Italy calls! Looks like one of my dreams will finally come true this April. I am planning a trip to Italy (to stay for a month). I am thinking of Bologna because it is central and I can get to Florence, Venice, Milan rather easily. I would like to experience things not in the hubbub of tourist attractions but with the locals. So I need ideas on lodging. Ideal would be to stay with a family, but I'm not a student anymore, so that's out. Doesn't necessarily have to be in the city or for that matter in Emiglia-Romana; it could be Tuscany. Thanks in advance for the advice.

Sharam, I presume you plan to travel and <BR>I am assuming by train. It would not be <BR>practical to stay at one location so I would suggest perhaps 4 base camps for <BR>a week each. Bologna is not especially <BR>attractive unless you are an aspiring <BR>gourmand. I would start in Veneto, then to Tuscany, and I would end somewhere <BR>on the Amalfi coast. Your flights may <BR>dictate sequence---start there.

Bob's plan sounds good for 90% of the (few) people who might have a month to spend - - but at the same time it may be more "touristically" oriented than you want. I'll split the difference and suggest that you should be a "tourist" for 2-5 days, perhaps in two different locations, and use that time to decide if you really want to "set up camp" in ONE place for the balance of the three weeks+ left that you have. <BR> <BR>In a recent thread on LonelyPlanet, there was a discussion of costs of apartments in Florence, and it was mentioned that there are a LOT of short-term architecture students in the city (more summer than spring? I'm not sure) - - and as a result, there is a substantial market in short-term apartment rentals. Apparently, the best way to find out about these is to be there and hunt - - the same way you would if you were apartment hunting in your own home town area. <BR> <BR>Someone that seemed to be quite knowledgeable about how to tackle this is a student from Dublin named Catriona Berman - - she was in Florence all last summer, and hopes to do the same again next summer. I might not have chosen to give out her name, but she has posted herself publicly on the www.bootsnall.com as an "insider" (for Ireland, not for Italy). My guess is that she's busy with end-of-term studies right now, so you might want to not contact her all that soon, but she is very nice and may have ideas for you. <BR> <BR>Of course, Bologna is also a rather major university town - - if not for architecture, I think that a lot of American schools have overseas language/culture course(s) operating out of Bologna - - so you might be able to do the same thing there. <BR> <BR>I assume that you didn't include any destinations south of Florence due to your own preference. Bob proposes that you go on down to Campania - - a great place, but like Venice, it will strain your budget, and I'm guessing you will be back to Italy again sooner rather than later. The Amalfi coast will still be there. <BR> <BR>If you are sure you'd rather have your arrangements worked out before you go, maybe you ought to put some effort into finding others who think like you and can share a place. One good source for apartment rentals is www.domani-usa.com - - the guy who runs it is named Larry Haase, and I'm fine with your telling him I referred you. If you look on his site - - just to give you two examples - - one in Lucca, and another south of Siena - - you will see that there ARE apartments as low as $410/week there - - BUT, for only about $500/week, you can get a THREE bedroom/TWO bath apartment! More than 50% cheaper per person that way! <BR> <BR>Feel free to write me back if I can be of any further assistance. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Bob and Rex, thanks much for all the advice. I do plan on going by train while I'm there and the idea of moving is interesting since I'd get to see more of Italy. But I'll be just as happy staying put for the duration. I don't plan on going anywhere south of Bologna, at least not this time. Thanks again.

I hope it doesn't seem like I'm obsessing on your question, Shahram, but here's one more thing that I just stumbled across - - relevant, I suppose, because the question of reliability, credibility, etc has come up today regarding the "Database of TravelHelpers" - - <BR>http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/2442/europe.html - - the point is that under Italy there, you will find this listing, specifically for Bologna: <BR> <BR>Bologna <BR> Cristina ([email protected]) will reply to emails and send information aout the beautiul city of Bologna, in the north of Italy. <BR> <BR>Why not write to her with your question, and report back to us here whether this provides useful information or not? <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex