Aloha Everyone, I really need your help. My wife and I are talking the first vacation we’ve ever had without any kids, and I need advice from you pros. We’re looking for something relaxing - ideally in some picture postcard village somewhere were we can stroll the streets, eat great food, drink good wine, and just chill out and recharge.. If you only had 7-10 days, loved great views and a slower pace, where would you go??
Thanks! =)
Chris
If you can still get reservations I would suggest staying at an agriturismo. Most will require you to have a car, as they are, by nature, rural, but they offer the opportunity for a relaxing, scenic stay. I can recommend two in Tuscany, both near Pienza. Fonte Bertusi takes reservations for less than seven days and is former home of an artist, so the grounds are especially beautiful, and they have a pool and masseuse. Cretaiole accepts reservations only Saturday through Friday but is our all-time favorite place to stay. Their Dolce Vita package includes a tour of an Etruscan tomb on their property, lessons on making pici pasta (dinner included), notebooks in each room listing local current events and local attractions, and a stocked refrigerator in your room, filled with local goodies for breakfasts. We stayed in their secondary property, Il Nido di Castello, in the nearby village of Castelmuzio, and had a private patio overlooking a gorgeous scene, in addition to our charming room.
It is rather late for you to be booking rooms for a September stay, no matter where you stay. You can find lists of other agriturismo on sites like Trip Advisor, together with pics and ratings.
I think Palermo is a great city. It is a coastal city of Sicily and it has a wide selection of beaches for you to stroll and just chill with a glass of wine. Also the place has a rich history of over 2000 years. Check out http://palermo.com/ for things to do in palermo and restaurants. You can try to dine with locals and just chat and exchange cultures with them.
OK, first thing to note is "first vacation without the kids", so Casanova it's off to Venice for 3 days with your wife. Then I would base myself in or near Bologna, away from the crowds of Florence, and a culinary destination. Treat every day on a whim, choosing from Verona, Ravenna, Parma, Modena, Ferrara, Padua, and of course Florence itself. Being a major cross roads for Italy's rail system you are well connected to many destinations to explore.
Emily,
Do you work for Bonappetour? Your posts are always pushing that website.
Hey Jackie,
No I do not work for BonAppetour. I actually booked quite a few of the meals and found it a great experience. As a foodie, I really like going around trying different kinds of food and meeting new people. I'm simply recommending it out of my experience!:)
Hmmm. 7 days are different than 10 days. And a slower pace means different things to different people.
I am assuming that this is your first trip to Italy, so you've got a blank canvas. So here's the thing--are you saying you want to stay in one place for the duration, a small 'relaxing' hamlet? Does that mean away from crowds? That might be a little hard to do in September, unless you find an obscure village that nobody knows about. In theory, it's great to say, ah, we'll meet locals, immerse ourselves in the culture of the village. In practice, it can be a little different. Tourists have trampled almost every inch of the country.
I am partial to southern Italy & Sicily, not the most popular choices on this board, but to each to his own, right? If I had only 7 days, (6 nights?), I'd find a picturesque base--like Ravello on the Amalfi Coast, which would give you a lot of easy options if you wanted to daytrip. If you didn't, no problem, enjoy Ravello and the wonderful surrounding towns like Positano & Maiori with the seafood-based cuisine and the great Campania wine. On our trip, we based in Salerno--just off the peninsula--and daytripped it to Pompei & Amalfi, besides being in a pretty, coastal Italian small city also with great food & transportation.
If you had 10 days (9 nights?) I would start off the trip by flying into Catania, Sicily and taking private transport about 30 km north for approximately three days in Taormina. It is just as picturesque as the Amalfi Coast, but in a different way. Plenty of Greek, Norman, German & Arab influences. Exotic. Warm people. Mt. Etna looms nearby. You would love it. Then you could fly Catania to Naples (more efficient) and on to Ravello for the rest of your trip, or take a walk on the wild side and try the train/ferry across the Strait of Messina and up to Naples.
Whatever you pick, you cannot go wrong, Enjoy your planning!
Thanks everyone! =)
Anyone know anything about Ti Sana wellness spa / resort??
I just spent a week in Northeastern Italy with two friends, we split 8 nights between two agriturismi. The Colli Euganei were beautiful, an unusual volcanic area that produces great wines. While there, we visited lots of wineries and small towns. The second base was in Maser, near Asolo, we visited several villas, more wine tasting and small, beautiful towns without too many tourists. This was after a week in Sestri Levante and Lago di Garda, so we were ready to be off the beaten path.
You could start or end with a couple of nights in Venezia. PM me if you want specifics.
Assisi ...
Scenic, historic, contemplative, spiritual -- and magical in the evening when the daytrippers have gone, and in the early morning as the townspeople greet each other as they walk to work. It's also a good base for exploring other areas of Umbria.
Assisi ...
Scenic, historic, contemplative, spiritual -- and magical in the evening when the daytrippers have gone, and in the early morning as the townspeople greet each other as they walk to work. It's also a good base for exploring other areas of Umbria.
September 2013 photos here.
Jeff, WOW GREAT PICS! Thanks for the info that looks like a great place to visit. Just added it to the short list. =)
Remember that in September, much of Italy is still warm/hot, and it's still high season in terms of hotel availability.
If you don't mind driving every day, an agriturismo would be great. Here's my review of the one I stayed at in Sicily: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/sicily-caltanisetta-central-sicily-agrigurismo
If you want a small town stay, a base on the Amalfi Coast should work well. You could see LOTS of places from there by bus, car or boat (Sorrento, Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Capri, Salerno, Ravello, Paestum...)
A base in Taormina would offer just what you're looking for, if you can find a place with space for your dates and can afford it (places in Taormina are expensive). But once I went, I understood why celebrities like Greta Garbo and Tennessee Williams would spend months there; if I could, I sure would. Here's my review of the place I stayed there, which would be wonderful for an extended stay: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/taormina-accommodation-casa-cuseni
If you want to settle in to a big city and chill there, Venice or Rome would work. Yes, they're big cities. But they have some picture postcard vistas too, and if you stay for 7-10 days, you could see them at a leisurely pace (like one major sight or activity per day), so they could be very relaxing.
I don't like to promote the Cinque Terre because it is getting too popular, but a great area to see and stroll between towns. Almost any where you go is a Kodak moment. Wonderful food and people.
Also, Tuscany. Talk about country side and rolling hills. Not to mention great wines and food. We like Montepulciano. Hill town with charm. But there are lots of great hill towns to visit. You can make anywhere in Italy the pace you set. Even the crowded cities like Rome and Florence can be enjoyed at your schedule. Yes lines may be long for main attractions, but if you don't need to see the Colosseum or Ufizi, you won't be on those lines.
Once in Italy, you soon see that you have to go back. It's a love affair. First time we went, we were there 10 days. Second time just over 2 weeks. Third time 21 days. We are planning our 4th trip and plan to be there over a month.
Enjoy your trip.
Thanks Charlie! We’re scrapping the Ti Sana wellness report plan this trip and will be doing exactly what you suggested - Tuscany and then the coastal villages.
I really appreciate all the advice folks, seriously THANKS!
