My husband and I are going to Italy in October. We are planning to go to Rome, Florence, and Venice, and will have 5 days left to take it easy and see some of the countryside. We are thinking about splitting the days between the Lake District and Cinque Terra. Any suggestions for which location needs more time or other places that we should consider instead? We are in our mid-thirties, enjoy food, wine, scenary, moderate hiking. Any help you can give us would be great!<BR>

It's considered slightly bad etiquette to post exactly the same question, especially just 29 minutes after the first one.<BR><BR>====================================== <BR><BR>help with itinerary<BR> <BR>Author: cathy ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/17/2002, 11:10 pm<BR><BR>Message: <BR>My husband and I are going to Italy in October. We are planning to go to Rome, Florence, and Venice, and will have 5 days left to take it easy and see some of the countryside. We are thinking about splitting the days between the Lake District and Cinque Terra. Any suggestions for which location needs more time or other places that we should consider instead? We are in our mid-thirties, enjoy food, wine, scenary, moderate hiking. Any help you can give us would be great!<BR>

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The Lakes area will be getting quite cool by mid-late October, and some of the tourist attractions will be either closed or running down, e.g., some lake cruises, funiculars etc. To offset this snow should be falling on the Alps, which will enhance the scenery.<BR>The Cinque Terre will be warmer, but warmer still would be the Amalfi coast just south of Naples. The Amalfi would be convenient too, if you are flying out of Rome homeward bound.I have'nt been there in October, but imagine it would be quite pleasant and less crowded than in the Summer peak.

You didn't mention how you are traveling from place to place, i.e., whether you are driving or taking the train. We just returned from Bellagio, Santa Margherita, Tuscany and Venice and drove between stops only taking the train between Florence and Venice. Santa Margherita was wonderful and from there you can take the local train down to any of the Cinque Terre towns. It was a great base from which to visit that area. Our favorite area was Tuscany especially the Chianti area. Having a car there was essential.