Going to Italy, please advise

[four-up]

Have to be in Naples for a meeting on May 26th. I want to spend a week or so seeing the country after that, since I've never been to Italia. Thinking of 2-3 days in Rome, then up to the Dolomites for 3-4 days of motorcycle touring. I'd love any advise/info on rentals, routes, insurance, lodging, etc. from anyone who's been there, done that. Thanks!

[Linzi]

Sounds good...but, don't miss out on all of the great stuff between Rome and the Dolomites. You must, must, MUST go to Assisi, which is a few hours northeast-ish of Rome. Amazing place. Pisa has good food. Florence has amazing art. Bologna has the Ducati factory and museum. Milan is interesting for its large city appeal, but it wouldn't be an absolute on my destination list. Bellagio and Lake Como are beautiful.

When Mostro and I went, we rented from a Ducati rental place in Milan, but I'd imagine they have something along those lines in Rome, as well...

Assisi -








Rome/Vatican City -










Bellagio/Lake Como -










Milan -




Have fun...eat lots...take many pictures.

[four-up]

Looks like it's going to be a sucky trip!! Nice pics. How "scary" was the riding in/around Rome and central Italy? Wondering if we should go 2-up until we get up north.

[Knighthawk]

Driving in and around Rome is not for the faint of heart. Its a combat zone. When the wife and I go, we park outside the city and ride the bus in now.

Driving in Rome is definitely an experience, just like a root canal.

The are some great place to see in Italy on a bike. I am about 4 hours away, and love riding through the Alps, and the Dolimites.

[Madeinitaly]

I agree with the driving assessment.
When on the highways people speeds (100 + mph is the norm) so keep in the right lane. Left is for passing only. And we do keep the signal on when passing. If you want to pass is not conidered impolite to flash from a distance (the high beam i mean....).
In the cities traffic can be a little creative respect to the US so be careful.
Overall less disciplined but more aware drivers.
In Rome park outside and take the bus or the metro. Traffic is bad 24/7 and you do not want to breath that gas in.... besides you'll get to see more if you do not have to play "dodge the fiat".
As for outside rome, Naples deserves a stop. And pompei and ercolano are on the way ther.
Going north I would, like linzi mentioned stop at least to see assisi. San marino is nice too. Overall I love the medieval towns high in the appennini mtns.
Milano has a beautiful Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco but it's a big busy town. It also has been contaminated by McDonalds! Last time I was there there were 4 on the Duomo square alone. If I had limited time I would go to lake garda or lake como instead.
Bologna, deserves a visit and Venezia does as well. I would also go to Firenze, Livorno, Lucca and Pisa just to be entertained by the accents there...

Food is awesome all over the country.

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

[four-up]

But, since we're leaving all the little beepers at home with a sitter, we've only got 8 days. So if we take 2 in Rome, that leaves 5 to get to Geneva (we're flying out of there, 1 travel day home). Which would be the highest priority stops?

[Madeinitaly]

A month won't even get you started. I lived there 24 years and I probably saw 15% of what Italy alone offers.

5 Days is going to be a tour de force but doable.
If you like natural scenery, in 5 days I would definetly go to Assisi, then north to the Garda and Como lakes.
I would stop in Firenze (Pisa is a stone throw from there), Bologna, and Venezia .

Then up to Geneva.

[Madeinitaly]

And two up will be fine. You'll see that a lot of riders go 2-up in Europe

[four-up]

I'll get to work around that basic itinerary. I know what you mean- I've spent most of my life in Utah, and it's not like I don't get out and explore, yet I'm amazed at how much I haven't seen. Too many cool places, too little time!

[Gustavo]

Originally Posted by four-up

I'll get to work around that basic itinerary. Too many cool places, too little time!

I think you got really good advice above, so I'll just put in my (devalued) $0.02 without repeating too much. The driving is fine. You may have read in another thread about driving in Mexico. Italians drive like Mexicans (or is it the other way around?) only faster. Same cautions apply. But the reality is that if you have a bit of common sense, driving in Rome is not any more challenging than any other big city.

