Both my trips to Italy were spent mainly in Rome and Tuscany. Next time i will spend time in some of the other regions.

You really need to spend a couple of days in Florence. It is incredible! Siena, Lucca, Cortona and Pienza are also worth a visit.

Eat lots of gelato.

I've been to Italy four times. I've been to Florence, Rome, Milan, Siena, Lucca, Assassi, Cinque Terre, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, San Gimignano and Lake Como.

Siena is my favorite place to stay for any extended period. The Cinque Terre and Lucca are favorites, too. I'm more into local culture, food, wine, stuff like that than I am the touristy stuff. Siena is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You can daytrip Florence to see the sights, and then at night retire to a much quieter town in the Tuscan hills. The town square is called Il Campo, and it's one of the most unique in all of Europe. The Duomo is one of the most ornate you'll see anywhere. Siena has some of my favorite restaurants in all of Europe.

(06-10-2014 11:41 AM)papajohn Wrote:  Eat lots of gelato.

This

I dated an Italian girl for about 6 months. She could do things that I wish some American girls knew how to do.

(06-10-2014 02:21 PM)amish_ashaman Wrote:  I've been to Italy four times. I've been to Florence, Rome, Milan, Siena, Lucca, Assassi, Cinque Terre, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, San Gimignano and Lake Como.

Siena is my favorite place to stay for any extended period. The Cinque Terre and Lucca are favorites, too. I'm more into local culture, food, wine, stuff like that than I am the touristy stuff. Siena is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You can daytrip Florence to see the sights, and then at night retire to a much quieter town in the Tuscan hills. The town square is called Il Campo, and it's one of the most unique in all of Europe. The Duomo is one of the most ornate you'll see anywhere. Siena has some of my favorite restaurants in all of Europe.

The porcelain is also incredible in Siena, especially the tiles representing the various city districts.

Bluest water I have even seen in the streams rushing through the towns in Southern Italy.
I loved gritty Napoli with its seafood and dock workers.
Rome was fascinating, but hot, hot, hot and crowded in June.
Pompeii and Venice are must-sees.
Lake Como ~~ the food, the views, the elegance ~~ just made you feel like a million dollars.

Actually, when I think about it, being in Italy is all about how you feel, how it makes you feel, and you always want to return. We entered singing and left singing.

Italy is a country of many cultures, many cuisines, many different heritages, from top to bottom.

(06-10-2014 02:21 PM)amish_ashaman Wrote:  I've been to Italy four times. I've been to Florence, Rome, Milan, Siena, Lucca, Assassi, Cinque Terre, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, San Gimignano and Lake Como.

Siena is my favorite place to stay for any extended period. The Cinque Terre and Lucca are favorites, too. I'm more into local culture, food, wine, stuff like that than I am the touristy stuff. Siena is the best of both worlds, in my opinion. You can daytrip Florence to see the sights, and then at night retire to a much quieter town in the Tuscan hills. The town square is called Il Campo, and it's one of the most unique in all of Europe. The Duomo is one of the most ornate you'll see anywhere. Siena has some of my favorite restaurants in all of Europe.

Care to share the names of those restaurants?