I don't know where to go in Italy. Help.
November 10, 2023 1:12 PM Subscribe
Looking to go to Rome with a couple people that want to SEE Rome, but aren't super jazzed about crowds and cities-- or in love with traveling in general. Looking to spend half the trip in a less bustling spot.
We have about 7-9 days (About 12th to 21st of April). I plan on ending the trip with about 3 days in Rome. I'd like to take a train to some town/city/village (or 2) a little less hectic and maybe down right relaxing, but still with something to cool to see/experience.
History and beautiful views are the main attractions and I'm pretty psyched for good food.
This will likely be my only chance to see Italy -- so I wanna make it count.
Due to weather - I am leaning a teeny bit toward south of Rome so it's warmer, but can pretty easily be talked out of that.
Easily accessed by public transportation fairly important. Probably don't want to spend more than a few hours traveling one way.
We have about 7-9 days (About 12th to 21st of April). I plan on ending the trip with about 3 days in Rome. I'd like to take a train to some town/city/village (or 2) a little less hectic and maybe down right relaxing, but still with something to cool to see/experience.
History and beautiful views are the main attractions and I'm pretty psyched for good food.
This will likely be my only chance to see Italy -- so I wanna make it count.
Due to weather - I am leaning a teeny bit toward south of Rome so it's warmer, but can pretty easily be talked out of that.
Easily accessed by public transportation fairly important. Probably don't want to spend more than a few hours traveling one way.
Sorrento is a short train ride from Naples (itself only a few hours from Rome by train) and is super laid back. You can see Mt Vesuvius from there and a day touring the ruins would probably be interesting. Capri is also a short boat ride away.
posted by soelo at 2:30 PM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by soelo at 2:30 PM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
There are quite a few places in Umbria, Tuscany and Marche which sound very much like what you want. For example, Orvieto is a bit less than 90 minutes from Rome by regional train and has a lovely late-medieval hill-town core at least partly attributable to the patronage of a multi-century relationship with the papacy; it’s also right next to the Monte Peglia UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. You could pick up a car and pootle around the hills on your own, but if you didn’t want to drive, I am sure any hotel in Orvieto could connect you with a local tour company that could help you find the natural, slow-paced vibe you’re looking for. Similar ease of access to a quieter side of Italian tourism and nature could be found in and around the Umbrian towns of Perugia and Assisi, a bit further north in Siena in Tuscany, or across the Apennines in Urbino in Marche.
posted by mdonley at 3:14 PM on November 10, 2023
posted by mdonley at 3:14 PM on November 10, 2023
April is a great time to go to Italy. You can be unlucky with the weather, and no-one knows these days, but in terms of crowds, it's good.
Also, compared to other places in Italy and Europe, Rome is uniquely designed to handle huge amounts of tourists. There have been millions of tourists since 2000 years ago, and they know what they are doing, so apart from a few sites, you can visit Rome any time of the year and not feel you are trapped as a tourist. Those sites are generally the ones you'd expect: St. Peters and the Vatican, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain and sort of everything between them. The coliseum and Forum Romanum have long lines, but you can book a time slot and you should. But already at Pantheon, it can be fine if you get there first thing in the morning, and for some reason tourists are only jam-packed at two of the surrounding streets. And then it gets better. Right next to Pantheon, the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is a huge, beautiful cathedral which is peaceful and has few visitors. The main part of the Forum has queues to get in, but it is so big, you don't feel crowded in there; even better, Trajan's Forum is rarely crowded at all and in some ways more interesting. Two streets of Trastevere are crowded and full of tourist-traps, but the rest of the neighborhood is quiet streets where you can discover why it became an attraction in the first place.
If your budget is for it, stay on the Aventine hill, a peaceful neighborhood in the center of Rome. You will be close to everything, including some important sites on the Aventine, but it will feel like living in a green suburb. If you don't have too much to spend, try Casa di Santa Francesca Romana in Trastevere. It's made for pilgrims, but really nice for everyone, and very peaceful, with a wonderful courtyard garden. It's near one of Rome's hippest restaurants, Da Enzo.
What I am trying to say, with too many words already, is that Rome might be your best bet for less hectic and downright relaxing, because the smaller cities and villages struggle more with the tourists than Rome does.
With that said, you should go out and experience something in the countryside. It is a very Italian thing, too. I think Tivoli is a great idea. Apart from Hadrians villa, there is also Villa d'Este, a lot of other stuff, and in general a lovely atmosphere.
Assisi is very beautiful, but also an example of a small town that struggles to handle the huge amount of tourists and pilgrims. April might be a good time to go, though.
Ravenna might be interesting. The ancient buildings and their mosaics are amazing, and I have a feeling they won't be as overrun as other places. The food is great. I haven't been there for ages, though. You could stop in Bologna on the way. Bologna is absolutely, totally marvelous and not touristy at all.
As a child, I once lived for a while on Elba. I haven't been there as an adult, so these are my child's viewpoints: it is really beautiful, quiet and has plenty attractions for a few days including the place Napoleon lived and a very rich nature with both mountains and beaches. The food is amazing. There be seafood. As an adult, I'm aware that it is a popular holiday spot for Italians, not so much for overseas tourists, and April is out of season, so it might well be as magical as when I was a child.
