Golfergal

While we have some ideas about what we want to do on this Italy trip, I'm looking for input from the pros here. We arrive in Milan (MXP) at 3:45 pm on a Saturday and leave Milan (LIN) at 11:20 am on the following Sunday. We have 8 nights and the only place we definitely want to stay is SML for 4 nights. This will be our 3td trip to Italy and on previous trips we have stayed in Rome, Taorimina, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, and Pescara. We enjoyed everywhere, but the 2 places we that really touched us were Positano and Taorimina. That is what is leading us to send 4 nights in SML. We have thought about Venice. Florence, and Lake Como. We are also thinking about spending 1 night in Milan to make the traveling a little easier (first or last night) and to see the Last Supper. We will do a little touring from SML probably Portofino and CT, but it will be a bit laid back. We don't tend to like the different day different town approach, but we do want to see more the Italian Riveria. We plan to do another trip focusing on Tuscany and Umbria when we have more time, so those are not priorities this trip.

Thanks for your help!

Wayne

One important item: Are you traveling by train, bus, rental car, donkey, etc.? This would have a big impact on my observations and recommendations.

Not knowing the answer, I can at least suggest some places to go, assuming train travel:
-Take a day trip from SML to the Cinque Terre. You pick the village, or hop from one to the other by train. Easy to do in a day.
-Take the day trip to Portofino.
-Go to Florence for 3 nights minimum.
-Go back to Milan for the last night.

You'll need to forget Venice and Lake Como, or travel there instead of Florence. In the limited time you have, I suggest the wonders of Florence.

You want to be relaxed and a little laid back. Don't take on more than what I've suggested. Good luck.

treplow

Consider spending some time at Lake Garda. Very pretty. I have stayed in Malcesine at the eastern shore of the lake (along the Gardesana orientale) and also at the southern tip of the lake, in Sirmione. Liked the latter better. From there you can visit all the other towns along the lake by boat. Sirmione is located on a peninsula that juts into the lake. It is off-limits to cars, except if you stay in one of the hotels in the old part of the town. In Sirmione, I recommend the Hotel Ideal, right at the northern tip of the peninsula, across the Roman ruins. From the hotel it is an easy walk into town and the gardens. Because you are staying at a hotel in town, you are allowed to drive your car there, although only at certain hours. But that is really no problem. Sirmione is a delightful old town in itself, with an old castle, gardens, good restaurants, etc. Personally, I prefer Lake Garda to Lake Como.

For your visit to Florence, have you thought about staying in Siena, and "commuting" to Fl. either by public transport or car? Siena is less hectic, and there are some great hotels. I will be able to recommend the hotel where we stayed, once I get back to my books at the end of May. Siena itself is worth at least one day's sightseeing.

Golfergal

Wayne - Thank you for the reply. We will travel around by train and car service. We are DEFINITELY not planning to do both Florence and Venice. It is one or the other and the same goes for Lake Como. We would pick one of them not all. My heart is with doing Venice, but my head says that Florence would make more sense. Then I think we could do Florence when we do our Tuscany trip, so we should do Venice. I keep going around and around, so that's why I'm looking to the pros.

ira

Hi golfergal,

>My heart is with doing Venice, but my head says that Florence would make more sense.<

"Follow your heart."

"Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas."

Having been to both, I would always choose Venice.

bobthenavigator

I agree--save Tuscany and Florence for later and stay north this trip. Hard to argue with Venice, but with your last nite--or 2--I would try hard to include Lago Orta even if it means cutting SML to 3 nites.

Anne27

I only have two questions for you ( not answers) at the moment. First, what is SML and second, I am thinking of flying into Pescara ( only because Ryan Air flies there and the fare from Germany ( where I currently live) is amazingly cheap. What did you think of this town? We will have 5 days to wander around and I was thinking to rent a car and drive around the Amalfi Coast. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Golfergal

Thank you to everyone for your advice. We decided to Venice and are thrilled. Now the real fun begins.

Anne - SML is Santa Margherita Ligure, which is a town next to Portofino on the Italian Riveria.

When I went to Pescara it was part of a week long cooking school. I loved the trip, but I have to admit it was mostly culinary field trips. We went to market in Pescara with the chef to buy for the restaurant, drove around the area, and stopped at the beach. Other days we went to a winery, an olive oil factory, and a wonderful farm. I have no idea how close these places were to Pescara. Since my trips to Pescara and Amalfi were 2 seperate trips I'm not sure how convenient a drive it is. I loved the Amalfi coast and think 4 or 5 days would be wonderful. I love seeing the art and history of the major sites, but give me a beautiful town and a bottle of wine and I'm in heaven. Good luck!

suze

You have more past and future experience in Italy then I do, but having been to Venice twice, it is truly amazing. I've chosen it over anything else and not been disappointed. Not to mention it's a fairly short and well traveled train route out of Milan. Sipping a bottle of wine, and it is a beautiful city (to say the least) is not hard to come by!

RufusTFirefly

Not to mention that despite the undeniable attractions of other places in Italy like Florence, 5 Terre, Lake Como, etc., Venice is the only totally unique world treasure on your list.