blytheg

My husband and I currently live in Germany, and found out that one of the cheap European airlines is running attractive specials for winter travel to select cities. So, we're thinking of doing a quick weekend trip to Italy. The trouble is picking a city to visit (out of the list of options) that would be worth it for just a few days.

These are the options:
-Bari
-Cagliari
-Catania
-Milan
-Naples
-Olbia
-Palermo
-Pisa
-Venice

Any of you world travelers with Italian travel experience, please give some advice. Thanks!

annhig

hi, blytheg,

top of my list would be Venice.

Even if it's just for a few days, you can still see quite a lot and soak up the atmosphere.

plus in the winter there are fewer people around.

Pisa would be good too, not just for seeing the obvious [which wil take you half a day or so] but because of the ease of getting to florence, which again will be less crowded this time of year.

other fodorites may be able to help with the other options.

regards, ann

Grinisa

I wouldn't choose Cagliari or Olbia as I think of Sardinia as a summer, beach destination. Since these are winter air fare specials, I take it that you are going in the winter, looking at the list, Palermo or Catania would offer the best chance for nice weather. Palermo could keep you busy over a weekend. If flying to Catania, I'd head straight to Taormina. You might get some great views of a snow-capped Mt. Etna. Naples would be my next choice. It's another good city to visit over a long weekend. Enough to do in the city itself and you could also make a daytrip to Pompeii/Herculaneum or the Amalfi Coast.

TravMimi

Palermo for sure. Great Archaeological Museum, shopping, food and wonderful street markets. Maybe see an opera or concert at Teatro Massimo. Take the bus up to the cathedral at Monreal. Visit the Capuchin Catacombs (interesting to say the very least). Wonderful city.

nosocksnoshoes

Venice definitely. It is very small and easy to see in a couple of days (although longer is better).
There is truly no place in the world like Venice!

CasaDelCipresso

well...I'm partial to Southern Italy...but...that said...only a weekend?? VENICE. hands down in my book ;-)
if not...I'd say maybe fly into Pisa and stay in Florence for the weekend - that's a nice amount to see the city and museums...

or, as others have said, Amalfi...but...I think Amalfi is pushing it time-wise for just a weekend unless you stay maybe in Sorrento and don't spend TOO much travel time getting there.

JulieAgain

Before deciding, I would check the weather for each of the suggestions. Seems like Venice would be a first choice for me, but in the winter probably too cold for me!

Sounds like fun! Julie

blytheg

Thanks for all of your replies! We got it down to Palermo and Venice based on your replies, and then picked Venice in the end because the flight times were better. We're hoping to do a "real" trip to Italy next summer, so we'll have to wrap Palermo into that trip.

Hopefully we won't freeze too much in Venice in February! Can't be any colder than Germany, right?

annhig

hi, blytheg - good choice - but then i would asy that wouldn't I, given it was my first post that suggested it!

I's also suggest wrapping up warm - somehow cold weather next to water is always colder.

Have a great time,

regards, ann

PS I'll be particularly interested to read your trip report, as we've just booked a week in Venice at easter.

JulieAgain

Good point, blytheg. I guess Germany is cold in February too!

Glad you made your decision. Now you have the dates, air, & place. Hey, you are on your way!

Next the lodging & what to see & do. Maybe you can find lodging with a great in-room fireplace? Long soaks in a hot tub would be great too! There's that great resort on Lido - a weekend of luxury!

Whatever you decide. Be sure to come back & let us know how it went.

Have fun, Julie