I delight in everyone sharing their experiences!!! Thanks in advance. I have 5 weeks, leaving March 1st. It's my first time to either country. I'm more into soaking up people and culture and practicing my Italian than seeing the sights, but it IS Italy, so history and art abound. I'm flexible, but am excited about taking the train over the Alps. fly into Brussels and train to Basel, overnight train to Como, two nights Milan to visit a friend and do some touring, yet to be determined, probably 4 or 5 days, probably Venice Finale Ligure or the area 4 or 5 days Cinque Terre, overnight
Florence, 5+ days, staying with a friend's friend - base for Siena and Rome??? I'd like to go to Croatia for a taste, allowing 5 -7 days, ferrying from Ancona to Split (?), then up to the peninsula and ferrying back to Venice (then Milan?) to fly or train back to Brussels, where I'll meet a friend who'll be at a conference there. I'm unsure about the ferrying running this time of year. I KNOW the ferry from Bari to Dubrovnik doesn't run now. Thoughts?
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8033 posts
In general, I would say that you are at about the right pace and not trying to pack too much in. March is as good a time to go as any, just be aware (as you noted with the ferries) that some of the tourist services may be cut back due to being off season. This would not apply to the main cities (Florence, Milan, Rome, even Venice) but may affect what is open and available in Finale Ligure, the Cinque Terre, and parts of Croatia. Your Itinerary looks to be ordered well, but a couple comments: Venice as a side trip from Milan with your friend would not be too bad, good train service between them. I would suggest maybe planning on staying overnight, vs a day trip. Check to see what is open in the CT, I know Vernazza may still be cleaning up from the floods, but other towns may have limited services. If so, a night just to look around may be fine, might want to consider two nights if things are a bit more active. You might consider a brief stop in Pisa just to see the tower since you are passing by, or wait and do a day trip from Florence. It is not worth a great deal of time, but neat to see. Siena is a great daytrip from Florence, easy bus ride. Rome though I would spend a night or two at least, maybe even more, as a stop on your way to a ferry. As for the ferries, you just need to look on some of the ferry websites to see what is running. Later in the year, I would suggest getting to split (Ancona to Split) spend some time there, maybe Hvar and Trogir, then head up the istrian peninsula to Rovinj, taking the ferry back to Venice. You could also head up the coast to Trieste, where you can catch the train back to Milan. Have Fun!
Posted by
OP
Corvallis, OR, USA
11 posts
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply, Paul!
As things do when one travels, changes have already begun. My friend from Milan is meeting me in Como for the weekend. After getting Walking in Italy (wish I'd found THAT sooner!) I may stay in the Como area for a couple more days. Luckily, I've built in some flexibility. Appreciatively, Marfa
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7157 posts
I checked the website and it looks like the ferry from Ancona to Split is running in March.
Have fun.
Posted by
OP
Corvallis, OR, USA
11 posts
Thanks for confirming that the ferry is running in March. That's what it seemed to me, but being so new at this, I was uncertain. Grazie, Marfa