Help! Do Umbria or Make the Most of Sicilia
 

Here is our planned itinerary:
3 nights Venezia
4 nights Roma
2 nights Umbria
5 nights Positano
6 nights Sicilia

What would you do/see in Umbria? I am very tempted to take those two nights and add them onto the Sicilia portion of our trip in order to see/visit all of the places I would like to there. Is there somewhere or something that we really should do in Umbria?

Well, Umbria is one of the choice destinations all over Europe. A good portion of Italy's greatest sights, gorgeous and varied scenery (both bucolic and dramatic are available), one of Italy's best cuisines, and Italy's very best small towns. You could easily spend two weeks there, and you'd still wish you could stay longer. There's so much to see and do that it would be difficult should you plan on getting advice exclusively on Fodor's; some deeper research (books!) is indispensable. For some ideas, however, look here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792839
IMO, Umbria is a hundred times more rewarding than Sicily. But of course, Sicily is great, too, and everybody should see it at least once. One thing is certain: you can't have both on this trip. That would be crazy, and I recommend to choose one region or the other; or, if you really want to see at least the most important places of both regions, you might consider leaving out Positano (certainly the least rewarding of your destinations). Have fun!

Yes, I confess I agree with Franco...I love Sicily and agree you could spend more time there. But if I was giving up something on THIS itinerarey it would definitely be Positano.

BTW, I LOVE your name and I assume it is from the actress: Gale Storm is a name from the first days of TV in my house and I remember 'My Little Margie" very well.

Hi, galelstorm -

It depends on what you want to see and do, but IMO Sicily easily merits at least 2 weeks just to some of its highlights. With only 6 nights in Sicily, you would have to be very selective in what you would see.

Hope that helps!

Franco-I was afraid you'd say that. Unfortunately I want it all! I'm printing out your thread to read tonight. But from Positano there is Pompeii, Ravello, Herculaneum, Amalfi, Capri. And my son LOVED it there last June. We are staying at La Tavolozza. Our thoughts were to have a few days in Umbria to scout around and see the countryside so I guess maybe it remains in the itinerary. I plan on thoroughly combing through you thread Franco!

LJ-I thought of Positano as a lovely coastal spot for a base on the Amalfi coast and really want to keep it in our plans. I just want too see everything I can being a first timer to Italy and having taken the language for the last year. DH's mother's side of the family reigns from Sciacca near the Valley of the Temples, and I want to experience the many varied cultures that make up Sicily's history.
Thanks for the compliment on my screen name. Only a few of us are old enough to remember who Gale Storm was! :) And since my parents spelled my name the same way it was a natural choice for me.
kja-Oh, I know I could easily spend more time in Sicily if that was the only place we were going. I've been chatting back and forth with Vagabonda on the Trip Advisor site and she is a fountain of information and very kind. I know I must narrow down my places to visit/stay but as I said above I really want to see the blend of cultures there.

Thank you all for your prompt replies to my query!

hi galestorm,

IMHO positano and sicily are a bit "samey" to make a really satisfying trip.

if you are set on Sicily for the reaasons you give, I would scrap Positano and go for longer in Umbria.

this gives you:

4 nights Venice
5 nights Rome
5 nights umbria
6 nights Sicily.

this would give you a more relaxed yet more varied itinerary. if you fly from Rome to Sicily, you could reverse Rome and umbria. train from venice to say, perugia or assisi, pick up car, tour to 5 days, return car to say, orvieto, train to Rome.

regards, ann

Franco, why do I think so much like you do>?

I am always amazed in itineraries that for some reason or other, valid ones I mind you, tend to over cover territory.

I agree of the beauty of Umbria, who would not>?

I also think that SIcily must be covered at least once or even more, there is some fascinating attraction for me from its history a real crisol of cultures. And I love also their desserts.... r Casatta and all that....