Tell Me Where To Go (Italy)

[mark4217]

Mark if you get a chance from La Spezia catch the boat to Porto Venere....we loved it, great church there up on a hill and charming village, also found some nice restaurants - There is a grotto in Porto Venere where Lord Byron swam from and spent time https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&...2g6Jz_zx7O6Cg_98zlwOrfw&bvm=bv.98717601,d.dGY

Yes, DontGetMeStarted, it looks great, I will or should have time for a visit. Is it a half or full day out? Cheers
BTW. This is the restaurant I was talking about in my original post.

 

[tehuringa]

Any thoughts about Sicily?

This!

Had a recent trip to Italy (May/April) but just hit Rome, Venice, Valdobbiadene & Conegliano and Piemonte.

Rome I'd been to a few times so I spent the majority of my time cruising around Testaccio away from the tourist haunts and on a quest to find the best pizza and salumi in the city so I can certainly help you out with that

Venice was lovely - 3 days enough to do the sights, but the self-stick wielding masses drove me bonkers. I was getting up early to take photos and at 7am there was not a soul in San Marcos Square and got some great shots (admittedly had to share it with Tom Hanks & crew who were filming Da Vinci Code II). Canaregggio is a nice place to stay with more locals if you want to escape the hordes...some great bars (Al Timon) and restaurants... highly recommend Ristorante dalla Marisa where you just get what they caught in the day... an 8 course dinner with 1Lt of white wine came to €30 and the food was insanely good.

Piemonte I stayed in for two weeks (one week in Monforte d"Alba and one week in Alba) and have too many restaurant and winery recommendations for this post but if you.. or anyone for that matter, is heading that way, just sing out.

 

[TomVexille]

Ok for clarity. We've both covered Rome, Venice and Florence (and Cinque Terre but we wouldn't mind a couple days lazing around there). We would like to see something new. Our interest is in Food and Wine.

 

[tehuringa]

Ok for clarity. We've both covered Rome, Venice and Florence (and Cinque Terre but we wouldn't mind a couple days lazing around there). We would like to see something new. Our interest is in Food and Wine.

Piemonte or Sicily then!

 

[TheRealTMA]

We're heading to Italy next year but are completely overwhelmed trying to decide where to go. We've both been before but cant quite decide which parts of the country to focus on. We have 7 days; arrive in Rome on a Friday night and depart the following Saturday (fight not booked so dont need to get back to Rome). I'm torn between heading north to Cinque Terra, and south towards Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

So, tell me where to go

Not Cinque Terra. Too touristy.

You don't have much time in 7 days so don't try to travel too far.. Spend 7 days in one place. Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio. Or maybe further and to jump up to the lakes of Lago di Garda, or Maggiore, Lago D'Orta etc, or even Turin for 3 days then Alba for 4 for truffles and Barolo or 7 days in Colio area (NE of Venice) for fab whites and Merlots plus WWI front lines. But you'd be better to fly into Milan or Venice rather than Rome for those. Probably too far north though if you're committed to in/out of Rome.

What are you into? Wines and country - base yourself in Tuscany - Montipulciano for example (can recommend loverly apartments with parking) and visit local towns of Montalcino, Pienza, Cortona over the border, Lago Trasimino etc. Fabulous wines and wineries for vino Nobile and Brunello. Or further north in Chianti - fab places to stay such as Badia a Coltibuono and more, etc...

More hints required.

 

[ellen10]

We spent a week based in Montepulciano and loved visiting the smaller local towns mentioned above. And of course vino Nobile and Brunellos are very tasty.
Ate some fantastic food in the area and if you go I can recommend a fabulous Bisticca restaurant in Montepulciano. We did a wine tour there also.

For great food and wine we spent 4 nights in Bologna. Famous for its great food, fabulous delis and pasta shops. We did an excellent 1 day tour which visited a chesse making place (ricotta and parmigiano Reggiano), Parma ham, a balsamic farm and the highlight a family restaurant meal in the beautiful Modena hills. The best pasta dishes I have ever eaten. I think the tour still rates no. 1 on trip advisor.

I also loved Cinque Terre, we stayed in Manarola. Best seafood dishes.
We also stayed on an agriturismo ( an Italian working farm) near San Gimignano. What a great experience. Delicious 5 course home cooked meals every night with local wine of course!

