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Activity ideas for Italy trip in May?

I am two months away from leaving for my month-long solo trip to Italy. Flights RT to Rome and mid-trip a RT flight to Palermo are booked. All of the lodging is still free cancellation. Cooking classes have been booked. I am planning to reserve the 4-hour ebike tour in Puglia and probably some events for Palermo later this week. I might just book a tour for Monreale to simplify that activity’s transportation - suggestions?

Are there any other activities that you enjoyed in these locations that I should consider?

(I like to change locations often - that’s intentional.). : )

(2) Fly into Rome - get over jet lag - nothing planned but near the Pantheon for an evening walk
(1) Caserta - Royal Palace & gardens of Caserta. Unfortunately this is the 1st Sunday of the month - bad planning to obtain a free ticket!
(2) Polignano a Mare - a coast/cave tour, my room has an amazing balcony to enjoy the view
(2) Bari - attend the San Nicola festival
(1) Alberobello - sleeping in a trullo, evening/morning photography
(2) Martina Franca - sleeping in a trullo, ebike tour of Valle d’Itria
(3) Lecce - cooking class with Awaiting Tables, Baroque church combo ticket
(1) Rome - nothing planned - local wandering
(5) Palermo - enjoy the city, mosaic churches, Norman Palace, Monreale, a Sicilian cooking class, puppet theatre, Palazzo Conte Federico tour, fresh cannoli, a pistachio cream coffee
(2) Rome - nothing planned - just relaxing
(3) Sulmona - a wonderful chance to see some of the Abruzzo area with a special day with a forum acquaintance!
(2) Tivoli - villas & gardens
(2) Spoleto - slow down the pace in this hilltop town with low-key sites and great restaurants
(3) Spello - the wonderful Spello Infiorate- so happy to return & enjoy it again!
(1) Rome airport - to fly home the next day

Posted by
7883 posts

Mary, LOL! I will take any recommendations in that category! : )

Posted by
7995 posts

Jean, two gelateria in Rome, both in my favorite neighborhood, Testaccio: Giolitti, a long-time institution, on Via Amerigo Vespucci, open late;

and Panna & Co., on Via Marmorata. In addition to their exceptional gelato, you can get an Affogato - a cup with scoop of gelato at the bottom, then filled espresso or hot chocolate.

Posted by
372 posts

Jean….to add to your daily gelato 😎…in Palermo be sure to find a granita di mandorla…those became a daily habit as well!

Posted by
28247 posts

I don't know whether you'll find it in Palermo, because I think it's an eastern-Sicily thing, but I loved the combination of almond granita with a little dab of expresso granita on top. I think they may call it "Catanese". I encountered it in Noto and Catania.

In Palermo I really enjoyed the Tile Museum. It's located in a private apartment. Not large, but tiles everywhere. I was sorry I had opted for the last entry period, because I didn't really have time to make photos.

Posted by
7883 posts

Acraven, thank you for the suggestion of the tile museum! That does look interesting.

Reading that I need to be very careful that I don’t ask for an arancino instead of an arancina in Palermo because arancino is the pronunciation of the other half of the island, I think I don’t dare ask if they can make me a Catanese - ha!