I have been very blessed by a dear friend who has offered me a pass through the airline that they work at to anywhere I want to go!! Imagine that - someone pinch me. These opportunities don't come up often so I jumped at the chance. Where to go?? Friends & family don't even ask any longer... ITALIA - here I come. Even though I was just there in Oct. 2006 for 4 1/2 weeks as you all know the pull to return is quite strong. I leave in two weeks (May 15th - 28th) - yicks!! - but as an empty nester all I need to do is pack and drop my cat Oreo off with my son.
I'm looking for suggestions on where to call my home base, some place where I haven't been. Since this will be my 3rd trip to Italy I'm not looking to do the heavy tourist stuff but a more chilled out relaxing low key trip. Don't get me wrong I will still need to visit the required number of musuems, churches, wineries, cemetaries, etc. that is mandatory on any trip to Italy. I'm going to list my criteria and the places that I've been to before and some other logistical info. that would help in your suggestions.
Places I've Been: Rome, Pompeii, Civita de Bagnoregio, Orvieto, Pienza, Montalcino, Montapulcino, Siene, San Gimigiano, Cortona, Assisi, Florence, Lucca, Cinque Terre, La Spezia, Venice, and Pisa.
Arrive/Depart: Rome FCO Airport Dates of travel: May 15th - 28th Must Visit: Florence (at beginning or end of trip) Rental Car: Wanting to take train/bus, can rent car if need to.
Additional Criteria: -small town (smaller then Florence, bigger then Civita de Bagnoregio ) -has the pre-requisite ammendities, ie. cafe bars, places to eat/sleep, few things to do, some places to shop, ATMs, etc. -Lodging in town, want to get to know the locals the ST way - must be able to walk for my cafe in mornings. -Location - Anywhere around or in between Florence and Rome (North-South) and Coast to Coast (West-East). -assesible by train and/or bus (see above rental car comment)
I know there are a lot of knowledgable well traveled folks on this page and this will be a slam dunk for you, thank you STers for your help. I may be slow in responding as I'm now feverishly trying to get all my work done before I leave in 2 weeks. A nice problem to have.
Grazie Mille, Linda
Posts: 67 | Location: Chandler, AZ | Registered: 08 June 2006
You might have not even heard of my town, but we get lots of ST visitors. Within 20 kms there are Etruscan sites like Norchia, Tarquinia, Tuscania; Medieval towns like Viterbo, Vitorchiano, Blera; Renaissance gardens like Villa Lante, Vignanello, Caprarola, Bomarzo; volcanic lakes like Bolsena, Bracciano, wine like Montefiascone. This is where the Venetians buy holiday homes to get away from their city. Unfortunately you will miss the best early May festivals that are happening now and up to the 14th : Wedding of the Trees, S. Pellegrino in Fiore, Barabbata, I Pugnaloni, etc. Pauline and Steve (and Anne from Hawaii) have reviewed the 12th century townhouse apt. and Italy guidebook writer Doug E. Morris was just here and stayed at a lovely B&B ...so you can expect a mention in his next book. Also Kevin and Kim from Naples were here twice this month. Next week we are expecting Wendy and Rob, maybe the Zurers and Anne from Hawaii again since they are all staying nearby... Parma and Lucca are major tourist destinations...Vetralla is for those who have already seen the "big" places and want to live the life we expats enjoy. If you have any specific questions let me know.
- 30-45 minutes from Florence by train - 1h15-1h45 from Rome by train - a town of about 80,000 - lots of art and things to see - easy to navigate with a car (you leave the car just around the walls, then in 5 minutes you're out of town) - has a pedestrian-only area in the old part where to stroll around and get in touch with the locals
When I saw your list of places that you have seen and I read your criteria I said "Piedmont"! But then I was disappointed that you excluded the Northern part of Italy... sigh!
If you have a chance, may be for another trip, do investigate the Piedmont/Monferrato area. It is a region full of life and wines and food and churches and ... museums ... and everything the slow travelers want. People who discover Piedmont fall in love and never leave.
Funny, Piemonte was the first place I also thought of until I saw that you are flying into/out of Rome. I would recommend somewhere in the Emilia-Romagna area. Bologna is easiest to get to by train from Rome but not a very small city. My favorite two places in the Emilia-Romagna where I have stayed are Parma and Ferrara. Both are easily reached by train.
Another vote here for Arezzo. As stef_m has said, it is on the main line between Florence and Rome so travelling would be a doddle. You could take the train to Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino from there as well as the little branch line to the smaller medieval villages like Monte san Savino and Sinalunga. The old part of Arezzo is charming (ref. the Oscar-winning film 'Life is Beautiful' with Roberto Benigni) and the Val di Chiana to the South and the Casentino to the North are worth exploring in their own right.
My tickets aren't booked yet so I may be able to fly into Milano which looks like it would be closer if I choose Parma or the Peidmont area. I'll keep you posted.
RR - yes, a typo, I meant Siena.
Bob the Navigator - I've been to Lucca 3 times in my last 2 visits it is currently my FAVORITE town in Italy. I love it. I wanted to expand my horizons just a little bit.
Thanks everyone, Linda
Posts: 67 | Location: Chandler, AZ | Registered: 08 June 2006
But if you go to Piedmont that doesn't mean excluding Parma!
My sister has her in-laws in parma and my parents are in Treville and she often sees them over the same weekend because you can get to parma in an hour and a half drive.
... Actually if you have not booked your tickets yet you may want to consider getting to Piedmont in time for some of the "Riso & Rose" festivals that run throughout May in the various Villages.
Treville takes part on Sunday the 13th with a Jazz concert, food and wine on the village ope-air terrace, painting, art and craft exhibitions throughout the village...
The full list of villages that are taking part can be found on:
Normally there is the English version too but the calendar of the events seems to be adjourned at the moment so may be the English version will be available soon.
If you would like any info, do not hesitate to ask!
My candidates, from my limited personal experience:
Populations all well over 5,000: alphabetical order: Ancona, Arezzo, Ascoli Piceno, Cesenatico, Chioggia, Empoli, Fabriano, Grosseto, L' Aquila, Portoferraio, Todi, Umbertide, Ventimiglia (weird border town, but I still like it a lot), Viterbo. Rimini if you're a beach person but want a pleasant town with it, if somewhat dull.
Smaller, but hardly villages: Anghiari, Bevagna, Brisighella, Leonessa, Norcia, Treia, Trevi (the one in Umbria, not Trevi del Lazio).
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