We have also spent time in Lake Como and loved the area. But as for food and wine I think other parts of Italy are better.

Just some of my experiences with food and wine.

 

[mark4217]

We spent a week based in Montepulciano and loved visiting the smaller local towns mentioned above. And of course vino Nobile and Brunellos are very tasty.
Ate some fantastic food in the area and if you go I can recommend a fabulous Bisticca restaurant in Montepulciano. We did a wine tour there also.

For great food and wine we spent 4 nights in Bologna. Famous for its great food, fabulous delis and pasta shops. We did an excellent 1 day tour which visited a chesse making place (ricotta and parmigiano Reggiano), Parma ham, a balsamic farm and the highlight a family restaurant meal in the beautiful Modena hills. The best pasta dishes I have ever eaten. I think the tour still rates no. 1 on trip advisor.

I also loved Cinque Terre, we stayed in Manarola. Best seafood dishes.
We also stayed on an agriturismo ( an Italian working farm) near San Gimignano. What a great experience. Delicious 5 course home cooked meals every night with local wine of course!

We have also spent time in Lake Como and loved the area. But as for food and wine I think other parts of Italy are better.

Just some of my experiences with food and wine.

I would love the name of the restaurant in Montepulciano, we are there in 2 weeks and this town is on our day trips from Cortona. Cheers Mark

 

[TheRealTMA]

I would love the name of the restaurant in Montepulciano, we are there in 2 weeks and this town is on our day trips from Cortona. Cheers Mark

There are several good restaurants in Montepulciano. The 'best', often frequented by Australian embassy staff when they are doing Italian classes at Il Sasso, is opposite San Biagio church and is the family run Ristorante La Grotta. (Book a table in inner room in front of fire if available.) Restaurant La Grotta in Montepulciano Siena Tuscany.

also in Montepulciano on the left walking down from the duomo is the simple fabulous wine bar 'E lucevan le stelle' Restaurant La Grotta in Montepulciano Siena Tuscany. We go there most nights when in the town. Great wine flights, live Jazz on Fridays. Owned and run by Chinzia and brother - very hospitable.

(ref: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_lucevan_le_stelle)

 

[TomVexille]

Not Cinque Terra. Too touristy.

You don't have much time in 7 days so don't try to travel too far.. Spend 7 days in one place. Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio. Or maybe further and to jump up to the lakes of Lago di Garda, or Maggiore, Lago D'Orta etc, or even Turin for 3 days then Alba for 4 for truffles and Barolo or 7 days in Colio area (NE of Venice) for fab whites and Merlots plus WWI front lines. But you'd be better to fly into Milan or Venice rather than Rome for those. Probably too far north though if you're committed to in/out of Rome.

What are you into? Wines and country - base yourself in Tuscany - Montipulciano for example (can recommend loverly apartments with parking) and visit local towns of Montalcino, Pienza, Cortona over the border, Lago Trasimino etc. Fabulous wines and wineries for vino Nobile and Brunello. Or further north in Chianti - fab places to stay such as Badia a Coltibuono and more, etc...

More hints required.

Good information. Thanks.

Committed to flying into Rome, but can leave from wherever.

We like reds and bubbles

 

[TomVexille]

We spent a week based in Montepulciano and loved visiting the smaller local towns mentioned above. And of course vino Nobile and Brunellos are very tasty.
Ate some fantastic food in the area and if you go I can recommend a fabulous Bisticca restaurant in Montepulciano. We did a wine tour there also.

For great food and wine we spent 4 nights in Bologna. Famous for its great food, fabulous delis and pasta shops. We did an excellent 1 day tour which visited a chesse making place (ricotta and parmigiano Reggiano), Parma ham, a balsamic farm and the highlight a family restaurant meal in the beautiful Modena hills. The best pasta dishes I have ever eaten. I think the tour still rates no. 1 on trip advisor.

I also loved Cinque Terre, we stayed in Mavnarola. Best seafood dishes.
We also stayed on an agriturismo ( an Italian working farm) near San Gimignano. What a great experience. Delicious 5 course home cooked meals every night with local wine of course!

