I'm planning my next trip probably for October. I've been to most of the popular places in Italy and am looking for some off "the beaten path" places - for example Piedmont, or area between Rome and Naples. <BR> <BR>Would love to hear any suggestions! <BR> <BR>Dona

ENE of Rome: the Rieti area - - seefor example www.domani-usa.com/rome/vallerosa.html - - where you will not find a nicer or more helpful ally than Luciana (whose house is shown in the picture on the webpage I have listed above). <BR> <BR>She has built two "houses" - - subdivided into multiple units, directly on her property (10 acres?) where she has gardens, horses and a terrific view of Rieti's valleys in all directions. This is, as far as I can tell a very UNdiscovered area - - it has some similarities to Tuscany and Umbria. My wife and I had a terrific lunch with her while looking at the rental apartments last September. she knows how to do hospitality right. <BR> <BR>In the north, I recently had an all too quick visit to Bassano del Grappa and found it A+ charming - - lots to see - - little or no evidence of American tourists (though it was early April - - definitely not peak season). <BR> <BR>As for the Piemomnte, I suspect that you are right that there is a lot to like there. There are simply NOT many towns in the little bit I had a chance to take a wonderful drive through - - crossing Col di Tende from Ventimiglia up over into the Queyras (of France). supposedly where Hannibal crossed with his elephants. Serious mountain hairpin driving - - the best! <BR> <BR>Don't hesitate to write to me directly. <BR> <BR>Rex <BR> <BR>

Rex, <BR> <BR>Thanks for the info! I will certainly check it out and you may hear from me... <BR> <BR>Dona

A very interesting area of Italy is about 50miles south of Rome in the Provence of Frosinone. <BR>Go to:http://www.aptfrosinone.com/index.cfm?Lingua=Uk# <BR>Click on the fourth arrow down(with no title) and check out the things to do and see driving thru the area. There is a lot of history in this area. Cicero was born here as was St.Thomas Aquinas.Many interesting areas including Cassino, Alatri, and Arpino. This area is centered at the Ceprano exit of the autostrata. A good *** hotel near this exit is Villa Ida with excellent food. Check it out, but do some reading up on the area. It is known as the Ciociaria area of Italy-name for the tie around the ankle sandals worn by the Romans.

Dona, As you know, off-the-path is my <BR>cup of tea and I have done most of Italy <BR>by now. It depends on a north or south <BR>orientation, but let me drop some ideas <BR>then you can contact me directly for <BR>more details. Here are my favs: <BR>Lago Orta <BR>Wine road south of Bolzano <BR>Val Gardena <BR>Portovenere <BR>Civita <BR>Gaeta/Sperlonga [north of Naples] <BR>Puglia--Trulli land <BR>Maratea--coast south of Salerno <BR> <BR>Hope this gets your juices flowing. <BR>Holler if you want some help.

http://www.basys.it/naichea/picturesoflazio/default.htm <BR> <BR>This site showed up on the Forum months ago, and has some very off-the-beaten-path sights in the Rome region.....

To Bob the navigator <BR>I am surprised that Gaeta is one of your favorite Italian places to visit. I must agree with Sally about out of the way places to visit in Italy. You should have traveled aprox. 30 miles north of Gaeta to the area of the Cociaria and did the areas she mentioned along with the Abbruzzo Nat'l Park. It would have truly been a great experience. Did you travel further along the coast to Terracina? <BR>I do,however, agree with most of your other favorites of Italy.

