Starting to plan for european trip next summer. We have already been to all the major Italian cities, including Sicily, Ischia,amalfi coast and Tirol. We have also visited most of the surrounding countries to Italy. I was thinking of the Cinque Terre region as a base and day trips to Lucca, Sienna, Genoa. We are in our fifties and I am not sure of the hiking that seems to be prevalent in this area although we are quite fit. We like architecture, sea views, medeviel towns, museums and art, small neighborhood cafes. WE would go either late May or mid June and stay for approximately 7 days. Another thought was "somewhere" on the eastern adriatic coast and the possibility of a ferry of boat to Croatia. any suggestions for an itinerary

The Cinque Terre area is, as you probably already know, beautiful. If you're quite fit, I would think the hiking there would be fine for you.

However, doing day trips from there would be a hassle; the Cinque Terre is a bit remote, and you'd spend most of your time travelling, except for Genoa. If you're interest in Lucca and/or Siena, you should plan overnight trips to either (or both) places.

Hmmm ! Sounds like Sicily is a good option for you--see why here:
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3828

>Suggestions for "not the usual" trip to Italy?.....I was thinking of the Cinque Terre region as a base and day trips to Lucca, Sienna, Genoa.<

What is so unusual about that?

Have you considered Puglia and Le Marche?

Can't help with your question but I have one - where's the best place to stay in Sicily - since you are going I'm sure you have done some research.

Jersey Sue,

WE stayed in Taormina at the Villa Schuler and loved the location as a base and really liked the hotel, try to get a corner room which also has a view of the sea and Mt Etna.

Ira,

I am not at all familiar with either of the two areas mentioned. Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated. Weather in May, day trips, lodging, major nearby city to fly

Get yourself to the "heel and toe" of Italy. The gorgeous pink buildings of Lecce, the entire region of Puglia, the wonderful villages of Matera and my personal favorite, Polignano di Mare. See the wonderful trulli houses, the cave dwellings of the impressive UNESCO site of Matera, the coast including Bari and Brindisi, the neat fishing village of Gallipoli. So much to do in that southern region.

Do a search here and find a number of threads on "Basilicata".

Hi M,

>Ira,

I am not at all familiar with either of the two areas mentioned. <

Well, you are looking for "not the usual".

Good advice from N.

Also, enter <Le Marche> in the "search this forum" box.

I haven't been to either, so I can't help much.

I think Neo has a great plan. If you want inspiration, the Italian film, "Don't Tell," just out on DVD, contains long segments filmed in the area around Lecce. The film is terrific, by the way.

Misscarol,

For the mix of attractions you cited in your query, I think your instinct to settle between Genoa and Lucca is actually a good one. (I would drop Siena from this itinerary.) Provided you stay away from areas like Portofino and base yourself in the touoristy parts of Cinque Terre, that area of Italy offers a highly rewarding mix of architecture, sea views, medieval towns, museums and art and small neighborhood cafes.

However, you will need to stay off the main tourist track in order to have "not the usual" experience of this region. Explore the possibility of making places like Camogli, Sarzana, Sestri Levante (beloved of Hans Christian Anderson), Lerici or Tellaro (beloved by Byron) your base. Make sure you get up into the hills above the sea for medieval hilltowns. (The Italian Touring club has a great book for the region.) Lucca will be the most heavily touristed site on your agenda. Genova is practically unknown to tourists but it is stuffed with great art and architecture.

My other suggestion would be that you go either to the southernmost part of Tuscany known as the Maremma or northern Lazio. If you would like sea views, check out the area of the Monte Argentario. You could have glorious vacation there. There are dozens of fascinating small towns to visit in this area that foreign tourists seldom see.

A journey that took you from Ravenna to Urbino (via San Leo and the hillstown of Montefeltro) might work very well for you, although you'd be short on sea views. But this is a very steep and mountainous part of Italy and requires a lot of driving to get the most out of a 7-day stay, whereas much of the Ligurian coast can be enjoyed by train and the Monte Argentario region is generally very benign driving (and you could include Siena on that itinerary).

Buon viaggio!

Ooops! I meant to write: "and DON'T base yourself in the touoristy parts of Cinque Terre"

There are many areas in Umbria that are't as touristy and are fairly remote, especially as you get away from Orvieto and Assisi. You could easily combine that with le Marche.

Tracy