Lighting Tuscany
Where in Italy??
Looks like I'm going to Italy this summer with my wife! I already know that her feet are not good, so walking a lot is going to be tough. She can do some, but we will need to alternate heavy and light days. I know Rome, Venice, Tuscany etc, but what about other places in the north? Should I add a side trip to Switzerland or Austria? I'd love to see the Matterhorn. Anything good around Innsbruck?
Thanks!!!!
I used to live in northern Italy, so I'll help as best I can. Walking is, unfortunately, the way of life in many areas due to small, old, narrow streets that cars/buses cannot travel on. Many of the larger cities, though (Rome, Florence, Genoa, Milan), will have taxis and other public transportation. And don't let the public buses scare you - they're not bad. Most everyone in Italy will speak at least some English - so just tell them where you want to go and they will help you find the right bus and when to get off.
I would highly recommend renting a car if at all possible. That would enable you to get to some remote areas without as much walking. It is not at all difficult to drive in Italy - and you can even drive into Switzerland without problems, except that you have to pay to drive through Switzerland (a yearly fee - it used to be about $50, but it may have gone up) - and you have to buy the entire year (it's a sticker for your car, but just put it in the dash if it's a rental). You cannot drive to the Matterhorn, but you can take a train from a nearby city and that ride is absolutely beautiful! Switzerland is a very nice place to drive for a vacation - the scenery is spectacular and the cities are relatively small, so not a lot of walking required.
As for cities in the north of Italy, if you're going to be in Venice, you can drive to Asiago in the mountains (beautiful!) or Verona and Vicenza that are both on the highway heading to Milan (you can reach these last two by train as well, but remember that you will have to get to the various sites by taxi or walking if you take the train).
If you want to go along the coast, I would highly recommend the Italian Riviera (Genoa, Nervi, Portofino). There is some walking involved, but it can be kept to a minimum without much effort. Don't try going to Cinque Terre if walking is difficult - it is all on hills on the side of the cliffs. They do have some trams that can take you up and down to the villages, but they are very small and sometimes difficult to find. Once you are in the village, they, too, can be tricky as far as walking.
In Genoa, you can see the old medieval parts with minimal walking, visit Boccadasse (small fishing village) and have lunch in one of many restaurants built onto the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. Nervi, just outside of Genoa to the east, is quaint with small shops, a huge park overlooking the sea, and great food.
If you travel west of Genoa towards the south of France, there is a small village just before the border of France called Dolceacqua. That does have some walking, but it's a small village built onto the side of a hill (medieval as well) with a castle in ruins at the top of the hill. Most of that town remains the same as it did hundreds of years ago and is spectacular.
If you have other questions or would like more information, just email me and I'll gladly help! I love Italy and want everyone else to experience the beauty as well!
Good luck - and have a safe trip!
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