Just beginning to plan a trip for March and we would appreciate any comments on these towns. We think we might spend three nights in Naples with a visit to Pompei and then three more in either Sorrento or Alamfi. From there we're thinking of going to Lucca and then Cinque Terra, all by train or bus. We've read opinions that Naples is dirty and Sorrento is a resort town with not much to see. In a previous visit we enjoyed Rome, Florence & Siena. Does anyone have any opinions or suggestions?
Posted by
Marin, CA
532 posts
I would say stay in Sorrento and day trip to Naples, Pompeii an Positano but I'm not sure March will be that great. We love Orvieto. This trip we're trying out Bologna with lots of easy train trips to Verona, Parma, Ravenna, etc.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
Spend 3 nites in Sorrento which is a nice town (even if not as romantic as Positano or Amalfi) and use it as a base for day trips along the Amalfi coast, to Naples, etc. I've been there twice and heartily recommend it. For the other 3, be adventurous! Find something farther down the coast where not as many tourists go, or perhaps one of the islands that isn't Capri.
Posted by
Philadelphia
655 posts
Carol....In general, March is early for a trip to the Italian coast. Mid April thru May will usually get you better weather.
Consider Sorrento as a good base to explore Amalfi, Ravello, Positano and Capri. Be sure to include Pompeii. Positano is very picturesque and a wonderful memory but it may be very quiet in March. We've not heard good reports about Naples and haven't gone there.
Lucca is a good visit as is Orvieto with its focus on wine making. Also in this area is Assisi which should not be missed.
Mid April and later would be good for Lake Como and Venice. Both are wonderful.
Posted by
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
58 posts
We visited the Amalfi coast in mid-April of this year and it was fairly quiet...I imagine March will be very quiet. The good thing about that time of year is you can ignore everyone's warnings about crowds, and you don't need to be quite so paranoid about crime. As you may have read, many people warn about pickpockets in Naples and on the local train between Sorrento/Pompeii/Naples. Of course, we were on guard for this, but found there to be no need to worry. It was pouring rain on the day I had scheduled to go to Naples, so we took the train in, then the metro to the archeological museum, saw the museum and left. My husband says it was 'dirty', but I don't think we saw enough of the city to make any judgments. I loved Sorrento because it was just the perfect size...never got lost. It was a great home base to return to each night with lots of restaurants- great seafood...the best meals I had on our whole trip.
Posted by
OP
Martinez, CA, USA
1548 posts
Thanks to all for your suggestions! We may still stay some days in Naples as I've read there's lots to see there but will also save three days for Sorrento. At least that's now our tentative plan. We've been to Italy before, also in March (cold in Siena,pleasant in Florence and Rome), and were in France this past March. We learned this was one of the windiest springs in Paris, but we sacrifice warm weather for lack of crowds and are happy with our choice. Thanks again.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Carol, I would definitely not stay in Naples itself. I was based in Sorrento(Sant'Agnelo district)for 5 nights and travelled on the suburban train to Naples for 2 of those days. The train is easy and you can opt for the fast ferry back to Sorrento from Naples. Again easy. Naples is chaotic, dirty, congested, noisy, and intimidating at night. We didn't run into any problems, but many times locals in Naples would inquire if we were doing alright... which brought us to the conclusion that Naples could be dicey.
In Naples itself, we visited the archeological museum - a must AFTER visiting Pompeii, the collection of nativity scenes, the castle and spent a day using the hop-on-hop-off bus. It has a few pretty areas, but the grunge is always just around the corner.
We also used the same train to get to Pompeii, where we spent a good 5 hours and used the audio-guide.
From our base in Sorrento, we combined ferry and bus to go along the Amalfi coast, stopping in Positani and Ravello.
We spent a great day visiting Capri and Anacapri, talking a walking path along the coast.
5 days was just the right amount of time to include Naples, along with the rest to be visited along the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi coast.
I would second the other posters' suggestions to include Orvieto and Assisi - both if you can, and Assisi if you must choose only one.
Hope this helps.
Posted by
OP
Martinez, CA, USA
1548 posts
Diane - Thanks for your input. Guess we're leaning towards spending the nights in Sorrento. Don't think the ferries run in March but we do plan on the bus to Positano & Amalfi. Not sure how to squeeze in Assisi as we're using public transportation. But that's the good thing about starting early as we have a few months to research and change our itinerary. Thanks again!
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Train to Assisi. You may have to connect, but that is usually quite painless. To get to the train station in Naples from Sorrento:
Take the Circumvesuviana (suburban) train from Sorrento to Naples. Whether you stay in Sorrento or Sant'Agnelo, take a taxi to the first stop: Sorrento (the beginning of the line), then place yourselves and your luggage at the end of one the first cars. At the other end, in Naples, the train station is linked to the C-train station by a corridor - easy as pie. There is also a left luggage facility at the train station in Naples. A few trips in & out to Pompeii & Naples will acclimatize you...
From Naples to Assisi & from Assisi to Lucca, plan on at least a connection or two... the Trenitalia website is very helpful. Just use the same week-day scenario a month or so from today to help figure out the approx. schedule & cost for when you want to go.