We've been to Italy a few times before and will be there in March (our anniversary). In past trips we've visited all the must-sees, but on this trip we're looking to slow down and spend more time in Rome and Venice. We'll have a few travel days between them and we are looking for a site (or sites) we may not have considered. We've been to Sienna and Florence multiple times and are looking for a smaller more relaxed trip. We'll have two days to make the trip and we'll be driving.
Thanks!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33861 posts
Hi Pat Have you thought of Assisi (and the beautiful town down the hill with the original Franciscan church) and Umbria, or over the mountains to San Marino and up the Adriatic Coast?
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
With a car, Umbria and Le Marche would be a great drive. Assisi is one good idea. I liked Gubbio. For a two day trip, though, you'll have one overnight. I'd suggest looking for a Logis d'Italia affiliate with a restauraunt attached somewhere along the way.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10609 posts
It is closer to Venice, but we really enjoyed Verona.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
Assisi is wonderful and so is Verona. We stayed in Ravenna and the mosaics are simply wonderful to behold. Would never have done it if it hadn't been recommended in Rick Steve's book and we were so glad we did. It is not like anything else we saw in Italy and we were there tow months. But everything in Italy is fantastic as far as we are concerned. If you decide on Ravenna write back and we will tell you where we stayed.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
Assisi is wonderful and so is Verona. We stayed in Ravenna and the mosaics are simply wonderful to behold. Would never have done it if it hadn't been recommended in Rick Steve's book and we were so glad we did. It is not like anything else we saw in Italy and we were there two months. But everything in Italy is fantastic as far as we are concerned. If you decide on Ravenna write back and we will tell you where we stayed.
Posted by
OP
Monkton, MD, USA
41 posts
Assisi and Verona were already on our short list. I just didn't want to grab at the obvious and ignore an interesting/ scenic location.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
Bologna!
Posted by
Avon, IN, USA
9 posts
On our first visit to Italy in September, we stayed 3 days in Verona and it may have been the highlight of our trip. We found a great B&B if you are interested. After researching more when we got home, I think Bologna will be on our next trip...possibly with Genoa. Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Monkton, MD, USA
41 posts
Anthony, please do forward.d the name of the B&B in Verona. I've come to feel that a nice place to stay can be the highlight of the syat, Thanks, Pat
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
When you've got a positive review of a B&B by all means name them here. You know the owners would love it and others would benefit from your recommendation. Let's all share. :-)
Posted by
La Crescenta, California, USA
361 posts
How about either Assisi or Padua. Assisi is a walled town taking you back in time to the 13th century. "Around 1000 BC a wave of immigrants settled in the upper Tiber valley as far as the Adriatic Sea, and also in the neighborhood of Assisi. These were the Umbrians, living in small fortified settlements on high ground. From 450 BC these settlements were gradually taken over by the Etruscans. The Romans took control of central Italy by the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC. They built the flourishing municipium Asisium on a series of terraces on Monte Subasio. Roman remains can still be found in Assisi: city walls, the forum (now Piazza del Comune), a theatre, an amphitheatre and the Temple of Minerva (now transformed into the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva)." Padua is about 14 miles outside of Venice with its own unique history. "Padua claims to be the oldest city in northern Italy. According to a tradition dated at least to Virgil's Aeneid, and rediscovered by the medieval commune, it was founded in 1183 BC by the Trojan prince Antenor, who was supposed to have led the people of Eneti or Veneti from Paphlagonia to Italy. The city exhumed a large stone sarcophagus in the year 1274 and declared these to represent Antenor's relics."
Posted by
St. Louis, MO USA
1976 posts
Ravenna is a beautiful town with a treasure trove of Byzantine churches.
Posted by
Wiesbaden, Germany
791 posts
Bologna, culinary capital of Italy.
Posted by
Avon, IN, USA
9 posts
I'm sorry it took me so long to respond... The B&B in Verona that we loved is called Residenza San Faustino. Website > http://www.residenzasanfaustino.it/index.php?lang=en It's very small, 3 rooms, and intimate. We stayed in the Blue room and it was as large as an apartment. It has a king size bed and a fantastic shower. The B&B is located North across the river from the city of Verona. At first we were worried about the location but the views from this part of the city are really great. It was about a :10 walk to Piazza Erbe.
Posted by
Salem, OR
10 posts
You might want to consider Orvieto; beautiful Cathedral, good food, reasonable lodgings. Although a hill town, it's mostly level as it sits on top of a butte. We spent a couple of nights there in March '05 and found it very interesting and relaxing. Good run down of the main sights in the RS Italy book.