My husband and I are starting to plan a trip to Italy this July. We are trying to put together our itinerary and we need some help with which cities we should see. I know we don't have enough time to see everything, but just wanted to find out a few that are must see locations... We will spend about a week there! We would appreciate all the information we can get regarding this:) Thanks!
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Hi Layla. It's hard for anyone to recommend cities to you if we don't know what you like. In terms of art and architecture, Rome is your city if you're interested in ancient and Baroque art. Florence is the city of the Renaissance. Ravenna has beautiful Byzantine churches and mosaics.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I agree with Sarah, we need more specific information on what you are interested in. Donna
Posted by
OP
Fresno, California, United States
14 posts
Hi Sarah! That's very true... it would help if you knew what we are wanting to do... We don't have that much planned yet.
I really want to take a cooking class somewhere, not sure if that is easy to find or not. We aren't intending on going to too many museums, so that may create more flexibility for where we go. I just wanted to get some ideas of places that others recommend! Thank you so much for you input:)
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17244 posts
I know from you other post that you will be coming from Switzerland, via either Milan or Varenna. You could make Varenna, on Lake Como, one of your stops, and take the cooking class offered at Il Caminetto. We did that with our dauthgers and it was great! With a week you don't have all that much time, so maybe choose two other places that are fairly quick to reach from Varenna ( you'll have to go through Milan). Venice, Verona, Florence all come to mind.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
You need a good guidebook. I recommend the RS Italy book, so you can pick the things and places that interest you the most. For one week pick only 2 or 3 cities, the closer together the better so you don't waste time traveling between them.
Posted by
oakland, california
61 posts
You can see a lot of incredible history without ever going to a museum in Rome. It's one of our favorite places. Still, if you go, please don't skip the Borghese Gallery...take lunch and a blanket and after you tour the beautiful gallery housed in a precious old mansion, spend the afternoon napping in the incredible park. It was one of my favorite days while in Rome. Of course, all the biggies like the The Forum, Collesseum and Pallatine Hill are not to be missed and very easy to walk.
Posted by
oakland, california
61 posts
One more thought since you have only a week...After Rome you could decompress (take the train) in Sorrento or Positano. Both lovely towns on the Amalfi Coast. We stayed in Sorrento and did day trips to Positano, Capri and Pompeii...soooo much fun! Again, incredible sights to see without going into a museum...Pompeii and Herculaneum. Maybe 3 days in Rome and 3 in Sorrento, taking easy days trips to Positano, Capri and Pompeii. We really enjoyed it!