Three Weeks in Italy
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Jun 13, 2012 10:55 AM Last Post By: SeattleMichael
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Three Weeks in Italy
Hi there!My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Italy for next year, possibly in June/July. But would like to start planning a route.
We are interested in seeing the following cities/regions: Milan, Florence, Venice, Portofino, Naples and Sicily. We are considering starting in Milan, as it would be the easiest city to reach from Cape Town, then move on to Venice and down to Florence, then Naples, then along to Sicily. We would love to go to Portofino, but not sure how to fit that in. Where is it close to ?
Our other thoughts are transport, would trains/flights be the best way ? I would appreciate your thoughts on our itinerary. Please feel free to change it, whichever will be easiest and best for our 3 weeks. We going to experience everything Italy can offer (Historical sites, beaches, food)
Thanks
Theo
1
Agree with your route, and train is best for most of your route to Naples. Visit the trenitalia,com website as booking trains in advance - particularly the high speed trains when a minifar is offered will considerably reduce your travel costs. You might want to consider flying Naples - Sicily - it is a long way by train or bus over on the ferry, at least 8 - 9 hours.As for Portofino its way off your route on the west coast near Rapallo. It is very picturesque but quite small - unless you intend parking your yacht in the harbour or having a multi-course meal in a harbourside restaurant, its the sort of place where an afternoon might seem a long time once you've taken your photos
2
Train for sure.....certainly as far as Naples.Like Mike says if you want to try and fit some of Sicily in as well (its going to be tight in 3 weeks) probably better to fly from Naples (or take the overnight ferry to Palermo).For sure you will either need to fly back to Milan (from Sicily)at the end...or else buy an open jaw ticket.
Portofino is not really on your route...if you really want to go there I'd go Milan-Genoa and then down the coast from there.
3
Thank you both, helps alot! We were going to start out ONLY doing Sicily for 3 weeks, but just thought we'd add a few other cities. Perhaps we should eliminate a city or two to get a good look at less.If I throw in Cinque Terre, would this work better in our route than Portofino ? Sorry, I'm just so in love with Italy, I just keep adding more and more!
4
Not really.If you want to have some picturesque village/cliff walking then your best bet would be to visit Amalfi Coast from Naples.
7
theola wrote:
> We going to experience everything Italy can offer (Historical sites, beaches, food)
No, you're not. :-) There's no way to experience everything Italy can offer in 3 YEARS, much less 3 weeks. That said, do be careful to avoid just "seeing" places and not giving enough time to really experience them. Two nights minimum at each location, and don't do daytrips.
And definitely add Rome to your itinerary.
Happy travels.
