Greetings to all,
We will be in Italy first part October.. Florence 2 nights( have been there several times before), Cinque Terre (Levanto as base) and I have booked the Continental Hotel in Genoa two nights, before we head back to Milan for flight home.. I'm not overly excited about my choice of Genoa, as I see mixed reviews. I was trying to find a place well located from Cinque Terre, that also has easy train access back to Milan. We have already visited Lake Como. We have also spent too much time in Milan, previously. Maybe I am over-thinking this but I'd like some opinions or ideas. Thanks
Posted by
5987 posts
Do you like cities? Are there any attractions in Genoa that could make you excited about the stay? It does not take that much longer to travel from CT versus Genoa, so you could just stay in Levanto longer if you prefer villages over cities. I am a bit contrarian in that the more a place gets criticized, the more I want to find out for myself.
En route, maybe Alessandria would me worth checking out?
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1160 posts
Turin is two more hours past Genoa and closer to the airport in Milan (1.5 hours?). You might wish you had more than two nights there, though. Loads to see and do.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3315 posts
Turin is an underrated city that seems to be getting more ink these days. It’s one-train-hour from Milan.
After the Cinque Terre, going to the port city of Genoa might be a bit of a shock. It depends on your expectations. It’s not gentrified and more “authentic.” Without any definite reasons to go to Genoa, Turin might be a good alternative.
Posted by
OP
Georgia, Now Florida
279 posts
Kenko, Yes, that is what I'm thinking...Then I considered well, maybe just do a daytrip for the full day we are there. Hotel Continental is right by the train station. Seems like a lot of traveling just for all that... I may see if Hotel Garden in Levanto can house us for two more nights, although I do like the idea of Turin, as well. Also, not a fan of Milan, so probably will not be happy in Genoa( too big and gritty)
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6205 posts
What about Parma? It is a little further from the C.T. than Genoa, but only about an hour from Milan.
Posted by
Denver, CO USA
625 posts
Genova has funiculars.
Need I write more?
Posted by
Massachusetts
1440 posts
How about going straight to Camogli instead of Genova? Similar to Cinque Terre but smaller with less crowds.
Posted by
SoCal
1905 posts
We loved spending four days in Genoa, but it's a gritty city with a somewhat grittier waterfront. The pesto is magnificent, and because of the terrain there are some beautiful overlooks, but it's not for everyone.
Posted by
OP
Georgia, Now Florida
279 posts
Mary, I like the Camogli idea!! Hotel suggestions?? Also. I saw Rapallo, is that a doable town, looks a little larger.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1860 posts
Camogli is a great idea (although we love gritty old Genoa). Two things we enjoyed doing in Camogli: taking a boat ride to Abbazia di San Fruttuoso and eating focaccia at the boardwalk-side bakery, Focacceria Revello. We wanted to go to nearby Recco (half hour walk) to eat Focaccia di Recco in the town it's named for, but decided instead to go back to Genoa on the train to visit the monumental cemetery.
I don't know the hotels --- we stayed in an apartment near the castle that nobody except us would like.