There's that too. It makes being in synch with the pausa wise. We are getting a cool front this weekend, however. Or so says the Italian air force!

Just watch out for mountain goats or wild boars on those hikes.

Thanks for the input... i wasn't sure that traveling as far north to the Italian Alps was feasible, but the other couple wanted to check it out. We haven't booked our cooking class yet - need to confirm which date we will be there - this is where i beleive the class is - Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze - Italy
This information may help convince our other party that this is not the way to go, thanks for the tip on how to find out driving times - i'll check that out. I'm sure i will have more questions, thanks again for all of your help!

Again, *which* Italian alps your friends want to check out is crucial here. If your friends are talking about the Dolomiti beyond Venice and Milan, or the alps beyond Turin, I can't think of a way you can include either of these plus hikng in le Cinque Terre plus a cooking class in Tuscany plus touring Rome.

If they want to check out the Alpi Apuane, it is not at all difficult to base yourselves in an area in the hills above Lucca that allows for hiking some days, including hiking le Cinque Terre, and the cooking class in Bagno a Ripoli another day, assuming you will have a car. But if you are flying out of Rome, you will need to leave your base the day BEFORE your flight in order to arrive within striking distance of Rome airport to catch your 10am flight.

If you haven't booked the date of your cooking class, one time-efficient option would be to book it the day after your arrival -- the second day of your trip. When you arrive in Rome, immediately take the train to Florence. Spend the night, rent a car the next morning and drive to the cooking class the next day. After the class, drive to a base in the Lucca hills. Spend days there hiking, then get rid of the car (lots of places in Tuscany or Orvieto to do that) and train to Rome. Spend you last days in Rome touring it and fly home.


If your friends are talking about the Dolomiti beyond Venice and Milan, or the alps beyond Turin, I can't think of a way you can include either of these plus hikng in le Cinque Terre plus a cooking class in Tuscany plus touring Rome.

Sorry for repeating myself! I hit the button to soon.

I did want to add that if you find the thought of a cooking class unappealing your second day in Italy (I might), then stick to your plan of first touring Rome. After that, if you head into Tuscany, you won't find it hard to include the cooking class in Bagno a Ripoli.

Note for Zeppole:

How big a difference is the weather in the Tuscany region for hiking between early October and late October. I'm planning a hiking trip to both Tuscany and Abruzzo the last 2 weeks of October....do I need to reschedule??