kybourbon

I would stick with September. It was a bit cool when I was in Italy last September, even on the Amalfi coast.

If you aren't comfortable staying in Naples, you could take a tour from Sorrento or just daytrip by train (70 minutes).

CasaDelCipresso

do remember that the temp. has a lot to do with elevation...it is often much, much colder in the Campania hills than it is further North in Rome, for example! (weather.co has averages) I happen to think both Sept. and October are great months though.

As for Benevento...no, certainly not a small, rural town (not huge either though) I think there are around 60,000 people (?)...there are lots of smaller towns though in the Province (I was just assuming that your father is from the Town of Benevento and not a smaller town or village outside it).

CasaDelCipresso

Donna11,
I looked and had a couple of my photos form that trip on this computer, so I added them on my blog if you want a peek of Benevento:
http://southernitaly.wordpress.com/2.../22/benevento/

ekscrunchy

I've not been to Benevento (yet!) but I did find this hotel in one of my Campanian food books (Carla Capalbo) ; it looks lovely and has doubles for 150 euro:



http://www.hotelvillatraiano.it/en/H...laTraiano.html

The same guide also recommends this pair of agriturismi outside town:


http://agriturismo.lecamerelle.it/index.html

CasaDelCipresso

I agree, Carla Capalbo's book is terrific and sometimes more helpful than many traditional guidebooks for the area. I don't have it on me (it's in Italy) but I don't think she is a big fan of Benevento at all though...which is why I was so very pleasantly surprised!

lovisa

I think you will have a better trip if you devote your time to just Rome and Southern Italy.

According to their website, Hertz has a location in Benevento. However be aware that Italians drive manual transmissions, so if you need an automatic, you probably need to rent it in a tourist location.

CasaDelCipresso

nah - you can just ask - I know you can get an automatic in Avellino and it's certainly not a tourist destination I assume, if you reserve, they get the car form a larger office such as Naples or Salerno.

Jean

Donna11, if you're still checking in, the Giro d'Italia bicycle race will end at Benevento on Thursday, May 28th. You can watch a video of this stage of the race which starts at Sulmona at the link below. Click on "video" for Stage 18. Obviously, most of the video is about the riders and race results, but there will be views of the scenery and close-ups of downtown Benevento.

http://www.universalsports.com/ViewA...ATCLID=3734597

zeppole

Another vote for sticking to southern Italy for this trip.

zeppole

PS: Before you book with a pricey driver from the Amalfi Coast or even Napoli, see if you can book a driver for less out of Benevento. I would think so, and it wouldn't surprise me if another taxi driver would refer you, or a Benevento hotel.

I also meant to add that Pompeii is treeless and vast, with few tourist services inside. If you get tolerable weather, by all means go while you are there, but take lots of water and snacks. For touring the coastal towns, boat rides are better.

Donna11

Thanks everyone, I have been away from my computer for a few days and hadn't been able to review the responses. From the responses it does make more sense to get a driver or taxi from Benevento if possible. I been looking at some of the picutures of Benevento it really seems to be an interesting town. It would probably provide a more realistic look at Italian life than some of the toursit areas.

However, in talking with my father, he is not from Benevento but further from that. I need to clarify that with him and get back to everyone, but I'm thinking it is actually Foiano. He just remembers Benevento as the main town.

I haven't made my airlines reservations yet, but I was planning on flying into Venice and out of Naples. This was my initial idea:

Donna11

I thik I was cut off from completing my post. But I was planning on flying into Venice and out of Naples.
Venice - 3 Days
Florence(not sure about that) - 2 Days
Rome - 4 Days
Benevento - 3 days
Sorrento - 3 days
Last day - either Sorrento or Naples to be near airport
16 days total. From seeing some of the replies, I'm wondering if by adding Venice it would be too much traveling.

Mimar

My brother-in-law left Italy at about the same age and time. But he still kept in touch with his relatives. His Italian still works. And he's in great shape, never gets sick. Hardy people.

I do think you should cut down on your stops. I'm the last person to recommend skipping Venice. It's a great place to get over jet lag. However, Venice can be crowded in September. Be sure to stay in Venice itself but away from Tourist Central: Piazza San Marco and the Rialto.

However you could skip Florence and train or fly directly to Rome. I'm interested that you put the visit to Benevento near the end of your trip. Is that for cooler weather? I was wondering if the anticipation will overshadow your earlier stops. Or if you went there first, if the rest of the trip would be anticlimactic.

That said, I think you have a good plan. And it will be a very memorable trip for you and your father. You'll be so glad you did this.

Donna11

In response to Mimar, I haven't booked my flight yet, but I would like to this week, I am seeing fares for around $650-700 roundtrip and I know I need to start reserving apartments. My father mentioned he would be interested in seeing some other places since he never saw any part of Italy other than his hometown. I really didn't have any preference of traveling from Venice to Naples or Naples to Venice, or actually flying into Rome and out of Rome. I just read on other posts that it is better to fly into Venice rather than out of it.

I would love to see Venice, but my concern was that I was trying to see too much. Skipping Florence and heading straight to Rome may be a better option. I was concerned if I was trying to see to much, since there seems to be more than enough sights with just Rome, Benevento, and the Almafi Coast. I am not that interested in seeing art galleries, or being in hectic tourist area. We both enjoy food vendors/markets, quaint towns, architecture, churches, winieries, and he loves old Italinan music, but we will be traveling without a car.

Jean

Foiano is another hour beyond Benevento from Naples. I found this website that lists surnames in the Foiano di Val Fortore phone book. Any familiar names?

http://www.italyworldclub.com/campan...valfortore.htm

Visiting Foiano is going to be tricky without a car. The town is tiny (pop. 1600), so finding lodging there (or nearby) before you go may be impossible.

I'm not sure what genealogical info you'd learn that you don't already know, but you might search your father's entry into the U.S. at Ellis Island:

http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSearch.asp

Donna11

Jean - Thanks for the websites, I think his relatives names are FACCHIANO, but I will get with him to narrow it down. Sounds like this is getting tougher. I going to try to get into contact with some of the driver references given. If anyone can recommend any in that area that would be great.


Also, I'm am looking to book the flight for September, is the week of labor day a heavy tourist travel time in Italy. I can either book it was a start date before or a start date a week later

lovisa

If you look at the paginebianche website, and input the surname (cognome) Facchiano and the town as Foiano di val Fortore, you get 24 hits:

http://www.paginebianche.it/execute....r=10&om=1&td=2

Jean

24 Facchianos in Foiano! Wow! I'd probably write a letter to all of them, in Italian if possible, and see if anyone replies by mail or email. Include all the family info your dad can remember.