Before I told that Sicily is my second favourite region and now I explain why: because people are very friendly with turist and Sicily has fantastic place to visit: in this region there are squares in Arabic art and Greek temples that create a perfect union both.
food is fantastic and seaside, with all the huge cliffs around, are amazing, for me of course! than it's a place rich of ancient traditions and with an interessant folkore's festivity. I hope these traditions could remain intact for the next generation and behind. bye!

Mark:

I want to thank you for all of your help here. I have an invite to stay in a private home on Mallorca for a few days and from there might take off and explore for a week. I will start a new thread after I pick up a guidebook today...I would have one free week with a car and would like to discuss how to split the time in two/3 locations. So keep an eye out and thank you again!

eks:
that sounds so great!

mark:
that sardinia place is pretty cool! i checked the rates, though - almost 500 euro per night in june. ouch!

thanks for sending the elba rental info. looks great!

nadia and zeppole:
you have me really thinking about le marche now. sounds beautiful! do you have any favorite places to stay?

i'm thinking sicily and cinque terre are falling to the wayside for this trip.
still need to do more research on pulia.

eks -- have you narrowed down at a ll in pulia??

thanks everyone for all the incredible info!!
dina

Dina

Times have changed - last time we visited Conca Verde (next to the hotel) it was in June and the price was e200. How the recession has hit Sardinia hard!!

esk.

Bar Abaco : Palma, Mallorca

http://www.mallorcaholidayhomes.eu/abaco.jpg

the experience of anyone's lifetime - parrots fly round the place, you could be on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean. All I can say is simply - Go!

Dina,

I enjoyed every place I saw in le Marche, and it has quite a variety of scenery and art cities. But places I recommend that you check out with googling are (in no particular order):

Ascoli Piceno
Piano Grande
Visso
Urbino
hilltowns of Montefeltro (Sant'Arcangelo in Vada, San Leo, Urbania, etc)
Sirolo, Numana, Portonova (Conero Peninsula)

All of Le Marche is filled with lovely agriturismi and b&b. It's not an expensive vacation.

eks (or whoever else is interested):

Principe Forte dei Marmi may be what you are looking for in terms of upscale hotel with an oversized pool. It only recently opened.

markrosy,

To tell you the truth, most Fodor's message board recommendations for Italy are not my cuppa. And given my druthers, I'd pick Forte dei Marmi over the Hamptons any day, in every respect.

and PS eks: If you return to Camogli, you should stay with friends! Let us know.

Zeppole: One of these days I will take you up on that! Many thanks! I would LOVE to return to Camogli and hope to do so one day soon. Right now my head is spinning with all of these ideas! I will find out the location of this house in Mallorca and report back...will start a new thread..

I'm one who does not think Sicily is too hot at that time of year. We were there in July and out of 11 days, only two were at all uncomfortable due to heat. You mention beaches and it certainly has plenty of coast. It's the most different from the rest of the places in Italy that you have been. Here is a link to my trip report (which links to my photos) http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-switz.cfm

Another one of my favorite Italy trips was to the Veneto. I based in Padua and did day trips to Verona, Vicenza, Bologna, etc. Ravenna is in that area and you mentioned that as somewhere you'd like to go.

eks: Great. I'll try not to scratch the furniture in the meantime. ;-)

"Right now my head is spinning with all of these ideas!"

ME TOO!!!

ok, now i've read isabel's trip report and want to go to sicily!!