Tell Me Where To Go (Italy)

[TheRealTMA]

Just so many good suggestions to choose from

It doesn't really matter which ones. Just choose and Vai!.

 

[TomVexille]

It doesn't really matter which ones. Just choose and Vai!.

Map and throw a dart?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Map and throw a dart?

No. You'll end up in Rome if you do that!

 

[Pushka]

Off to Firenze tomorrow.

 

[Newk]

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.

pushka---make sure to eat at Gatto Nero. I just checked their facebook page. George visited in July. We missed him by a few weeks. Great fun, great food, great view.

 

[Newk]

We have visited Italy several times and will continue to do so. Our most recent stay was around Lake Maggiore. My take home message from the trip was "everyone should visit Isola Bella once in their life". The whole northern Italian lakes region is simply wonderful

 

[Renato1]

We have visited Italy several times and will continue to do so. Our most recent stay was around Lake Maggiore. My take home message from the trip was "everyone should visit Isola Bella once in their life". The whole northern Italian lakes region is simply wonderful

Your take home message would definitely not be wrong. Though for nature lovers, I'd also add Isola Madre to that message. The manager at our hotel said to make sure we visited Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori. But if running short of time, to go to Stresa, as one can give Isola Madre a miss, since there isn't much there.

Well, we saw the magnificent Isola Bella and the okay Isola Pescatori, and decided to pay our 8 Euros and check out Isola Madre. My wife is a bird lover, and she was astounded - scores of species of birds which were either running around or flying around, and other in cages - from Europe, from Africa and from Australia. We took hundreds of photos of them, and then had a tour through the smaller palace on the island. When we got back to the hotel we said to the manager that had we followed his advice, we would have missed out on one of the highlights of our European trip. He seemed puzzled.

The thing about the palaces on the two islands is that they are in sharp contrast to the numerous other Royal palaces we have visited in Europe. Most of those try give the impression of power, or in Vienna of just being very dour. Whereas the two on the islands give the impression that real people lived there - and that they were happy people.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Newk]

Your take home message would definitely not be wrong. Though for nature lovers, I'd also add Isola Madre to that message. The manager at our hotel said to make sure we visited Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori. But if running short of time, to catch Stresa as one can give Isola Madre a miss, as there isn't much there.

Well, we saw the magnificent Isola Bella and the okay Isola Pescatori, and decided to pay our 8 Euros and check out Isola Madre. My wife is a bird lover, and she was astounded - hundreds of species of birds either running around or flying around, and some in cages - from Europe, from Africa and from Australia. We took hundreds of photos of them, and then had a tour through the smaller palace on the island. When we got back to the hotel we said to the manager that had we followed his advice, we would have missed out on one of the highlights of our European trip. He seemed puzzled.

The thing about the palaces on the two islands is that they are in sharp contrast to the numerous other Royal palaces we have visited in Europe. Most of them try give the impression of power, or in Vienna of just being very dour. Whereas the two on the islands give the impression that real people lived there - and that they were happy people.
Cheers,
Renato

I believe that the family still own them and use them from time to time?

 

[blackcat20]

Sifting through this thread again while I have a little downtime at work. We've locked in our flight out of Italy, from Milan (LIN) to LHR on the Saturday. Given we arrive late in Rome on the previous Friday we will overnight there. Then thinking something along the lines of:
2 nights somewhere around Tuscany, eg Montepulciano, Orvieto, Sienna etc
2 nights in Cinque Terre
3 nights Lake Como, like Bellagio perhaps
Then head into Milan for our lunch time flight.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Sifting through this thread again while I have a little downtime at work. We've locked in our flight out of Italy, from Milan (LIN) to LHR on the Saturday. Given we arrive late in Rome on the previous Friday we will overnight there. Then thinking something along the lines of:
2 nights somewhere around Tuscany, eg Montepulciano, Orvieto, Sienna etc
2 nights in Cinque Terre
3 nights Lake Como, like Bellagio perhaps
Then head into Milan for our lunch time flight.

Depending on what you like but we preferred Varenna over Bellagio and would certainly be less busy...and La Spezia over Cinque Terra and take in Porto Venere...but anywhere is lovely...Varenna has the direct train line too from Milan

 

[blackcat20]

Depending on what you like but we preferred Varenna over Bellagio and would certainly be less busy...and La Spezia over Cinque Terra and take in Porto Venere...but anywhere is lovely...Varenna has the direct train line too from Milan

I stayed in La Spezia last time and am quite keen to stay in one of the Cinque Terre towns this time. So many options...

 

[RB]

Sifting through this thread again while I have a little downtime at work. We've locked in our flight out of Italy, from Milan (LIN) to LHR on the Saturday. Given we arrive late in Rome on the previous Friday we will overnight there. Then thinking something along the lines of:
2 nights somewhere around Tuscany, eg Montepulciano, Orvieto, Sienna etc
2 nights in Cinque Terre
3 nights Lake Como, like Bellagio perhaps
Then head into Milan for our lunch time flight.

As a thought for something a bit different-if the timetaable works, you may be able to get hydofoil to Como, a 5 min walk to Como Nord Lago, train to Saronno then different train to MXP. It is actually very easy & a relaxing way to get to the airport

 

[kelvedon]

I stayed in La Spezia last time and am quite keen to stay in one of the Cinque Terre towns this time. So many options...

Monterosso, the most northerly of the Cinque Terre probably has the biggest choice of accommodation, but the path between the next town Vernazza is the hardest section of the lot, so the ferry or train would be less challenging for some. The walk between the southern most villages Riomaggiore and Manarola is a promenade stroll. IMO the best village in Tuscany is San Gimignano. A medieval Manhatten. San Gimignano | Official web site | city of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Unesco Tourist Information Centre San Gimignano

 

[JessicaTam]

So am I.

Sounds like we should pick a base to explore a region.

I enjoy staying in Milan. Close to Como. And enough to see in the city if you don't make it further afield.

There is also LIN and MXP for the short hop to LON.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sifting through this thread again while I have a little downtime at work. We've locked in our flight out of Italy, from Milan (LIN) to LHR on the Saturday. Given we arrive late in Rome on the previous Friday we will overnight there. Then thinking something along the lines of:
2 nights somewhere around Tuscany, eg Montepulciano, Orvieto, Sienna etc
2 nights in Cinque Terre
3 nights Lake Como, like Bellagio perhaps
Then head into Milan for our lunch time flight.

WRT don't like the idea of only two days in one place since you lose one in travel. Suggest three nights in Sienna, skip CT and three - four nights in Bellagio, Varenna or maybe Stressa on Lago Maggiore - direct links to MLP. Less stress, more involvement in the local culture.

 

[blackcat20]

WRT don't like the idea of only two days in one place since you lose one in travel. Suggest three nights in Sienna, skip CT and three - four nights in Bellagio, Varenna or maybe Stressa on Lago Maggiore - direct links to MLP. Less stress, more involvement in the local culture.

The point is to stop in different towns along the way. Life is a journey, not a destination.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The point is to stop in different towns along the way. Life is a journey, not a destination.

Not a box of chocolates?

Doesn't change my view. We prefer to get to know a place a bit more than just pick the all sorts selections.

But I'm sure you will enjoy it no matter.