I'm planning three weeks in Italy in October 2012. My plan is to start in Naples and work our way up to Venice. But every thing I read is oriented the other way. Should I rethink and start in Venice instead?
Posted by
Richmond, Ky, USA
278 posts
Last year Oct was beautiful until a cold front came through and temps dropped about 20-25 degrees in one day. It did not warm up either. We were searching for hoodies to avoid freezing. I would start anywhere you want, but be advised that the weather is subject to change quickly. Now, that being said, you can buy anything you need most anywhere, so no need to overpack. Also, Venice was not very crowded after the cool weather set in(we froze going to the top of the belltower). MOst important, ENJOY, and look for a reason to go back. Ciao, Jeff
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The temperature differential is only going to be five degrees or so. Any system that effects one place will probably sequentially effect the other.
Do what suits you.
Posted by
OP
Salt Lake City, UT, United States
304 posts
I guess I threw you off by mentioning the trip is in October. I'm not concerned about the weather.
Posted by
Washington, DC, USA
571 posts
Some people recommend traveling north to south because you move from the more familiar to the more foreign. The further south you go, the less like home Italy becomes and traveling N-S gives you time to acclimate to the surroundings and suffer less culture shock. Having traveled exactly that way(Milan-Venice-Tuscany-Sorrento-Rome), I cannot say whether it helped me get cope better, but each subsequent city did seem more exotic, more exciting, and more fun. By the time we reached Rome I was fully immersed in the language, culture, food, etc. Maybe the conventional wisdom is right.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Is this your first time to Italy? If so, I would recommend north to south for the reasons given above - getting used to the Italian way of doing things. Rick says to go north to south and that if you get to Rome and you love it, keep going south, it gets better. FIWW, I would have to disagree at least as to Naples. We absolutely loved Rome but really did not enjoy Naples. (This is based on our experience - others do enjoy Naples.) Sorrento, on the other hand, is wonderful.