Where in Italy??????????

C.Walsh'sLoveChild

I am booking a weekend away for my partners birthday for next march. I have picked Italy and am using my airmiles up hence having to book WELL in advance. Flying from Gatwick. I am limited to Venice, Verona, Pisa, Bologna, Turin and Genoa.

Anyone been to any? Any yay or nays?

ThreadKiller

fly to pisa but leave well alone and head off to florence. great little city.

BlackForestReds

Forget Turin and Genoa, especially the latter. They are nowhere near the other places and not worth the detour.

How long are you going for?

I suggest flying into Linate or Malpensa in Milan, surprisingly there's not much to do in Milan, once you've seen the Duomo and the Last Supper that's about it. But you could have a day or so in the lakes, Maggiore in north of Milan and close to Malpensa. Take the train to Verona (about two hours) and there's plenty to see there - Juliet's balcony, the Arena, Teatro Romano, the Adige River, Juliet's tomb and loads of little squares and cobbled courtyards, all very Italian. From there it's an hour or so to Venice, or you can head straight down to Bologna, and then on to Florence, a day or two there dodging the world's best dips and then on to Pisa and fly out from there.

Simple and all connected by rail. Easyjet fly from Gatwick to Pisa and Milan, though I can't remember which airport in Milan.

ShootersHillGuru

Bologna is a fantastic place.

Off_it

I hear that Due Amici is nice, if a little pricey.

Hope this helps.

;o)

colthe3rd

fly to pisa but leave well alone and head off to florence. great little city.

Definitely, unless you are that desperate to see the tower then just jump straight on the train from the airport and get to Firenze

_MrDick

I've been to Verona...Nice

BlackForestReds

You can get to Siena from Florence by train, from memory it's a slow rural train that stops at every station rather than whizzing through a few, but the views on the way are nice.

Henry Irving

agree with VM  Verona is nice but small.  Would try for the lakes if you can or Roma but I like big cities.

Off_it

I went to Brescia once. And Ancona.

Wouldn't recommend either though - loads of drunken English football fans roaming the streets when I was there.

Henry Irving

I went to Brescia once. And Ancona.

Wouldn't recommend either though - loads of drunken English football fans roaming the streets when I was there.

Scum the lot of them!

gilbertfilbert

For a romantic weekend in March, you couldn't beat Venice.  Make sure you get a flight into Marco Polo though (not the other airport, whose name I've forgotten, which is 90 mins away).  It'll be cold in March, but worth it.

Otherwise, I agree with whoever it was who said that Bologna is great,  though also likely to be cold in March.

golfaddick

I've been to Pisa, Florence & Venice..........so,

Only choose Venice if you have loads of money and want ultra romantic, otherwise I'd choose Florence.

 

 

Swisdom

Florence & Siena are beautiful - loved it there

Rome is always worth a look

If you can stretch to it though how about Sorrento and Positano. Fly to Naples then get get the hell out of there and enjoy the Amalfi coast.

Stone

Another vote for Florence here.

You can fly direct from Gatwick with Meridiana http://www.meridiana.it/en/index.aspx

HarryHutchens

Of the places in Italy that I've been to:

Pisa - the tower has to be seen to be believed, but once you've seen it - don't bother with the rest of the town.

Siena - fabulous city and well worth a visit.

Tuscany in general - one of the loveliest places I've ever been. You could easily spend a week touring just there - not to be missed.

Verona - pretty good but not as nice as Siena. Massive open air amphitheatre where if you fancy some 'cultcha' you can see a real live opera.

Lakes Como and Maggiore - both really nice although hard to find parking unless your hotel has it. Waiters will automatically speak to you in German since there's so many of them holidaying there.

Venice - didn't really like it - crowded, dirty and smelly - although I went in August, and I'm told it's better in the Winter months.

WSA

If you go down Amalfi way, there is always Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum to visit.

However, Florence wins with me too.

legaladdick

Agree about Siena - easily reached from Pisa.  Shame you can't see the Palio held in June and August but in my view the selection process for the race is even better. Mrs L and I happened across it by accident and it was even more memorable than Lisbie's hat-trick against Liverpool.  Praise indeed.

C.Walsh'sLoveChild

I wanted Rome but my Airmiles dont got there from Gatwick. I was actually planning to do two weeks in Italy. But I am going to a couple F1 races next year so that has been shelved.
Am planning on going Friday 24th Feb and coming back Monday 27th Feb

Having a look and it seems that flying to Pisa and getting the train to Florence seems like a bloody good idea.

EGAddick

I've always wanted to visit Modena and but make a detour to Maranello to see the Ferrari Museum etc but Venice can be very nice if you visit in March (alternatively late Sept/October is good, quieter and more locals) and try and stay at least one night at the Danieli, it's amazing.  I've been to Como many times and it is stunning, again try and get a night at the Villa D'Este.

Athletico Charlton

definately florence - absolutely wonderful, siena is stuning too and should be visited if in Florence.  Pisa is ok for a couple of hours by the tower but that is it.

Plaaayer

Make sure you take plenty of money prices have shot up enormously!

Someone that got back last week said a cup it tea was £5 and a portion of chips £4.50!

Swisdom

I wanted Rome but my Airmiles dont got there from Gatwick. I was actually planning to do two weeks in Italy. But I am going to a couple F1 races next year so that has been shelved.
Am planning on going Friday 24th Feb and coming back Monday 27th Feb

Having a look and it seems that flying to Pisa and getting the train to Florence seems like a bloody good idea.

Or hire a little car and drive it. Relatively inexpensive but great way to take in some of Tuscanys hidden gems

Plaaayer

Will your sister need someone to accompany her to the matches while you're away?

thai malaysia addick

I've not travelled in Italy much, but I can't definitely recommend Verona - quite small, but a very pleasant place for a weekend

barstool

My girlfriend is Italian from Milan, she said Verona for a weekend but if you have more time then Rome. Venice is far to busy in the summer but lovely to go in late September. You can also go to Venice from Verona on the train which takes an hour and is a very pleasant trip and takes you straight into the centre. If you fly to Venice airport it takes an hour to get to the centre by boat so many people fly to Verona and take the train.

Rothko

We did Pisa last year, easy from there to go up to Florence, Lucca and Viareggio 

LenGlover

agree with VM  Verona is nice but small.  Would try for the lakes if you can or Roma but I like big cities.

You and VM were the two gentlemen then? :-)

MuttleyCAFC

If you are interested in history and art Florance is like going back in time and is a stunning city with statues and museums everywhere. If you are into the beach Rimini is not too far from Bologna but there are other less well known but nice places on the Adriatic Coast which are nearer Bologna such as Milano Maritima - It's where the Italians go and has nice beaches, nice hotels, designer shops that open into the early hours and excellent markets.  

MuttleyCAFC

BTW, I'd reccomend the 4 star Hotel Aurelia in Milano Marittima - Very posh but in a nice way, clean and very good rates when I went full board. Mostly Italians but a fair few Germans and some rare Brits who have discovered it. The food is to die for and the residents mostly use its own private beach so the extremely nice pool is generally empty. Over 2 weeks you could plan a mixture of beach and culture.

_MrDick

agree with VM  Verona is nice but small.  Would try for the lakes if you can or Roma but I like big cities.

You and VM were the two gentlemen then? :-)

Ahem....No comment