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5 days between Venice and Rome. where to stay?

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Good morning all. I need some suggestions. My sister, my 86 year old father and I will be traveling to Italy in late September into October. We are spending the first 4 nights in Venice and the last 6 nights in Rome but can't decide where to stay for the remaining 5 nights in between. we will be traveling by train and bus. We want to visit Florence but don't really care about staying there. We'd sort of like a breather, a relaxing pace for those 5 days so we don't exhaust my father.

we have thought about 3 nights in Siena with a day trip to Florence and maybe the remaining 2 nights in Orvieto with a day trip to Assisi. not sure any smaller town has enough to keep us interested for an entire 5 days.

We would be open to bypassing Florence all together if there is a seaside village that would not be too strenuous for dad to walk in.

I have no burning desire to see art museums (which is why Florence doesn't interest me too much). architecture and history are much more interesting for all of us.

Id sure appreciate suggestions! thanks

Posted by
2487 posts

Have a look at Bologna. Nice city without the crowds of Florence and Venice. Halfway between Venice and Rome, and a perfect base for easy day trips to gems around, such as Ravenna and Ferrara.

Posted by
5 posts

oh now that's a good idea. my sister really wanted to se Ravenna! Thanks. I will check that out.

Posted by
2487 posts

Check Trenitalia for the schedules to worthwhile places around. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the frequency of the trains and the ticket prices.

Posted by
906 posts

You might check Rimini too, a beach town on the Adriatic. It is just south of Ravenna so you could see both.

Posted by
1046 posts

Siena is beautiful. So is Orvieto. Can I suggest more time in Assisi? I'm there for a music festival every year (this is year 15). There is plenty to see: churches, Roman and Etruscan ruins, local arts and spectacular views. The evenings are the best. The ancient city relaxes, most of the tourists are gone and the cool, clean evening air refreshes the body and soul. Every vista and building you saw during the day takes on a new, marvelous character. I've yet to find this experience in very many other cities.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you Robert. I thought about possibly spending 2 nights in Assisi and day trip to Orvieto instead of the other way around. I am an amateur photographer and am so looking forward to seeing these beautiful towns in the evening and at dawn when the day trippers are gone, and trying to capture the real beauty. I know this 16 days won't be nearly long enough.

Posted by
1046 posts

If you decide to stay for a night or two in Assisi, I recommend getting a hotel at the Piazza Comune level. That's probably the "flatest" area in town but remember you are on the side of a mountain and parts of the road, especially to the Basilica San Francesco, can be steep. At the Piazza Comune level you have great food, delightful outdoor cafes, Basilica Santa Chiara and beautiful overlooks. San Rufino and Santa Maria Maggiore are easy walks. There are several hotels - find one that gives you a great view from the room and from their breakfast room. We put our musicians up in Hotel Sole. Very old building, very traditional, minimal frills. Hey, in the 1100's the Hilton Hotel chain hadn't started yet!
Ask for a room across the street from the main building - it has an elevator and amazing views over the lower city and valley. I think it has some of the best food in their restaurant too.

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