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Italy In The Summer


Gershwin

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Afternoon kickback,

 

Looking to book a trip to Italy this summer but I've never been.

 

We're looking for a villa somewhere fairly quiet but maybe close to some villages/a big town.

 

Any recommendations?

 

 

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Afternoon kickback,

 

Looking to book a trip to Italy this summer but I've never been.

 

We're looking for a villa somewhere fairly quiet but maybe close to some villages/a big town.

 

Any recommendations?

 

My parents took us to Lake Garda when I was about 14. Had a great time, and as far as I remember we did a couple of day trips to Verona and Venice. Think Milan would be striking distance from there too. Not sure about villas as we always did Eurocamp type trips but it was a nice place to be

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Tuscany is obviously the :toff: destination. Flights to Pisa can be pretty good but I imagine high summer it'll be pretty pricey finding a villa.

Piedmont (Piemonte) is the region Turin is in so accessible from Milan also. It has plenty traditional villages and rolling hills and you'll probably find accommodation a bit cheaper than Tuscany.

Can't think of specific names of places but if I see my sister I'll ask her as went there a few times in the 90s when my dad lived in Milan.

My girlfriend and I do a similar villa trip to the south of Spain every other year - doesn't have the beauty of Italy but reasonably priced for guaranteed sunshine. You have to decide between total privacy versus being able to walk to a village - I prefer the total privacy with occassional drives to the villages to stock up.

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Doing a fortnight in Italy this June. Got a week booked around Lido, Newmarket Venice then it's onto lake Garda for the second week.

 

Absolutely love Italy.

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Tommiwastheboss

Went to a wedding in Tuscany at a vineyard called Cinciano a couple of years back. Plenty of accommodation there and a couple of pools. They have added a new restaurant and it's about 1.5 hours drive from Pisa

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Tuscany is obviously the :toff: destination. Flights to Pisa can be pretty good but I imagine high summer it'll be pretty pricey finding a villa.

Piedmont (Piemonte) is the region Turin is in so accessible from Milan also. It has plenty traditional villages and rolling hills and you'll probably find accommodation a bit cheaper than Tuscany.

Can't think of specific names of places but if I see my sister I'll ask her as went there a few times in the 90s when my dad lived in Milan.

My girlfriend and I do a similar villa trip to the south of Spain every other year - doesn't have the beauty of Italy but reasonably priced for guaranteed sunshine. You have to decide between total privacy versus being able to walk to a village - I prefer the total privacy with occassional drives to the villages to stock up.

 

I used to work with an Italian girl from Milan whose surname was Piemontese. She was proper :pinilla:

 

Might need to hit her up for some recommendations :look:

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We go there most years and have been to Rome, Milan, Verona, Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio, Sardinia, Sorrento, Lake Como and Lake Garda several times. Back to Lake Como this year and we've got a villa booked in Bellagio which is a lovely place.

 

If you're OK with driving, there are loads of nice villas in Tuscany (we were looking at staying there again this year) but a lot of them are in the middle of nowhere so you'll need a car. Italy's the last fecking place I'd want to drive so for a villa, we'd prefer the lakes where you've got the option of getting the ferry to go to different places. I've had a great time everywhere I've been though (which is why we keep going back) - it's an amazing place.

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My parents took us to Lake Garda when I was about 14. Had a great time, and as far as I remember we did a couple of day trips to Verona and Venice. Think Milan would be striking distance from there too. Not sure about villas as we always did Eurocamp type trips but it was a nice place to be

Love Lake Garda, been several times but not the cheapest of holidays, always said if the lotto comes up that is where I am off to and yes close to Milan a coffee drinkers paradise.

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Салатные палочки

Taormina.  Went back in 2007 and it was lovely.  Fairly quiet, great food, cheap wine, plus you can do the Godfather tour.  Not a fan of the cable car to the beach though.  

 

I think it may have become a lot more popular in recent years though.  

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Rome.  

You just can't beat it for the history.

 

Summer can get pretty hot, last time I was there (July 2014) and it was often over 35c; was forced to drink some ice cold draught Peroni or Moretti, just to cool down you understand. 