Also, keep in mind that any decent road through the Alps (read anything but an autostrada) into Switzerland is going to be a lot slower than you are used to. 200 miles can be a very long day of riding in the Alps. Add a few stops for food, gas or just look at the towns you ride through and you don't make much progress. Keep that in mind when planning your last leg to Geneve.

A couple of years ago I was going from Ronco sopra Ascona (just on the Swiss side of the western shore of Lago Maggiore) to Annecy, France. I thought we'd make it in one day (it's probably 250 miles, no more). By the time I made it to Martigny (~150 miles) it was 4 PM and looked like heavy rain over Col de la Forclaz, we decided not to push it and spend the night in Martigny (OK, so I took Centovalli on the way to Simplonpass, which is a great road, but slow unless you are suicidal). If it's your last day, you don't have that luxury. I always give myself at least an extra day on the way back, so that the plan is to arrive at the departure city with a full day of time cushion. Most of the time I just use it to hang out, but on some occasions, I had to use it to make up for lost time along the way. I realize it's hard to do on an ambitious 8 day plan, but it's something to keep in mind, especially if it's your first time on those roads.

Enjoy the trip,

Gustavo

[Jeff Munn]

Originally Posted by four-up

I'll get to work around that basic itinerary. I know what you mean- I've spent most of my life in Utah, and it's not like I don't get out and explore, yet I'm amazed at how much I haven't seen. Too many cool places, too little time!

You'll be wanting to go back once you've tasted Italy. My opinion? With your limited time and desire to ride, I'd not try Rome. I'm not saying there is anything bad about Rome, quite the contrary, but you have limited time you could easily spend the entire week there.

Lots to see around Naples too, all within a train ride or ferry. Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculeum, and the Isle of Capri is just off the coast (with the blue grottoes).

Our favorite spot outside the Alps? San Gimignano with its stone towers and Siena where they hold the Palio. Both are in Tuscany, on the western side of Italy and are on your way north towards Geneve from Assisi. Buy a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and apples, then climb one of the towers in San Gimignano and watch the sunset over Tuscany. It will be one of the most romantic things you've ever done. Well, it was for Teresa and I..... Your results may vary.



After living in Europe for several years, we tried to learn the art of traveling like the Germans. Don't try to cram a lifetime of desires into 8 days, spend all your time driving and looking for another hotel every night. Pick two or three places you really want to see and spend at least two days there doing it. You'll see and learn and savor so much more.

If you really wish to know some great places to ride between Milano and Geneve, that is almost an entire other thread in itself. PM me and I'll try to connect the dots for you if you want motorcycle roads. There are some places in Switzerland that you can only get to from Italy. You just can't get to Bosco from inside of Switzerland.



Take time to Enjoy and Savor.

[freeflow]

Lago Di garda area is superb......nice twisties too....I was there and drove by car in 01....motos someday soon....this area impressed me......

some great stuff there.....good mountians......I was there a few years ago for some cliff jumps, .....reccomend small town on the lake....Campione.....





here is a scan of an older photos of my gal on the edge of a nice 1,000 foot sheer wall.....right before I BASE jumped it and you land on the stony beach in Campione.....I say....nice place....

[sashapave]

You'll have a blast no matter which direction you head in. We spent 3 weeks riding around Tuscany alone while staying in this little villa (pictured below). The hills around Montalcino and Montepulciano were my favorites.

The Autostrada sucks, although it's quick. If you're on it for some time, Autogrill is much better than it looks (you see 'em everywhere) Bring lots of money for gas.

Enjoy!
Sasha

[ellidiano]

Ciao, don't miss Venezia (Venice), but don't eat there, it's plenty of tourist traps!
Pay attention when you drive because of the many cars and trucks everywhere: be very careful, sometimes driving in some areas becomes a nightmare.
Hope you enjoy my beautiful country.
If you need infos you can contact me here: ellidiano@hotmail.com.
Ciao

[albertod]

Sashapave ""The hills around Montalcino and Montepulciano were my favorites.""

It's all right, these places are very nice.Here, two years ago I've been the Gs day. We started from "Borgo la Bagnaia" a beautifull castle 20 km south of Siena.

ciao Alberto