Im going to Italy in September for our (almost) annual trip to tuscany. Staying in Italy from 15th to 29th of September. We stay in the apartment near Poggibonsi for a week(17-24) but I am at a loss about what to do with my pregnant wife(6 months) and my 3 year old son after that week ends. I have already been to rome(7x), Florence(7x) and milan(4x) and venice(2x) and pisa(2x) and everyplace in Tuscany. Im looking for ideas for what to do for 3 or 4 days that doesn't involve too much hassle and travel, not too far from Florence. Id love to go to Sicily, but that seems like too long of a trek to go for 3 or 4 days. My ideas were somewhere along the coast in a local town, sardinia or corsica, Bologna, or someplace in Umbria...Ive never been to any of those places. Does anybody have any comments or ideas? I would preferably like to stay in 2 places max during those 4 days after we leave the apartment in Poggibonsi
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32213 posts
Mark, Are you flying home from Rome? If you want "someplace in Umbria", you might consider staying in Orvieto for a few days. It's a beautiful smaller town with an interesting history (and incredible Frescoes on the ceiling in the Duomo). While there you could take a day trip to one of Rick's favourite hill towns, Civita di Bagnoregio. That trip can be done by Bus from Orvieto, however that might not be as comfortable for your Wife, so you might consider renting a car (for driving in Italy, each driver will require the compulsory I.D.P.). The other advantage of Orvieto is that it's only about an hour from Rome by train, so connecting with your return flight would be relatively easy. Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Mesa, AZ, USA
90 posts
amazing! now I have a few choices.....I like the idea of Orvieto, but Lerici sounds great as well.... thank you all for the suggestions!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15591 posts
Cinque Terre, Genoa
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
I think Lerici would be a good spot for you. On the Bay of Poets, near La Spezia. It has good beaches, a wide promenade near the water and things to see and do. Rather off the radar for American tourists but popular with Italians and others. Not too far from Florence. Here are a some links: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/06/14/travel/20100620Lerici.html http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/travel/20next.html
Posted by
Andover, MA, USA
559 posts
Another vote for Orvieto! It's a smaller hill town, but with enough to do for a few days! Beautiful!!! Also, how about trying out Assisi? If you are looking at more of a city feel, you could also try Padova/Padua (although I realize it's not coastal and it's more north than you may want to go). I started the RS Village Italy tour there (and know very little about it, but I ended up really enjoying it. Hope these ideas inspire you! :)
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
How are you travelling? Driving or by train?
Posted by
Lancaster
16 posts
My favorite place in Italy is a spa hotel accessible to Venice and Padua by train. Hotel Augustus Terme is in Montegrotto Terme, Itself a lovely small town. The hotel offers spa treatments, several swimming pools (one heated), fine restaurant with fabulous food. You will find it restful, but not boring. Train from Florence about 2hrs.
Another place I liked was in the Chinque Terre, not too far from Florence, Sestre Levante. Beautifull hotel Vis A Vis at the top of a small seaside village. Not sure about train access.
Posted by
San Antonio, TX
134 posts
Assisi, Gubbio, Urbino--Oh! Ravenna
Posted by
OP
Mesa, AZ, USA
90 posts
not sure, probably taking car for a day or two... now Im even more confused!
Posted by
OP
Mesa, AZ, USA
90 posts
ok, Im flying into FCO and bypassing Rome entirely. 2 nights in Orvieto(thanks Ken and Gretchen) Staying a week at the farmhouse near Poggibonsi, then 2 days in Cinque Terre. From there we head to the south of france, where we fly out of Nice(I found 789$ tickets from PHX into Rome and out of Nice) So, now do I stay in Nice(which I have been before to, and didnt have the greatest experience), Antibes or Villefrance-sur-Mer?
Posted by
Park Ridge, IL
524 posts
Mark If you check a few of the previous threads, you will see accommodations in September are very difficult to find in Italy at this late date, especially for Cinque Terre. So keep your final itinerary flexible until you have hotel arrangements. Also, Cinque Terre travel by train often requires a change and may take a half a day. With only 2 n ightsand 1/2 a day each way in travel time, you will have equal travel and CT time! Car may be easier but you can't use your car there. Also, CT is really a hiking area. Other than Monterroso, each town has many and very steep steps. Maybe not so good for very pregnant wife and 3 year old?
Good luck! The weather could still be very hot but, as you know, more moderate than the summer. PS. You didn't ask, but what are international flight rules for how long in a pregnancy you can travel? With a wife 6 months pregnant (the end of Sept?), I would think Orvieto would be much more comfortable with a short travel time. Just my opinion.
Posted by
OP
Mesa, AZ, USA
90 posts
yes we are staying in Orvieto in the beginning.... We drop off the car in La Spezia, then take the train into the CT
Airlines are ok, she will be 5.5 months pregnant at that time. thanks for the tip about the hiking...my wife really wants to go to the CT, so maybe we will take the train from town to town?? Rick says to spend 2 nights there, he says we will be sorry if we dont. Otherwise I would only do 1 night...... thoughts?