Northern Italy Vacation Suggestions
 

My husband and I travel quite a bit and we generally have a rule no matter how much we fall in love with a place we should never re-visit it. This rule is to ensure that we get to see as much of the world as we possibly can throughout our lives. We have been to Italy one time 6 years ago, we saw Venice, Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast, Polermo and Agrigento. However, we have not visited the Italian Riviera or any of Northern and Central Italy other than Florence for 2 days. I have been reading guide books and websites a lot and as with any place there is too much to see and do in the 14 days we will be in Italy. Therefore, I would like to ask of people that have been here to suggest ways to get the most out of visiting this part of Italy. Is it feasible to see some of the coast and combine that with say Lake Como or other Alpine Lake? Or would we be better off combining Liguria and Piedmont? Or maybe comine the coast with a visit to Tuscany? If we don't go to Florence we won't break our rule, we could see some of those medievel towns perched on hills and go to a vineyard or two. We like pretty much everything, culture/arts, foodies, countryside and natural beauty and hiking. Any suggested itineraries would be wonderful. Also, if you think maybe seeing more of Sicily and southern Italy would be better altogether please suggest that as well. We're pretty flexible?

Poogie, what time of year are you considering making this trip?

Here's the URL of one of my web pages which describes exactly the trip you mentioned - from Liguria, through Piedmont and to lake Como.

http://www.travel.stv77.com/liguria/liguria.html

Here's another link - to my main home page which includes several other trips to Italy.
http://www.travel.stv77.com/

Perhaps it can help you decide.

Hi!

my suggestions are:
- North Italy: Milan (not much to see but the impressive cathedral), Verona, Padua and perhaps some lake. You can complete any of these cities in one day.
- Tuscany: many charming villages and cities as well as the landscape (Sienna, Pisa, Lucca, Cinque Terre, S.Gimignano)
- South Italy: Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Ischia

I suggest you to visit this webpage (there are many pictures and explanations), it may help you with the decision
http://www.europefortourism.com/en/italy.htm

How about a week at one of the lakes, and one in Umbria to see the hilltowns?

You can read my journals from my three trips to Italy along with photographs. It might help you select your destinations.
http://www.travelswithdiane.homestead.com/Italy.html
Have a wonderful trip.

sssteve: I just spent my lunch time looking at your website. Very nicely done with lots of worthwhile information. Thank you. Diane

Thanks Diane.

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to answer them via email.

Bellacqui, I will be traveling there Sept 23rd of this year.

Everyone else thank you for your responses, I will check them all out.

Poogie,

as everyone else has pointed out in 14 days its quite possible to have a good vacation without being rushed if you have an open jaw ticket and arrive in Milan, first the lakes, down to Piedmont, then Liguria, then Tuscany and or Umbria and fly out of Rome, or vice versa, a few days in each, some longer then others depending on your tastes.