Donna, <BR> <BR>I have really enjoyed traveling to the following locations: <BR> <BR>Sicily – Palermo and Monreale for amazing mosaics and the Convento dei Cappuccini for the mummies (!); Segesta, Selinunte and Agrigento for incredibly well preserved GREEK temples; Piazza Armerina for the Villa Casale with it’s fantastic Roman mosaic floors; Taormina for the stunning location and enchanting town. The water and weather will be perfect in October for a swim. <BR> <BR>Southern Puglia – Lecce and Martina Franca for Baroque architechure; Ostuni and Otranto for white-washed towns; Alberobello and Locorotonda for “trulli”; everywhere for the excellent and inexpensive food. <BR> <BR>Anagni in southern Lazio for the town, the Duomo (4 popes were born there) and the delicious “timballo” (if you saw the movie Big Night, you know what this is). Also, in northern Lazio, the Giardino dei Mostri in Bomarzo is kitchy and fun. <BR> <BR>In southern Tuscany there are the wonderful towns of Pitigliano, Savona and Sorano. They are surrounded by Etruscan tombs which are fun to explore. Near by is the spa of Saturnia, where you can sit under a naturally heated waterful (for free, no less!) <BR> <BR>Very well known by Germans, less so by Americans, are the towns of Lake Garda. Stay in the more dramtically situated northern towns of Riva, Limone, or Malcesine. From Malcesine you can take a cable car to the top for Alpine meadows and incredible views of the sheet mountains dropping into the lake. <BR> <BR>Sardegna – excellent beaches and still swimming temperatue water in October. Not as much history, but some interesting Pisan-Romanesque churches and “Nuraghi”, prehistoric stone dwellings. The food is amazing, great seafood, pork cooked on a spit and thin, cracker-like bread with olive oil and garlic – heaven. Alghero has a Catalan dialect and history. <BR> <BR>Not off the beaten path, but if you have not been to Le Marche or Umbria, hit the following: Urbino, Gubbio, Montefalco, Spello, Todi, and many smaller (and truly off the b.p.) towns in between. <BR> <BR>Have fun exploring my favorite country! <BR>

Russ, <BR> <BR>I think we have similar tastes - I have been to all of the areas you mentioned except the places in Southern and Northern Lazio. Please - tell me more!! <BR> <BR>And, by the way, I loved Pitigliano and Martina Franca! I'd love to hear about favorite hotels and restaurants... <BR> <BR>Thanks so much...

Regarding Lazio: I haven't actually stayed in Anagni, but the ristorante where I had the "timballo" is also a hotel. It's called Albergho Ristorante del Gallo (di Pampanelli Maria Luisa). It's worth the trip for the timballo alone, but the Duomo and its crypt are very impressive (with all that Papal money flowing into town). The nearby towns of Alatri and Subiaco are supposed to be nice as well. If you haven't been to the Villa Adriana, it's just outside Palestrina and worth the trip. Bomarzo is just west of Orte in northern Lazio. The Parco dei Mostri was designed in 1552 by the Duke of Orsini. The garden is filled with kitchy, moss-covered sculptures and surreal stone creatures. <BR> <BR>As far as places to stay, we have always booked a room at an "agriturismo". We bought a book from Feltrinelli published by Terranostra. All the information is in Italian. In this book we found 2 of my favorite places... <BR> <BR>My vote for best room was at the Pomurlo Vecchio, a 12th century stone farmhouse near the town of Baschi, halfway between Orvieto and Todi. Arched stone ceilings, giant wrought iron light fixtures, double doors opening onto the hills of rolling grain, all for 80,000 lire each, includeing dinner and breakfast. Make sure they book you in this building, not the newer structures which they also own down the road (although dinner is served at the newer complex). <BR> <BR>Best food goes to Antica Masseria Jorche near the town of Torricella in Puglia. We stayed there for a week with full board. I have never eaten so much, for so long a period in my life. This is not a good location, however, to explore the area. The roads are slow going to Lecce, and the other Adriatic towns, although it is only 30 minutes from Martina Franca. <BR> <BR>A couple other o.t.b.p. places you might like: <BR> <BR>Monteconero - the only bump on the otherwise flat Marche shoreline. Stay at the Hotel Monteconero, which was converted from an old convent. It is high on the mountain in the middle of the Parco Monte Conero. Visit the town of Sirolo, perched on the cliff above a long, pebbley beach. <BR> <BR>San Leo - great hill town up from Rimini with views of San Marino. <BR> <BR>I could go on forever, but I must sleep now. I hope you can find some of this useful. Ciao e buon viaggo! <BR>

Hello guys! One area that I may suggest to visit (really "off the beaten path") is San Marino & the north part of Marche region. Everybody knows San Marino like oledest Republic in the world, but not so many people take time to visit this place that is really original. From there, you can go visting Urbino (another Rinascimental town) with his beatiful Palazzo Ducale and nice hotels. Have some time in Acqualagna and Cagli the "Tartufo nero" place and then, have a rest in an old medieval Village, called Montegridolfo. Here the Hotel Palazzo Viviani (see www.adriatic.net/montegridolfo) is something really rare to find. From there, if you got bored, in less than 20 minutes you can reach Riccione and Rimini, but there you are anymore off the beaten bath ...