Italy Day trip?
 

In May we are headed to Cinque Terre & Tuscany to do some hiking. We have set aside 7 days.

We still have 2 1/2 more days to plan. We are in our late 40's and like to walk/hike, bike, eat,/take cooking classes, photograph and learn about local history by hiring a guide, and enjoy an occasional museum...

We have already been to the following places on past trips: Florence, Rome, Venice, Siena, Pisa, Sorrento, Pompei, Capri and the Almafi Coast.

We fly in and out of Rome (because that is the only place my frequent flier miles could get us to in early May).

Would love to hear your suggestions!

I would add the 2.5 days to more time in Tuscany. Where in Tuscany are you spending your time and how many days?

With your limited time I would add Lucca to the mix and try to inlcude the rustic Garfagana area north of there. Good photo ops and good hiking options.

Thanks!

zoecat - 9.5 days total, probably 1 day hiking in CT and 6 in Tuscany (haven't tied down the exact spots yet, depends if we do it on our own or go with a group).

We have 2.5 days left at the beginning of our trip (probably losing the half day to travel up from Rome).

May is so beautiful in Tuscany (and most other places). The days are long, everything is so green. Southern Tuscany (Val d'Orcia or the Maremma area) would be nice. Lots of great hikes in both areas.

Bob's suggestion is also a good one.

You could also extend your time on the CT (one days sounds too short). There is also some nice hiking and beauty out of nearby Camogli in Liguria.

You could stop in Umbria or someplace in Lazio as you head to/from Rome.

You really do have many (possibly endless) choices.

I forgot to ask- will you have a car?

If you are using a guide who will drive you everywhere and not renting a car then you might want to stick to places you can get to via train. Camolgi would work. Assisi and Spoleto in Umbria also have some nice hiking and both are on train lines.

Thanks zoecat! We prefer not to rent a car if we can help it. Very bad experience the last time we rented a car in Florence... Which resulted in us not speaking to each other for a day :-)

I also recommend that you extend your time in le Cinque Terre, especially since you won't have a car. The train line will take you to a number of lovely venues in the Riviera Levante, where hiking and boat trips will add to your appreciation of the region. Bus connections and even cable cars and funiculars can also take you to some extraordinary hidden away venues high in the hills right above the coast line.

One such lovely excursion is a short train ride to the town of Rapallo, where you can walk from the train station to get onto a cable car that will take you to the beautiful and huge white sanctuary of Montallegro, with an astonishing view of the Tiguillo gulf on a clear day:

http://rapallo.myblog.it/media/00/00/1722780655.jpg

http://www.comune.rapallo.ge.it/Uplo...ario_aerea.jpg

You can hike down (or up) if you like.

Another is a visit to Camogli, where you can either hike up to San Rocco,

http://www.portofinotrekking.com/dati/foto1-22.jpg

and down again to Punta Chiappa (and enjoy great food in either place)

http://www.camogliedintorni.it/FotoC...a%2044_jpg.jpg

or take a boat ride to the abbey of San Fruttuoso

http://www.dolcevita.com/travel/fai/steady/baia1.html

have a lunch, and then hike to Portofino, taking another boat ride out to catch the train in either Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo.

There are also bus connections you can make from the train station in Sestri Levante which can take you to exceptional destinations in the hills, all but untouched by tourism. Varese Ligure is one


http://www.ilprunoselvatico.it/news/...go_rotondo.jpg

Castiglione Chiavarese has a reputation for good eats

http://roa-tara.wikipedia.org/wiki/F...e-IMG_0728.JPG

and if you aren't in the mood for hiking or it rains, the colorful, porticoed town of Chiavari, just a train ride from le Cinque Terre, has lots to offer:

http://blog.ratestogo.com/wp-content.../07/ital91.jpg

http://www.albergostelladelmare.it/I...avari_home.jpg

All of it available by train, boat, cable car, bus and foot.

Have a great trip.

Thanks stepsbeyond, great suggestions and links! Would you recommend a home base of La Spezia? or someplace else?

La Spezia is an industrial naval port, so it's not a laze around spot.

If you don't mind sharing space with a LOT of non-Italian and mostly American tourists, base right in le Cinque Terre. It's especially useful to base there if you want to hike, because by May, you need to get an early morning start to avoid the broiling heat of the trails, which have no shade. Also, if you are only spending one night and you feel you must see le Cinque Terre, might as well stay in it.

But if you are not into hiking and are looking to laze, then I would suggest either Camogli or Rapallo. Go to Camogli if you want simply to laze in a beautiful small town. It has quiet, good swimming plus scenic boat rides, with a choice of excellent restaurants (Rosa's, Nonna Nina for tops) and some lovely walks with views, many lit up at night).

If you want something livelier and better located for day trips to Monteallegro by cable car or on a train Chiavari for shopping and good eats, pick Rapallo, which bustles with cars, motorcylces, boaters and Italian sun-worshippers from May onward. It's an old-fashioned Riviera resort spot, its grand hotels a bit dilapidated, and not a place for lazing only -- just a place to have fun eating gelato (Frigidarium opposite the castle is stupedous) and drinking wine (in the cool breezy alleyways near the vegetable market at Cantine d'Italia) .

I wouldn't come as far as Camogli or Rapallo if you are only going for a night by the sea. But if you choose to add your time to the coast, you might think the extra hour on the train, to and fro, is worth it.