Small towns

What time of year, and what are your sightseeing preferences in terms of scenery, specific types of sights, etc.?

If you're a non-EU passport-holder, I'd suggest trimming the length of your trip by at least one day so you don't run afoul of the Schengen limit if your return flight in canceled or you become ill and can't fly home on the day you have planned.

Is this a 1st trip or return trip?

If a return trip, where did you go and for how long. Are you looking to return somewhere and spend more time, or find someplace new?

"Out of the way" and well connected to public transport are somewhat contradictory concepts. When push comes to shove, which prevails?

Thanks acraven, I completely forgot to include vital "when" details! It's sort of undecided at this point but I'm thinking it will either be mid-March to mid-June or mid-September to mid-December. For a large chunk of time, I plan to base myself in Lucca because I fell in love with the city during a previous visit. I should also mention that I've been to Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento and a quick stop in Pompeii, Capri and Naples. Really, I'm looking for places that aren't listed in every "must visit" list. I was in Edmonds last weekend for Rick's "test drive a guide" event and realised that I "must" visit Orvieto. I have bookmarked Siena, Matera and Ravenna as well, but these (from what I understand) are easily accessible. So it's more the "don't bother without a car" suggestions that I'm looking for.

And fantastic idea about factoring in a day or so for unforeseen circumstances. Better to be prepared!

Hello Joe32F

Thanks, and you're right. I guess I'm not really conveying myself correctly. In simple terms, what places that are still accessible by transit but mostly ignored because they're a pain in the butt to get to do you suggest? Because time will be on my side. Taking a train, then bus (or 2 buses/trains) is what I mean.

Many places in the Dolomites. We often mention the Val Gardena here, but Moos/Moso, Sexton/Sesto or even San Candido take a bit of effort and are very rewarding. Best months are probably late May through October and perhaps December as snow sports start then. March, not so much.

Thanks laurel, I'll definitely look into your suggestions!

In the Fall of 2017 I took my first solo trip to Italy and purposely wanted to avoid large cities. I traveled for 4 weeks using only public transportation.

I will share my itinerary to give you some ideas of places you might enjoy visiting.

This was my itinerary:

Flew to Milan Malpensa Airport >> Baveno, Lake Maggiore (day trips included; Verbania, Cannobio and Lake Orta) >> Lucca (day trip to Pistoia) >> Siena (day trip to San Gimignano) >> Orvieto (day trip to Bolsena) >> Assisi (day trip to Spello) >> Montefalco (afternoon in Bevagna) >> Trevi (day trip to Spoleto) >>
Rome to fly home.

If I’d had more time, I would have liked to have visited Arezzo, Deruta, Gubbio, and Todi.

You may also consider going to Sicily!

I spend almost 4 weeks traveling all around the island (May 2018) via public transportation and loved it!

Here’s my itinerary:
Flew to Palermo (day trip to Cefalù, afternoon in Monreale) >> Trapani (day trips to Segesta, Erice, and Favignana) >> Agrigento >> Piazza Armerina >> Siracusa (stayed in Ortigia- took day trip to Noto) >> Milazzo (overnight in order to take morning ferry to) >> Lipari (day trip to Salina) >> ferry back to Milazzo, then a couple of trains to Acireale (day trip to Taormina) >> easyjet back to Milan >> Home.

If I’d had more time, I’d have visited Caltagirone, Ragusa, and Modica.
And... I would have stayed longer in Ortigia and Lipari, my favorite places in Sicily!

Have an amazing trip!

I haven't done it yet--hope to this fall--but we're planning a train trip starting in Venice, all the way down the Adriatic coast to Lecce in the heel of the boot, stopping in Ascoli Piceno and Bari/Polignano a Mare along the way. Will only have about 7 days once I leave Venice, so it wouldn't be leisurely like you!

This is one area of Italy I haven't been yet and am looking forward to it.