If it were me, I'd probably go to Sicily, BUT, it's a lot of transportation time, and maybe that leaves you with not enough time to be there and relax and explore. I go to Rome every year, and could cut down on my time there, but that isn't for you. So maybe I'm back to supporting Tivoli as a good choice.
posted by mumimor at 5:05 PM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also, compared to other places in Italy and Europe, Rome is uniquely designed to handle huge amounts of tourists. There have been millions of tourists since 2000 years ago, and they know what they are doing, so apart from a few sites, you can visit Rome any time of the year and not feel you are trapped as a tourist. Those sites are generally the ones you'd expect: St. Peters and the Vatican, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain and sort of everything between them. The coliseum and Forum Romanum have long lines, but you can book a time slot and you should. But already at Pantheon, it can be fine if you get there first thing in the morning, and for some reason tourists are only jam-packed at two of the surrounding streets. And then it gets better. Right next to Pantheon, the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva is a huge, beautiful cathedral which is peaceful and has few visitors. The main part of the Forum has queues to get in, but it is so big, you don't feel crowded in there; even better, Trajan's Forum is rarely crowded at all and in some ways more interesting. Two streets of Trastevere are crowded and full of tourist-traps, but the rest of the neighborhood is quiet streets where you can discover why it became an attraction in the first place.
If your budget is for it, stay on the Aventine hill, a peaceful neighborhood in the center of Rome. You will be close to everything, including some important sites on the Aventine, but it will feel like living in a green suburb. If you don't have too much to spend, try Casa di Santa Francesca Romana in Trastevere. It's made for pilgrims, but really nice for everyone, and very peaceful, with a wonderful courtyard garden. It's near one of Rome's hippest restaurants, Da Enzo.
What I am trying to say, with too many words already, is that Rome might be your best bet for less hectic and downright relaxing, because the smaller cities and villages struggle more with the tourists than Rome does.
With that said, you should go out and experience something in the countryside. It is a very Italian thing, too. I think Tivoli is a great idea. Apart from Hadrians villa, there is also Villa d'Este, a lot of other stuff, and in general a lovely atmosphere.
Assisi is very beautiful, but also an example of a small town that struggles to handle the huge amount of tourists and pilgrims. April might be a good time to go, though.
Ravenna might be interesting. The ancient buildings and their mosaics are amazing, and I have a feeling they won't be as overrun as other places. The food is great. I haven't been there for ages, though. You could stop in Bologna on the way. Bologna is absolutely, totally marvelous and not touristy at all.
As a child, I once lived for a while on Elba. I haven't been there as an adult, so these are my child's viewpoints: it is really beautiful, quiet and has plenty attractions for a few days including the place Napoleon lived and a very rich nature with both mountains and beaches. The food is amazing. There be seafood. As an adult, I'm aware that it is a popular holiday spot for Italians, not so much for overseas tourists, and April is out of season, so it might well be as magical as when I was a child.
If it were me, I'd probably go to Sicily, BUT, it's a lot of transportation time, and maybe that leaves you with not enough time to be there and relax and explore. I go to Rome every year, and could cut down on my time there, but that isn't for you. So maybe I'm back to supporting Tivoli as a good choice.
posted by mumimor at 5:05 PM on November 10, 2023 [1 favorite]
I've spent a week in Sorrento a couple of times, and it's great. Easy to do a day trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Positano, Capri, or Naples. Good local trains and tourist buses. Spectacular views, and a nice town to stroll around in the evening. And of course exceptional pizza.
Did a train trip from Rome to Florence and Venice once, staying a few days in each. It's not a large country, so you can reach most places from Rome and still have much of the day to spare.
posted by pipeski at 5:56 PM on November 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
Did a train trip from Rome to Florence and Venice once, staying a few days in each. It's not a large country, so you can reach most places from Rome and still have much of the day to spare.
posted by pipeski at 5:56 PM on November 10, 2023 [2 favorites]
In Rome the Galleria Borghese has an amazing collection of Bernini sculptures and other baroque works, that to me arguably rival anything in Florence
Bologna is easily accessible by train from Rome/ Florence/Venice and gives you access to the famed cuisine and produce of the Emilia Romagna region. It’s also largely a university town and not as touristy. Hit the markets if you stop by.
The backstreets of Venice (especially around the old Jewish quarter), away from the tourist hordes in and around Piazza San Marco, were surprisingly quiet when I was there a decade ago. There’s also lots of small local bars where you can get a small drink and some cicheti, walk around and explore and you’ll probably find them. Try walking there early in the morning or in the late afternoon/ evening and it’s really quite atmospheric. I ended up enjoying Venice more than I thought I would, by avoiding all the usual tourist spots.
posted by pandanpanda at 8:33 AM on November 11, 2023
Bologna is easily accessible by train from Rome/ Florence/Venice and gives you access to the famed cuisine and produce of the Emilia Romagna region. It’s also largely a university town and not as touristy. Hit the markets if you stop by.
The backstreets of Venice (especially around the old Jewish quarter), away from the tourist hordes in and around Piazza San Marco, were surprisingly quiet when I was there a decade ago. There’s also lots of small local bars where you can get a small drink and some cicheti, walk around and explore and you’ll probably find them. Try walking there early in the morning or in the late afternoon/ evening and it’s really quite atmospheric. I ended up enjoying Venice more than I thought I would, by avoiding all the usual tourist spots.
posted by pandanpanda at 8:33 AM on November 11, 2023
I have loved Sorrento and it may be very nice in April, but the last few times I've been there it has been chaotic and overrun with tourists.
I'd get up into Tuscany or Umbria. April should still be plenty warm. I'd look at Arezzo (easy from the train from Rome and a beautiful town with great food). Orvieto would be another good option.
posted by miscbuff at 4:37 PM on November 11, 2023
I'd get up into Tuscany or Umbria. April should still be plenty warm. I'd look at Arezzo (easy from the train from Rome and a beautiful town with great food). Orvieto would be another good option.
posted by miscbuff at 4:37 PM on November 11, 2023
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posted by hoyland at 1:17 PM on November 10, 2023