Italian destinations to visit

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Just would love to hear other people’s experiences about visiting Italy and the different parts etc

 

ive only been to Rome before in 2007 And I thought it was a gorgeous City and experience. The colosseum was spectacular 

 

would love to go to Florence and many other locations within Italy

 

wpuld love to hear other people’s thoughts and observations etc

[VLC86]

I lived in Bergamo for 4 months a few years back, that’s a nice little city.

 

The best place I travelled to was Verona, incredibly picturesque. Milan is very industrial and worth a day visit but I wouldn’t stay for much longer.

 

I didn’t go to any other major cities but saw a lot of the northern parts including going skiing in Livigno which was nice.

[Brainy]

St Etienne

[Wymsey]

Pisa.

Sicily, although just off Italy and not too far a boat ride, is beautiful.

Edited 23 March 2018 by Wymeswold fox

[oakman]

Naples is rough in places but a great city - visit a church called San Lorenzo Maggiore, there's a whole Roman market place underground that's been excavated. Also, Naples is the perfect base to see Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Amalfi coast.

 

Loved Rome, didn't particularly like Florence.

[bovril]

I love the central part. Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo are beautiful, especially the Sibillini mountains. Some places I really like around there are Norcia, Sarnano, Gubbio, Spoleto, Sulmona. Spoleto in particular is beautiful.

 

Venice is amazing. It's easy to get away from the crowds and find a little church housing some amazing renaissance paintings. Some really good food, too, if you get away from the tourist traps. Florence is the same, full of incredible art and architecture.

 

I lived a year in Sicily and I still think it's the maddest, most amazing place I've been to. Incredible mix of influences, Arab, Greek, Norman. Stunning coastline on the West and a really wild, desolate interior. Palermo's a brilliant city.

[Durnerz]

Florence is my favourite - beautiful, walkable and plenty to see and do, plus the food is excellent.

Siena for a day trip from Florence is excellent too. Loved Verona and Turin is wonderful if you're looking for a winter visit.

[Vince Vega]

I went to Venice a few years ago BUT was advised to stay in Treviso (where Tigers have played Rugby a few times).  Venice is great - St Marks Square, canals, gondolas, the Rialto Bridge, lots to see -  but very expensive.  You can get a flight to Treviso, where prices of both accommodation and food are much cheaper than Venice and get the train (cheap) straight into Venice.  Treviso is a nice walled town itself.  It is also the home of Prosecco!

 

Sardinia is a lovely island to visit.  A big island, plenty to explore and great beaches.  

 

Cattolica and Rimini by the sea - Riviera.  Close to Florence and San Marino so easy to visit from there.

 

  

[Guest seanfox778]

Florence and Siena are my favourite places in Italy! Beautiful! Florence is like a labyrinth. I'd love to go to Sicily next.

[WilmslowFox]

It really depends on your circumstances (e.g. visiting Italy with kids and without are completely different experiences with different recommendations attached)

 

Venice is unique, you never know what is awaiting round each corner.  Expensive though, especially if you give in to the lure of the gondola.

There are a few things to do in Milan (esp. the impressive Gothic Cathedral), but its really more of a working city.

Florence is just beautiful, and a good base for side trips to Pisa and Siena, neither of which really warrant more than that.

Verona is also a beautiful city, and somewhere I want to revisit having only had a day there, which wasn't enough.

Okay, call me a Philistine, but I quickly tire of all the churches and art galleries, so the area around Lake Garda is a welcome oasis of low culture.

Was pickpocketed in Naples, but that's just part of the experience, and the area immediately south of Naples (e.g. Sorrento and Pompeii) is wonderful.

Sicily is great but the cities are chaotic.  The Aeolian Islands (e.g. Lipari) are more relaxing.  A ferry between Sicily and Naples calls at the Aeolian islands en route.

[Craig]

Florence or Sorrento! 

[Bobby Hundreds]

Veneto region, Conegliano, Trieste and the Slovenian border. Beaut.  

[SemperEadem]

1 hour ago, Costock_Fox said:

I lived in Bergamo for 4 months a few years back, that’s a nice little city.

