like that.
However, given 2 weeks in May I would spend time in these favorite haunts:
Orta San Guilio
Luzern
Wengen
Varenna

Good luck !

How about north from Milano to Lugano (Switzerland), then east to the Dolomites, south to Trento, Verona, then back towards Milano stopping in Brescia (we didn't have time to stop but it sounds interesting). Or you could make a bigger loop south and stop in Padova, Montagnana (our first visit to a walled city), Mantova and Parma.

Torino is a marvelous city. Don't do it a day trip. Spend a few nights there. If you love Milano, I think you will find Torino a wonderful place, and don't miss the cinema museum!!!! It's fantastic. The food in Torino is just wonderful.

For me, I would go to Emilia-Romanga, including Ravenna, and take in many small and midsized towns.

Before I went to Switzerland, I would go to the Val d'Aosta, and the other beautiful and unspoilt mountain regions west and north of Torino, and maybe dip into France.

But don't do Torino as a day trip.

Thank your for your suggestions. Except for the unnecessary comment re. my "title" they were all extremely helpful. I'm happy to learn that Torino is a good place to stay. We will definitely do that.

Do you have suggestions re. places to stay in Torino? We prefer small family run hotels to large elegant.

giannetta, it's too bad you don't realize that when people tell you your title is bad they really are trying to help you. They were not "unnecessary". Aren't most posts looking for help? If you mentioned Milano or if you titled your post "Looking for a new place to explore in Norther Italy" then people who have expertise in that area are much more likely to open your thread and help you.

Yeah - your choice of title probably eliminated about 90% of the available suggestions.

&quot;<i>Except for the unnecessary comment re. my &quot;title&quot; they were all extremely helpful</i> -- that was the <b>MOST</b> helpful comment you received.

Your thread w/ &quot;help!&quot; as a title is lumped in Europe w/ thousands of others asking for &quot;help&quot; about something or other. If you had had a useful title you would have received MANY useful responses in eleven hours -- instead of the very few you did get.

barbmike WAS trying to help you use the forum -- but unfortunately you don't want to take the suggestion . . . . .

OH - NeoPatrick's and Robespierre's poste weren't there when I started to post --- but basically the same info . . . . .

TOrino is 1 hour and 15 minutes from Acqui, very doable indeed. You are also going to be an hour from Alba, from Asti. There are longer, very beautiful ways to get from Acqui to Alba, through the Bormida Valley...it is the border area of the Langhe and the Monferrato, which is indeed the very best of both areas.

You can of course do a spa day or two here in Acqui. You and also do tours of the smaller Monferrato villages and thier many wineries. For example: Morsasco (winery: La Guardia), Canelli (winery possibilities: Coppa, Gancia), Nizza Monferrato (wineries: Scolca, Cascina Christiana, amoung over a hundred others), Castel Boglione (Noceto Michelotti, Araldica).

You can go up to Roccaverano and do unlimited DOP cheese tastings go pair with any wines you buy.

There are dozens of restaurants to recommend. Here are a few ideas from my list..
Acqui Restaurants.....

A general note: all of these restaurants have a very wide selection of wines in their cellars, at every price range. Feel free to ask for a recommendation and for the price you will be paying. These restaurateurs love to talk about wine. That is simply part of the Piemontese gastronomy experience.

In addition to these, there are a myriad of pizzarie, caf&eacute;s and enoteche.

I CAFFI
Via Verdi angolo Vicolo del Voltone
0144 325 206
A beautiful, highly rated restaurant, in the historic district with two separate dining facilities: one for lunch, one for dinner. The Sala di Pranzo is a beautiful brick cantina with a glassed off wine area. The elegant main dining room is simple and slightly more formal, but warm and inviting.

Specials include traditional and contemporary Piemontese cuisine, perfectly prepared.

Reservations a must. Closed Wednesday Evenings and Sundays.
Middle to high price category

Il NUOVO CIARLOCCO
di Giorgio e Daniela
Via Don Bosco 1
0144 57720
Excellent restaurant with traditionally prepared Piemontese and Ligurian specialties, such as risotto served with jumbo shrimp and saffron and carne cruda (raw veal served with olive oil, salt and lemon).

Reservations recommended. Middle price category.

LA CURIA
Via Alla Bollente 72
0144 356049
An Acqui classic, in the historic district. Massimo’s enoteca, in a traditional Acqui cantina, serves up wonderful appetizers, and the elegant main restaurant is well known for its fantastic Piemontese food.

Reservations recommended. Closed Monday. Middle to high price category.




DA FAUSTO
Localit&aacute; Valle Prati 1
Cavatore (5km from Acqui)
0144 325387
In the hills above Acqui, Fausto and his wife Rosella have a wonderful restored rustico where they serve up fantastic regional cuisine. The atmosphere is lovely and very friendly. You will be treated like friends!!

Reservations a must. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Middle price category.


LA LOGGIA
Via dei Dottori, 5
0144 56877
A wonderful rustico in the old city houses this small, eclectic restaurant. The owners, who also have the attached B&amp;B, will come out and tell you what they are cooking up. There is a menu, but it is best just to let them make what they want!! We have never been disappointed. Lovely, intimate atmosphere.

Reservations a must. Closed Monday. Middle price category.

ANTICA OSTERIA
Via Roma,1
Castel Rocchero (5 km from Acqui)

A traditional, lovely Piemontese Osteria located in a sweet little wine village about 5 km. from Acqui. Wonderful, generous portions.

Reservations recommended. Middle price category.


TAVERNA DON RUDRIGO
Via G. Bella, 14
0144 356457

A traditional Acqui taverna with good quality Piemontese cuisine, located in the historic district. Closed Monday. Middle price category.

RISTORANTE SAN GUIDO
Piazza San Guido, 5
0144 320420

San Guido is a simple trattoria with good basic food and a very friendly atmosphere. Very good price/quality relationship. Lower to middle price category.

Well, there is a beginning for you, Gianetta. I am sure you will love our beautiful Acqui Terme, we love living here.

Orta san Giulio it's a lovely place, and if you haven't seen yet Como lake, you must.
Bellagio, Varenna, Lenno you can reach all this small villages by public boat, and it's plenty of villas and gardens to visit.

Ok OK! thanks for the heads up re &quot;help&quot; If I could change the title NOW I would - I think it's too late for that so I'll just take the advise and title by place not emotion in future quests for info. I do appreciate the responses I have gotten thus far.

Grazie bellacqui per l'informazione del'luoghi in Piemonte e anche i ristaurante. Also thank you Gaia 606.

Janisj,barbmike, NeoPatrick and Robespierre as you are now aware of the area I am researching and have any suggestions- also places to stay in Torino, I would appreciate your input.

gianetta, if I had any suggestions about Torino I would be happy to give them, but you are in far greater need of suggestions about how to post. I've given you the best advice I can, even if you don't appreciate it.

it's true you can't change a title, but you can post again with a different one.

What was the question again?

A second to Suze.

giannetta, wake up. There is a protocol on Fodor's as there is everywhere upon the planet. If you don't follow the customs of the locality that is your problem. You have certainly PO'd a few experienced people with your title and then with your attitude. They could have helped you. We always try to help but if you throw your shoes into the gears . . .

BTW, it seems like you already know all about the neighborhood so why don't you share with us what you found on your many trips. That is what we do on Fodor's, normally.

What is this set of new Fodor's rules and multiple punishments for gianetta?

She quite nicely acknoweldged she had the wrong reaction to people trying to help her out with getting answers to her questions.

Is all this aunt-minnie bluster designed to disguise the fact you don't have anything to offer about where gianetta's going?