I'm in need of some advice before I book our hotels for our trip to Italy this Christmas.
Here's what's unmoveable due to flights and prior engagements:
12/20-12/22 Rome
12/27-12/28 Ostia seaside hotel for morning flight back to US from FCO 12/28
Original plan was
12/22-12/24 Florence
12/24-12/26 Cinque Terre
12/26-12/27 Venice
Trains/public transpo to each location.
Preferences: we love hiking, history, old churches, museums, don't like shopping, but enjoy walking long distances and popping into bakeries and caffes. We don't mind the big tourist spots but are more of a take a look at it, then move on kind of travelers. We very much enjoy audio tours preloaded on our phones so we can do walking tours of towns while being told the history- we did this in Madrid and Santiago de Compostela and it was awesome.
I was lured in by the idea of hiking Cinque Terre and possibly a kayak tour, but reading on forums it looks as though it will not be a great place to be those dates- most everything closed down, trails might be closed, rainy weather, water probably too cold to kayak. I'm willing to give up CT on this go round if it's not the right time.
I was told by an Italian friend that I don't want to do Venice and it's a waste of my time and we would enjoy Milan more. I can't help myself though and I must see the canals and history of this unique place. So I'm willing to just give it one night there.
I've been to Florence, but as an 18 year old so I certainly don't mind coming back and appreciating it more. But no more than 2 days for sure. We do have some friends that will be there on Christmas day, so it would be nice if we could arrange it to overlap with that so we can enjoy Christmas together, but that's not a deal breaker.
So, ye the travel-wise, what should we do? Scrap CT and replace it with something else that will be more open at Christmas? Rearrange the itinerary with thought towards what the towns are like during Christmas? I'm looking forward to your great suggestions!
Also,will the trains be running at Christmas? Will we be stranded?? Does everything close down everywhere?
Thanks in advance!!