selbuts4

Hi,

My girlfriend loves Italy and I plan to propose to her there in August. We have both been to Italy separately and have seen the major cities (e.g., Rome, Florence, Venice, etc). The following is my current itinerary. Note that ??? refers to destinations which has not been decided on yet and where I need some suggestions

Day 1 - Milan to Bellagio
Day 2 - Bellagio
Day 3 - Bellagio
Day 4 - Bellagio to ???
Day 5 - ??? to Venice
Day 6 - Venice
Day 7 - Venice to ???
Day 8 - ??? to Cinque Terre
Day 9 - Cinque Terre
Day 10 - Cinque Terre to Florence
Day 11 - Florence (rent car) to Chianti Region
Day 12 - Chianti Region to Florence (return car)
Day 13 - Siena
Day 14 - Siena (Palio)
Day 15 - Siena to ???
Day 16 - ??? to Rome
Day 17 - fly home and will miss Italy

Questions: 1) I plan to propose to my girlfriend in Bellagio (maybe rent a row boat out to the lake and propose). Does anyone have suggestions for a romantic proposal in Bellagio/ Lake Como Area?

2) Between Bellagio and Venice (Days 4 & 5) does anyone have suggestions for where I should stay?

3) Between Venice and Cinque Terre (Days 7 & 8) does anyone have suggestions for where I should stay?

4) Between Siena and Rome (Days 15 & 16), does anyone have suggestions for where I should stay?

5) Any additional comments on the itinerary? Does it seem too rushed? To some, it must seem crazy to spend so little time in Florence and Rome, but it's because we have both been there before so I drastically cut down the amount of time we will be there.

Any feedback is welcome. Thanks!

stardust

Hi selbuts4!

Good luck with the proposal and have a great holiday.

I don't know how easy it is to reach my suggested cities by public transport, but these are just nice cities more or less in your way:

2/Verona. Visit Romeo & Julieta's city. Seems quite appropriate for your trip

3/Bologna

4/Perugia

I think your trip would be quite more relaxed if you could rent a car all of your trip, because it would save you quite some travelling time.

And again: good luck!

Steve_James

Selbuts -

Between Bellagio & Venice - Verona? Bergamo? Lake Garda? Vicenza? Dolomites? Trento?

Between Venice & CT - Bologna? Florence? Parma? Pisa? Lucca?

Between Siena & Rome - Assisi? Orvieto? Cortona? Pitigliano? Argentario? Montepulciano? Chianciano? Montalcino? Pienza?

Hope this helps ...

Steve

nessundorma

sebuts,

I wouldn't add new destinations. Just go straight to Venezia from Bellagio, and straight to Cinque Terre from Venezia. Or, if you want to go somewhere you haven't already been, go to Verona. Or Torino. (Instead of Venice.)

From Siena, check out taking a train to Orvieto before spending your last night in Roma.

bobthenavigator

I like the Verona idea rather than Venice. Why not propose under Juliets balcony. However, the cupola in the gardens of Villa Melzi just south of Bellagio is a beautiful setting. I have a good photo of that if you are curious.

SeaUrchin

What if she says "no" in Bellagio?

nessundorma

There are lots of beautiful Italian girls everywhere selbuts is going after Bellagio. I'm sure with his love of romance, he'll do just fine no matter which answer he gets. ;-)

nessundorma

Bob!

I'd surely say NO! if somebody proposed to me under that artificial tourist trap.

And remember how Romeo and Juliet ends?

Ninkette

We stayed in Montalcino and loved it.

selbuts4

Thanks everyone for your input!

djkbooks

My recommendation would be to just not worry about it. You're prepared, and the perfect time and place will present itself.

cmenoni

I really don't mean to be mean, but your marriage might go better if you asked where "we" could stop, as opposed to "I".

susanteach

Verona was pretty and worth a day's walk, but the Juliet balcony was very disappointing IMO. If it were me, I'd have loved a romantic proposal in Venice or on a picnic with wine, basket...etc. in Tuscany, something like that.

Jean

Have you looked into that "row boat" idea? You might be able to rent a boat at Pescallo (15 mins. walking from Bellagio) where there is a sailing school or San Giovanni (30 mins. walking) where there is a rowing school. Otherwise, I think you'd have to go to Lezzeno where I know they rent motor boats. You can also rent jet skis at a place about 10 km. from Bellagio on the way to Lecco called Moregallo Sporting Club Nautico.

A few other romantic places in the Bellagio area: Punta Spartivento in the evening looking at the lights of the villages along the lake; Villa Balbienello for a gorgeous setting with a fabulous view; Villa Carlotta (built as part of a wedding dowry); the Basilica of San Giacomo in Bellagio.

ceb7369

The rowboat sounds romantic in theory, but when you're in love you tend to want to kiss and hold each other during the proposal. It's tricky, but can be done in a row boat. Though you do put yourself in a position to end up in the water if you're nervous and/or she's excited. This can make a very funny story, but you also risk losing the ring if it's not securely on her finger. Improbable maybe, but those horror stories do happen.

If your traditional, a rowboat also might rule out getting down on one knee.