 

The best place I travelled to was Verona, incredibly picturesque. Milan is very industrial and worth a day visit but I wouldn’t stay for much longer.

 

I didn’t go to any other major cities but saw a lot of the northern parts including going skiing in Livigno which was nice.

Did you go and watch Atalanta?

[VLC86]

Just now, baker11 said:

Did you go and watch Atalanta?

Yes mate I went to about 5 matches and follow them closely now.

 

Great set of fans and despite the stadium being the pits it was a fantastic experience. The match V Roma was like a scene from GTA, riot police all over the shop blocking off roads, battering the Roma fans in the away end etc. Fair to say they aren’t friends.

 

Went to a few matches in Milan as well including the derby but still wasn’t as good.

[Fox 4 Life]

Rome and Florence are both amazing, I wouldn't recommend Pisa unless you really want to see the tower, complete tourist trap!

[Countryfox]

Florence was lovely ...   the Amalfi coast is beautiful, as are the Italian lakes ...   Mrs CF's favourite place ! ...

[Guest seanfox778]

When I went to Florence they were playing Spurs in a Europa League game, they guy in the ticket office asked if I wanted to sit with Tottenham or Fiorentina supporters, obviously I said Fiorentina and it was a great experience cheering them on to a 2-0 victory. 

[Alf Bentley]

Only know Italy from whistle-stop tours many years ago.

 

I remember Bologna, Verona & Trieste all being beautiful medium-sized cities.

[Izzy]

Sorrento was beautiful apart from nearly getting ran over by nutters on scooters every time we crossed the road. 

[bovril]

 

5 hours ago, Bobby Hundreds said:

Veneto region, Conegliano, Trieste and the Slovenian border. Beaut.  

 

4 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

Only know Italy from whistle-stop tours many years ago.

 

I remember Bologna, Verona & Trieste all being beautiful medium-sized cities.

I do love Trieste. Lots of faded mitteleuropean glamour. A great beginning-or-end-of-a-journey type place. 

[fuchsntf]

Arena di Verona,Florence,Sorrento.

Do a Tour of Tuscany,taking in Siena,Lucca,Castiglione del Pescheria,and one of the Natural Therme.

Chianti,then some of the Montexxxxxxx wine towns.ie Montepulciano.Then there is the Island of Elba

Look for Concerts or Opera Arias,in churches,some Free or small donations.

The lakes, Maggiore/Comersee/Gardasee and surrounds.

Then If you would Like to See the West Coast, "The Cinque Terre" ,dynamic breathtaking Beauty.

5 villages hugging  the Coast Line, great rugged hikes or comfortable walks..

The lovers Walk..Via del'Amore simply spectacular,but easy going.Do Look on Internet,some

of the hiking paths,could be closed for repairs/Landslides..etc The area deserves to be given

a Minimum Visit of 2-3 days,If not a good weeks Holiday.

 

A while Back,an Italien told me,Go anywhere all cities and towns are Museums within themselves.

Too damn right!! 

Food, Go to Markets and Restaurants serving local dishes.look at the Restaurants,Just Off the

Plazio/Campos/squares,Amazing even 50-100 Meters,makes a difference,also for panna cafes,

and Italien fast food.

 

Italy has Returned to its true culinary roots,( UK should Take it as an example),local ,Not national faire

is always a good bet. Depends where you are,but veggi or vegan dishes are Not rare to find,unless

one is in a predominant meat area. 

Also there is also Sardinia,a beautifull Island.Like another Country of its own.

 

 

[adam1]

Went to Italy twice last year.

 

Did a very cheap long weekend in Verona in November. Flights were from Birmingham and we paid about £91 return in total for two people.  The airport to the city isnt too expensive by taxi either. 

 

Really nice city. It feels safe as well (completely the opposite to Naples). Caught the train to Vicenza one day as well. Not as nice but there are a number of nice buildings.

 

The second trip was to Sorrento. Very nice town reccomended. Went to Positano which is very beautiful and also did Vesuvius on a clear day. 

 

Drawback - dont really fancy Napoli airport in the summer though. We went just before the start of the season and it was v slow to get through.