Myself, my hubby and my 10 year old son will be taking our first trip to Italy next summer. We are fit and active and the focus for this trip will be Medieval, Mythological and Geological. I love medieval, son loves mythology and hubby is an Earth Science teacher so he wants new geological material to use with his students. We will stay South of Florence this trip. Our next visit will include Northern Italy with Florence and Venice. Here is what I have thus far, please feel free to add your input! Friday 6/22-overnight flight from Toronto to Rome Saturday 6/23-Arrive Rome, train to Oriveto, pick up rental car drive to a home base for 6 nights in southern Tuscany and Umbria. (Still searching for the perfect homebase!! Suggestions welcomed!!! Sunday 6/24-Thursday 6/28Day trips in Tuscany and Umbria ( still picking out which ones) Friday 6/29 Drive to Caserta possible stop in Tivoli enroute-visit Caserta Castle/Gardens in late afternoon-Stay in Caserta Saturday 6/30-Solfatara, Baia, Cave of the Sybil area North of Naples-Stay in Caserta Sunday 7/1 Drive to Castellebate stop to climb Vesuvius and see Pompeii enroute Monday 7/2- Visit Paestum stay in Castellebate Tuesday 7/3-Drop rental car in Salerno-train into Rome
Stay in Rome 7/3, 7/4, 7/5, 7/6, 7/7 Return flight From Rome to Toronto 7/8 am So this is 4 hotels in 15 nights. Does it work!? Thanks in advance for your guidance!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11364 posts
Seems reasonable to me. You are not moving around too much and i think you have a nice amount of time in Rome, which many people pass through too quickly, in my opinion. Don't forget the International Drivers' Permits! If you are aiming for southern Tuscany, Orvieto (althiough in Umbria) would be a good area. With a car you can stay at an agriturismo. We are staying in an apartment in Spello later this year, FWIW. In Rome, consider an apartment since you have 5 nights.
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
You may want to consider eliminating Caserta and staying instead right on the Phlegraean Caldera which would provide much easier access to Solfatara and the other sites in the vicinity of Pozzuoli. I stayed in Naples for Solfatara, but I ate in a wonderful restaurant in Posillipo with a sparkling view across the bay to Naples which is miles away. To me, it seemed like Posillipo is an upscale leafy suburb of Naples, as Westchester County is to New York City. Caserta is pretty far away from your sites and every time that I've driven on the autostrada near Caserta there has been a traffic jam. My apologies to Casertans, but it seems to be linked by the newspapers to the Camorra. I enjoyed Solfatara where you will get your fair share of sulfur and fumaroles, although all of that varies from time to time. Castellabate , Vesuvius Pompeii
I've never driven to Vesuvius and Pompeii Scavi, I used the Circumvesuviana. So, I have no clue how parking works. Vesuvius was, for me, a 20 minute taxi/shuttle bus ride from the Ercolano CV stop and then, at the top, a ½ mile easy walk up a fire road to the summit. It gets cold up there. Pompeii Scavi is a few miles down the line. The ruins are huge. The history and geology geeks among you will want to spend at least several hours. If you can buy/rent the PBS Nova show "Deadly Shadow of Vesuvius" that will really bring the events of 79 BC alive for you. Pompeii and Vesuvius, just by themselves, could take nearly a full day. Visit Paestum stay in Castellabate Paestum is an hour drive south of Pompei, not including traffic. I spent about 2 hours in the ruins, taking a lot of pictures. I've never been to Castellabate
Posted by
Alachua, FL, USA
238 posts
Parking lot is provided at Pompeii but you may need to get there by 10 AM to find room in the summer. There is a parking lot up at Vesuvius as well.