We leave on the 30th. Thanks for taking a look at our itinerary. First off: my husband and I are- to use a Rick Steves term- "fidgety travelers". Both in our late 30's, we figure better walk steep hills all day now that we can and save the "slowtrav" for a later stage! It'll be our 3rd trip to Italy and again we'll have a car. STILL, I'm asking if some of these ARE too ambitious to fit in, AND when there's a choice, which town would you pick? DRIVING itinerary: FRI. JULY 1ST, arrive Milan morning. LAKE MAGGIORE, sleep in STRESA. SAT. JULY 2 drive to LAKE ORTA, then VIGEVANO. (We have a concert to attend- only reason- Brian Setzer!) SUN. JULY 3 Early a.m. On our drive to BOLOGNA: stop by Parma? (what to do if not into cheese/wine tours? just walk around?) Modena? (Ferrari or Lamborghini museums?). Or just go straight to Bologna to get a full day of all it offers, which seems like a lot... MON. JULY 4 Explore bologna, travel to FIRENZE TUES. JULY 5 FIRENZE WED. JULY 6 FIRENZE THURS. JULY 7 FIRENZE + which day trips: Lucca, Pisa? (Been to Siena and San Gimignano) FRI. JULY 8 leave FIRENZE. On our way to SPOLETO, stop in: AREZZO? Castiglione del Lago? TREVI? (been to Montepulciano, Cortona, Spello, Assisi, Perugia). SAT. JULY 9 SPOLETO (been there but barely walking-- crutches courtesy of Ostia Antica) JULY 10
Hadrian's and/or Villa D'Este? (enough time?), arrive Rome, 4 days in Rome (been to Rome twice and keep coming back!) Thanks everyone for your input!
Posted by
Catadupa Alamere, CA
515 posts
if taking a guided tour in a single ocean kayak along Venice's canals counts as a steep hill, I'll send the video. There is a gym that for, something like $10, I use for weights (it also has dancercize) and showers in central Venice. Bologna's towers are a pretty good work out before pigging out in the Fat City. I ran up to the Pz Michelangelo in Florence for the view, it also is a good hike up the hill, as are the the steps up the Duomo and the Bell Tower. In Rome I have used http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/ to search for runs and hikes. fyi running in central Rome is strictly an early morning (emphasize EARLY) event, any later and it is no fun at all.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11363 posts
If this is the way you like to travel, go for it! The fact that your are staying 4 nights each in Firenze and Roma makes sense after the one and two nighters you'll have. We like to be active, too, although we are considerably older. :-) Walking 10 miles a day makes up for wine and pasta consumption. Found this reference to Spoleto (we will visit there later this year) http://www.revealedrome.com/2010/07/day-trip-to-spoleto-an-umbrian-hilltop-town.html. You can hike across the (pictured) bridge and all the way to Monteluco. See also this site http://umbriainandout.blogspot.com/2010/04/walk-in-umbria-from-spoleto-city-center.html.