Italy - best two central locations
Feb 8th, 2016, 08:16 PM
#21
It's your trip, but the itinerary you set forth earlier today sounds like a marathon. There's no room for the unexpected or the option to see/do something you hadn't known about.
If you intend to go to things like museums anywhere, you need to make sure they will be open on the days you'll be in those cities.
You've got two different ideas for Day 3. Not sure if it's an either/or thing, but you'd be covering some of the same ground on both days. For me, returning to Bologna from both Florence and the CT doesn't make sense as it won't give you any additional time in Bologna and reduces your time in Florence, Pisa and the CT.
I don't understand why your "tour to Tuscany" is out of Rome when you're IN Tuscany while you're in Florence and Pisa.
Consider:
Fly from "the south" to Verona and spend 2 nights/1 day.
Train to Bologna, store luggage at the station, and explore the city for several hours. Retrieve the luggage and train to the CT and spend 2 nights/1 day.
Train to Florence for 4 nights/3 days. One day in Florence, one day to explore Pisa and Lucca, and one day to explore Siena.
Train to Rome.
If that's too many nights, I'd consider skipping the 2 nights in Verona but adding one night/one day in Florence. You could easily visit Bologna as a day trip from Florence.
If you intend to go to things like museums anywhere, you need to make sure they will be open on the days you'll be in those cities.
You've got two different ideas for Day 3. Not sure if it's an either/or thing, but you'd be covering some of the same ground on both days. For me, returning to Bologna from both Florence and the CT doesn't make sense as it won't give you any additional time in Bologna and reduces your time in Florence, Pisa and the CT.
I don't understand why your "tour to Tuscany" is out of Rome when you're IN Tuscany while you're in Florence and Pisa.
Consider:
Fly from "the south" to Verona and spend 2 nights/1 day.
Train to Bologna, store luggage at the station, and explore the city for several hours. Retrieve the luggage and train to the CT and spend 2 nights/1 day.
Train to Florence for 4 nights/3 days. One day in Florence, one day to explore Pisa and Lucca, and one day to explore Siena.
Train to Rome.
If that's too many nights, I'd consider skipping the 2 nights in Verona but adding one night/one day in Florence. You could easily visit Bologna as a day trip from Florence.
Feb 8th, 2016, 11:26 PM
#22
Verona wine....
Given their production of white wine, not exactly my favorite place, however you could try and do an Amarone tasting (di valpolicello) from there and that would be worth it, just stay out of Soave (though the town itself is worth a visit).
Tuscany wine tasting also a good idea as s Chianti (not the same)
For me Bologna is a good centre to visit from but you have expanded the possible visit area well beyond what I would normally expect. I'd normally look at Florence as one base and say Padua/Bologna as another, but your times are restricted.
One thought, and it may seem like heresy, but have you considered not going to Rome? (I had been to Italy many times before I went to Rome and I found it less impressive that i expected). Then you could base Padua/Bologna and Florence. get some good food and wine (maybe limit eating in Florence
).
Given their production of white wine, not exactly my favorite place, however you could try and do an Amarone tasting (di valpolicello) from there and that would be worth it, just stay out of Soave (though the town itself is worth a visit).
Tuscany wine tasting also a good idea as s Chianti (not the same)
For me Bologna is a good centre to visit from but you have expanded the possible visit area well beyond what I would normally expect. I'd normally look at Florence as one base and say Padua/Bologna as another, but your times are restricted.
One thought, and it may seem like heresy, but have you considered not going to Rome? (I had been to Italy many times before I went to Rome and I found it less impressive that i expected). Then you could base Padua/Bologna and Florence. get some good food and wine (maybe limit eating in Florence
).
Feb 9th, 2016, 04:08 AM
#23
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Amarone..my personal favorite but good to know on Soave... will scratch out. Rome is a must lol...catholic priest brother will be very disappointed in me
I think we need to sit and seriously look at Florence and Verona. I am actually more interested in Florence then Rome and maybe want to balance time on those centers more based on all the above but not sure on my friend's thoughts.
However, when I come back with my husband he sadly has no interest in the wine and Amarone / Chianti are on my wish list. CT need to chat with friend, maybe just train it through as will spend time in Amalfi. Really want to at least train the east coast ... so much amazing history there, but might have to look at that too.
things to think through for a couple days and thanks all!
but good to know on Soave... will scratch out. Rome is a must lol...catholic priest brother will be very disappointed in me I think we need to sit and seriously look at Florence and Verona. I am actually more interested in Florence then Rome and maybe want to balance time on those centers more based on all the above but not sure on my friend's thoughts.
However, when I come back with my husband he sadly has no interest in the wine and Amarone / Chianti are on my wish list. CT need to chat with friend, maybe just train it through as will spend time in Amalfi. Really want to at least train the east coast ... so much amazing history there, but might have to look at that too.
things to think through for a couple days and thanks all!
