Suggestions for Italy Itinerary in late October
 

My husband and I are spending 2 weeks in Italy in late October – we’ve organized the trip’s beginning (Florence for 3 days) and end (Rome for 2 days). Unfortunately, I’ve just finished the planning for our daughter’s recent wedding and my brain can’t make any more decisions!
Does anyone have suggestions for the 6 days in between? I’ve never been to Lucca or Cinque Terre, and heard that there are some lovely towns in Tuscany to explore. My particular passion is cooking. (and eating!) I would dearly love to do some informal cooking instruction as well.

If your particular passion is cooking, you might give consideration to Umbria, which I think has a nicer cooking tradition than Tuscany. There are some popular places to take cooking classes, and there are lots of beautiful hill towns to see with fabulous art work. It is easy to fill six days in Umbria, and a beautiful place to relax as well.

http://incampagna.com

http://umbria.angloinfo.com/af/466/u...e-courses.html

Le Conque Terre will be too chilly and rainy, and Lucca doesn't have enough to hold your interest for 6 days. If you sant to see it, add a day to Florence and take a day trip.

Lucca is a good place to stay for one or two nights, including a daytrip to very nearby Pisa.
Personally I'm very charmed by Siena, in my not so humble opinion a much nicer city to stay then overcrowded Florence.
Other options between Florence and Rome are places like Orvieto, Spoleto and Perugia.
A different idea is to spend a few days in Bologna. (It's not on the route to Rome, but distances are not very long in this part of the world. If I remember correctly it was only one hour from Florence on the Intercity train.) One of the nicest cities I know in Italy. Also good as a base for places like Ferrara and Ravenna.

Yes, if you don't feel like renting a car, Bologna is a great place for cooking instruction, markets and easy day trip to other beautiful places by train -- like astonishing Ravenna, Ferrara (unique, interesting food), Modena (outstanding food town), Parma (ditto, and beautiful Renaissance sights), and lovely surprises like Brisighella.

But if you do decide to stay in Bologna, definitely rent an apartment with a kitchen so you can get the best of both worlds -- restaurants but also food from the markets and pasta shops. Check Haldis and Bologna nel Cuore.

I second the suggestion for Umbria. Good food, wine, scenery and lovely towns in easy proximity to Florence and Rome.

I'm not sure I understand your interests, which should be the driver of your plans, but FWIW, if you haven't already visited them you might want more time in Florence and/or in Rome.

For Oct., I wouldn't necessarily plan on the Cinque Terre -- the weather there can be very unpredictable. But if that's OK with you, give it several days to increase your options of having at least one good day there.

If you can say more about your familiarity with Italy, and any interests you have other than cooking, it might help us....

Thank you everyone...I'm actually flying into Bologna and spending one day there before training to Florence for three days. I have been to both Florence and Rome before- the last time was 11 years ago however. After reading your comments, perhaps we'll delete Cinque Terre completely if the weather is too uncertain.
My interests...Italian regional cooking is my passion, but I also love the art and history of Italy. (I am second generation Italian American, all things Italian interest me!) Tuscany was appealing since I am so darn tired from the wedding planning and life in general- I wanted some relaxation time. Perhaps I'll do some research on Umbrian towns!

I suggest a few days in Tuscany between Florence and Rome, especially if you will have a car. I would also add a couple of days to Rome and, considering your interests, a day to Florence.

I will suggest two easy and beautiful day trips from your main destinations:

- Siena from Firenze, take the bus.
-Orvieto from Roma, easy on the train.

Also you can think of adding a couple of days in Venezia.

Enjoy your trip!

jelopez33- I think that you may have a workable plan. We can train from FLorence to Siena, see the city and book day trips to the surrounding countryside. Then perhaps Orvieto -sme plan for that area - then an easy ride to Rome to finish the trip!
Any suggestions for vineyards/ great restaurants/ places to see from those two vantage points? Thanks again, everyone!

In the Florence/Siena area, if you're interested in guided day trips, I recommend Luca at hillsandroads.com. Many people here, including me, have used him. He lives in Siena, knows the area, speaks excellent English, and is an all-around nice guy.

You might also consider Le Marche, whose cuisine has aspects similar to the Umbrian, but also shares characteristics with the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, and adds many original touches. With its long seacoast, Le Marche also has a tradition of excellent seafood.

I shouls add that there are several white truffle fairs in Le Marche in late October. The biggest is in Acqualagna. It's celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

http://acqualagna.com/en/fiere-tartufo/