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Rome.  

You just can't beat it for the history.

 

Summer can get pretty hot, last time I was there (July 2014) and it was often over 35c; was forced to drink some ice cold draught Peroni or Moretti, just to cool down you understand. 

 

Never been in the summer but been a few times in the winter. Every time I've been it's been mid to high teens, drawing looks for walking around in a t-shirt while the natives are wrapped up :lol:

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Honeymooned a couple of years ago in a Tuscan village called Cerbaia just outside Florence, absolutely stunning.

 

Hired a car and never had an issue driving around although we did bus it into Florence and got the train to Rome.

 

Places visited included San Gimignano, Lucca, Viareggio, Pisa, Siena, Livorno and my personal favourite Barga (little Scotland)

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sorrento,close to Naples,vesuvius,capri,herculenium stunning,just stunning !

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Florence one of my faves but if you get the chance try Venice, yes its pricey to sit and drink in St Marks Square but worth it at night when the orchestras are playing, also worth taking a wonder down the side streets and getting a bit lost to see how the locals live. And do a gondola trip, think it was about ?80 over 10 years ago but again worth the experience. All food is fantastic in Italy but if in Venice I would avoid the restaurants at the front and wonder inward. 

 

Jees just seen Sorrento mentioned also beautiful, god I wish I was there now!

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Adore Italy.

 

You will get many suggestions but cycling round the City walls of Lucca and stopping for a beer or coffee is a treasured memory.

 

Have to go back....soon !

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Any recommendations for somewhere to go with a two year old in tow? Either villa or campsite type place, with a pool/beach. Ideally with a wee village etc within walking distance.

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+1 for Lake Garda. Has heaps of little towns around the lake which can easily be reached by bus or ferry. Stunning place.

 

Went to Milan for the day but thought it was a shithole in comparison to the lake. I wouldn't recommend. 

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Varenna on Lake Como (close to Bellagio) is stunning. Ideal for boat trips to other Como towns and within a couple of hours by train to Milan & Bergamo

 

Varenna.jpg

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Full of loud, rude, obnoxious creeps and stuck up birds.

 

Beautiful scenery and some amazing history.

 

Try Cinque Terra (sp) all though very touristy, or perhaps the Amalfi coastline.

 

Used to work in Florence, Rome and Como. All have their own charm.

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sorrento,close to Naples,vesuvius,capri,herculenium stunning,just stunning !

+1 for Sorrento, great base to get around to the above. Italy's deffo my favourite country.

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Another here for Garda. Been twice including last year using Desenzano as a base. Beautiful region and a great choice of villages via ferry. Walks, cycling too.

Milan ok for a day if all you want to do is the Duomo and shopping. Liked Verona.

Be sure to grab a few bottles of Bardolino - cracking wine.

 

Honeymooned in Ravello on Amalfi coast. Gorgeous coastline although we barely left the hotel. Been told to avoid Naples though.

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Stayed in Menagio on lake como last summer.

The lake and towns are

Loads to do during the day. But nothing to do at night as the ferry's stop early.

Also disappointed in the food.

Went to Nice in September. I thought that was much better. Definitely go back.

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The People's Chimp

Afternoon kickback,

 

Looking to book a trip to Italy this summer but I've never been.

 

We're looking for a villa somewhere fairly quiet but maybe close to some villages/a big town.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Should have dropped me a line. :mugbie:

 

Na, joking, but seriously recommend the cinque terre, superb. Levanto is a really cool town. 

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Went to Lake Como on my honeymoon. absolutely stunning. Been to Lake Garda as well which is stunning as well. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast is stunning as well. Naples not pretty to look at but an interesting place. I thought Milan was a bit meh. Loved Verona and Venice. Really want to go back there, maybe next year. Would like to visit Siena, Bologna which I think based in Tuscany would be easy to reach.

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Went to Lake Como on my honeymoon. absolutely stunning. Been to Lake Garda as well which is stunning as well. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast is stunning as well. Naples not pretty to look at but an interesting place. I thought Milan was a bit meh. Loved Verona and Venice. Really want to go back there, maybe next year. Would like to visit Siena, Bologna which I think based in Tuscany would be easy to reach.

