Interesting small towns in northern Italy?

[toastergirl]

Hi everyone! We are looking for an interesting side trip into Italy from Germany. We could go from Fussen (Germany) or from Salzburg. I have two additional days available in our schedule and wondered if anyone had any suggestions of a small, cool Italy town (not Milan) that would be worth a trip. We had originally wanted to go to Switzerland to Interlaken but the distance is too far. Is any Italy town worth it and do-able?

Thanks to all.

[pointofnoreturn]

The Tuscany region (i.e. Siena)?

[toastergirl]

Do you know how far Siena would be from either Salzburg or Fussen? Thanks!

[me]

it's too far. 11 - 14 hours with many train changes.

Bolzano would be much closer: or, would you have your fill of mountains in Bavaria & Tyrol?

if so, Venezia might be a better destination: there's a 7 hour night train from Salzburg, and from Füssen it takes 11½ hours, 3¼ to Munich, the last 8 on a night train from Munich to Venice.

you could even visit Munich between Füssen & Venezia.

- d

toastergirl said:

Do you know how far Siena would be from either Salzburg or Fussen? Thanks!

[herrbert]

The North of Italy, at least the part that is bordering on Austria, is South-Tyrol, and in my opinion not really different from Austria itself. If you are looking for some places to go hiking, than it would be a better idea to stay in Austria, and to visit Innsbruck or Imst.

How does the rest of the itinerary look like for that leg, where would you be coming from, and where are you heading? Maybe we can find a place in between.

[Eagle]

toastergirl, if you only have two days available for northern Italy, that limits the choices to a great extent. Does your two day limit include travel time? Siena is an awesome place to visit, but as David mentioned, it's much too far to reach easily from either Fussen or Salzburg. I suspect that Florence might also be too far.

It would help if you could be a bit more specific on what type of Italian town you would prefer to see? Are you looking for a romantic spot, somewhere with lots of art & history, night life or Also, how will you be traveling and what time of year will you be traveling?

A few suggestions to add to the others:

> Bolzano (as mentioned previously)

> Verona

> Como or Varenna (accessible via Milan)

> Venice

> perhaps the Cinque Terre?

> perhaps Locarno (in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland)

> Stresa?

If you could revise your schedule to allow a day or two extra, it would certainly open up some more choices. Again, it would help to have more information. You might want to check www.bahn.de to determine the rail travel times & number of changes to reach whichever destinations you choose.

Good luck and happy travels!!!

[madamtrashheap]

As per David and Eagle, Tuscany isn't really within reach from Füssen or Salzburg, so consider the towns suggested (personally I'd go Verona - things to see and gelati to eat!) or even somewhere on Lake Garda (Riva del Garda on the northside, Sirmione on the southside) as it's not far and something different. Venice would be possible too, and you could happily see a lot in one full day. All would appeal to your family.

Not knowing your full itinerary it's hard to suggest places as you may have already scheduled them, but would you consider going north instead - say to the Black Forest (Triberg, Trier, etc), Konstanz (lake and mountains on the Swiss border) or even to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (Christmas all year round in a v pretty medieval town)? Each can be experienced in one full day and are easily reached from Munich.