silencebj

Hi, everyone. I will be in Torino for 3 months (December 2005 through February 2006) working for the Olympics. I have never been to Italy, and I would like to take as many weekend trips as possible. Are there places to which you would advise me not to go given the fact that I will be there in the middle of winter? For example, I have heard great things about Lake Garda and Lake Como...I would prefer to see smaller towns and scenic spots than do a lot of shopping. Please advise me! Thanks!

silencebj

ttt

silencebj

ttt...one more try

Jean

Only having weekends to work with will limit the number of places you can really visit as opposed to merely going and returning. If travelling by train, you'll have to first go one place to get to another and the same on the return, all the while competing with people going to Olympic events.

I'd skip the lakes in winter and concentrate on the towns closer to Torino, such as Alba, Asti, Casale Monferrato. Others here might know whether a winter visit to Riviera di Ponente/Levante would be worth the effort. If you have more than a weekend, go to Venice and/or Florence even though they are not the smaller towns that appeal to you.

Cicerone

Get out a map and see how centrally located Turin is for other places in Europe, it is on a main rail line. While you did express a preference for smaller towns, you can get to Paris is 5.5 hours by the fast EC train. (There would be overnight trains that might save you some daylight time for touring, although the daytime train trip would be quite pretty).

Rome is just over 6 hours and Milan is only 1.5 hours. Milan is great for a weekend.

With a car, you could drive through the Mt Blanc tunnel and get to the French Alps and the French side of Switzerland in a few hours, also great for a weekend, esp the smaller villages around the French or Swiss side of Lake Geneva.

I agree that the lake areas like Como are not at their best in winter.

Astigiano

I have been living in Piedmont for 4 years after a life of globe trotting, and I just love it, there are so many things to see and do, and the wine and food are out of this world, famous throughout Italy. My suggestions for weekend trips: Asti, historic city and centre of the Piedmont wine industry, about 45 minutes from Turin, you can do it as a day trip, look for a festival schedule in La Stampa. Ditto Alba, rival wine city of Asti, smaller and closer to the famous Barolo and Barberesco wine areas (alas you would need a car to visit most wineries and wine areas). Also Acqui Terme is an old roman spa town, nice little city with the terme (hot baths) and good wine. Then going a little further, Aosta is only about an hour or two from Turin, wonderful town in the mountains, Italy's smallest region. For lakes try Lake Maggiore as well as Orta, the Isola Bella near Stresa is fantastic. Then you should make a trip to Genoa, historic rival of Venice, about an hour and half very charming city with old seaport, and also Santa Marherita down the coast and maybe Cinque Terre, even though it will be winter, it will be very scenic. If you want to go further afield Florence and venice are about 6 hours by train for long weekends. Oh and don't forget Turin is loaded with attractions too, from the Superga Mauseleum to the multiple museums and galleries (you must try the cinema, the egyptian and the automobile).

DeirdreStraughan

Actually, in clear weather, winter is when you get the best views on Lake Como. You could easily combine that with a weekend in Milan, too.

best regards,
Deirdré Straughan

beginningwithi.com (personal)
www.tvblob.com (work)

silencebj

Thank you, everyone! This is so helpful. I am looking forward to these trips. Do any of you know if it will be difficult for me to find available rooms in hotels when I am in these places (as it will be low season), or if I will need to find and reserve them in advance? I appreciate your help!

Jean

I think because of the Olympics, you should assume the situation will be unlike "normal" winter availability and reservations should be made before arrival.

Deirdre is correct about views on Lake Como in winter. Smog from Milan does not drift northward in colder weather, and the air is very clear. However, most hotels and restaurants in Bellagio and Varenna close for the winter. If you only wish to take in the views, then go (and stay in Menaggio or Como town). Otherwise, save Lake Como for another trip in a spring-to-fall timeframe when you can enjoy all that the area offers.