Very late in planning but due to some schedule changes, we have 10 days available after Christmas for a family trip to Italy. My kids are 15 and 12. We want to spend 5 days in Rome and I would like to go one other place, trying to decide where and would love some input. I know we do not want to go to Florence on this trip as I think the art I will require in Rome will be enough for them :) Venice is the obvious choice but I was hopeful for a smaller town with enough to do but still a different vibe. It looks like Orvieto could be an option. I was surprised that the Italy guidebook doesn't have anything about either Puglia or Sicily. I would appreciate any suggestions that you think would work well with teens and at that time of year (late December, early January). Thanks in advance!
(BTW, nothing is booked yet -- which is a bit concerning but also means I haven't yet booked flights and so could fly into Venice and out of Rome, or some other option.)
Posted by
Chicago
7827 posts
Cut the melodrama; you are not late planning if you know you can go and able to buy plane tickets and lodging over the holidays without wincing when you click to pay for them. Just commit to Rome and Venice and fill in day trips from those 2. Book the plane book the lodging first and go from there.
Posted by
Washington DC
27095 posts
I cannot comment on the weather in Venice at that time of year (but will suggest that you do some research), but I would definitely not go to Sicily for just 5 days. It has so many great things to see that you need much longer than that. If you could teleport yourself to Puglia, it might work on this trip, but I think the travel time will cut too much into the days remaining after Rome. It's not just a matter of getting there (4 hours to Bari, 5 hours to Lecce), but also the time you'd spend traveling around the area. I'm also concerned that the smaller towns, so charming at other times of the year, might be rather dead in December/January. From the travel-time standpoint, Venice is better. Once you're there, you're set.
Orvieto is a lovely place and actually has a lot of sights for a place its size, but I wouldn't do an even 5-5 split if I were making a Rome/Orvieto trip. Remember that whichever place is your first stop begins with a jetlagged (semi-useless) day. You might plan to travel on to Orvieto on your arrival day so you can finish up in Rome. If you do that, I'd suggest no more than 4 nights in Orvieto.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11315 posts
Venice is great in December and beautiful with holiday lights. Winter coats required but far warmer than my native MN and similar to Portland or Seattle but drier.
Posted by
OP
133 posts
Thank for you the thoughts re: Venice and Orvieto, and also knowing that going to Puglia or Sicily won't work well with that amount of time. It's really helpful to get advice for those that know. Thank you -
Posted by
New Orleans
1206 posts
I was in Venice for a few days over the Dec/Jan holiday season a few months ago. I find Venice to be beautiful, charming, exciting, no matter what time of year. HOWEVER, be aware that in late Dec., early Jan., Venice can be cool, sunny and shining, BUT Venice can also be very damp, raining, windy, and chilly. Dress appropriately. Good friend and I were very glad that we had hats, gloves, scarves, water-resistant shoes, and an underlayer of polarfleece. Especially with kiddos, be aware....
Posted by
San Diego, CA
344 posts
There is not much to do in Orvieto, especially for preteens/teens so I would agree that I would go there for (max) 2 nights. It's quaint, pretty...but that is about it. Others may have more information but I would "do" Rome for a longer time, there is so much to do.
One of my teens favorite things: Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini is a multimedia presentation of what a Roman palazzo would have looked like, sounded like, etc. Projections on the walls, ceilings, sounds of running water, really well done and sets the scene for the ruins that are present elsewhere in Rome. You must book ahead (English tour)---Trip advisor review is nearly a 5 star review.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d2179620-Reviews-Le_Domus_Romane_di_Palazzo_Valentini-Rome_Lazio.html
Have fun!
Suzanne