Lazio –K: Civita di Bagnoreggio, Sperlonga, Island of Ponza (a little Paradise)<BR>-U: Farnese + Tuscania(near tuscany Maremma), Bomarzo + Soriano + Orte (Near Viterbo), Civita Castellana + Nepi+ Calcata (east of Bracciano Lake), Island of Ventotene<BR><BR>Campania – K: Ischia, Capri, all of the villages of the Amalfi Coast<BR>-U: Procida, Pisciotta + Marina di Camerota + the ghost town of Roscigno (Cilento)<BR><BR>Basilicata – K: Maratea and the others tiny villages along that coast, Matera<BR>-U: Trecchina + Rivello + Lagonegro (inland of Maratea)<BR><BR>Calabria: -U: Morano Calabro (inland north of Calabria)<BR><BR>Puglia: - K: Ostuni + Martina Franca + Alberobello (inland of Brindisi), Otranto + Gallipoli (Salento), Vieste (Gargano), Trani, Polignano a Mare (south of Bari)<BR>U: Vico + Monte S. Angelo + Peschici(Gargano), Sant’Agata in Puglia (east of Foggia), Cisternino (Near Ostuni)<BR>

to Mari:<BR><BR>Yes, I suspect that it would seem like a long way to go for the amount of charm that it has (and certainly not uniquely so). 4 hours each way perhaps?) depends on where you are starting on the Italian Riviera. You could try www.viamichelin.com or www.mappy.com to check any two points' distance from each other.<BR><BR>How about Pavia, home of the Certosa (just south of Milan)? - - closer, though I have never actually been there.<BR>

Mine is Orvieto

Julie, I see you mentioned Chateau d'oex Switzerland. A few months ago I asked for suggestions for Swiss towns, I got a lot of great suggestions, but you were the only one to mention Chateau d'oex. After researching all the towns I decided to go there and Kandersteg. Thanks for the tip, I leave on June 15. Can't wait.

up<BR>

San Salvatore di Fitalia

Pietrapertosa

Never met a small town in Italy that I didn't like. Such atmosphere!

Teensy weensy places I have stayed in Italy that I liked:<BR><BR>Corenno Plinio (on Lake Como)<BR><BR>Madruzzo (in Trentino)<BR><BR>Private homes in both instances. Surely no hotel in Corenno, possibly one in Madruzzo.

Montefalco in Umbria, Camogli in Liguria, and Camaiore and Barga, and Pontremoli in Tuscany---last two really off beaten track.

Piu, piu!<BR><BR>Ma non troppo grande!<BR><BR>

Agree w/Rex. Gotta be Bassano del Grappa and the fabulous Marostica right next to Bassano w/its beautiful castle. However, I'm a bit biased given that I'm from Vicenza (about 45 minutes from Bassano) and my mom's side of the family is from Bassano. But then I could also add Solagna, which is really tiny (15 minutes from Bassano) and all the small, tiny towns after that going towards Belluno...With the river Brenta, it's fab! Ciao!

Thank you Jean for mentioning several towns in this area in northern Lazio known as Tuscia or Etruria ...Orte,Soriano,Bomarzo, Viterbo, Vetralla... .you win a copy of my book-"Affreschi-Exploring Etruria" . Send me your address and I'll mail you a free copy so you can see what other wonderful towns (and the people and history!) we have.<BR>

Sandanski in Bulgaria

Polignano di Mare, just south of Bari, Italy on the Adriatic. <BR>(More about this place when I get going on the rest of my last trip reports.)

Camogli!

<BR>quintodecimo - le marche - italy<BR><BR>

Topping for a friend, but I'll add Gerra-Gambarogno on Lago Maggiore.

We just returned from Italy and of the towns we visited I would say my favorites were:<BR>Tuscany - Montalcino<BR>Umbria - Todi and Bevagna<BR>P.S. Also, enjoyed Portovenere

Great choices Trish--you must have had a wonderful trip.