A Month in Italy

patl

New member
Hi. So much great information on this site. Thank you!
I plan on taking a solo working vacation for about 4 weeks in Italy with about 2 weeks in Rome, hopefully a few days in Venice, and 12 days in Florence area from mid March to mid April. I have never been to Italy any recommendations would be great! I am from California and will be working most evenings and site seeing during the days. I will definitely explore your walking itineraries in Florence. I would also love to see some of the Tuscan countryside too. Is this possible by bicycle? Maybe taking a train to a certain location and then renting a bike? I mostly like to stay away from tour groups and head out on my own. Thanks!
 
Ciao Patl and welcome to the forum!

A month long working vacation sounds pretty awesome, glad you can make it in this period too as spring should be arriving and the countryside waking up from its winter slumber.

Are you thinking you'd like to use Florence as your base for the entire 12 days or spend some time in Florence and also in the countryside? If you need a good working internet connection for work, pay attention to what places offer (in Florence and outside). Not all are "with" the times (well, most connections are not for a working vacation and their Wi-Fi is offered as an extra bonus service for people on holiday --- they basically don't consider it as an "essential" service, or at least not all of them do). I am sure this applies for Rome and Venice as well. Having said that, just make sure to ask about it when contacting possible places you're interested in. I am sure you will find the perfect ones you like and have this.
Take a look at http://www.florenceaccommodation.com/ to start looking.

As far as biking/cycling: are you interested in doing short day trips/outings or something more challenging of more than a day? Are you thinking of doing day trips several times on different occasions? I am trying to figure out what would be best for you: whether to rent a bike for multiple days from the start and keep with you or just rent when you feel like it (as you go, sort of). Also how "good" of a bike do you want (i.e. do you road bike already?) Most rental places offer all types of bikes but if you want the nicer ones, it is best you book ahead AND maybe keep it once you rent it for multiple days so that you don't risk not having it later on. Take a look at Florence by bike as they have a wide selection:
http://www.florencebybike.it/en/bike-rental/

As far as tours, consider that maybe just doing even one might be fun: they provide the bike, know the routes for great scenery (as well as how to stay off high trafficked roads... because even in Chianti, the experience is different if you're riding along with too many cars passing you) and get you out of Florence and back. Florence is in a valley so to get out of the city, you need to climb hills. Chianti has lots of hills, so maybe you want to start in Chianti and do easier rides without worrying about getting out and back in to Florence. If you want to train with a bike, know that you have to pay for the bike on trains... and trains get you close to and around Chianti, but not into Chianti.

Elena and Piero offer small group tours, no more than 8 but are often smaller, depending on request:
https://www.discovertuscany.com/tuscany-by-bike/bike-in-florence-and-tuscany-tours.html

Take a look at more tours here:
http://www.partner.viator.com/en/8357/Tuscany-tours/Bike-and-Mountain-Bike-Tours/d206-g16-c55
 
Last year i was there for some official work and i enjoyed a lot at there.


Hi. So much great information on this site. Thank you!
I plan on taking a solo working vacation for about 4 weeks in Italy with about 2 weeks in Rome, hopefully a few days in Venice, and 12 days in Florence area from mid March to mid April. I have never been to Italy any recommendations would be great! I am from California and will be working most evenings and site seeing during the days. I will definitely explore your walking itineraries in Florence. I would also love to see some of the Tuscan countryside too. Is this possible by bicycle? Maybe taking a train to a certain location and then renting a bike? I mostly like to stay away from tour groups and head out on my own. Thanks!
 
Some Itinerary Ideas

Buongiorno,

Here are a few Itinerary suggestions that will have you checking out some of the fabulous landscapes of Tuscany:

This area is populated with castles, antique churches and an immense national forest:
https://www.discovertuscany.com/casentino/intinerary-for-one-day-in-casentino.html

Between Florence and Arezzo, you will be surprised at the views and hidden treasures:
https://www.discovertuscany.com/itineraries-in-tuscany/setteponti-in-valdarno.html

I did this itinerary just last year - and believe me, I found surprising little roads all over where I could stop for photo opportunities:
https://www.discovertuscany.com/maremma/what-to-see/montecucco-itinerary.html
https://www.discovertuscany.com/iti...da-del-vino/montecucco-maremma-wine-road.html

Buon Viaggio,
Donna Denise
 
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