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Planning 2-week honeymoon in Italy

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My wife and I got married over the weekend and are sketching out a two-week trip to Italy, likely in May 2022, though possibly April or (less likely) June. We like to fly out on Fridays and return on Saturdays so that we can recover before going to work the next day, but might be able to sell a Sunday return flight so call it 14, maybe 15 nights on the ground. She's never been to Italy, I've been twice a long time ago.

We're planning to split the trip in half, spending the first week doing sightseeing and the second at a homebase where we can just enjoy a slower pace of life, walk to markets in the morning, make breakfast, enjoy some cafes and restaurants, have some things to do but not try to do everything, and just take it slow.

I can go anywhere in the country and be happy as a clam. Her needs are more restrictive. I can figure out the sightseeing part of the trip separately and without much issue, but picking a good place to "live" for the second week is tougher. Looking for suggestions, whether general regions or specific towns, that fit as much of the following as possible:

  1. Within 15-20 minutes of a medical center in case of emergency. She has a tree nut allergy and given that they're in everything she really struggles to relax if that sense of a lifeline isn't there. (And if there are other nut allergy travelers on here would love to hear about your experience)
  2. She's also a vegetarian. This isn't nearly as big of a deal as the nut allergy — I'm the foodie, she just eats to stay alive. Still, areas where a vegetarian can eat incredible food are a plus.
  3. She loves the beach, maybe more than she loves me. Not an absolute "must" and in May I doubt the water will be warm enough to swim, so this one may not be worth worrying about, but coasts are a big plus.

It seems likely that we'll be focusing the first week in the north, but I'd be willing to burn a travel day going south (or even to focus the first week in the south) if there's an amazing place that fits the bill down there. These don't need to be major cities or tourist Meccas — given that we're trying to take it slow, it might even be best if they're not! But figured this forum might have some folks who tried something similar or who could take a stab at some good options.

Posted by
11647 posts

Beaches in Europe do not compare to the majority of US beaches but you can find water views. With the hospital requirement, perhaps a small city in beautiful Puglia ( also referred to as Apulia) like Lecce? Or head nearby to Polignano a Mare or Monopoli, waterfront settings, an occasional beach, enjoy the area, good food and local wines. No real “ biggie” sights, a great place to relax. Wonderful seafood.

Posted by
5590 posts

Given her first 2 requirements, it's screaming city to me. But you can be as relaxed as you want to be in even the biggest city. And you could opt for an apartment instead of hotel so she could ensure her vegetarian diet - although options are certainly available in restaurants - of which there will be a greater number and variety in the cities.

And what does she want to do at the beach? Fine sand beaches, like those in the Southern States or the Caribbean are few and far between in Italy, although some do exist. And even May could be cool. Monterosso al Mare has a nice sand beach. But the daytime highs would rarely hit 20°C, and the water temp would be around 17°C.

Posted by
8422 posts

I agree with the earlier post about the beaches. We lived in Southern Germany for four years and have visited a lot of beaches in the Med and unless you want to go to Greece, forget it.

You say you want to avoid the big cities, but Rome is so amazing and must not be missed. Also, Florence (not a huge city) and Venice are special. I call Rome, Florence and Venice the big three for Italy. If you love history and art, those are must see places.

Florence is a great place to do day trip and use as a base, you can visit places like Siena, Pisa and Lucca on trips.
Many people like to do Tuscany (Florence area) and stay in the countryside. It is beautiful, this may be right up your alley. Staying in a remote area and not exploring history and art is more my thing, but check it out.

Posted by
2209 posts

Boy, with all the restrictions this may be a tough nut to crack!

For the relaxation part, two cities come to mind, Siena and Lucca. We've been to Siena and planned to go to Lucca, but ran out of time. Both are big enough to have a medical center but small enough to reach it quickly. It should be easy to do side trips if needed since there is good transportation available.

You are very smart to plan to spend half the trip to relax and get to know a place. We spent a week in Loches, France doing just that. It was a 5 minute walk from our apartment to restaurants, cafes and bakeries. We had no agenda and would just head out to do whatever struck our fancy.

As others have said, you may need to forego beach plans.

Congratulations on your wedding and hope you come up with a great plan.

Posted by
7924 posts

You might want to review the list of hospitals in Italy for expatriates, so she has someone fluent in English. Most of those are in Milan, Florence, Rome & Naples.

Your description made me think of Lucca. It’s laid back with a great central area inside the wall. And the wall is wonderful for riding bikes or just relaxing. Cinque Terre is close enough for a day trip for her coastal views request. Lucca is a handy train ride from Florence.

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