Someone requested I post a trip report! Not sure how to do that but here goes ~ We flew British Airways to Milan via Heathrow (loved BA)and stayed just one night in Milan. Toured around our first morning (great city, very busy). Stayed at Hotel Gran Duca di York which was great and reasonable by Milan standards (178E). Took train to Lake Como/Varenna for 2 nights. BEAUTIFUL. Not alot to do but peaceful and relaxing. Stayed at Hotel Albergo Milano and had an amazing room with a patio overlooking the lake. Took train to Venice (LOVED Venice)and stayed 4 nights at Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo which was awesome. Great staff, room, breakfast. More in a residential area but that made it quiet which we like. I could have stayed in Venice longer and just kept walking around. Special place. Train to Florence for 2 nights at Residenza Il Villino which was also great. Florence reminded me of Rome ~ crowded, busy, noisy. Museums, architecture etc were amazing. Then we rented a car and spent a week at a farmhouse in Tuscany (outside San Gimignano). We spent the week touring the beautiful Tuscan countryside (harvest time!!), going to wineries, horseback riding, just eating, walking, relaxing, drinking wine. Food and Wine experience at Castello di Verrazzano was amazing and highly recommended. Then train to Manarola in Cinque Terre which was absolutely gorgeous, like being in a postcard. Unfortunately still a bit crowded with tourists but we loved it anyway. Very easy to get around between the towns on the train. Took the boat one day just for the different views. Hiked Corniglia to Vernazza which was AWESOME. Stayed at La Torretta ~ our favorite hotel of the trip. Amazing room, service, everything. WOW! So we had a wonderful time ~ enjoyed all the cappuccino, gelato, wine, food, culture and just the way Italians enjoy life!! We could learn alot from them about that!
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