We have also spent time in Lake Como and loved the area. But as for food and wine I think other parts of Italy are better.

Just some of my experiences with food and wine.

Bologna is excellent

 

[Pushka]

Amalfi Coast. Positano. We will return there in a couple of weeks (down south). North - Lake Como. Florence. Cinque Terre is nearish to Florence but the Lovers Walk remains closed. In the next two weeks we will touch on Florence, Taormina (Sicily) Amalfi Coast and Rome. Venice is also a must.

 

[ellen10]

I would love the name of the restaurant in Montepulciano, we are there in 2 weeks and this town is on our day trips from Cortona. Cheers Mark

Hi Mark 4217
The name of the restaurant is Osteria Acquacheta.
It is a very busy noisy affair but made fun by the owner who will personally show you various steaks and sizes. And the steak is delicious.
They are also popular for pastas etc.

Enjoy, love Tuscany!!

 

[ellen10]

Bologna is excellent

The name of the food tour is Italia Days Food Experience http://www.italiandays.it

Italian Days Food Experience (Bologna, Italy) on TripAdvisor: Address, Phone Number, Tickets & Tours, Factory Tour Reviews

We also did a great walking tour booked on the day through the tourist information office. Bologna has beautiful porticos and a food lovers delight of delis.

Tried to post a picture but don't think it worked.

 

[blackcat20]

Loving all the suggestions, thank you. Going to need to make some decisions!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Loving all the suggestions, thank you. Going to need to make some decisions!

If you are interested in medieval towns and country trip in one place, we've stayed in these a few times. APPARTAMENTI AL POGGIOLO romantic holiday apartments in montepulciano
Very friendly (aren't they all) family run. Right in middle of Montepulciano with garden and garden parking in grounds of apartments. Fab view over the valleys and for sunsets (depending on height of trees!).

How about something different? Stay in Montepulciano for a week and go to the Il Sasso school and do a week Italian course in language, food and wine.

 

[TomVexille]

The name of the food tour is Italia Days Food Experience http://www.italiandays.it

Italian Days Food Experience (Bologna, Italy) on TripAdvisor: Address, Phone Number, Tickets & Tours, Factory Tour Reviews

We also did a great walking tour booked on the day through the tourist information office. Bologna has beautiful porticos and a food lovers delight of delis.

Tried to post a picture but don't think it worked.

Spent two weeks there back in 2006

 

[Renato1]

Lots of seasoned travellers of Italy here.

But here is one place you probably never heard of, with an odd hotel, that may be worth a visit if you are driving around far north Italy. This is the area formerly owned by Austria, where the locals all speak German amongst themselves. Consider checking in at this hotel in Vipteno/Sterzing (located a bit before hitting the Brenner Pass).
Hotel Hubertushof (Vipiteno, Italy): See 29 Reviews and 7 Photos - TripAdvisor

The town of Vipeteno is very nice to walk around in, and there are heaps of nature walks around ravines and the like, and there is a square channel in the park where everyone walks around just unfrozen water for the health effects.

But the odd thing about Hotel Hubertushof is that one pays around 80 Euros or so a night for two, and the price includes dinner and breakfast.

So you sit down to have dinner and order the mixed meat grill. They then deliver so much meat that it appears they are slaughtering cattle just for you. And when they see that you are really struggling trying to get through all this, and that you may be down to a few handfuls of chips - why they come out and plomp another big bowl of chips and another big bowl of roast potatoes on your table.

Anywhere else in Italy, the price of that meat meal would be greater than the cost of the hotel room. Which is why some of my cousins vacation there all the time. Breakfast is very good too, but was largely wasted on us, as we could barely eat after the nights before.
Regards,
Renato

 

[mark4217]

Thanks ellen10, that's awesome. looking forward to trying it out. I have printed this and its in my book. Cheers

 

[VPS]

Love Lake Como - stayed in an apartment in Maggiore - love the countryside around Castellina in Chianti - stayed there for a week and did lots of day trips although if you've been to Siena and Florence and Lucca that does rule out some of my favourites - I also have Verona on my list to visit

 

[Pushka]

A group of 10 friends from early Uni days hit their 60th in the next two years. We are renting an entire apartment complex in Lake Como area in 2017 for a sensational week.