Ciao!
We (2 adults) will be arriving and departing from MXP and traveling for 9 nights in mid October. Is Alba to Cinque Terre to Pisa (just staying a few hrs) to Florence to Venice to Milan (just for the night before departure) a possible itinerary (or even those cities in reverse)? Basically it's 2 days at each city and a lot of train rides. I looked up train schedule and saw all those places have stations, although some are the slower regional trains. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions.
Thank you!
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1945 posts
Milan to Venice is quick and easy, then Venice to Florence (day trip from Florence to Pisa is an hour each way). I'd be inclined to skip both Alba and the Cinque Terre on this trip and pick a place along the Milan-Venice-Florence-Milan route, like Bologna, Ferrara, Verona, etc. It just seems like you will spend an awful lot of time on transportation if you include the outliers of Alba and the CT. But I don't know your reasons for picking those two (full disclosure: I've spent several nights in Alba but never been to the CT).
Posted by
OP
CA
4 posts
Thank you for your response.
We were hoping to attend the White Truffle Festival in Alba but not sure that's possible as I haven't been able to find accommodations available. Really want to see CT - it looks beautiful. Appreciate your suggestions for alternate cities. I will research points of interest there.
Posted by
OP
CA
4 posts
Thank you for the advice. I think we will skip Alba.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1945 posts
Believe me, I know how painful it is to trim a desired itinerary. I just now looked up where else in Italy there are white truffles for you and found out that they are harvested around a town called San Miniato (not to be confused with the wonderful church in Florence). San Miniato is an hour's train ride from Florence and it looks like it's half-way to Pisa. It does have a truffle festival, but sadly, not until the end of November. But I bet truffles will be in the farmers market in October --- https://www.to-tuscany.com/travel-guide/towns-villages/san-miniato/ Perhaps someone else on this forum will know more.
Factor in that you will be jetlagged if you are flying from California. Consider flying into Venice instead of Milan (even though it will be more expensive) and spending some extra nights in Venice. Best place I know of to safely get over jetlag and some poor sleep (no car and motorcycle traffic!).
Also consider flying out of Florence instead of Milan --- again, more expensive, but time-and-trouble saving.
Revealing my bias, I should say that my husband and I greatly prefer having a home base and making day trips from it, rather than lugging suitcases from town to town, but there are experienced travelers here (notably Jean from Idaho) who successfully and enjoyably stay in places just a couple of nights. Packing super light is one of her keys to success. So you could, in fact, be staying in Florence, but also spend a night in the Cinque Terre so that it's not such a long day trip back and forth.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6717 posts
We did a Tuscany day trip with Tours by Roberto, who's mentioned in the RS Guide Books and appears in the videos . He mentioned he does truffle outings in the fall. His farm is outside of Sienna. Perhaps contact him, and maybe you can do a truffle hunt as a day trip from Florence.
Yes, you will have a more relaxed trip without the CT. Maybe experience a bit of Tuscany instead?
Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
CA
4 posts
Thank you for that great information.
This is my first trip out of US and I'm concerned about jetlag. Hopefully I can succeed at my plan to pack light. Rick Steve's website has been a good resource for travel tips.