Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Italy 2 days between Florence and Milan

Search

Italy 2 days between Florence and Milan

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Italy 2 days between Florence and Milan

My husband and I have our whole trip planned at the end of April, but have 2 days extra in between Florence and Milan and I'm looking for ideas. Most other places on our trip are big cities.. so i don't want to do another one (like Venice) and we will have already been to Rome.. the hotel i want in Lake Como isn't available. and my husband doesn't want to go to Cinque Terre. Any suggestions for village, small town or cool experience we could train to easily from Florence on our way to Milan?
A3Queen is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 02:31 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you flying out of Milan Malpensa? If so, you could take the train up to Lago Maggiore and stay in either Stresa or Baveno, on the lake, visiting the Borromei Islands and other such things. There is a regular bus service from those towns to Malpensa airport.

Other places you might check into:

Panzano -- this is quite close to Firenze, an hour by bus, but it is a very small town in the Chianti.

Both the small but beautiful food cities of Modena (balsamic vinegar) and Parma are on your way on the train line. You could stay in either and visit the other, and head on up to Milan.

There are many beautiful places to stay on Lago di Como. Are you sure you wouldn't like to try something else?
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 03:55 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,894
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I would reconsider Lake Como if that's somewhere you originally wanted to go. Where did you want to stay?
Jean is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 04:46 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That early I would not choose the lakes, which I do love, but do look at Santa Margherita or Camogli on the Portofino peninsula. I am surprised Zeppole did not mention it since she lives there.
bobthenavigator is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 08:42 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We will have 3 nights in Barcelona, 3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence.. We'll depart Florence on 4/22 and have to be in Prague by 4/26 (and my husband wants to see the Last Supper in Milan at some point).. So I think we need to be in a hill village, or beach or lake or countryside for those 2-3 days.. Maybe even train to Milan, then go to Switzerland before prague? I only want one flight to prague from somewhere on 4/25 or 4/26.. thanks for all the suggestions thus far!
A3Queen is offline  
Old Mar 19th, 2010, 08:42 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh, and we wanted to stay at Villa D Este in Lake Como...
A3Queen is offline  
Old Mar 20th, 2010, 12:15 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The end of April is when the azeleas and rhododendron are at their peak at Lago di Como, so I would reconsider. Why not check Tripadvisor and see what other hotels might appeal to you. You can always go have lunch or dinner at Villa d'Este -- or both!

Pretty as the Portofino promontory is, it is too much out of your way and similar to le Cinque Terre, which doesn't appeal to your husband.
zeppole is offline  
Old Mar 20th, 2010, 09:46 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,894
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Look at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio.

http://www.villaserbelloni.com/Bella...Customerlang=2

or the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Tremezzo.

http://www.grandhoteltremezzo.com/

Neither of these hotels is in the same league at the Villa d'Este, but they are both very, very nice. FWIW, although the Villa d'Este is the top hotel on Lake Como, IMO its location is not particularly good for exploring the lake unless you have a car or driver.
Jean is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nadinesm
Europe
13
May 28th, 2018 07:16 PM
annhig
Europe
15
Feb 28th, 2009 12:46 PM
jfosco
Europe
12
May 8th, 2008 02:01 AM
Mirmo
Europe
10
Apr 8th, 2006 07:12 PM
flexlex
Europe
11
Aug 9th, 2005 06:43 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -