Please sign in to post.

11days in italy

Traveling with my 25-year-old daughter arriving and leaving from Venice. We are struggling to put together an itinerary. We want to enjoy an experience the culture of Italy as opposed to typical sightseeing points of interest. We are considering visiting Verona, Genoa, Cinq Terre and we definitely want to spend 2 to 3 days in an agriturismo in Tuscany. The two different areas in Tuscany we were debating about was either Val D'Orcia or Massa. We would be taking trains for the most part but may consider renting a car for the days in Tuscany if it's recommended. Lastly we want to spend our last day or day and a half in Venice. Any feedback would be appreciated and is it better to start in Verona go to Tuscany then Cinq Terre. Or Verona then Cnq Terre and then Tuscany before heading back to Venice. Not sure about doing both Verona and Genoa due to time constraints Unfortunately we only have 11 days! Thanks all, Donna

Posted by
11027 posts

If you really want to ' experience the culture of Italy ' you need to slow down and stay some place long enough to be there to experience it. Trying to cram 4 places on opposite coasts of the country into 11 days, your primary "experience" will be, becoming familiar with train schedules and train stations..

As cruel as it may seem to be, you really should whittle your list to 3 places ( Venice and 2 others)

Spending the end of your trip in Venice for your flight home is a good idea.

Posted by
32171 posts

Donna,

I concur with the comments in the previous reply. With only a very short 11 days, it's not likely you're going to be able to see all the places you've listed, especially as you want to "experience the culture of Italy as opposed to typical sightseeing". Does that time frame include your two flight days? Have you already purchased return flights to Venice and when is this trip taking place? Using open-jaw flights would have been a better idea.

To begin with, I'd suggest skipping Genova, as it's not really a "must see" location (IMHO). Depending on when you'll be travelling, it may also be advisable to skip the Cinque Terre. If you'll be travelling in the near future and don't already have rooms booked, it could be difficult to find a vacancy. It's also somewhat of an outlier to your other destinations. In the case of Verona, if your trip is taking place during Opera season, again it may be difficult to find rooms.

There are some potentially expensive caveats to be aware of when renting cars in Italy, so it would be better to use trains and other public transit if possible. There are also some potentially expensive caveats to be aware of when using trains and other public transit, so you'll need to do some research on that.

In planning an Itinerary, it's important to include travel times between locations, which will typically be about half a day in each case, when all is considered.

With a bit more information, it would be easier to offer more specific suggestions.

Posted by
7175 posts

Day
1. Arrive Venice. To Verona (2N)
3. Via Milan to Genoa (1N)
4. To Cinque Terre (2N)
6. To Tuscany-agriturismo (3N)
9. To Venice (3N)
12. Depart Venice

Posted by
11613 posts

Many of the typical sightseeing points of interest are cultural, historically important, or artistic treasures.

I agree that you are moving around too much.

You should count nights, not days. You may really only have nine full days. I would choose three bases: Venezia (good place to unwind but an early flight out will be a bit of a challenge), Firenze (take a day tour into wine country from there), and Cinque Terre.

Posted by
973 posts

I agree with Zoe. I never really understood the theory of not wanting to do touristy things. I feel that experiencing the culture means you would need to be one place for an extended period of time and basically live there for a bit. I think minimum of 2 to 3 weeks in one place with few side trips. I guess that's my definition....live like a local. However, if your definition is to not go to the big tourist attractions, well ok. I think you are missing a lot if you've never seen them. They are quite awesome. But you are moving around too much. I'd pick 2 places if you want to just slow down.

Posted by
15677 posts

Another vote here for reducing the number of locations. As previously mentioned, "experiencing the culture" means spending significant time in a place: you can't do it in a day or two. The culture also varies from region to region as they all have their long individual histories, cuisine, traditions, etc. Keep in mind that Italy, as a unified country, is younger than the United States!

I'll also agree that by skipping points of interest, you miss pieces of the story. They belong to the cultural patrimony of the citizens who live amongst them, and some - as, say, in the case of very old churches - are still living, breathing institutions.

Ken makes some good points about both car rentals and the Cinque Terre. Some homework needs to be done before renting a vehicle in Italy (e.g. there are places you can't drive into if not a local), and it can be a challenge finding accommodations in the C.T. without planning far ahead. That one is going to be extremely busy during high season: tourists outnumber locals by a wide margin so they're not sleepy little villages by any means. With some footwork, one can escape the worst of the daytime mob but interest (and ability) in doing that are factors if you dislike crowds. It is also an outlier in regards to the rest of your trip so I don't know as I'd take the time, being yours is limited, to go clear to the opposite coast from Venice.

Lastly, as Zoe suggested, Florence is a really nice base for easy day trips via public transport.

Posted by
5 posts

Let me clarify my original post. I've been to Italy numerous times already so I have seen the important landmarks in Venice and Florence. I have never been to Cinq Terre or Tuscany. My daughter has been all over Europe as an exchange student in France. We have 11 full days and 11 nights to spend in Italy in October 2017. Flying in and out of Venice was chosen as there were direct flights from Montreal. I agree with your feedback that we are trying to squeeze too much in. We really want to see Cinq Terre and do the walking trails. We really want to stay in an agriturismo in Tuscany. Is it necessary to have a car in Tuscany? And which area Of Tuscany should I stay in where traveling to, renting a car and exploring around where I can stay on the smaller country roads as I am a bit reticent to drive in Italy but can handle it if I must, would make the most sense? We want to spend the last day in Venice before an early morning flight out. So maybe 2 nights in Verona, 2 nights in Cinq Terre, 3 nights somewhere in Tuscany (any suggestions?) Massa? Val d'Orcia, Lucca or anywhere else? And lastly 2 nights in Venice. Where should I spend the extra 2 nights? Thanks for any input!

Posted by
4724 posts

Donna,
Since both of you have traveled extensively in Italy before, your plans require a different perspective than most. If you really want to see the C.T and do the walking trails then just do it. Same for the agritourismo in Tuscany. With regard to needing a car in Tuscany I'd say maybe. But if at all possible try to use the trains. Renting a car, in my opinion, is just too much trouble. Since most flights arrive in Venice in the a.m. before hotel rooms are ready, going from there to Verona makes a lot of sense. Another place you did not mention (maybe you've been before) is Lake Como and that could be used for your extra days.

Posted by
2096 posts

Edit - I see you've offered some clarification since I started my reply. I thought of either editing or deleting this, but I think I'll leave it as is, except to add I think you've fallen in love with the CT of 30 years ago, which by all accounts no longer exists.

I've noticed practically everyone who posts here asking for itinerary advice puts CT on their checklist. I recently watched one of the RS segments on CT and it sure made me want to go. However, Google "cinque terre crowds" and you'll get a number of eye opening references. Here's a link to one that is 7 years old: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-western-europe/italy/cinque-terre-in-june-crowded. I found Tony's comments interesting; he talks about three different visits over the years. Since that forum thread, there has been an explosion of cruise ships docking nearby with their passengers making day trips. From everything I've read, there will be little or no opportunity to "experience the culture of Italy" in CT.

I agree with others; if you are after more of a cultural experience, you need to trim back and stay in only a couple of places. I suggest dividing your time between the Tuscan agriturismo and Venice. What attracted you to Val D'Orcia and Massa? I think Val D'Orcia has more to offer, although the area roughly between Siena and Florence is to me more classic Tuscany.

For me, the ideal Tuscan trip is to find an agriturismo in a central location and make day trips by car, either to see the countryside and small towns or to see the larger towns of Siena or Florence. If you are a confident driver you won't find driving in Tuscany any harder than driving in rural areas of the states. Just bone up before you go and always obey the speed limits. You could stay in Florence and take tours of the countryside, but personally I hate bus tours and you won't have the freedom to explore.

Consider spending time at the agriturismo, then return to Florence late in the afternoon and spend two full days (three nights) before taking the train to Venice.

Posted by
15677 posts

I've been to Italy numerous times already so I have seen the important
landmarks in Venice and Florence.

OK, that clarification helps as without the background to work from, I think most of us assumed you were a first-timer. Makes a difference!