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Get Out of Town |
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While the experience you are sure to have in Rome is exciting and memorable, the laid back Italian countryside is an experience not to be missed and one which can only truly be experienced by car. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, you will find tiny coastal villages and ancient medieval towns, not yet tainted by the frantic pace of this modern era. Driving itineraries offer you the freedom to make your own choices, and the most out of your car rental while providing you inside secrets known only to experienced travelers. For the most comprehensive driving itineraries Auto Europe highly recommends Karen Brown’s Guide to Italy. Below you will find options for both central and southern Italy.
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Rome to Milan via the Riviera |
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The following sample itinerary traces the western coast of Italy as far as Genoa before heading north for the final stretch to Milan. To break the journey, the first stop is Orbetello, a picturesque peninsula-like island joined to the coast by three spits of land. The next destination is Cinque Terre-a string of five tiny fishing villages along the coast that have not yet fallen prey to a great influx of tourists. As you follow the highway up the coast, it becomes a masterpiece of engineering-bridging deep ravines and tunneling in and out of the cliffs, which rise steeply from the sea. Along the way you pass picturesque small towns snuggled into small coves. Then it's on to Portofino-one of Italy's most treasured jewels-before the final destination of Milan.
Recommended Pacing: This itinerary can be run quickly when it is being used as a simple means of traveling by car between Rome and Milan (or visa versa), but it is much more fun to savor the small towns along the way and enjoy your car rental. You need a minimum of three nights in Rome-you could spend a week and still only touch on what this fabulous 'living museum' has to offer. Once on your way between Rome and Milan, there are outstanding places to stay and things to see along the coast. However, if your time is strictly limited, choose just one of the three stopovers we recommend (Porto Ercole, Cinque Terre or Portofino) and plan to stay for three nights. Ideally, if you have the luxury to meander along the way, then plan to spend at least two nights in all three. Every suggested stopover is lovely in its own way and will give you a glimpse of the beauty of Italy's small, delightful, coastal towns.
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Amalfi Coast & Southern Italy |
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Memories of childhood history lessons vaguely call forth such names as Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Paestum, yet, all too frequently, the urge to visit these jewels is lost in the misconception that southern Italy is an uninteresting destination. Nothing could be further from the truth. Southern Italy has fascinating archaeological sites, gorgeous coastlines, medieval walled villages, beautiful sand beaches, marvelous hilltowns, and some of the most unusual sights in Italy. Many visitors who venture south from Rome are amazed to discover that the Emerald Grotto on the Amalfi Coast rivals the Blue Grotto of Capri and that the Greek ruins of Paestum outshine many found in Greece, and they are haunted by the mysterious town of Alberobello.
Recommended Pacing: Spend a minimum of three nights in Rome. Then, choose one town along the Amalfi Coast and stay for a minimum of five nights so that you will have time to make an excursion to Capri. Your next stop, Maratea, does not have much sightseeing but is a perfect place to relax for a couple of nights. The final destination is near the 'heel' of Italy. Choose one place to use as your home base in Apulia and plan to spend at least three nights so that you will have time to explore this remote, beautiful part of Italy.
This itinerary makes a circle of the south in order to suit the travel needs of a wide selection of tourists. Follow the entire route or select the portion best for you since this itinerary is particularly suitable for the traveler who wants to take only a segment. For instance, the journey from Rome to Brindisi is a favorite one for the lucky tourists on their way to Greece, while the west coast is a popular drive for the tourist who wants to visit Sicily and then return to Rome by air or ferry. Most popular of all is the segment from Rome to the Amalfi Drive. This itinerary allows you to custom-tailor your journey and gives you tantalizing sightseeing along the way.
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Itineraries |
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These itineraries are excerpted from Karen Brown's Guides. Auto Europe highly recommends Karen Brown's Guides for all travel to Europe. It is possible to purchase the individual itineraries or the guide complete with additional regional itineraries and recommendations of Europe's most charming places to stay. For more information about Karen Brown's Guides to this country as well as her other international titles, please visit Karen Brown's Guides.
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