Leely2

Hello everyone,

I am debating whether to bite the bullet and go to Italy solo in July--late July. I really don't care for hot weather, but this is the easiest time of year for me to get away from work. I haven't been to Venice in many years, and I know it's supposedly a nightmare in the summer, but it looks like I can get an award ticket in and out of VCE. Can't find anything else (Delta - SkyTeam) and I kind of want to burn those miles before they are devalued further. The last time I visited Venice was during Carnivale and it was surprisingly pleasant and festive, not miserably crowded except in certain places; that was seven years ago.

If you had about 2 1/2 weeks into and out of Venice in July, where would you go to get both a heavy dose of culture (museums, historical sites, churches, architecture, castles, monasteries, etc.) and some occasionally cool-ish weather? I'm not averse to renting a car.

The places I've visited recently and don't really want to return to right now are: Bologna, Ravenna, Florence. Everything else is wide open.

Thanks for whatever insights you can provide.

kybourbon

I survived the heatwave of 2003 in Italy. You can survive July.

Dukey1

Coolish weather and all those other things you want? I'm waiting for that answer myself.

You can be IN ROME in a few hours by rail but it won't be coolish as you undoubtedly know but it does have a lot of the other things you want.

Have you been to Siena? Turin? Padova? Mantua?

I agree about nightmarish San Marco which is why we go over there at dusk or later when the magic takes over.

MmePerdu

I haven't gone yet but when I've considered the possibility of going to Trieste from time to time, it's sounded very pleasant and a bit different because of its history. And I suspect possibly less crowded as it seems somewhat off the usual tourist track. And easy from Venice.

annhig

Why not go up into the Dolomites and then down to Lake Garda?

Bolzano/Bozen is a place I've always wanted to visit [you get to practice your Italian and your German!] and the north of the lake is very lovely, with lots of excursions you can do on the boats.

on the way back to Venice you could see Verona, Vicenza, Padua - plenty to entertain you.

mama_mia

I have always been intrigued by the idea of Trieste. Maybe combine it with Cividale del Friuli, a UNESCO World Heritage site? The town is known for its Langobard (Lombard) history. There is a Lombard temple (Oratorio Santa Maria in Valle) with very interesting sculptures.
http://www.tempiettolongobardo.it/

mama_mia

There is a nice trip report by Yestravel on the Udine area:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...udine-area.cfm

Andrew

I'm in Camogli now south of Genoa. Beautiful little town, but in May it's already pretty hot. I was in Venice a few days ago and it was pretty warm that day too. I'm not sure I would want to deal with the heat in Italy in the summer, not to mention summer tourist crowds that could be even worse(?) in Venice - yikes!

But has been mentioned above, you don't necessarily have to go to Venice if you fly into Venice - or don't have to stay long.

frencharmoire

It's just the luck of the draw whether it is super-hot in Italy in July (or even hot in May -- sometimes it rains and is chilly until mid-June). Just because it is hot earlier in the year doesn't mean it would be hot in July.

July is about the best time of the year to go to the spectacular Dolomiti. Normally it is pleasantly moderate in temps in July, with clear clear skies except for the occasional passing thunderstorm. The Dolomiti are a planetary wonder, and a truly extaordinary sight.

Although you will find plenty of tourists in the Dolomiti in July, hoping for solidly beautiful weather, you are unlikely to mind. It rarely feels "crowded" since the area of the mountain ranges is vast and, in a way, it is actually heartening to see so many people appreciating such a magnificent work of nature.

I would combine breezy northern Lago di Garda with the Dolomiti, plus as much of the Trentino or the Ticino that you care to see. You can fly in and out of Venice and easily reach the Dolomiti.

frencharmoire

Reading other people's posts, all the other places being mentioned run a very heavy risk of being extremely hot and muggy: Mantova, Padova, the Tuscan interior, Trieste etc. .

Leely2

I saw Trieste on an episode of Gomorrah the other night and it looked really beautiful. I did think, "I wonder how hot it gets in summer."

I was in Rome in July taking a class a couple summers ago. Maybe because I spent half the day in a classroom or maybe because I'd been to Rome enough times that I didn't feel any need to rush around seeing sights, but I was mostly perfectly comfortable. Headed up to Orvieto one day where it was breezy and almost cool.

The only thinking I neglected to mention is that mountain driving makes me nervous. Hairpin curves and sheer drops terrify me. Is that what driving in the Dolomiti is like?

Dianedancer

Get a hotel with air conditioning.

Agree with choice of Lake Garda and then up to the Dolomites.

Don't go to sourh Italy.

vipsha

You could carry a ~5" portable fan, we find it to be quite effective for cooling off outdoors. The problem can be air conditioning in Italy (and in many places outside the US); I would make sure the temperature in the hotel room can be individually controlled.

Sassafrass

Since you mentioned architecture and churches, I suggest you definitely spend two days in Vicenza, seeing Palladian architecture, and do not miss Teatro Olimpico! It is spatial perfection and has the most amazing stage you will ever see!

As to Venice, avoid the crowds by visiting some of the churches and see paintings hanging in the space for which they were painted. There are so many and usually few visitors. One not to be missed is Santa Maria Dei Miracoli, a church almost lined in marble, much of it made of several large pieces cut from the same slabs, beautiful and quite amazing.

massimop

The Dolomiti would make you very nervous if you are afraid of hairpin turns and steep drops.

Many of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia's best cultural sights are in the flatter parts of the region. Only the uppermost northern part of the region is mountainous.

Might help if you realize that the typical weather pattern in Italy is air circulating counter-clockwise. That means a lot of moisture gets picked up as dry air from the Alps moves over the warm water bodies on both sides of Italy, so by the time it reaches Venice & Trieste, it can be quite muggy.

If you think you can tolerate plenty of heat but not a lot of humidity, consider going to Sicily. Extraordinary amount of cultural interest and you can beat a lot of the heat with an air-conditioned rental car & smart planning.

massimop

I see you have 2 and half weeks. You could fly to Venice and go straight to Trieste for a few days, then fly to Catania in Sicily. Ryan air flies the route and its cheap. Spend around 10 days in Sicily. Fly back to Venice to finish your trip. Enjoy some nights.

Leely2

Thanks for all the ideas! You all inspired me, and so I did end up booking an award ticket, three weeks: into VCE and out of FCO. Now it's just deciding where to go and for how long.

I drove through Il Gran Sasso last summer and found the weather very comfortable, though some of the driving made me a little anxious. A stunning area.

I am sort of thinking 1st week Venice or Trieste and environs, enrolling in an Italian class (in part because three weeks alone seems a bit daunting). If I don't take a class then just four days Venice. Last four days or so in Rome. Which gives me a week+ to play with in the middle.

Andrew

Have you been to Slovenia? It's easy to get up to Ljubljana from Venice by shuttle (or train to Trieste, bus to Ljubljana). Lovely city, and you could visit places like Lake Bled, too. With three weeks you'd have plenty of time to spend a few days up there.

Saraho

Lake Como?

OReilly

I drove through the Dolomites on my own in July/August and it was divine, even cool in some places. Jamikins has a trip report.