5 Days in Italy, Where to go and why?

[bennyboy]

Been to Ferrara 8 or 9 times since 2000 when first visited for her wedding but haven't seen that much of Italy tbh. Been to Bologna, Florence, Venice, Dolomite mountains and the beach resort of Lido Degli Estensi. Oh, i almost forgot i went on a catfishing holiday fishing the river Po for a week which i really enjoyed.

I used to like getting on my bike and exploring places without my sis because she'd have me going shopping or visiting her friends which bored me. Doubt she'll apologise after the last row we had and I'm sick of apologising even when it's not my fault, sibling rivalry eh, lol.

Anyone going to Bologna/Ferrara region i advise you weigh up flying to Venice and catching the train to where you're going as it can be up to £100 cheaper than flying to Bologna airport.

Check the regional trains as well.
They used to be a lot cheaper.

 

[Tanzeylee]

Rome is great for sight seeing but over priced on everything, Naples is like liverpool but sunny the amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world and herculaneum according to my ocd tinged late mother needs a good clean

 

[bennyboy]

Rome is great for sight seeing but over priced on everything, Naples is like liverpool but sunny the amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world and herculaneum according to my ocd tinged late mother needs a good clean

Never seen Italy as that expensive.
Sure there are parts of the cities near the main attractions that are overpriced but a few minutes away you get places a lot cheaper.
I loved Naples.Never found it that bad.
Reminds me of Glasgow.
The taxi ride from Naples airport is one you must take.Bonkers.
Thought Rome was bad but they are a league below the Naples drivers.

 

[Tanzeylee]

Never seen Italy as that expensive.
Sure there are parts of the cities near the main attractions that are overpriced but a few minutes away you get places a lot cheaper.
I loved Naples.Never found it that bad.
Reminds me of Glasgow.
The taxi ride from Naples airport is one you must take.Bonkers.
Thought Rome was bad but they are a league below the Naples drivers.

I lived in Naples for 3 years absolutely loved the place but it has a very moody underbelly you're right about the driving it was like the wacky races my 1.6 escort ghia had the scars to prove it

 

[BimboBob]

I love Sicily. Etna and area is glorious. Pallermo is in parts lovely and dangerous. But my favourite bit is the South Coast. Stunning archeology, great hill villages where life hasn't changed much in 500 years. Still making their own tomato sauce in big vats in the streets, old ladies sitting around chatting and knitting, water deliveries every week, fantastic simple Italian restaurants, tourist free beaches...it's just stunning.

Of course other parts of Italy are as beautiful, Rome, Florence, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Venice (go once, soak it in and fuck off...far too many tourists for my liking.)

As others have said, nothing finer than grabbing a coffee/ beer/ wine and watching the world go by.

 

[bennyboy]

I lived in Naples for 3 years absolutely loved the place but it has a very moody underbelly you're right about the driving it was like the wacky races my 1.6 escort ghia had the scars to prove it

You can feel the mood the minute you arrive.
The last City game there I was drinking with a lot of City supporters and there was no trouble.
Next again day there was stories of supporters not drinking in groups getting set upon.

 

[Lupo]

The taxi ride from Naples airport is one yo

Due to my background I have been going to Naples all of my life and love the place, it may be scruffy, chaotic, dirty, etc but that is all part of the experience but whenever I catch the bus from the airport to the docks (always an interesting 20 minutes or so), I often think of the first timers who have booked a glossy Amalfi Coast or island holiday wondering what the hell they have come to!

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Check the regional trains as well.
They used to be a lot cheaper.

Agreed, but they can take hours longer so, worth paying the extra most times i think.

 

[Blumers Bloomers]

Just done a week in Sardinia ….highly recommended. EasyJet fly there directly from Manchester on the cheap. Not a place to try and catch City during the season, distinct lack of sports bars etc, but beautiful beaches, hillsides, food

 

[HolisticJim]

great point Gelson.. if you're doing 5 days and go into Rome you've got a decision to make, because you can easily spend an inordinate amount of time there, so much to see if that's what you're looking for.. if you're looking to see as much as you can, and over a good geographical spread you'll need to specifically target things accordingly.


I've driven from Bologna to Pisa, up the coast (very pretty route too) and into Genoa and onto Monaco (unique principality you might enjoy) all within two days taking in the sights - and I wasn't even driving like Steve McQueen, but you could split these up into three days and hit up the aquarium (if that's your thing is it amazing) in an afternoon/morning very comfortably, if that would allow you time to hit up any other targets - ?

When you hire a car there can you rent it in...Sat Rome for eg and hand it back in Pisa?