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The Italy Thread


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17 minutes ago, VABuckeye said:

Modena, Ferrara, Padua and Verona for daytrips.

Of course if you go to Modena you have to try to get into Trattoria Frencescana.  Are you basing in Bolgna because that's where I'd base.

For 6 days, I am based in Ferrara, and then for 4 days in Bologna (we are going to the F1 race).

 

I know one of the days we are in Bologna (probably the Friday), we will spend the day in Maranello.  Gotta go see Ferrari.

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2 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

For 6 days, I am based in Ferrara, and then for 4 days in Bologna (we are going to the F1 race).

 

I know one of the days we are in Bologna (probably the Friday), we will spend the day in Maranello.  Gotta go see Ferrari.

...and go drink Lambrusco in the hills while enjoying typical non-pretentious food form Emilia.  Key.

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10 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

Modena, Ferrara, Padua and Verona for daytrips.

Of course if you go to Modena you have to try to get into Trattoria Frencescana.  Are you basing in Bolgna because that's where I'd base.

We did a tour of the Medici balsamic vinegar factory and winery in Modena. Super cool. 
 

https://www.medici.it/en/balsamic-vinegar-factory/

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24 minutes ago, VABuckeye said:

Looks like Italy late May into early June depending on awards flights I can get on Emirates.   Ten days split between Bologna and the Dolomites.   Time to start fleshing it out. 

Good place to stop for lunch on the way to the mountains...

https://www.locandamoscal.it/home

Trento is also a cool town to visit.  Where are you going in the Dolomiti?  I'm jealous.  Enjoy it!

We're going to be in France in March but we'll be near the Italian border so we'll most likely go to Sestriere one day

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2 hours ago, texasdago said:

Good place to stop for lunch on the way to the mountains...

https://www.locandamoscal.it/home

Trento is also a cool town to visit.  Where are you going in the Dolomiti?  I'm jealous.  Enjoy it!

We're going to be in France in March but we'll be near the Italian border so we'll most likely go to Sestriere one day

Another completely hidden place to stop for lunch on the way up to the Dolomites. Phenomenal pasta and good beers. 
 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5ebqdBknXA9SABnZ8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

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On 1/6/2025 at 4:06 PM, Ghost of LL said:

Anyway, on a separate topic--I am in Tyrol for a week this summer.  @texasdago, should I hop over to Bolzano for a day?  And if so, what should I see/eat/drink while there?

 

We did a day trip from Verona to Bolzano, it was well worth it.  Fast train is 2 stops, Trento then Bolzano, took an hour.    From the train station in Bolzano you can walk 5 minutes and take a cable car for a 15 minute ride way up into the mountains, with spectacular views.   

image.png.a10716a81281f6f641b83ee6c73675da.png

image.png.fca20efee6e056bf7eb37258f06e9774.png

image.png.1412f486953e7a59e6abf4cc758ae804.png

Once up top there is a good amount of restaurants and shops.   There is a train up there that you can take to get from different areas.    We didn't take the train and just had lunch and wine in the area where the cable car dropped us off.   Here is the website for the area on top of the mountain.

https://www.ritten.com/en/1401-klobenstein

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Question for dago and others.   10 day trip. How many in the Dolomites and how many in Bologna?  50/50 or 60/40 Bologna?   I’m thinking the latter because of the amount of day trips t9 do from Bologna. 

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2 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

Question for dago and others.   10 day trip. How many in the Dolomites and how many in Bologna?  50/50 or 60/40 Bologna?   I’m thinking the latter because of the amount of day trips t9 do from Bologna. 

It all depends what you want to do in the mountains but yeah more to do in and around Bologna.  

When you go to the Dolomiti, go take the two table cars from Ortisei up to Seceda.  Beautiful!

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4 minutes ago, texasdago said:

It all depends what you want to do in the mountains but yeah more to do in and around Bologna.  

When you go to the Dolomiti, go take the two table cars from Ortisei up to Seceda.  Beautiful!

This is the top. 
 

 

IMG_4893.jpeg

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17 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

Cortina or Ortisei to base in the Dolomites?  Right now, I'm leaning Ortisei.

