Italy – With a Little Help From My Friends
April 21, 2009 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under European Travel
I have a long list of places that I want to go and things that I want to see. Sometimes, however, I just can’t decide what to do. That’s when a little help from my friends is so important – and I’m hoping that you can help.
l will be heading off to Italy in June, and find myself with a couple of days that I don’t have plans. And when I say NO PLAN, I really mean NO PLANS AT ALL.
Here’s what I have:
I’ll be arriving in Milan after an all night flight from the US with two other adults. The flight arrives mid-morning, and I will have roughly 48 hours before I need to be en route (via rental car or train) to Tuscany. 48 hours can cover a lot of ground, but commuting time has to be taken into consideration. I don’t want to spend the entire time on the train or the road.
So what should I do?
Do I have time to enjoy the natural beauty in the Dolomites? Should I spend some time visiting the canals of Venice (recently cited as the most expensive city in Europe)? Should I head off to Lake Como? Or to Bologna, Florence, or maybe even drive over to Serbia? And of course, I could always stay in Milan, Italy’s fashion capital. Where have I forgotten? So many choices, but I’m stymied.
So hopefully you’ll chime in with a recommendation – what would you do with these 48 hours? Please leave your suggestions in the comments.
Photo credit: wikimedia
Hi! I’m a flight attendant and almost 3 years ago when i started, I decided to make use of my flight benefits and take a trip. My first fun trip was to Venice and it was gorgeous! It is the only place in Italy I have been to but it was verrry worth it! I loved walking all over the city and things may have changed but i didn’t think it was overly expensive.
You will probably love wherever you go. Enjoy!!!
Venice is on my short list, although it has become incredibly expensive. Looking for some good buys in the city though, so maybe there’s a way to crunch the budget and make it work.
I highly recommend Cinque Terre if you have time. It was by far my favorite part of Italy!
Last year I did the Amalfi Coast and loved it. People say that I’ll like Cinque Terre even more. It didn’t make the short list, but maybe I need to put in back on. Sounds like more research is in order — thanks for the suggestion.
Florence.
I spent a half day in Florence last year, and it’s definitely on the short list for a return visit. The art and architecture was fabulous, but about all I could see in half a day was the Duomo and a quick trip to see David (and the other art). So much there left unexplored — thanks for the reminder!
Lake Como is a fast train ride from Milan and beyond gorgeous. When you look around you feel like you’re in the middle of movie set, it’s so unreal looking.
Also, Milan gets a bad rap, but there are some fantastic sights there, too. You can actually go on the roof of the Duomo and see the amazing statues balanced on high pointy spires. http://www.italylogue.com/things-to-do/visiting-the-duomo-roof-in-milan.html
Lake Como! I went there about two summers ago. I was in Europe for a wedding and we had some time to spare so my Dad, sister and I drove to Lake Como and stayed a few nights and it is absolutely gorgeous! George Clooney has a house there!
The whole Italian Lakes area is supposed to be quite lovely. That area is also on my short list!
We stayed in the villa next door to George Clooney’s villa on Lake Como!!! He wasn’t there, but one day the paparazzi decided he was and totally buzzed us with a helicopter and huge camera lens!