 

It's an easy drive from Florence to Siena and well worth visiting.

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WorldChampions1902

It's an easy drive from Florence to Siena and well worth visiting.

Did a 23 tour of Italy in September. Flew in and out of Milan and had a 3 week first class rail pass. We stayed in five cities and used the rail pass to travel out to various other sites/places of interest. Booked accommodation with Airbnb in Milan, Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples. I would agree with previous posters that Florence is well worth considering and Siena is absolutely stunning.

 

A word of advice. If you are going to Florence or anywhere South of there, take mosquito nets and repellent! We were plagued with them at night and couldn't believe they were there. Oh, and if you get the chance, plan a day at Pompeii - absolutely awesome!

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Adore Italy.

 

You will get many suggestions but cycling round the City walls of Lucca and stopping for a beer or coffee is a treasured memory.

 

Have to go back....soon !

What a country it is. Have been loads of times and to many different areas, and have never been disappointed. I know lots of people don't like Venice because of the crowds, but I could never get sick of it. Last time I was there - summer 2014 - there was a boy on the vaporetto wearing the brand new Hearts top.

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Off to Milan in April.......some of the comments are worrying !!

 

Taking in Inter v Napoli match and hoping to explore the city as well as a day or two out of town within a couple of hours travelling...any recommendations ?

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manaliveits105

Used friendsoftuscany.com a few years ago and stayed in Casetta Dorado cottage - if you like quiet and stunning scenery this fits the bill .Castelneuvo market town is a few kilometers away but a couple of shops 10 minute walk and small village with a local football club pitch and bar and couple of great restaurants.Really need to hire a car - we didnt and walked and used local taxi (who was born in Glasgow). Train from Pisa to Castelneuvo - very scenic .

They have a few properties in Tuscany on their website .

 

If you are in Tuscany you need to go to Barga - the most Scottish town in Italy - they have a tattoo - John Bellany lived there and Paulo Nuttinis family come from there as do many ice cream and chippy owning families - beautiful hill top town with stunning scenery all around - its near Il Choco where Graham Souness used to take his teams for pre season altitude training

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Used friendsoftuscany.com a few years ago and stayed in Casetta Dorado cottage - if you like quiet and stunning scenery this fits the bill .Castelneuvo market town is a few kilometers away but a couple of shops 10 minute walk and small village with a local football club pitch and bar and couple of great restaurants.Really need to hire a car - we didnt and walked and used local taxi (who was born in Glasgow). Train from Pisa to Castelneuvo - very scenic .

They have a few properties in Tuscany on their website .

 

If you are in Tuscany you need to go to Barga - the most Scottish town in Italy - they have a tattoo - John Bellany lived there and Paulo Nuttinis family come from there as do many ice cream and chippy owning families - beautiful hill top town with stunning scenery all around - its near Il Choco where Graham Souness used to take his teams for pre season altitude training

 

Be prepared if you go into the local bar - it's a hotbed of Celtic loving supporters.

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Off to Milan in April.......some of the comments are worrying !!

 

Taking in Inter v Napoli match and hoping to explore the city as well as a day or two out of town within a couple of hours travelling...any recommendations ?

When I went to Milan it was only got 24 hours. It was hot, maybe 35 degrees. The centre is nice. I stayed about 6km outside Milan city centre on way to airport.

 

Mum and Dad have been to Bergamo and they really like it. Think it's meant to be a nice place.

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I'm off there for a week at Easter.

There is a bar called Chaplins opposite the english pub, Irish Bar with an italian owner,where as a Scotsman i watched..Scotland v the Czech republic,with a guy from Birmingham and a guy from Moscow..United nations or what !

ps bar is about as irish as the inhabitants of the east end of the weeg !!  

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Plus more Tennants Super than you can shake a shitty stick at.

I've never got that - it's ****ing everywhere. I get that it's strong but Peroni Doppio Malto is pretty strong too and actually tastes like decent beer rather than paint stripper.
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