Yes, Ortisei.  Santa Cristina and Selva further up the valley and less expensive but all within easy reach of each other 

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So, Ive never been to Europe and I’m going to Greece for about 10 days in June. I told my wife if I’m going this far anyway I’m staying an extra 7-8 days and flying to Italy. I want to go mainly for the historical sites but I know it will be super crowded. I’d like to spend about 4 days in Rome and another 3-4 in the south to see Pompeii and maybe Herculean. Also maybe visit Ischia. Based on this thread, driving to Sorrento is a bad idea. I’m ok taking trains but my question is making Sorrento a home base for the stuff I’d like to see a bad idea because of the crowds? What might be a better option?

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21 hours ago, SuckitKevin said:

So, Ive never been to Europe and I’m going to Greece for about 10 days in June. I told my wife if I’m going this far anyway I’m staying an extra 7-8 days and flying to Italy. I want to go mainly for the historical sites but I know it will be super crowded. I’d like to spend about 4 days in Rome and another 3-4 in the south to see Pompeii and maybe Herculean. Also maybe visit Ischia. Based on this thread, driving to Sorrento is a bad idea. I’m ok taking trains but my question is making Sorrento a home base for the stuff I’d like to see a bad idea because of the crowds? What might be a better option?

If your goal is Pompeii and Herculaneum and other sites like that, it feels like Sorrento would not be a great base.  Also, good call on Ischia over Capri as it may be less overrun.  

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Taking the family to Italy this summer.  Me, Mrs, and the boys (15 and 8).

My thought after reading the first page of this thread and a few travel blogs I enjoy is to fly into Milan, rent a car, and road trip south, flying home from Rome.  10 nights.

I haven't been to Italy since 2005 and reading just the first page of this thread has me feeling overwhelmed.  There isn't a small countryside city I wouldn't want to explore, an amazing restaurant I wouldn't want to eat at, or a church or museum I wouldn't go inside and look at.  So, I have to make a detailed trip plan so we don't muck things up.

I have Rome covered and this thread seems to have a ton about Rome.  But everything before those last 3 days is up in the air. 

I am I making a good or bad choice to consider renting a car and driving rather than train?

I do plan to read all 30 pages of this thread and take some notes.

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@BlueGreySky Go spend some time in Maremma... can personally suggest Talamone, the Argentario Peninsula (Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano... also Orbetello is not too bad), go explore wineries in the countryside... you have lots of options.  Cala Violina is supposed to be beautiful.  Punta Ala, as well.  Capalbio is supposed to be very cool.  As you head into Lazio, you have Tarquinia, famous for its thermal baths, Cerveteri, famous for its Etruscan ruins, etc.  Lots to see.

No secret I go to Italy a lot... last train I took in Italy was in 2005.  Drive.  Your options will be endless.

Edited by texasdago
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5 hours ago, texasdago said:

@BlueGreySky Go spend some time in Maremma... can personally suggest Talamone, the Argentario Peninsula (Porto Ercole, Porto Santo Stefano... also Orbetello is not too bad), go explore wineries in the countryside... you have lots of options.  Cala Violina is supposed to be beautiful.  Punta Ala, as well.  Capalbio is supposed to be very cool.  As you head into Lazio, you have Tarquinia, famous for its thermal baths, Cerveteri, famous for its Etruscan ruins, etc.  Lots to see.

No secret I go to Italy a lot... last train I took in Italy was in 2005.  Drive.  Your options will be endless.

Second the driving. It’s just a lot of fun. 

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1 hour ago, Scary Stranger said:

Believe the signs about speed cameras.

Sometimes.  Talk to locals and they'll tell you that not every Autovelox has a camera in it.  Sometimes they move them around, sometimes they get stolen.  Most rentals have navigators that note them on the map.   The highways have a Safety Tutor system for speeding but somehow a ton of people don't get tickets for hauling ass.  I'm usually skirting about 10 kilometers per hour over the limit on the autostrada.  Somehow never gotten a ticket.  Parking? Different story.  Don't get one.  It can be a gargantuan PITA (and I speak Italian) 

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