Suggestions for Italy trip

[richorlin]

We've got a trip to Italy planned for this summer. Flying to Milan, picking up a car and driving to Monterosso (Cinque Terre). Five nights there and then driving to Verona for five days. Using Verona as a base, we'll be touring the area. Other than a day trip to Venice, what do you all suggest are "must-see" sights in that area.
Yes, we know you don't need a car in Cinque Terre. The place we're renting comes with parking and the cost of the train tickets for two back and forth from from either Milan or Genoa costs more than the rental difference for the idle car. Plus we don't have to deal with dragging luggage on and off trains and waiting on their schedule.

[yeoman]

Travelling by public transport is part of the experience. Don't forget to see Milano before making your way out of town - admire the magnificent Central Railway Station (built by Mussolini), walk on the roof of the Duomo, peep inside La Scala, visit Vittorio Emanuelle for coffee inside the world's first covered shopping mall (fabulous people watching), have afternoon tea in Bellagio Lake Como, take a local bus across the Swiss border into Lugano & Campione for lunch, walk alongside the shore from Santa Magherita into Portofino.

[chopper]

Milan. Drive up to Como. Don't even think about doing Italy without seeing Como. It is the most beautiful place I've ever seen.

[GuyGene]

What's that 8 sided dome building...where was that... Oh me, forget me own name. I've been inside the Pantheon, loved that, could have spent all day there, but didn't get to see the building I'm thinking about. It is one if those buildings that nobody said could be done, but... Built about 1000 AD I think it was.

You won't be far from pasta - I mean as in almost every day! The church where St. Paul was buried in Rome, forgot that name too... If you happen to get to Isle of Capri - don't even think about it - eat, just eat at that little place as soon as you walk off the pier from ferry, family run, it's right there about 11 o'clock position from pier. I love seafood pizza, squid, octopus, oysters, and the old boy there made one for me. I say old as in my south speak.

[davester]

You're trying to pack a lot into just 10 days, but I suggest that you try to take a trip down to Florence (Firenze) and check out a couple of the walled Tuscan hill towns such as Lucca, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Siena, etc that are all arrayed just south of Florence. Florence is beautiful all by itself, and has the Galleria dell’Accademia which contains Michelangelo's David and an art museum (the Uffizi Gallery) that has an amazing number of famous paintings. Also, don't forget to eat lots of gelato.

Oh, one more thing. When in the Cinqueterra, there's a ferry that cruises between each of the towns. It's not expensive and is a pleasant way of moving from town to town. Hiking between some of the towns is also nice. There's also always the train available.

A major tip when travelling in Italy is to get free reservations at the art museums. Call them way ahead (they usually have english speaking folks answering the phones) and then when you get there you zip past the often humongous lines to get in.

[mrbigstuff]

Verona is great. I was there many years ago but it's perfect to use as a base, good planning.

I would visit Bologna and eat. And eat. And Eat.

Then down to Florence and walk around and visit Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) and his lesser known but much more approachable and virtually not visited cathedral, the Basilica di San Lorenzo and Santo Spirito. You will come away with a real appreciation for Brunelleschi, un'architetto piu grande di Michelangelo.

[richorlin]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Not my first trip, though. Been to Rome, Florence and the hill towns and travelled through Tuscany and Umbria. Wanted to see C.T. and the lake area this time. Definitely will make a day trip to Venice (been there , done that, so no problem it being a day trip).
Of all the places I've been in the world (and there have been quite a few), Italy has to be my favorite.

Thanks again.

[yeoman]

Totally agree. We travel a lot to all manner of exotic places but still gravitate back to Italy. In October we're staying a week near the Pantheon as a stop-over en route back to Florida via our fav commute cruise line after visiting rellies in UK . If you have time do stop and smell the daisies around Como and Garda. Get a ferry day pass and explore (discount if you're an EU citizen). Varenna is a little town conveniently located on the rail line from Milano to Verona - stop there for a la giazzera. Just thinking about it makes me want to book a flight!

[Bo]

We spent some time in this area last June. Here are a couple of my threads with photos and trip reports (major BW warning):
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...sg-1669999
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1...sg-1670464

In the first thread above, I give a short synopsis of what we though of each of our destinations and both have lots of photos.

"Must see" areas clearly depend on your interests. Lake Como was indeed beautiful but it felt like strolling the towns and shopping were the primary activities. I like a little more adventure. We rented an apartment on the water near Bellagio and took the ferries to Varenna and Menaggio. Highlight was spending a day at the public lido/pool in Menaggio.

We drove through the edge Verona on our way from the Dolomites to Lake Como. The highway between Verona and Milan is flat, highly agricultural and very blah the further you get from Verona.

On the other hand, driving in the Dolomites was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend it! We headed north out of Venice to Cortina then up over several passes to Selva Gardena where we stayed for a few days. Then we drove out through Bolzano and on the route I mentioned above to Lake Como. You could do a very long single day road trip and make a loop through the mountains by doing Verona, Treviso (nice little walled town we spent a day in), Cortina, over the passes to Bolzano then back out the valley to Verona (hmm might be better clockwise) but the best scenario would be spend one night in the mountains and make it a pleasant two day excursion out of Verona.

The hotel we stayed at in Selva Gardena was just amazing and I would highly recommend it should you do something like this. Super sweet family run it, very clean and modern amenities (stainless steel swimming pool and gorgeous spa), great breakfast and very reasonably priced. Hotel Laurin: http://www.hotel-laurin.it/en/index.html

Cinque terre was incredible too…our favorite destination of the trip. You'll have a blast! Let me know if you have any questions I might be able to help with.

[OWC Jamie]

If I had a day to get to lake como I'd ust have to also have-to, have-to, have-to get to Stelvio Pass


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbIYmZdPDWU

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