We are a couple with a three year old son, and plan to stay in Italy for two months in the spring/early summer next year. The general location would be in Liguria, or in the front of the Alps, somewhere from the Aosta Valley via the big lakes to Trento. We would appreciate suggestions for the place to stay.
Some need-to-haves are:
- Good train/road connections (at least nearby), since we want to travel around, including down to Naples and the Amalfi coast, as well as Tuscany, and up in the Alps.
- Access to mountains without driving too far (I am a geologist and we both love mountaineering and nature).
- Culture and history (She is an architect).
- Cosy city center and nice scenery in and around town.
- Safe for kids, preferably activities for him.
- Parking possible (we plan use our own car, road trip up and down through Europe).
- Walking distance to groceries, cafés, basic shopping etc.
- Not a big city, but should be big enough to have some vibrancy and "life".
- Apartment with cooking, cleaning possibilities, broadband (since we will probably do some remote work).
- (Being able to get to SE France or Switzerland would be a good nice-to-have).
We have been to Verona before, and liked it, so one possibility is to stay in a nice smaller town around it, and take trains into the bigger city when desired. Or a similar arrangement near another city.
Thanks in advance!