Tour of Northern Italy - Belated honeymoon

[Asterix]

We got married in Cyprus in Feb and as the missus wanted to spend more time in Europe and Italy specifically, we decided to postpone the honeymoon until June. She's Indian and while she's travelled Asia loads, she's only visited England, Paris and Amsterdam so far with me.

On the 4th of June we land in Rome and the itinerary goes something like this!

2 nights in Rome
3 nights in Sienna (my 40th birthday with family coming over on the 7th)
1 night Florence
1 night Genoa
1 night Parma
1 night Venice
2 nights Verona
2 nights Bolzano
1 night Lake Como
1 night Milan

Home!

As you can see it's a bit of a whistle stop tour - I'll be doing plenty of driving but the distances are not that far so only really a few hours at a time. The longest stretch is up in the mountains but I'll enjoy the drive so no real sacrifice. Staying in boutique hotels in each place so should be interesting and it will also be a great foodie tour

Obviously, on the Parma to Venice leg we shall be popping into Modena & Bologna to have a look at some shiny cars - even toying with the idea of renting a Fezza while in Bolzano for the mountain roads - is there anything we shouldn't miss while there.

As always, the collective advice of PH is greatly appreciated.

[chopper602]

Don't miss out the Lambo museum - it's free to get in (unlike Ferrari) and when I went it was empty (people wise!!), nice boutique shop too. If you do some research a trip to Pagani is local too . . .

[Mrs Trackside]

I haven't got any advice, but I'd be interested in a follow up when you come back because we're planning on doing a two week driving holiday to coincide with the Mille Miglia next year, and it will include some of the places you've mentioned.

[Asterix]

Mrs Trackside said:

I haven't got any advice, but I'd be interested in a follow up when you come back because we're planning on doing a two week driving holiday to coincide with the Mille Miglia next year, and it will include some of the places you've mentioned.

It would be my pleasure - we'll take lots of piccys as well.

[Mrs Trackside]

Asterix said:

Mrs Trackside said:

I haven't got any advice, but I'd be interested in a follow up when you come back because we're planning on doing a two week driving holiday to coincide with the Mille Miglia next year, and it will include some of the places you've mentioned.

It would be my pleasure - we'll take lots of piccys as well.

I'm very jealous, you'll have a wonderful time because Italy is WONDERFUL!!!

[Asterix]

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

[PaulHogan]

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

I cannot recommend highly enough (though it does involve a little sacrifice!) that when you are in Rome you get up one morning with the birds and walk to the Colleseum and then to the Vatican. There'll be (virtually) no traffic and no other people around and you feel you have the whole city to yourselves. When it starts to get busy go and grab breakfast in a likely looking cafe and then back to the hotel for a nap/shag.

[Asterix]

PaulHogan said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

I cannot recommend highly enough (though it does involve a little sacrifice!) that when you are in Rome you get up one morning with the birds and walk to the Colleseum and then to the Vatican. There'll be (virtually) no traffic and no other people around and you feel you have the whole city to yourselves. When it starts to get busy go and grab breakfast in a likely looking cafe and then back to the hotel for a nap/shag.

Sounds like a very good idea - I always have enjoyed any major city at dawn. It's a brilliant experience feeling, seeing and hearing a city shake off its slumber and start to get going.

I'll be on Dubai time for the first few days so should be waking up early.

[Asterix]

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

That's the one! Also....if you're passing Brescia (which it appears you will be), The Mille Miglia museum is brilliant too.

Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 3rd June 09:01

[Asterix]

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

That's the one! Also....if you're passing Brescia (which it appears you will be), The Mille Miglia museum is brilliant too.

Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 3rd June 09:01

Great stuff, thanks - will see if the Missus will allow me to indulge

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

That's the one! Also....if you're passing Brescia (which it appears you will be), The Mille Miglia museum is brilliant too.

Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 3rd June 09:01

Great stuff, thanks - will see if the Missus will allow me to indulge

Good luck .......and when you go back to Como next year (as I know you will after seeing it ) stay in our lovely apartment! Currently sold out for the rest of the summer though.

http://www.lakecomohomes.com/displayproperty.asp?p...

[Asterix]

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

That's the one! Also....if you're passing Brescia (which it appears you will be), The Mille Miglia museum is brilliant too.

Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 3rd June 09:01

Great stuff, thanks - will see if the Missus will allow me to indulge

Good luck .......and when you go back to Como next year (as I know you will after seeing it ) stay in our lovely apartment! Currently sold out for the rest of the summer though.

http://www.lakecomohomes.com/displayproperty.asp?p...

You're stting me! Guess where we're staying - Hotel Du Lac - Varenna!

Where's good to eat!?

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Off on this trip this evening

Any other 'must do' things?

Moto-Guzzi museum on Lake Como (Mandello di Lario) is really good. Check their website for opening times as I think it's quite a narrow window. Lake Como is breathtakingly beautiful.

Is that the place where McGregor & Boorman went on the Long Way Down?

That's the one! Also....if you're passing Brescia (which it appears you will be), The Mille Miglia museum is brilliant too.

Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 3rd June 09:01

Great stuff, thanks - will see if the Missus will allow me to indulge

Good luck .......and when you go back to Como next year (as I know you will after seeing it ) stay in our lovely apartment! Currently sold out for the rest of the summer though.

http://www.lakecomohomes.com/displayproperty.asp?p...

You're stting me! Guess where we're staying - Hotel Du Lac - Varenna!

Where's good to eat!?

No way! You're gonna love it! (not there for nearly long enough)

Good to eat-

All pretty good but we particularly like...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1878... ........Get it booked Fella, and have a great time!

[Asterix]

Cheers mate - We'll check that place out.

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Cheers mate - We'll check that place out.

Say hi to my mate Connor...he works in the Du Lac.

Small frikkin world eh?

[Asterix]

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Cheers mate - We'll check that place out.

Say hi to my mate Connor...he works in the Du Lac.

Small frikkin world eh?

It is indeed

Ermmm - will he know a bloke called 'Stablelad'?

[Stablelad]

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Cheers mate - We'll check that place out.

Say hi to my mate Connor...he works in the Du Lac.

Small frikkin world eh?

It is indeed

Ermmm - will he know a bloke called 'Stablelad'?

Maybe not . Tell him Ali said hi.

[Asterix]

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Stablelad said:

Asterix said:

Cheers mate - We'll check that place out.

Say hi to my mate Connor...he works in the Du Lac.

Small frikkin world eh?

It is indeed

Ermmm - will he know a bloke called 'Stablelad'?

Maybe not . Tell him Ali said hi.

Sure - will do