OT : Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre

Flyfisher Tom

Flyfisher Tom

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Planning a trip for my wife and I, thought I might pick your brains on what you would recommend in a two week period.

I'm a bit concerned about fitting all 3 into the 2 weeks, as I prefer to stay longer at a single destination and soak up an area's ambiance rather than spend too much time travelling on trains/car. Besides it always seem more fun to have some time invested in a place and reach that threshold comfort level of knowing the streets, restaurants, cafes. Sort of soak in the neighborhood.

Any insights or recommendations on how you would or have approached these destinations? All 3 are high on our list, so it has been difficult to take one off. Maybe we should just go to Paris for 2 weeks ;) And since this is RFF, all pics are obviously welcomed ! thanks

regards
 
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The locations you have choiced are excellent, but in some time of the year are a little to full of tourist. So as first question I would ask you in which time of the year are you planning to visit them. Note the Cinque Terre and Florence are about 3 hrs driving from Florence, Florence- Venice will take at least 5 hours driving. Not so sure how much by train. Maybe basing you for a few days in a place betwenn Florence and Cinque Terre, in a small city like Lucca or Sarzana can allow you to enjoy the taste of village life and not too far from your mentioned obiective. And later a few days in Venice ! I ll try to have more exact info in a few days. ciao
rob e rt
 
Thanks Robert.

Your caution about seasons is well taken. We are hoping to bypass the main tourist season by going either in late March/early April or, alternately, in late Sept/early October. That should make the areas a bit less populated with crowds .. I hope :)
 
Wow, that sounds wonderful Tom. Cinque Terre - are you fit? ;) From a photo viewpoint, I would choose Paris and then Paris... However Florence and Cinque Terre are unique, and of course if you go to Florence make sure it is a weekend when Fiorentina are playing at home! :) Although Venice is beautiful it is overrun. I wouldn't know which to choose myself but of all of them I would love to go back to Florence - it is heaven.
 
peter_n said:
Wow, that sounds wonderful Tom. Cinque Terre - are you fit? ;)
Click to expand...

Lol, if I'm not now, I guess I will be after hiking those trails between the 5 hilly towns for a few days.

Oh wait, there is Italian food involved isn't there? Well then 'fit' may be a luxury I can't afford ;)

I agree about Paris. And think of Florence as similar in having great breadth of architectural photo opportunities. I'm leaning towards Florence, Venice. But since I'm married, I no longer have the final say :p
 
It all depends on your goals. Are you interested in being busy all the time? Or, would you prefer a more leisurely pace? My wife, son and I spent 8 days in Florence this spring and still had plenty to do when we left. There are all the famous galleries, museums and churches, as well as lots of just strolling around soaking up the Italian sun and enjoying the people and the wondeful food. We rented an apartment on the Via Alfani (a small side street about 1/2 mile from the Duomo) and found it perfect. We were able to wake up, buy baked goods across the street at the local bakery, brew some coffee and have a relaxed breakfast on the piazza of our apartment. I can tell you more. But, Florence has a lot to offer. You can also take day-trips into the Tuscan countryside to see the cities of Sienna and Fiesole.

That said, I have no experience of the other places you mention. Whatever you decide, you can't go wrong.

Ron

P.S. Why not ask Luigi or any of our other Italian members for suggestions?
 
I've been there before and I'm going there again next week (well-deserved vacation!). I think fourteen days should be enough, especially because Venice, while beautiful, probably won't take you more than two or three, maximum four days. Honestly, I think you've seen about everything in that time. Especially if you go off-season there is nothing, and I mean nothing, going on at night and during the day you can only see so many canals... Florence on the other hand, is a city where I could spend days, weeks, ... Well, I could live there!
 
Wow, from my viewpoint this is pretty fresh: I returned from a nice trip of europe (including all 3 destinations you have chosen) less than a week ago.

Cinque Terre is definately a hike if you decide to walk the entire distance--the leg between the 4th and 5th southernly (I think) towns (can't remember their names) is definitely a long and more than winding road, but the view is incredible. Alternatively, you can buy a bus/train pass and do the entire 5 hour walk in less than 30 minutes.

Venice is amazing and fully deserves a week's worth of wandering. Find a nice place 3-4 blocks from San Marco so that you'll never fully forget where your place is, and then walk four blocks in the opposite direction. You will find Italy like never imagined--and there will be almost no tourists.

Personally, Florence is far too touristy for my good, and 2 days is plenty. Make all attempts to see the Mueseum of San Marco (very close to the Academy) and the view from one of the huge hills opposite the river from the main city. If you want to see David, make sure that you advance book reservations, then go and pick up the instant-access tickets in San Marco, as it will save you an easy 3 hours waiting in line.

