All-Girls Vacation to Italy Suggestions?

Question

3 of my friends and I are trying to plan an all-girls vacation to Italy (probably next summer). Since none of us have been, we don't really know where to start. We're in our 30's, 2 of us are married, 2 single. We will probably go for a week.

We'd like to stay somewhere nice, maybe take a cooking class one afternoon, and just relax and party a little! We are looking for suggestions of where to visit, where to stay, where/what to eat, what not to miss, etc. What cities/towns are "must sees"? Which ones do we want to skip? This will probably be our only chance to go and we don't want to miss anything if we can help it!

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can give!!

Answer 1

if you want somewhere 'relaxing', avoid rome.

GREAT history, but unfortunately, every other tourist in history seems to be all be there at the same time.

in addition, there's the ceaseless traffic, ambulances, police cars, honking, pollution, rubbish, homeless etc.  rome is exhausting.

Answer 2

If you want some fun for all of you in Venice then contact Sara Cossiga. See the link below. You and your friends will have the time of your life exploring and learing about Venice and the Veneto!

Answer 3

Most of the cooking schools are oriented toward longer courses. there are a lot of options where you go, stay in a villa in the countryside and have a week or so of lessons, but it is possible to take day classes - they can be fairly expensive.

Some examples:

Bologna: http://www.cookitaly.com/page45.html

Florence: http://www.divinacucina.com/

Venice: http://www.venicevenetogourmet.com/cooki...

Perugia: http://www.umbriacooks4u.com/cooking.htm

all the above and many more are included on:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/c...

There are so many "must-see" possibilities in Italy that a week isn't enough - especially in a relaxed manner. You're better off focusing on a region that captures your interest and not spending a lot of your time in transit. Personally, I would pick Florence and/or Venice first. They're relatively compact but filled with art, architecture, and history.

For relaxation, you might consider a couple of days at Lago Garda, there are a lot of nice towns around the lake with castles, roman ruins, etc. Sirmione and Malcesine are particularly nice. It's pretty easy to get around using the lake ferries.

In June and July before Italy goes on vacation in August, there are lots of local festivals that feature the specialties of a given town. For example, this site has the local festivals around Emilia-Romagna this month:

http://www.sagreedintorni.it/def_sagreme...

In Florence try the ribollita and fiorentina and for dessert cantucci and vin santo

In Emilia-Romagna look for tortelloni di zucca - preferably with burro è salvia rather than al ragù