Interesting Italy
 

We are planning to take one of the cheap packages to Italy this winter (Florence or Venice). Then after the 5 day excursion we will do another 5-6 days on our own. I've seen a lot of Italy, so I'd like to know if anyone has any really interesting or unusual ideas for travel in Italy. So far we've thought of "Triest area", or "Cinque Terre" or maybe Arezzo now that the Piero's are restored. Has anyone really been "off the beaten path"? (Italy is pretty "beaten"). Thanks. Karen

Have you been to Sicily? It's not really off the beaten path but it seems like there are few tourists there.

Of course, that is where you find the real fun. I assume you will be north. Let me suggest Portovenere and Lago Orta as two of my favorite haunts in the north, and Ortisei in the Dolomites <BR> <BR>If you want south then that is a different story. Ask if you need more

I got this site off this forum a long time ago: <BR>http://www.naichea.it/picturesoflazio/ <BR> <BR>We're also looking at Abruzzo for this fall (supposedly the greenest place in all of Europe - just gotta test that).

Hi, Karen, <BR> <BR>We did something similar in October - an escorted tour Rome-Florence-Rome. We then rented a car and went to the Chianti area for a couple of days and then got rid of the car in Florence, train to Venice then train to Santa Margherita Ligure. From there a short bus ride to Portofino and easy and frequent train access to the Cinque Terre. We stayed in Santa Margherita and really liked it and enjoyed the Cinque Terre - Riomaggiore was our favorite. You could easily combine this with BTN's suggestion for Portovenere. It is south of the Cinque Terre and Santa Margherita is north. There is also boat transportation but I would check the schedules for winter. You can "hop" between the villages by train and boat. Do check the train schedules though - not all trains go to all villages.