Where to Go?
 

I need to REVISE my trip plans to Italy next year (AGAIN!) and will have 2 weeks (14 days)to visit. Definitely want to spend 4 nights in VENICE, and planning to spend 2 nights in Bellagio. I love "quaint" towns with shops and restaurants and interesting sights. Any recommendations on places to stay for the rest of our trip? THANKS!

You don't say where you have been before in Italy. Unless you plan to go to the Veneto area and use Venice as a base, I would suggest cutting one night out of the 4 nights in Venice and using it in another area. 3 nights in Venice is plenty.

Ann1-Hi and I've been to Rome, Venice, and Florence. I didn't really get much time in Venice last visit and my husband has never been to Italy. I think 3 nights in Venice should be plenty. Planning to visit next September. Trying to find some places to visit in between... Thanks!

Hmmm ! Quaint villages are my passion.
Find these--among my favorites.
Orta San Guilio
Castelrotto
Portovenere
Spello
Montalcino
Sperlonga
Pick 3--north to south--and have fun.

Why don't you get a good map and rent a car after Venice. Then go to places like Ravenna, Verona, etc. I love to wander and find new places.

As I said, rent a car and find wonderful places like Bobthenavigator mentioned, also. These are the wonderful parts of Italy. The fun of new experiences. Actually, that's the fun of Venice, also. Take a map and get lost. Love it.

Hmmm, I like the idea of renting a car and seeing Tuscany/Umbria but worried about parking/crazy drivers/bad signage, etc (and I live in a highly congested area and used to driving in traffic). Would it be better to train it to Siena and pick up a car there?

I don't agree that 3 nights in Venice are plenty, but it depends on your personal interests. Our first trip to Venice we had 4-1/2 days and didn't even have time to visit the Accademia, the Guggenheim, the Arsenale Naval Museum, or any of the lagoon islands (Murano, Burano, Torcello, etc.).

We've never had any problem driving. The signage is fine, the roads are fine, the drivers don't bother you, etc. Parking is fine if you stay away from the cities. Siena, San Gim, Assisi, Lucca and many other walled or small cities you park outside in large parking lots. If you're concerned about driving in Rome, Florence, Milan or Naples, take the train in. All other areas are easy to drive to. On the way to each destination, leave enough time to stop at other interesting places that come up. Like roadside stands that sell wine or other little walled cities that pop up.

We were in Italy 2 years ago. Rome then Florence. We rented a car in Florence and drove through Tuscany and Umbria back to Rome to fly home. We stayed 1 night in Gubbio which in the early morning on empty streets was like a trip back several hundred years. Then to Montalcino which we loved then a stay at a agriturismo near Todi and a few hour stop in Orvieto. Driving on the highways was no problem. We had no problem with signs (we had good directions and maps with us). Our problems came in the small towns. Many roads are extremely narrow, there were many one way or no traffic streets and parking was a problem BUT it was the highlight of our trip and we would do it again happily.
We are returning this year to northern Italy and plan most travel by train (a new experience for us) but will rent a car for local day trips when we stay at a agriturismo near Padua. Get a car-enjoy.

Bellagio is lovely, but I found Varenna even more quaint. Check out www.varenna.net. We trained from there to Venice. You could then train to Bologna or FLorence for a night or two. Rent a car out of Florence and drive down the 222 into Chianti Classico region and stay somewhere S of Siena to explore all the small towns & wineries. We were just there in June for our honeymoon. Fave small towns were Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Pienza, Monteriggioni, Greve. Didn't make it to Umbria but if you have time I hear the area near Spoleto/Todi is worth a venture! Enjoy!!

A few more thoughts:

Bergamo...Quaint, in a medieval sort of way, but only if you visit all the way up in the citta alta.

Verona...More of a city, but a fantastic old pedestrian zone and Roman-era amphitheater. Great shopping.

Asolo...Gorgeously scenic. Not as much shopping, but quaint wine bars and homey restaurants.

If you go further south, into Tuscany & Umbria, there are dozens of quaint hill-towns to choose from.

Enjoy!