My husband and I are in the final stages of planning a 5 week (first visit to Italy) itinerary for May, flying into Rome and out of Venice. Here is what we have:
7 nights Rome
3 nights Naples
4 nights Sorrento
Pick up car in Sorrento and drive to Orvieto
2 nights Orvieto
5 nights Siena
6 nights Lucca
Return car in La Spezia
3 nights Cinque Terre
5 nights Florence
3 nights Venice
I have booked accommodations for all except Siena and Lucca. I am looking for guidance on how best to split up these 11 nights. We would like to spend some time exploring Siena and Lucca as well as time just wandering around the countryside. We want this to be the low stress "slow travel" portion of the trip. Thank you for taking the time to read this and to provide suggestions.
Kathy
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15269 posts
Wow. I wish I had 5 weeks in a row to take off work.
I'd spend more time in Siena than in Lucca, as there are more day trips available from Siena than Lucca. I'd allocate to Siena 6 or 7, and the remainder to Lucca. But that is me.
Both Siena and Lucca are off limits to cars in the city center (ZTL=Limited Traffic Zone), so choose your hotel accommodations carefully, and preferably at a hotel with parking on premises and accessible without getting inside the ZTL (see the sign below)
http://www.ilcittadinoonline.it/wp-content/uploads/originali/1404301047195.jpg
Some people also prefer to stay out of town altogether with a car, at either a villa, or farmhouse, or hotel in the countryside or small village nearby.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8176 posts
I too have gone to traveling somewhat slowly--put into place by $9 per U.S. gallon fuel a few years ago.
Your itinerary hits so many places, but there are also a number of other Italian cities I'd want to see. For example, there are few cities in Europe I'd want to stay 6-7 days in.
I have no desire to stay in Naples--preferring the Amalfi Coast. Lucca may be okay for a couple of days, but I assume you'll be using the rental car to ramble through the countryside outside of there. I'd shorten days in many of the cities on the list and spend them in Lake Garda, or Lake Como or in the Dolomites if the weather's good.
Of course, my attention span is somewhat short when traveling.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15607 posts
Instead of 2 nights in Orvieto and then 11 in Tuscany (not counting the 5 in Florence), I'd look for a base in Umbria for several nights and visit Orvieto and Assisi and others. 5 nights in Florence is great if you want to "wallow" in Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture. Otherwise, only spend 2-3 nights there. Are you familiar with the ZTL rules (no driving in the historic centers of towns in Tuscany and Umbria and huge fines)? With a car, you may be much better off staying in agriturismos. Lastly I think you are short-changing Venice.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I would also spend more time in Umbria. The towns near Assisi (Trevi, Spello) and Perugia are worth a visit in your trip, since you have a nice bit of time.
Posted by
Ohio
171 posts
Why not spend a week in Sicily? There is a lot to see there and you have plenty of time available..
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I would disagree with going to Sicilia - 7 days is not really a lot of time, since major sights are all over the island, and transportation times may take longer than you think (even with a car). You would have to cut some other places or cut down the number of nights you spend in the places on your list, and it seems like a very good list so far (although I would spend more time in Umbria).
Posted by
Washington DC
27233 posts
I agree with Zoe about Sicily. It needs more than a week, and getting there would mean the hassles of a flight each way or two very long train or bus rides. Best for when you have considerably longer than a week available.
Posted by
OP
Chapel Hill, NC
2 posts
Thank you all for the great suggestions! We will look into adding more time in Umbria and Siena (and cutting back on time in Lucca). Would it be better to add days in Orvieto to day trip in Umbria or should we move closer to Assisi?
I have been looking for a agriturismo around Siena, please let me know if you have any suggestions. After reading the comments about Agriturismo Marciano (which is not available for our dates) I think we will have to plan another trip just to stay there.
I appreciate all of the suggestions for additional places to visit and we will definitely consider these for the next trip. Thank you for the reminder on the driving/parking issues in the hill towns. While we have the car we will stay outside of town for the most part (at places that have parking), but I was considering staying in town when in Lucca as there appears to be free parking available at the Piazzale Don Franco. Let me know if this is incorrect.
Thank you all for taking time to read and respond to my questions.
Kathy
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1166 posts
Look at Borgo Argenina outside of Castellina - Elena cooks with her guests and it is such a treat to sit down with all of your new friends and enjoy your delicious meal ! Her freshly baked breakfast is delightful as you sit on the terrace overlooking the vineyards.
Cretaiole is also wonderful - Isabella also cooks with her guests and they get top reviews.