Hi. I am taking my almost 18-year old niece to Italy the end of June for her graduation present. We only have 9 days, and I think I am trying to do too much. This will be my 9th trip to Italy, and I wanted to see the Cinque Terre and Bologna. I want her to see the highlights, but I can't do it all. I was starting in Viareggio so we could take the train to CT, but then friends told me Viareggio wasn't so great (I have stayed in Forte dei Marmi). Then I thought of La Spezia, but no beach there. Maybe I should forget the CT. I then had us going to Florence for 3 nights and Rome for 3 nighs. Now she wants to see hilltowns, so I thought maybe stay in Arezzo, easy to get in and out of. I just spent two weeks in an apt in Florence, so not in such a hurry to go back there to stay (plus its over a weekend). Stayed in Sinalunga also and loved it, but the hotel was very expensive. I'm thinking of trying to stay in the countryside, but close enough to a town so we can get meals and I don't have to drive all over at night. Any suggestions for hotels or towns to stay in or near? I'm driving myself crazy!
Slam dunk. You want to see the Cinque Terre and Bologna: spend 4 days in one, and 5 days in the other. The "highlights" will be any place you go together, she'll love it.
Highlights are usually not so much in places as in the quality of your experience (I mean short of going to Poggibonsi, of course; or, for an Umbrian candidate, I'm not recommending Attigliano).
Arezzo, by the way, though a nice town with lots of things to see and one or two good restaurants, is not at all what us furriners have in mind when we think "hill town". Combining easy rail access plus real hilltown experience, the regulars see me coming from 6000 miles away: the classic hilltown of Trevi of course.
I might suggest you stay in Rome for a few days to get the Italian City effect, which teens love and there is so much to see there......Then, stay in Orvieto, a great hilltown just an hour by train from Rome. I've never tired of Orvieto, it's lively, friendly, and has it's quiet times and places, too. I've been staying at the Hotel Palazzo Piccolamino which is very reasonable, great staff and a lovely, boutique hotel.
There's plenty to do and see in that area.......think about it and have a great time, whatever you do. ca
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