akila

Well, I posted before and many, many people on this site were very helpful and I created a great itinerary (Itinerary #1 below). But, then, my husband and I started watching Travel Channel shows on Italy and Giada's Italian Holiday on FoodTV and there are so many food related events that sound wonderful like the Alba Truffle Market (only on Saturdays and Sunday), heading to Parma and buying parmesan cheese and cured ham, and eating the fantastic pasta in Bologna. Thus, I worked yesterday and have created Itinerary #2. Right now, we are both leaning toward Itinerary #2 but I am wondering if it is workable or if it is too much driving and not enough time to see sites. In addition, would you spend two days in Val d'Orcia, Bologna, or Milan? Finally, are Via Michelin's driving times fairly accurate or should I be adding way more time to this then listed here?

Our profile: mid-20s; love food; love art and architecture; experienced, active travellers but don't want to an "Italian blur."

Itinerary #1:

Friday, October 19th - Flight from Atlanta to Pisa;

Saturday, October 20th - Pisa

Sunday, October 21st - Florence

Monday, October 22nd - Florence

Tuesday, October 23rd - Florence

Wednesday, October 24th - Pick up car; Volterra/San Gimignano

Thursday, October 25th - Siena

Friday, October 26th - Val d'Orcia

Saturday, October 27th - Val d'Orcia

Sunday, October 28th - Train to Rome; Rome

Monday, October 29th - Rome

Tuesday, October 30th - Rome

Wednesday, October 31st - Rome

Thursday, November 1st - Train to Venice

Friday, November 2nd - Venice

Saturday, November 3rd - Venice

Sunday, November 4th - Flight from Venice to Atlanta

-------------
Itinerary #2

Friday, October 19th - Flight from Atlanta to Pisa;

Saturday, October 20th - Arrive Pisa at 11:00 a.m.; pick up car; Pisa/Lucca

Sunday, October 21st - Volterra/San Gimignano

Monday, October 22nd - Siena

Tuesday, October 23rd - Val d’Orcia

Wednesday, October 24th - Bologna (223 km, 2 ˝ hours)

Thursday, October 25th - Bologna/Modena/Parma (1 hour to Parma)

Friday, October 26th - Milan (1 ˝ hour to Milan)

Saturday, October 27th - Alba (153 km – 1 hour 52 min. from Milan)

Sunday, October 28th - Monterosso/Cinque Terre (240 km – 2 ˝ hours to CT)

Monday, October 29th - Florence (151 km – 1 ˝ hours to Florence) – drop off car

Tuesday, October 30th - Florence

Wednesday, October 31st - Florence

Thursday, November 1st - Train to Venice

Friday, November 2nd - Venice

Saturday, November 3rd - Venice

Sunday, November 4th - Flight from Venice to Atlanta

kfusto

I would spend 3 nights over Bologna but I love fashion and there is a lot of it there. Bologna was nice for a few hours when I visited a few years ago but I am sure someone else can give you more information.

I love the local markets in Italy. In Firenze, look beyond Mercato Centrale as there are others not as tourist centric.

I would not overnight in Pisa; why pack and unpack when Florence is on your itinerary and you can see Pisa as a sidetrip?

Personally, I am a fan of less travel and more time in one place so #2 looks way too busy for me.

And I would only do two nights in Venice personally and add the extra to Florence.

Lexma90

You need to stop researching! I'm kidding, kind of. There are so much to see and do and eat in Italy that you could drive yourself crazy deciding what to do. (Keep in mind that I don't much follow this advice myself.)

Overall, yes, your Itinerary #2 sounds a bit rushed. But you could tweak it a bit to make it easier to do, and cut out a bunch of your one-night stays.

Generally speaking, for a first trip to Italy, people (generally speaking) visit the top sites - Rome, Venice, Florence, etc. But if you know that you prefer, for example, great food over ancient Roman sites, then skipping Rome (for this trip) is the right decision for you. (And not that you can't get great food in Rome.)

We made a number of trips to Italy, and have visited Rome, Venice, Florence, lots of different places in Tuscany and Umbria, as well as Bologna and environs. I've found that it's taken me more than one trip to Italy to get a feel for the place. I've needed to get a feel for Italian food (in Italy, as opposed to Italian food in the U.S.) generally before I could really understand the difference between the regional cuisines. A long way of saying to think about whether you want to visit the "big" places in Italy before you delve into the regional cultures. I'm not saying whether you should or shouldn't, just think about what's right for you and your interests.

I have not been to Parma and Modena (yet), so the following opinion is not based on knowledge, but I don't know if I would visit those cities before, for example, more time in Florence or Venice, or even smaller places like Ferrarra (just plain cute and non-touristy) or Ravenna (best mosaics in the world, IMHO). If you're really interested in architecture, a lot of Palladio's villas are in the area to the north of Bologna, in the Vicenza area. On Parma and Modena, IMHO, I wouldn't go there just to taste their cheese and proscuitto - you'll get great choices on both of those throughout Italy. And, for example, the great markets in Bologna probably have lots of cheese from Parma and ham and vineagars from all over.

Choose Volterra, San G. or Siena and spend two nights in that location, rather than moving around, preferably San G. or Siena. Based on my recollection of doing a similar drive (twice), Val d'Orcia to Bologna might be a little longer, maybe 3 hours?

Bologna is known for fantastic food. It's also an interesting, non-touristy city. Spend 2 nights in Bologna. That gives you one full day there, plus time for day trips from there, or visiting (for example) Parma on your way from Bologna to your next stop.

In all our trips to Milan, we have yet to spend any time in Milan. Not known so much for art and architecture. You could leave Milan out.

