Probably a very odd question but I’m asking anyway....my husband and I will be attending a wedding in Tuscany in September and are looking for ideas for what to do, where to go afterwards. We have been to Rome twice, Venice twice, Florence twice, Sorrento, Amalfi coast, Cinque Terra, Lake Como, we rode bikes for a week on the east coast, starting in Trani, ending in Matera, so we’ve seen a lot of Italy. What about Sicily? Switzerland? South of France? We enjoy museums, cultural sites, bike riding. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Maryland
865 posts
An Agritourismo in Tuscany that specializes in wine tours perhaps.
Or the Dolomites.
Posted by
11156 posts
Sicily is unique and filled with interesting antiquities from Ancient Greece and Rome. Fabulous seafood.
Posted by
Land of La
8668 posts
Istanbul.
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
Hi Susan,
You can fly nonstop from Florence to Palermo (check Skyscanner). I would focus on Palermo, Cefalu (be sure you try a cannoli) and Siracusa.
I would also buy RSs Sicily guide book to learn more. You can download an electronic copy from his app.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2173 posts
We've done 13 trips that included Italy, so maybe somewhat like you. We loved Sicily, have been there twice for a total of five weeks altogether (once in late March/April and once in May). But last spring we did the Dolomites for the first time and fell in love there as well (stayed in Ortisei). It was green and beautiful. I'm suspecting Sicily will be very brown in September, and I hope someone who has been to the Dolomites in September will offer their opinion of what that area will be like in the fall.
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
Sicily's worth a minimum of 2 weeks if you rent a car. If you have less time than that, plan to see just a part of the island. Puglia is easier to tackle over a shorter period of time. Both of those areas might be rather hot in September. I'd take a look at the actual, day-by-day, historical weather statistics on timeanddate.com. The data goes back about ten years. I'd want to check out at least the three most recent years.
Posted by
OP
Bellevue, wa, usa
61 posts
Thank all of you for the interesting suggestions. We have been to Istanbul during a 3 week visit to Turkey, and have been in the Puglia region of Italy. I think we will plan to go to the Italian Dolomites but must confess that we are looking at week long bike rides in Sicily! You have given me the encouragement I need to start researching!
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
What’s nice about the Dolomites is you can take a direct train to Bolzano/Bozen (3h 15m) from Florence. I would then take a 1h bus to Castlerotto/Kastelruth and sleep there since you must access Alpe do Siusi from here.
Posted by
Westerville
242 posts
I'm not sure if this applies, but the Prime Minister's new rules are no weddings during the quarantine period. Will this wedding be affected?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16255 posts
For great cycling, how about the Inn River cycle path from the Engadine in Switzerland to and beyond Innsbruck in Austria?
Lots of companies will plan this for you, with bikes, hotels, and luggage transport. You can start in St. Moritz and ride to Innsbruck:
https://www.radurlaub.com/en/cycle-tours/inn.html
Or start close to the Swiss/Austria border and ride across Austria to Kufstein:
https://www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/sports/cycling/biketours/a-inn-cycle-path
Either one would include castles, villages, and great scenery.
Posted by
OP
Bellevue, wa, usa
61 posts
Hi Donna, Thanks for your concern. The wedding will be in September and we fervently hope things will have run their course by then. We have obtained a one year extension on the venue contract in the event that we can’t travel to Italy as planned—and will have a celebration of some kind rather than an actual wedding—as our son/fiancé will have gotten married in a civil ceremony by then.
Posted by
Vignola, Modena, Italy
501 posts
From what you told of your preferences I may suggest even Emilia-Romagna. First of all is a bike friendly Region, both in the hillside and in the plan. There are several important monuments and museums covering a very wide span on styles and historical period (from prehistoric civilizations to modern art). Three cities are UNESCO World heritage: Ravenna, for Bizantine mosaics, Modena for Romanesque architecture, Ferrara for Renaissance architecture. Bologna is UNESCO city for music, Parma for food and Cesena for the medieval library. There a lots of castles, fortress and mansions. Several important museums, including Estense gallery in Modena, Ceramic museum of Faenza, Pilotta gallery in Parma...
And of course great food everywhere.
In any case, even Sicily is a great region and you won't be disappointed there.
Posted by
Ontario Canada
649 posts
Susan I agree with Mary Pat Castlerotto in the Dolomites is a beautiful area and the Alpe de Suisi
is a must do for hiking. Make sure you are in the area mid June. We were there in early June and the funiculars
up in the meadows were not running.
We also loved the south of France - Nice, Arles, Monaco, Ville Franche.