With the benefit of enough time, you can do this in any region, though certainly some more easily than others (Liguria and the Amalfi Coast are two areas I would say are quite easy without a car). So rather than garnering lots of specific recommendations, I think it would be more useful to peruse a guide book or website and see which regions appeal to you. Food specialties and weather might make just as much a difference as public transport. Though train service certainly varies, there is always bus service.
I think the main thing to determine at first is if you want a long term base or will keep moving.

With almost three months I'd suggest at least three, up to six, bases. Not only do you get to see more of the country, but you get to "experience" a variety of different towns. Some places that are sort of popular as day trips are very different if you spend a week or so there. Some to consider are Bergamo, Malcesine or Desenzano (both on Lake Garda for seeing Dolomites and part of the Veneto), Rapallo, Modena, Siena, Perugia, Orvieto, Lecce.

Here's my photos of Italy, maybe someplace will look like what you are looking for. https://andiamo.zenfolio.com/f739967755

Some places that I've visited in Italy and enjoyed, that are not on the "typical American visitor itinerary," include Ferrara, Cremona, Modena, Parma, Spello, Bergamo, Treviso, and Torino. A friend also recommends Udine.

These places shouldn't be hard to reach without a car (to varying degrees, and depending on where you're coming from, of course). And some of them are bigger cities rather than small towns. Start investigating and see which ones appeal to you.

The Amalfi Coast. Take a look at Urbino (train, then bus from Pesaro), the Gargano peninsula (Vieste, Peschici) and down the coast (Trani, etc. and inland to Alberobello, Locorotondo), also Matera. Since Lucca is on your list, if you want to stay farther north, then try Lerici. Camogli is one of our favorites. Sicily would be wonderful. We've done all the listed places (any many more) by public transportation.

I don't think there's anywhere that you can't get to by public transportation, even Sicily. If I were fortunate enough to have the money and desire for a 3-month stay, my first decision would be when to go. Without any limitations on when I could travel, I'd focus on what my main interests are. For me, that's ancient civilizations, medieval historic town centers and art. I can't imagine skipping the Roman ruins, the Greek temples, Florence's Renaissance treasures, the Vatican Museums. But enough about me. What floats your boat? There's hiking (easy to strenuous) in the Dolomites and coastal areas like the Amalfi Coast and the lakes, quaint villages and interesting small towns everywhere. There are food and wine tours and cooking classes in many places. The best beaches are in Sicily (mostly tourists) and Sardinia (mostly Italians).

One other thing to take into consideration is how often you will want to change locations. For instance, you could spend a week or more in Bologna and day trip by train to a different town every day. But staying a night or three in Ravenna or Ferrara or Padua, for example, will give you a very different experience to an 8 hour visit.

But staying a night or three in Ravenna or Ferrara or Padua, for
example, will give you a very different experience to an 8 hour visit.

Chani, isn't that the luck of the draw sometimes? Even if someone's told you how great this little town is and you should spend a few days there because we did and got to know the 'real Italy'...isn't that a mite subjective? And for you, it might not even happen.

Sometimes you hook up with a great B&B--as Chani & I did (separately) in Salerno, and everything kind of falls into place. Now, I wouldn't label Salerno with 110,000 residents as a small town, but the dynamic is similar. You want a base that has enough neat attractions in your field of interest to hold you, yet you want at least decent transportation options to be able to do relatively nearby daytrips and come home late afternoon to a nap--always!--and then a wonderful dinner in town. That's my idea of efficient travel.

Many of the small towns are certainly quaint, but you had better know at least a little Italian, enough to let them know you're at least trying. A few years ago, my wife & I did a geneological daytrip to Sant' Arsenio in rural Campania, up in the foothills. Remote, far from any train lines, and residents at first looked at us like we were from the moon. I kept hearing the phrase 'nessuno viene qui', which translates to 'nobody comes here'.

They were guarded at first, then once I related the reason for our visit, they couldn't do enough for us. We really didn't find out much--snafu's with our guide and the town hall, another story--but I sure would've liked a few more days there. My Italian-speak no doubt would've improved, and I felt honored to walk the streets my ancestors had as well.

Oh my! Thank you to everyone who has responded! I'll spend some time looking at each of the suggestions, and come back if I have any questions.