Italy 2 week itinerary

Hi Carol. That is a pretty broad order. To help us help you, can you give us a little more info, like what time of year you plan to travel? Do you want to avoid a car or are you open to renting one when needed? are you seeking outdoor activities, history, museums, wine tours?

To me, two weeks "slow travel" means 2 or 3 stops, and certainly no more than 4 places to rest your heads. Is that the kind of pace you mean.

It would also help to know what northern cities/towns you visited on your earlier trips. I'm assuming you've been to Venice.

We will be traveling in fall of 2018...September most likely although I would love to see the festival at Assisi on October 4th. I love Florence so I would like to spend a few days there. We have never been to lake region or Assisi.

We have been to Venice...Rome a few times...we rented a villa in Luca and have been to cinque terre a few times but not portofino....not at all interested in Milan...call me crazy!

I love the south also. We Visited Positano for 4 days and loved it!

Hope that helps!

Between Verona and Venice I enjoyed Padua (my base, could use at least a full day) and Vicenza (a day-trip for me). The hill-town of Bergamo is also very nice.

I like the real-world, relatively untouristy city of Bologna as well. As a transportation hub, it's a good base for many surrounding towns. I adored and highly recommend Ravenna; I don't think anyone has ever said anything negative about it here--which is more than can be said for most destinations. It's lovely, not terribly large, not over-touristed, and then there are the mosaics. Folks also speak highly of Ferrara, which I haven't yet seen.

I haven't been to any of the lakes yet (so much to see, so little time. . . and money:-).

I liked Verona as an overnight but it can also be a day stop en route (luggage storage at the train station). I was less impressed by Padua as an overnight. There's luggage storage at that station too. I enjoyed using Bologna as a base for Ravenna (though again, much better as an overnight). Ferrara is another option, pretty historic center.

From Florence, I went to Assisi for 1 night (and wish I'd been able to spend 2). I left my suitcase at the station and took an overnight bag up to the town. Assisi is all hills and stairs. From there, I went to Orvieto for 3 nights, then train to Termini and hopped on the Leonardo Express to the airport.

The joy/frustration of Italy - wherever you go is great, but that means skipping other great places.

You said slow travel to I recommend only three stops.

Fly into Milano and go immediately by train to Varenna for 4 nights.

Take the train to Firenze and spend 5 nights. A nice centerpiece to your trip. Perhaps take a tour with Tours by Roberto into Chianti. or rent a car for a day.

Rent a car and go to Assisi and tour Umbria. Stay 5 nights and take some day trips by car throughout this lovely region.

Where to fly out? Possibly Roma or Florence. As long as your flight is not too early you should be able to spend your last night in Assisi and drive to the airport in the AM. Otherwise, flip flop Assisi and Firenze making Firenze the last stop and fly out of there.

wc9436476,
IMHO there's no need for an expensive private chauffeur for the type of trip you've suggested. All of the locations you list can be easily reached by public transit. Pisa can be done as a day trip from Florence ( I personally wouldn't spend 2 nights there) and the OP has been to Lucca.

I like Laurel's suggestion for 4 nights or even more in Varenna (pretty place!). Along with using the ferries to explore towns around the lake, I'll second acraven's suggestion of a day trip to Bergamo (train) to explore its interesting, Medieval Citta Alta area. Florence? It's such a great base for any number of day trips - although if you've already been to the CT, I'd probably skip Portofino - and so much to see in the city itself. But you already knew that. :O)

We've not yet been to Bologna but have heard good things about it, and that it's a great base for a number of day trips, like Ravenna.

Anyway, for a "slow travel" trip, I'd look at no more than 3 bases to settle into.