We're planning on going to Alba this fall (earlier in October); I'm quite excited. If you're really into truffles, I'm sure it will be a great experience. And the proximity to the Barolo vineyards is a plus if you're into that. From what I've heard, the area is less touristy than others you'll be visiting. If you can schedule two nights here, then you'll have one full day in the Piemonte.

One night in the Cinque Terre at the end of October isn't probably worth the drive to get there. Consider dropping this for more time elsewhere on your schedule.

Enjoy planning!

Tiff

Hi akila,

I vote for Itinerary #1. It looks wonderful.

If you would like some restaurant recs for Florence and Venice, click on my name for our trip report. We had some truly delicious experiences (that I still crave!).

Have a great time.

ira

Hi A,

I like 2 over 1.

Is your first night in Lucca?

For Sun, Mon and Tues you could choose a base and do daytrips.

If this is a foodie trip, I think you should add a night to Bologna and a a night for Tuscany/Chianti.

Eating in Bologna:
Da Cesarina, across the piazza from San Stefano.
Nuovi Notai, Via de' Pignattari, 1 – just off Piazza Maggiore
Tamburini, Via Caprarie 1 - top notch deli
Gelateria Moline, Via delle Moline 13. By far, the best gelato we had in Italy.

Orvieto would nake a nice daytrip from Siena. Have lunch or dinner at
I Sette Consoli, one of the best restaurants in the region.

Pzza Sant’Angelo 1A
phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911

Is there a special reason for Milan?

A car won't be useful in the CT.

You could drive Bologna to Venice via Ravenna and drop the car there, then train to Florence and fly home from Pisa PSA or Florence FLR.

Enjoy your visit.

bobthenavigator

I prefer #1 assuming that your 4 nites in Tuscany are all one hotel.

tuscanlifeedit

I also prefer itinerary 1. And I think you should look up events and foodie spots in the areas you originally planned to visit; you'll find plenty to do and eat.

Mercato Centrale, as mentioned, is a must for food lovers in Florence.

I love Tuscan food, and since you are going to the Val d'Orcia, you can indulge in Pecorino di Pienza. Oh, the fresca is my favorite, but one of my dear friends loves the stagione. It is a fabulous cheese, and such a charming town.

In Venice, visit the Rialto market. Such fish! You'll love it.

akila

Thank you all for the wisdom and particularly, thanks Lexma --- you are right, I have decided to stop obsessing over the *perfect* itinerary. I know that no matter what we choose, we will have an amazing time. Based on all of your thoughts, as well as our own thinking, we have decided to go with Itinerary #1 because since it is our first trip, it makes sense to hit the big sites --- Rome, Florence, Venice --- and it sounds like there are all sorts of great markets, etc. in these cities where we can enjoy yummy food. Plus, I am hoping to reserve an apartment in Rome (and possibly Venice if I can find a decently priced one) so that we can buy food in the markets and cook. I'll be back with more lodging and touring questions soon, I'm sure!

11thchild

If you are going to Venice take the time to spend an overnight in Asolo,small town , there are only a handfull of hotels there.Set on top of a hill, it is about an hour west of Vinice. Stay at the Hotel Cipriani in Asolo, (not to be confused with Venice)FABULOUS food at restaurants in the town square, great weekend markets

RufusTFirefly

Unless you are a total Renaissance groupie, I'd take a night away from Florence and add it to Venice.

Carta_Pisana

Having gone to Bologna this past November, specifically to eat, I say #2 but only if you're really focused on food. The churches in Bologna are okay - better ones in Modena, Parma and Ravenna. The clothes shopping in Bologna is very good (maybe better in Modena). I really enjoyed Bologna - one reason it's not on the standard list like Florence, Tuscany and Venice Mid 20s, huh? Bologna is a university town.

kfusto

If you are a true foodie and also enjoy wine, I would cut Venice to two days and add another to Florence, making a day trip into Tuscany. The regional specialties there are fabulous!

ekscrunchy

I made two food trips to Italy in the past year; you might find some information within these reports. The second one is almost completed:

Southern Tuscany, Florence, Bologna:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34743272

Still in progress Rome Food Trip:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34931625

The other thing I would recommend is buying and reading Fred Plotkin's book, Italy for the Gourmet Traveler.

jabez

Your first itinerary looks best to me.I agree with Bob's advice of one hotel in Tuscany.
Either one ,you'll find some great food.

Dayle

HI Akila,

I also vote for itinerary #1. You'll have plenty of great food either way!
One suggestion: how about changing the order and picking up your car right at the Pisa airport and doing the Tuscan countryside part first? If you do this, you won't have trouble trying to return your car on a Sunday!

Also, I would take a day from Florence and add it to Venice. Everyone has their favorites!

Buon apetito!

akila

ekscrunchy - I have absolutely LOVED your reports. I am creating a restaurant itinerary and have put in tons of restaurants that you have listed --- when I get closer to completing it, I will post it on this forum.

Dayle - I thought about doing Tuscany first and then Florence but I decided that it would be nice to break up the two big art cities (Florence and Rome) with a little bit of countryside in between.

Thanks all!

Dayle

So have you found a place to drop the car on a Sunday before training to Rome?

akila

No, I haven't but, instead we are going to drop the car off in Orvieto on Saturday during the day, hang out in Orvieto all day Saturday, and then train to Rome on Sunday morning. So, the Tuscany portion of our trip is: Florence to Siena (1 day) to Val d'Orcia (2 days) to Orvieto (1 day) to Rome.

ekscrunchy

Thanks, Akila. I am having fun writing it..glad you are enjoying the report.