We had a wonderful two weeks in Italy. The weather cooperated nicely--not always sunny, but just one really rainy day.

What stands out in my mind after being back just a short time:

* The most memorable meal was at Trattoria Sciame in Montalcino

* The vineyard tour and lunch at Castello di Verrazzano which was absolutely wonderful, with the nicest group of people, excellent wines, chesses, salamis and the most entertaining host

* Buon Giorno sung in the morning

* A generous and wonderful Italian family--in Salerno and Caserta--where we were not only treated royally but also where we could eat, drink and travel the Italian way

* Visiting my grandfather's town in Avellino

* Bottles and bottles of the most wonderful Chianti and Brunello

* Pecorino cheese--young, old and everything in between

* The most adorable and truly sweetest shopkeepers

* Two drives through Crete

* Greve's Piazza Matteotti on a magnificent sunny afternoon

* The cutest old folks out for their afternoon passeggiata

* Beautiful, beautiful Capri

* Venezia in the morning mist

* Venezia's bridges and canals

* Venezia, Venezia, Venezia

Thank you all so much for your all your help with this trip, for your patience and for sharing your travel experiences and recommendations.

As soon as I can, I will try to write a trip report and post some hotel and restaurant reviews.

Carol

Welcome home!

Welcome back, Lorac.

Glad you had such a nice trip.

Look forward to your report.

I will also look forward to your report, Lorac. On one of our visits sometime soon, I hope to get to Avellino to find Lapia where my grandmother was born. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time in Italy.

So glad to hear you had a lovely time and a safe trip!

Welcome home!

BC

Welcome back Lorac! Glad you had a wonderful trip! I have a question about your tour of Castello di Verrazzano. We are looking at going there as well. Do you remember the cost and length of the tour? Did you visit any other wineries? Thanks!

Welcome back! I'm anxious to read your trip report. My husband & I are doing a similar trip in August (Venice, Montalcino, Positano, Capri & Rome.) Restaurant suggestions, please!

Amy

Welcome home~ Looking forward to a long detailed report

Can't wait for your report!

You are all so sweet...I plan to write a trip report soon.

Tweeter, the Verrazzano tour was terrific. The tours begin at 11:00 and lasts from 1 1/2-2 hours. Our group was just 12 people.

We originally signed up for a tour of the vineyard and a tasting of four wines and the cost was 16 Euros. But our guide, Gino, convinced everyone that we should stay for the lunch of "gastronomical specialties" which are salamis, proscuittos, cheeses, etc. that are typical of the region. We were stuffed. That was 34 Euros per person...and was worth every penny.

Gino was so entertaining that no one wanted to leave. We didn't leave until around 3:00!

We did another tour at Avignonesi - Fattoria Le Capezzine. This was a very different experience. We got lost and were one hour late. But Maria Bettina was kind enough to give just the two of us a full tour and the tasting afterwards....again, salamis, cheeses and four wines and the cost was 20 Euros. She even left us alone on the grounds to take photos for as long as we liked. Much more low key but very enjoyable.

Lorac - Thanks for the winery info!!

If you need other suggestions, I have a few more vineyards in my files which were recommended to me by other seasoned travelers.

Lorac - I would love to hear more suggestions for wineries if you have them. We have a few days in the Chianti area in May. Look forward to your trip report as well! Thanks!

I can tell you had a wonderful trip.

Can't wait to hear the details!

Byrd

Tweeter, this is my list of wineries which were recommended to me:

Avignonesi Vineyards
[email protected]

Poggio Antico
Montalcino
Tel. +39 (0577) 848044
Email: [email protected]
www.poggioantico.com

Verrazzano Vineyards
Gino Rossi
Email: [email protected]

Volpaia Vineyard
Email: [email protected]

Ciacci Piccolomini Vineyard
Castelnuovo Dell Abate
Montalcino
Tel: 0577.835616
www.ciaccipiccolomini.com

If you do a search on this site for "wineries" or "vineyards" or "wine tasting," you should find plenty of others. Have fun researching!

<i>* Venezia, Venezia, Venezia</i>

Nice to hear that. It's an incredible city.

Those afternoon passeggiatas are great, aren't they? I loved watching the one in Cortona.

capo, this was my first time to Venice, and I just loved it. People seem to either love it or hate it so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Three days wasn't nearly enough....

Lorac1127 - did you end up staying at Belvedere San Leonino? If so, what did you think of it?

Welcome back. Look forward to your report.

&quot;* The most memorable meal was at Trattoria Sciame in Montalcino&quot;

Lorac, sounds like you had a great time. I am already planning a 2005 Fall three week trip to Italy, mostly spending time in Tuscany and Umbria, with a side trip to Venice thrown in. We spent 17 days in Italy in 2001 and are going to explore new hill towns and spend more times in the ones we got a glimpse of on our last go round. Could you elaborate on the above restaurant in Montalcino. God, I can already taste the Brunello. Thanks.