Need help with a surprise trip to Italy
 

I am surprising my partner with a trip to Italy in May. We will have approximately 2 weeks to spend in the country. We are staying at Palazzo Catalani in Viterbo outside of Rome for 1 week. (see http://secure.sunterra.com/europe/rs-l3.aspx?resort=PCR ) - in addition to spending time Rome, what day trips do you recommend? Also what other city/cities do you recommend we spend a week? We want the true flavor of Italy. Thanks for your help!

I just got back from Palazzo Catalani on Saturday. It is in Soriano nel Cimino, which is in the Province of Viterbo. Lovely town. I liked the resort also. Yummy food at the restaurants in town and the pasticceria is really nice.

Will this be your first trip to Italy?

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the location. This will be our first trip to Italy and we have wanted to go for years. So this will be a special trip

Assuming you'll have a car (definitely recommended for this area), Orvieto is probably the obvious priority place to visit. There's actually plenty to see in Viterbo itself (some fantastic museums, the botanical gardens, just wandering the old streets, the cathedral and what's left of teh papal palace, etc) and you could also visit the Etruscan remains at Tarquinia and Saturnia and Roman remains really close to Viterbo at Ferento. Also near is the Villa Lante at Bagnaia which looks lovely. Bolsena is charming (avoid the weekends, though, it gets very busy with daytrippers from Rome). Many people like Civita di Bagnoregio.

For your other destination, would you like somewhere similar or a contrast?

Orvieto is a must!

Cascata del Marmore (waterfall) near Terni is breathtaking!
http://tinyurl.com/2r7abk

Narni is a charming small hill town (underline the "small") in a picturesque setting. The roads running through the mountains south of Narni have amazing views - if you're not afraid of heights!

A great site for investigating the area is Bella Umbria
http://tinyurl.com/ytzhok

Thanks for all the suggestions.... that definately gives me some places to start researching. Regarding our 2nd week in Italy I would like something different..... what city/cities would you recommend that we stay for a different flavor? Venice?

About daily trips in Tuscia, I also suggest these three small towns (assuming you have a car): Civitella d'Agliano, Marta and Roggi Canino.
About the second week, yes, Venice is a very good idea.

Ciao.

Vincenzo

Hi Chase - Another place well worth a visit is Pitigliano in southern Tuscany - and nearby Sorano and Sovana. Lake Bolsena is attractive.

Spoleto and Todi in Umbria are also possibilities - and if you want to go a little further afield, Assisi.

You could also visit one of the spas. Or the coast around Argentario.

Lots of possibilities ...

Steve

If you plan to add in Venice, try to get open jaw (multi-city) plane tickets--fly in to Rome, fly home from Venice.