Fellow readers and Italy lovers I need your help!!! For the last few weeks I have been dying to get out of Italy and visit friends in London. My husband has to go away for two weeks in September due to work (it’s military so I can’t come) so I got it in my head to travel it up! Everything was perfect except for the fact I am still waiting for my Permesso! From what I gather from various sources is that poor Jessica cannot leave fair Italy until the said document is in hand. At least I am a prisoner in a great country to travel in.
So I need your best places to visit! That’s right I leave it in your hands to plan my trip! I want smallish, interesting places that I must see! In return I promise to post MANY pictures and posts! It all depends on you!
UPDATE: Here are the details that will be helpful (Thanks Shelley!)
I will be with one other person, my sister is coming from the US.
Overnight is fine, I have anywhere from a few nights to 2 weeks depending on cost.
The place needs to be reachable by train, plane or bus (I don’t have my drivers license yet!).
More details please! Such as: are you traveling alone, do you want day trips or overnight trips, do you want to drive or go by train?
I’d be really surprised if anything happened to you traveling just on your permesso application receipt without the actual document. I traveled for years coming back and forth to/from Italy without bringing my permesso with me and no one ever asked to see it. I think it’s only we Americans who think that we’re supposed to follow the rules. The Italians make them but forget to enforce them. ;-)
Shelly is right, I traveled in and out of Italy and though I had a permesso, no one asked for it!
Well, since you already live in a big city, for a change then I would recommend the soothing peace of smaller places like beautiful Lago Di Garda in the north or San Gimignano to Volterra
At least those were the two spots I loved the go time and again when I had visitors and I we wanted to get out of town 
In Lago di Garda you can swim in “swan lake” with the swans 
Ok, well… if your sister hasn’t ever been to Florence, you could go there of course, but I would encourage you to take a side trip to Bologna from there. I stayed a couple nights in Florence once for work but instead of eating both nights in Florence, my colleague and I took the train (1.5 hr.) up to Bologna and had a fantastic dinner, then came back around 11 pm or so. Or you could stay that night in Bologna instead.
Naples and Pompeii are also easy from Rome. You could do the train to Naples, head over to the port (Molo Beverello) and take the hydrofoil for a day trip to Capri, then take the hydrofoil from Capri to stay overnight in Sorrento. Then the next morning you could take the Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Pompeii. It’s a great weekend trip.
I would go to the Cinque Terre or Capri. Cinque Terre would be cheaper than Capria and it is so beautiful. My sister and I went a few years ago. So much fun!
My most favorite place in Italy is Lucca. I absolutely love it. It is a beautiful walled city with so much to see and do. That would be my vote!!
Wow, what a dilemma, right? I’m laughing here as I imagine what the words “I have to stay IN Italy so where should I go?” might sound like coming out of my mouth. HA! You poor thing.
Decisions, decisions.
Hmm..all the suggestions so far seem good. I suppose it depends upon what you like to do when you travel (and considering the same for the Sis)..like me…I like to see stuff..do stuff. I can’t just sit on the beach somewhere with a drink in my hand. Now, I’m not saying that I can’t do any of that but I need more!
So far I haven’t been much help..ha. My Italy experience is limited. I like the Florence suggestion. Perhaps taking some time to tour Tuscany would be nice. I absolutely LOVED Siena and I know you can get there easily by bus from Florence. Plus there is Fiesole that is really cool and an easy way to spend your day while in Florence. Bus #7 if I remember correctly.
I think Sicily would be amazing too. Check out this sweet hotel. http://www.casatalia.com/
I found a great air fare on Alpi Eagles which flies within Italy and outside of if you get ballsy and say screw the permisso thingy. Here’s the link http://www.alpieagles.com/?lang=EN You’ll see there are doing this tutto tondo or something special.
You could take her to Venice by train from Rome and then check out the Dolomites from there - that would be almost like going to Austria from what I read/hear. Check out the slowtrav.com site - people are obsessed with Italy on that board. You can do some searches on the msg boards and get great info there.
Let me know what you decide! I wish I could get paid to do this…help people plan trips like this.
Oh check this out too if you want somewhere close to Rome…or to add to your jaunt to Florence..
http://www.rentcasperia.com/
I just love traveling in the South…Amalfi Coast, Sicily, it’s all incredible. Puglia is on my wishlist of places I still must see. If you’re in Sicily at the right time, the islands off the northern coast I hear are amazing. One neat place outside of Rome is Civita di Bagnoregio, a VERY small place that I found in a Rick Steve’s guide. The Tuscan hills are great, Siena, Montalcino, San Gimignano…you could stay in one town and take buses for day trips there. I just stumbled upon your blog tonight and I am soooo jealous!
Pompeii…Napoli…Firenze…There are so many amazing places to visit I’m sure! Milano? I’m so jealous! How would they know if you got out of Italy?
Jessie, I’m still waiting for my permesso too, but I’ve decided to go for it and travel with just the receipt. We’re going to Ireland. I’ve heard from lots of people that they never even ask to see the permesso. But if you feel better staying in Italy, I completely understand! I live in the (very hot) south, so if I could go anywhere in Italy, it would be to the mountains to cool off a little. I like Abruzzo, but would love to go up to Trentino. If you prefer the sea, though, there are amazing beaches in Sardegna (though it’s HOT there) and I’ve heard Tropea is excellent. Have fun whatever you do!
Just found your blog on Blogher. Venice, Venice, Venice is my vote.
Visit http://ricksteves.com
He does a PBS Travel Show of Europe and I’m sure his site can offer information on inexpensive travel tips and where to stay.
You must be excited having your sister come to be with you. Have a great time!
“Sleeping Kitten - Dancing Dog!”
http://www.ricksteves.com
Hey everyone thanks for your wonderful suggestions! Keep ‘em coming!
Theresa: I actually have meet Rick Steves. He is from Seattle area and I went to one of his discussions on Italy before I came here the first time. While he is a good author, I hate the way his publicity has ruined some places. But i guess that is how it goes when places make it into any well read guide book.
hey there! yea i’m a loser for deciding not to go, lol. good luck planning your mini getaway..i was browsing some the old od entries..ur style seems so quirky and fun..love it :] take care.
Have you decided on where to go yet? I have travelled from the Dolomites to Naples/Capri and there are so many wonderful options, as listed here. It really depends on what you are looking for! I just came back from a wonderful stay in Castagneta Carducci where we had the sea, the hills, Siena near by, Bolgheri, and nothing but calm and beauty. I have also done Firenze in Septemeber, which is so lovely, but can be hot and crowded that time of year. The mountains can be super fresh and wonderful, but an altogether different experience. We jsut came back from a little day trip to Selvino, which is just up from our town, and it is just a little jewel of a town.
Also Lago di Como is wonderful, everywhere from Bellagio, to Como, to Menaggio and Varenna. You can take the ferry from town to town, explore the villas, lay by the pool (there is a wonderful little hotel, not very expensive in Menaggio, with a fab pool right on the lake. And very near the ferry docks. http://www.hotel-bellavista.org/default.html) The train arrives in Como, where there is lots of wonderful shopping, restaurants, and things to see. There are many little towns to explore, easily doable with the ferry, lake cruises, gelaterias, lake front restaurants, and shopping! It is a nice break from the city! Very relaxing.
Happy planning!