Most of all, have fun.
And take pictures.:)
 
Our honeymoon travel was as follows:

1. Start in Bavaria (Germany) ==> you know what's good there
2. Salzburg (Austria) ==> great cakes
3. Cross the Alps to Italy. (Grossglockner) ==> amazing scenery
4. Venice ==> no need to comment
5. Lucca ==> quiet and great for side trips
6. Florence ==>art art art
7. Back over the Alps ==>more scenery
8. Bavaria ==>wow again
9. Back to Penscaola


It takes you two weeks by car. Northen Italy is great for relaxing and taking photos and enjoying good food. You can stay in romantic Lucca and take the train to visit Florence each day. I did this trip twice; once before marriage and once afterwards.
 
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March-April or sept-oct will be ok, not too crowded. Venice or Florence ? a good match! HAving lived many years not far from Venice as "visitor" I would prefer Florence. But also some other cities in the tuscan area (S.Giminiano, Lucca, Siena) era worth to be visited, and ...taken on film !
 
Never heard talking so much about my town :)!

Tom,
if you are planning a romantic trip in Italy with your wife Venezia should be the first choice and I don't have to explain why. But if you want to spend in more than a week in Italy you really have to consider Florence and 5 Terre. Furthermore, in september - october there could be less tourists (and maybe lower prices) than in the summer period. In tuscany you could find many interesting places to visit after Florence (a lot of wonderful museums to visit) like Siena, Pisa - my town Lucca and many other smaller villages that surely deserve a visit, and then you surely will have time also to visit 5 Terre.
Keep in mind that Tuscany is quite small (Firenze - Lucca = 1 hour driving or 1.30 by train and Firenze- Siena or Firenze - Pisa is just the same) and if you will rent a car you'll easily (i mean in a relaxing way) travel through the whole region.
Anyway, I live in Lucca and if you need some further information you only have to ask (feel free to pm me).
Good luck with your choice.
Bye
Nico
 
I love villages in Tuscany, and from all the places I visited, the city I enjoyed the most was Sienna. Lucca is lovely as well! Italy is an ideal place for lovers!
 
I just returned from Italy (first day at work :) ) I visited lucca, what a wonderful town! Nico, I saw some guy on thursday (or wednesday) evening walking around with a M6 across the shoulder and he looked like a local, I wonder if it was you? I didnt actually know that we will be visiting Lucca, I would have sent you an email before if I knew.
 
Nico,

Thanks for the advice, a lot of wonderful endorsements for Lucca :) I think I will have to include it on the itinerary for a visit, or a stay. Once I firm up the plans, I will shoot you a PM for more advice ;)

regards
 
lubitel said:
I just returned from Italy (first day at work :) ) I visited lucca, what a wonderful town! Nico, I saw some guy on thursday (or wednesday) evening walking around with a M6 across the shoulder and he looked like a local, I wonder if it was you? I didnt actually know that we will be visiting Lucca, I would have sent you an email before if I knew.
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Hi,
I'd like to be that guy!! I don't have an M6, I shoot with the "poor man's leica" (bessaR) :)!
I'm really sorry we didn't meet, we should have took a drink and some photo ... anyway I really enjoy you like my town, I think it's still a nice place to live in.
Hope you'll post somo photos of your holidays!
Bye
Nico
 
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Flyfisher Tom said:
Nico,

Thanks for the advice, a lot of wonderful endorsements for Lucca :) I think I will have to include it on the itinerary for a visit, or a stay. Once I firm up the plans, I will shoot you a PM for more advice ;)

regards
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Hi Tom,
you're welcome :)!
Bye
Nico
 
Sounds like a fun trip. I just did a 2 week bus tour all aound Italy.
Rome, Pompeii, Sorento, Capri, Naples, Assisi, Venice, Pisa, Tuscany, Florence, Siena, and back to Rome. It really was exhausting but definetly something to see. I really loved Venice and Capri. I would like to go back. Enjoy your trip!
 
have you ever visited the maremma area? it's the wildest area of Tuscany. There are ranches and wine cellars, wild beaches and pine trees... and lagoons... if you are in Venice, do not miss the chance to see the brenta river and the villas... and Padua. why not? it's a typic Veneto city with Galileo's places, Donatello, St Anthony, Giotto.. guys...!!!
 
In Venice, I found the back-streets (and back canals) a lot more interesting and photogenic than the obvious tourist sights. But then, I don't like cities very much. I wouldn't bother to go back to Venice -- unlike, say, St. Petersburg.

Personally, I'd hire a car and explore the villages. But that's just me -- and indeed, it's what I do every year (except that it's my own car, not hired).

Cheers,

R.
 
you can't go wrong with Florence (heavy traffic and lots of tourists esp. museums) but personally I prefer smaller towns like Siena which is some miles south of Florence. And other small towns in Tuscany like San Gimignano or Pienza. And the landscape.

Venice is really nice to see - boats instead of cars, many passengers, fantastic buildings, great museums, you will need weeks only for this ! wonderful light also !

and you have to answer the question for yourself - will you see and feel this or do you want to take photos ;-)
 
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