My wife and I are planning 7 days in Italy in Mid-March 2025.
We’re hoping for a semi-relaxing trip, where we can stroll streets and sights at our own pace.
We’re thinking of limiting ourselves to 2 cities, with day trips if needed to see others. We’re thinking 1 big city and 1 smaller one.
Rome and Florence are the big cities we’re considering.
Then a smaller city in Tuscany or Umbria.
What smaller cities would everyone recommend? Siena? Perugia? Lucca?
Thanks!!
I would ponder how the jubilee may affect crowds before deciding. Or, if you are set on the "big," maybe go much smaller for the "small?"
Please list your preferred mode of transport.
We won’t be there during any of the true Jubilee calendar events - but obviously recognize that there will be increased traffic due to that.
Well likely need to rely on trains/buses for travel.
And I’m okay avoiding HUGE if there’s enough to do in 2 small cities for 3 days each?
We really just want to walk around, check out the history, people watch, eat and drink great food, and relax. We don’t have any MUST SEES.
If you have no must sees or overriding passion to go to the big cities, then I'd do myself a favor--go to any city in Italy. You can get all that you are seeking without thousands of your closest friends. If someone has their heart set on Florence or Rome, by all means they should go, but I can only read into what you are saying--and I think you could get equal enjoyment for far less money. How about just Umbria? The public transport is a bit less convenient, but Marche also has some lovely small cities like Urbino.
Thank you!
You’re right - Our “must sees” are likely everywhere. We want to see some history - our history doesn’t date back very here! We want to see some architecture. We want to walk around and enjoy the Italian people and environment.
I know March isn’t vineyard season - but are the wineries still open? Are we still able to visit and try some wine? Take some tours?
It’s just really hard to narrow the cities since they all have what we want!
Thank you for the recommendations!!
I like to drink wine (ah, the verdicchio in Marche is sublime), less interested in its making. I think in most cities you could find a service w/ driver to take you to a vineyard for a tasting. If you have a liking for a certain type of wine, then that might help you narrow down to a region.
Good point.
The wine we buy in Minnesota is certainly going to taste differently than the wine we could drink at a vineyard in California. But I’m guessing there - drinking any wine will be fantastic without the need to be at a vineyard!
Orvieto is a small city in Umbria that has terrific food, terrific wines and beautiful vistas. We love the place.
Thanks for the Orvieto recommendation!
Views and such still good in March? A couple people have said the hills and such aren’t as pretty in early spring.
Are you flying in and out of Rome? How many nights will you sleep in IT? A smaller city in Tuscany would be Siena by direct bus from Florence (1h 15m).
Still figuring out flights based on where we choose to go. If we aren’t going to Rome, then we’ll likely fly into Florence.
Siena was one of the top on my list!
Well sleep 6 nights in Italy.
I think I would choose somewhere like Orvieto, beautiful historic hilltop city with roots going back to the Etruscans with a nice museum and some interesting sites, a beautiful duomo and it’s surrounded by vineyards and is home to Orvieto Classico one of my favourite wines. It’s easily reached from Rome by train; and Florence and Siena are both easily doable by a train journey of 2-4 hours, depending on route/type of train. Look at flying into Rome out of Florence if you decide on this itinerary.
