Idyllic town(s) in Italy

lufties

Never been to Italy, just wondered if anyone knows of an idyllic town thats not too touristy, preferably by the coast, a true Italian experience so to speak.

stefan idiot jones

Check out 'The Trip, Italy' with Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan and there is some stunning towns in it.

Chattastrophe!

Praiano is perfect for what you're looking for. I'd recommend Hotel Le Fioriere.

lufties

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Praiano is perfect for what you're looking for. I'd recommend Hotel Le Fioriere.

thanks, an apartment to rent might be better.

rossie1977

despite being touristy sorrento, bellagio (lake como) and stresa are well worth the visit.

lufties

rossie1977 wrote: »

despite being touristy sorrento, bellagio (lake como) and stresa are well worth the visit.

Thanks, just a short break with the missus..The closest i've been to anything Italy is Malta, I worked there for a few weeks and would not be going back.

biko

Trieste is nice.

Meangadh

Le Cinque Terre. It means "The 5 Lands" and they're five small villages along the North West Coast. So beautiful. Fly to Pisa and get the train. No point in bringing a car because you either hike or get a small local train in between the five villages. Stay in one of the villages and travel in between the rest- I'd really advise hiking because the views are unbelievable.

I've been all over most of Italy and I think it's my favourite part.

DellyBelly

Naples is nice and also by the coast.

The_Valeyard

Assisi was beautiful, + no cars were allowed in the main town, very chilled out.

Hrududu

Meangadh wrote: »

Le Cinque Terre. It means "The 5 Lands" and they're five small villages along the North West Coast. So beautiful. Fly to Pisa and get the train. No point in bringing a car because you either hike or get a small local train in between the five villages. Stay in one of the villages and travel in between the rest- I'd really advise hiking because the views are unbelievable.

I've been all over most of Italy and I think it's my favourite part.

Came in to say this. Been to a lot of places in Italy but this was my favourite. 5 small towns perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Breathtaking views and the lack of access means the place hasn't become as touristy as a lot of other places. We hiked between 2 of the villages and it was by far the best thing we did on our trip.

lufties

DellyBelly wrote: »

Naples is nice and also by the coast.

I've heard Naples is a kip...very raw I'd imagine.

jake is right

lufties wrote: »

Thanks, just a short break with the missus..The closest i've been to anything Italy is Malta, I worked there for a few weeks and would not be going back.

What did you not like about Malta ?

lufties

jake is right wrote: »

What did you not like about Malta ?

Its expensive, stayed at saint julians, not much around there..Its a nightmare to get around too. Wasn't impressed about the food either. Malta is more Arab-like than Mediterranean.

Meangadh

I have to say I liked Malta but there's no comparison between Malta and Italy. Italy is just stunning as regards scenery, architecture, food, wine. It's not cheap but if you stay out of the main cities it's obviously cheaper.

I think probably one of the reasons I liked Le Cinque Terre so much was because although there is enough tourism there to provide decent services (I had to have decent public transport to places around Italy for example as I didn't want to drive), it's not mad busy with tourists unlike places like Florence, Rome and Venice- places that I did love also, but they were crazy busy.

I just felt like I was really in Italy when I got to Le Cinque Terre- the vineyards and lemon groves everywhere, villages perched on the cliffs, no cars in the villages.

One piece of advice I'd give though is to be aware that sometimes the hiking paths and railway lines between the villages have to close because of landslides if there's been bad weather. I read up a good bit about the villages before I went too, loads of info online.

Micky Dolenz

I went to this last year. Lovely town, bit crazy on race week though but quite the experience.

If you are passing through Rome, call in for a glass of vino.

Dexter Bip

Meangadh wrote: »

Le Cinque Terre. It means "The 5 Lands" and they're five small villages along the North West Coast. So beautiful. Fly to Pisa and get the train. No point in bringing a car because you either hike or get a small local train in between the five villages. Stay in one of the villages and travel in between the rest- I'd really advise hiking because the views are unbelievable.

