rental?

[Frank Gerace]

We are two seniors, somewhat mobility impaired but not on our last legs. March or April 26.

We'd appreciate any idea of a base with at least three nearby daytrip possibilities. The base should have a piazza and a few places to eat.

We would stay three months if the choice attracts us. Is rental possible? Maybe Romagna, Lazio, Veneto, Puglia, Calabria, Umbria or Sicily...I guess anywhere but Tuscan Hill towns.

Forgive the vagueness. Any leads will be great.

Thanks

 

[Tina]

- Puglia would be nice if you keep to the flatter places - Trani is lovely and easy for day trips by train and great for strolling around the harbour and people watching

Why I love Trani

A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports

slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com

Other flat places in Puglia which could make a base: Lecce, Giovinazzo, Bari.
- Rimini is flat and nice out of season, a good historical centre, big choice of accommodation, main train line towards Bologna and down coast.

October 2020 Torriana: Rimini

A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports

slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com

- Trapani or Ortigia/Siracusa in Sicily
- East coast of Lake Garda - Garda itself or Bardolino or on the main train line Milan- Venice so easy access to Brescia Verona Vicenza and Padova: Peschiera or Desenzano
For longer term accommodation, March will be easier than April which includes Easter and two important public holidays which often get connected or become long weekends - 25th April and 1st May

 

[Alpinista]

You didn't include Tuscany on your preferred list, but I'll still recommend Lucca. Pedestrian friendly city with easy access to Florence (flat), Pisa (flat) and then pick between Volterra and San Gimagnano for your third excursion. If into arts, the town of Pietrasanta is on the coast. Plenty of good restaurants to choose from along with Piazza San Michele, Piazza San Frediano, and Piazza Napoleone to offer bars and people-watching.

There is a flower festival in the amphitheater on April 27 honoring Saint Zita that is good to combine with a visit to her in the basilica where locals bring flowers to honor her. If you have a car, there is also an azalea festival in Borgo a Mozzano on an April weekend (not sure of dates) (we're partial to flowers and gardens).

 

[Ian Sutton]

Emilia-Romagna certainly shines for day trip options, with such frequent travel connections along via Emilia, e.g. Parma, Modena, Bologna, Ravenna, Faenza, plus Ferrara. Reggio nell'Emilia worth a look as a quieter, less touristy place, with eco buses before other cities even thought about them. A large central green area great for passeggiata / lazy days. We did a rental for just a week in an eastern suburb (just over the river IIRC) and liked it a lot.

From memory all are pretty flat.