lucmp

Hi guys, I am an American high school student planning on taking a gap year after my senior year of high school and spending a lot of time in Italy during that year.

I wanted to take time to explore both the West and East coasts of Italy, starting in Turin and driving down to the tip of the "boot" on the West coast and going back up the East coast, until I hit Venice. My question is, how realistic is this (disregarding money, which I have enough of) and what cities should I visit on each coast?

I am planning on making this road trip (in Italy) about 4 months in length, so I have plenty of time.

Please give input!

Dayle

I guess I will be the first to tell you that you don't have as much time as you think. You can only stay in the Schengen countries for a total of 90 days. You have basically three months.

indyhiker

It sounds like you intend to rent a car. You will need to investigate the minimum age to rent a car in Italy. At least according to AutoEurope's site, it's 21.

indyhiker

Digging further into AE's information, it appears that the minimum age is 18 but that some suppliers set a 21 year minimum. Either way, you can expect to pay a surcharge if you are under 25.

sandralist

You would do better to take the train on the west coast as far south as Naples and rent a car there to continue. Most of the highway on the west coast swings inland, but the train hugs the coast line itself.

Except in summertime, most of the coastal towns of Puglia and Basilicata are in a deep sleep, with some towns almost feeling deserted. If you are determined to see those areas, you should time it so you are there in high summertime. You don't have to start in Turin and end in Venice to make the loop. Might make more sense to start in Naples and ultimately end in Rome. Take the fast train between Venice and Turin.

Important port cities to visit: Genova, Livorno, Naples, Salerno, Bari, Ravenna and Venice. You might also enjoy Tarquinia, Taranto, Otranto, Trani and Rimini. Lots of scenic villages along the west coast and east coast in Puglia, and interesting small fishing towns on the central and northern Adriatic coast with very very few tourists.