I've been all over most of Italy and I think it's my favourite part.

Done this in 2010 and loved it. Need to be a little bit fit though.

Westernyelp

Cingue Terra is lovely. five villages for the price of one! Riomaggiore in particular; with a lovely coastal path between all five

Ruu

Moved from After Hours.

mfceiling

Alassio on the North West coast is lovely but for a true Italian beautiful village head about 40 mins inland to the village of Apricale - named as one of the 7 most beautiful villages in Italy. It is completely done with narrow cobbled streets and is not able to accomodate vehicles - ridiculously quiet and peaceful. Google image it - beautiful!!

Dexter Bip

Westernyelp wrote: »

Cingue Terra is lovely. five villages for the price of one! Riomaggiore in particular; with a lovely coastal path between all five

Riomaggiore is beautiful. Also Vernazza. In fact the whole place is impossibly pretty.
I remember seeing something on RTE around 2009/10 with Kathryn Thomas about the place - No frontiers? Should be on YouTube worth a look. Tons of stuff on trip advisor and venere.com regarding accommodation. Again this place is fantastic but we did go there in April when it was nice and cool. ( we are fit but had children to take into account - they loved it - 10 and 8 at the time )
Maybe a bit warm for energetic walks in midsummer for Northern Europeans not used to the heat and don't go there if you don't like walking up steps -there are lots and lots and lots. All beautiful and worth the effort.
We hired a car from Pisa but not needed as you can get there easily by train. Italian police are still waiting my late payment of €375 for driving at 60km/h in a 50km/h zone on a wide road near La Spezia.

Meangadh

Dexter Bip wrote: »

Done this in 2010 and loved it. Need to be a little bit fit though.

Yeah some of the steps are a killer alright, especially if you go in the height of the summer like I did- I was not a pretty sight by the end! Looked crap but I felt great!

marie12

I recently walked part of the cinque terre and agree it's amazing. 2 sections of the walk are closed at the mo(riomaggiore -corniglia), the other 2 are open(corniglia -monterosso). Train is only 7eu from pisa. There are numerous walks you can do, coastal one costs a little. I stayed in riomaggiore and manarola both fab. Such a beautiful place. Had to return! Highly recommend.

gucci

Thinking about heading next summer (Yeah i know...planning in advance!)
Myself and OH would like to maybe stay somewhere and do a 2 or maybe 3 day cooking school? Has anyone ever done something like that?

I have visions of some old couple teaching me the ways of the tomato and sitting in the sunset drinking wine and eating our daily "lesson"
My OH has pretty decent Italian so we wouldnt have to be thought exclusively in english, but it would be preferable for me.

otnomart

By the coast, Bosa or Castelsardo. Nearest airport is Alghero.

ladylost

marie12 wrote: »

I recently walked part of the cinque terre and agree it's amazing. 2 sections of the walk are closed at the mo(riomaggiore -corniglia), the other 2 are open(corniglia -monterosso). Train is only 7eu from pisa. There are numerous walks you can do, coastal one costs a little. I stayed in riomaggiore and manarola both fab. Such a beautiful place. Had to return! Highly recommend.

Can I ask how fit you would need to be to do these walks? Sounds like the ideal holiday if I'm fit enough

Dexter Bip

Average fitness should be fine. There are some climbs but not too strenuous. Hill walkers would rate most if it as easy. You won't notice the climbs as you will be distracted by the scenery. Go for it.

johnire

Expensive??
How could you say that??
I found Malta to be one of the most reasonably priced places I've ever been to.
As for getting around the bus service is second to none...it's excellent.
The people are lovely and the way of life so relaxed.

lufties wrote: »

Its expensive, stayed at saint julians, not much around there..Its a nightmare to get around too. Wasn't impressed about the food either. Malta is more Arab-like than Mediterranean.

johnire

lufties wrote: »

I've heard Naples is a kip...very raw I'd imagine.

You imagine incorrectly.
Naples is full of character and bursting with life.