My husband and I are going to live in Italy for 6 weeks this year, 2018, starting in mid-October and we are hoping for suggestions. We are thinking of spending the last two weeks of October in one location and then November in another.
To help understand what we are up to, we have been traveling all year and are looking to “live” in Italy for a bit. We will rent a car when needed but plan on just staying in one place for the most part. We are very outdoorsy people and love to hike.
We would really appreciate any input.
Thank you!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12035 posts
We are very outdoorsy people and love to hike.
In that case I would start by looking at weather.com, or similar, and see what sort of weather you are likely to encounter in your possible locations.
Intuitively, somewhere south is probably more suitable, but depending on what your interests are .....
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11835 posts
I would certainly make your November location Rome or Florence. Plenty to do for day trips in good weather, but blessed with great indoor sites for inclement days.
Sorrento could be nice in October (October is my favorite month in Italy) as could Liguria and rural Tuscany. We will be in Liguria this year for the fifth time in October. Have always had good luck. If you choose Tuscany you will need a car more often than not, but Pienza, Montepulciano, or Montalcino could make a good base for a couple of weeks.
Posted by
Vignola, MO, IT
710 posts
Lots of good hiking in Emilia Romagna. Bologna is accessible to many places (30 minutes by high speed train to Florence). Quick trips to Imola, Ravenna, Rimini, Ferrara, Parma, Modena, Piacenza... It is my favorite area since I live nearby 6 months of the year.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I've spent November in Florence and it's a nice time of year to be there. Everything is much less crowded. I suggest you look for lodging either outside the rail lines that circle the city center to the north (at a minimum outside the ring road) or just outside the Oltrarno to the south. Make sure the location has frequent bus or tram service into the center. That will make for ease of parking and driving while still allowing easy access into town and the SMN train station. Consider getting the 35 euro monthly transit pass, available at the ATAF office along the left side of the SMN train station. Note that 2 new tram lines, one to Careggi and another to the airport, are scheduled to open soon.
Posted by
Chicago
2124 posts
I'd pick Rome for November. Find a 'residenza' and go for it. A year ago March we stayed at a small apartment over a market for a week, paid 80 Euro a night, and could have done it easily for a month--it was that comfortable. We got into our daily routine, bought a bus/Metro pass, and just lived. It was fabulous.
For the last two weeks of October, I'd find someplace up north, maybe in the Dolomites or down south to Verona. Maybe the Lake Garda area would be a cool spot.
Enjoy your planning!
Posted by
11673 posts
Sicily would be a good choice too.