Help with elderly mom and best location
 

We hope to be traveling with my elderly mom to Italy for the Christmas vacation. My family consists of two teens, myself and my husband. We have all been to Rome, Florence and Venice. She is mobile but we need to pick a location that would be best suited for her. Maybe a place where there could be a base location for her to rest. We are not sure about Tuscany or Sicily. Please recommend villas or easily accessible Inns. Thanks ML

It would be helpful if you could clarify where it is you want to go in Italy.

Adding this to the comments by wliwl, please see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34654700

Best wishes,

Rex

When someone uses the adjective "elderly," I cringe, wondering whether I fall into the category...

Anyway, you mention your mom is mobile, but you need a location "best suited for her ... to rest." Elderly, mobile, rest, easily accessible, Christmas. Not enough information.

City or small town?
Worried about winter weather?
How mobile?
How easily accessible?
What activities for the rest of you?
What length of stay?
One place entire stay or move around?
If move around, how will you travel?

Hi,

a flat town like Pisa or Lucca might be a nice choice.
They have enough for you not to get bored and they are easy to walk through.

Alternatively, smaller towns, like Montalcino or Pienza if she can walk well.

Or if she wants to stay in town while you go away for day trips a nice option might be MonteCatini with its spa. My grandmother used to go there every year and loved them. She might love some treatments.

Thanks for you replys. I will check out the towns you suggested. My mom is 92. Most people think is is around 75. She walks without a cane but does get tired after a 10 min walk. I read the posts about going to Italy in December and understand that it may not be such a great idea. I was open to location. I'll keep researching thanks. ML

Yup. 92 qualifies as elderly...

On the one hand, I'm thinking if she's up for it then why not. But in December when weather would doubtless create slick walking on uneven pavement, in a country/continent that hasn't adapted much to the mobility impaired, AND the general rigors of overseas travels, and I wonder...

Would you (and she) be willing to use a wheelchair? Will you be renting a car? I really don't think climbing in and out of trains is a good idea. And I think you should consider only towns which are basically flat which would disqualify most of the Tuscan towns.

I think both Tuscany and Sicily are wonderful. However, they may not be the easiest places to walk around. I was just about to suggest Venice, but I see you've been there. (It is really ideal for someone not up to heavy-duty walking. Except for the occasional mini stairway to onto and off of bridges, it is perfectly flat, and you don't have to worry about getting hit by cars.) Other places that are mostly flat are some of the cities in Emilia-Romagna, for example Ferrara, which is very pleasant, with lots of nice places to walk (but really easy walking), and not much air pollution or traffic because much of it is a pedestrian and bike-only zone. It's not as fascinating as some of the places in Tuscany and Sicily, but it might be a nice relaxing, civilized place to spend a few days. I hope there's some way you might figure out how to take your vacation in Sicily (my favorite), but somehow minimize the difficult walking for your mother. I think people in Sicily (or anywhere in the south) will be very accommodating and solicitous toward an older person because those ways are so ingrained in the culture. It's wonderful that she has the ability and interest to travel at 92.

Hi stoweflake, I hope I am able to travel at 92 years of age! And what a great daughter you are.

Ferrara was mentioned by cmt which is certainly flat as is Bologna and Ravenna. With the four of you helping, could your mother get on and off of trains or will you have a car? The food is wonderful in that area and all three are beautiful cities with lots of interesting sites and very relaxed and kind people. Just a thought. Best wishes to you with this decision.

Just to keep this thread going for more input, I've been reading a lot about Bologna lately. It seems like a beautiful city. Ravenna would be a good day trip from there. Have you told us yet if you'll have a car? J.

stoweflake,
Kudos to you and good luck deciding on the best trip for all of you.

I vote for Verona. It's mostly flat with two huge piazzas, Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Bra, that are always abuzz. DH and I have no mobility issues and we would sit in those squares for hours, enjoying the scene. There are a handful of interesting sights to see, but what we enjoyed most was the pace and the look and feel of the city. We used it as a base for 8 nights. We stayed at Residence Verona House, which has lovely and reasonable apartments.

There is a bus that travels from Verona up the east side of Lake Garda. I don't know what that experience would be like in the wintertime (or how often they run), but it could be a good way to see some dramatic mountain scenery and gorgeous lakeside towns from the comfort of a nice, big bus. It took us about 2 hours 20 minutes to get from Verona to Riva del Garda at the northern tip of the lake. The bus stops at several little towns along the way. GAC has several posts here about this and other bus routes from Verona.

Thanks to Jean and everyone elese for your help. LoveItaly you made me cry. Anyway, I've been looking into several of your suggestions. Verona looks ok but Sicily and Montalcino look amazing. I have lots more research to do. Wow. The people on Fodors never cease to amaze me. Thanks