Best Italy holiday for wine and culture?

Question

A couple of late 30's females want to go to Italy last week in June where we can visit historical buildings, experience the cafe culture (not overpriced please), find good conversation, good wine and good food.

We do not necessarily need a beach - nor do we want night clubs. We love people watching and my single friend would like to meet some eligible single men!

Any ideas?

Answer 1

You may like Piedmont, Tuscany or Veneto, although they're all beautiful place for both living and toursim, I suppose Piedmont meet the most your request. You may like Turin for "cafe culture and conversation": I put all in the same sentence because cafe in Turin were, especially in 1800, very important place for meeting between people who "made Italy" (or even Europe), like Giuseppe Mazzini.
Those three regions are the most important for wine; personally, I'd say Piedmont for wine as a culture, Tuscany for wine as an industry, Veneto for wine as a... drinker :) (sayed in fond way!)
In Piedmont, the surrounding of Turin are better than Turin itself: Langhe, Monferrato, Alba, Gattinara, Ghemme are some of the cities/town/land you should looking for (all one hour from Turin or less).
Turin is also one of the most underestimated Italian city by touristic value, so you're going to avoid the "holyday crowd".

Answer 2

Go to Tuscany.
Rent a car.
Visit these cities: Montelcino, Siena, Montepulcino, San Gimiliano, and for sure Firenze. During this trip, you'll have good italian vine, good food (Tuscany is famous with meat, different soups and etc), a lot of history (even more than you want), and a lot of historical buildings (as you'll feel you're living in the middle age). I can bet you'll love this trip.
1 week is enough.
About italian men, you don't need to look for them, they'll find you..:-) So don't worry about this... Just be open, which means that: look them in the eye and smile, and before you understand, they'll be near you...
By the way, good conversation depends on your level of italian. italian people speak english, but average is not very high, and accent is very thick.
Good luck.

Answer 3

Florence.I just returned from there with my girlfiend and the two of us loved it.There is an abundance of culture to soak up and the food and wine were fantastic.My tip and its probably obvious is not to eat in restaurants too close to the tourist areas.We found some near our hotel which was close to central station that were great and very cheap.Only 8 euro for a lltre of white wine and it was lovely too.

Another tip if you fancy a tour is to take a Segway tour.I believe the website is www.segway.it.It was brillant fun.you do about a three hour tour of all the sites using an upright mobility scooter.They dont go very fast but they are great fun and a highlight of the holiday.It was about 75 euro and took all of one morning.Was great for getting your bearings too.

All in all Florence is a great spot.Enjoy.

Answer 4

I would suggest that you choose one of the smaller towns in Tuscany. Florence is beautiful, but overrun with tourists and can sometimes feel like an Italian Disney World (I live here so I know what I am talking about).

Basing yourself in Siena, Lucca, Arezzo or even one of the smaller hilltowns in Tuscany like Pienza, Montepulciano, San Gimignano or the like will still give you the culture -- and access to other places -- but be a little bit more user friendly and not as crowded.

If you would like more specific information about your trip, you can email me at [e-mail] -- I've lived in Italy (Tuscany) for 10 years and have worked extensively in the travel industry.

Answer 5

I would start in Rome, as the best "culture" in terms of ancient ruins is there, as probably single men. Then take the train to Sienna and rent a car.

Take the car up route 222, the chianti wine route. Stay in little towns like San Gimignano and Greve, go to all the wine tastings you see along the way, as you make your way to Florence.

Once in Florence, get setup with a tour from The Accidental Tourist (http://www.accidentaltourist.com/ ). They have great tours of wine & oil tastings, bike & walking tours and cooking classes in people's homes. I have taken their tours before and they are very unique and worthwhile.

Answer 6

I loved the Tuscany area.....I wanted to stay in Seinna (which is simply lovely) but ended up staying in the Sienna REGION!!! Long story on that one...and was actually in a place called Montepulciano...its a little hillside village that has great views of the surrounding countryside and is much more peaceful than other places.....THe place is famous for its wine....there are other places like Chianti too....Florence is VERY busy and its nice to get away, buts its very beatiful and trains can take you to places reasonably quickly (or buses as it needs to get to Montepulciano ether from Sienna or Chuisi.

Answer 7

Puglia you can find lots of good wines, mediterranean food, thousands of olives trees and is still quite cheap the expresso coffee costs half than in milan and is very scenty plus people are very friendly and both women and men are attractive, there are a nice coasts line too but you are not interested in that so you can stay in the countryside and visit caratteristic places like Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Castellana grottos etc....it fit you?
http://www.laterradipuglia.it/italiano/fotopuglia.htm

Answer 8

I would suggest Verona and Garda's lake. There are a lot of wonderful small towns like Lazise, Bardolino, Sirmione. They're breathtaking. The wine is the best in Italy.

Answer 9

Florence&Tuscany

http://www.tuscanweb.com/region/

http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=51

Answer 10

Cinque Terre - Five Villages! It's unique yet a bit touristic too... It is on the West side of Italy and I highly recommend it if you want to stay away from very touristic and popular places and enjoy the scenery...