Christmas in Italy - best choice?

Ok, so every year I find somewhere warmer and more interesting than good ol' Blighty and spend the Christmas there. Over the last few years have been to New York (OK, colder!) Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, Istanbul (tho' had to be rescheduled to March!)

Mainly I am an 'exotic location' guy but a short haul allows a solid 4-5 days without coming back more knackered than when I left and there are often good flight and hotel bargains to be had with clever booking.

I like street scenes different to what I normally encounter, religious buildings and old and modern architecture, arts/museums, interesting looking people, etc.

I have reduced the options down to four: Rome, Florence, Venice, other! All clearly have their attractions. My main criteria include easy airport transfer, well priced accommodation, lots to see just walking around the centre, cheap/good food, fairly safe, not too chilly, decent coffee, reasonable chance of English spoken!

For those who've been to any of the above let me know thoughts and please vote to select my next Chrimbo destination.

Gawd ... pitiful responses. Do you guys spend all your time on the internet? Some of you must leave your bedrooms and go travel LMAO!

Well, I spent several days in Florence and environs and could easily have spent much more. This was in early November, so I can't guarantee the weather around Christmas, but then it was comfortable. Only had a day trip to Venice - I'm sure there's a lot to see there as well, but of the two, I'd choose Florence first. It's definitely more walkable :{)# Haven't been to Rome. So there you have it - one slightly narrow view.

I've done both Rome and Naples for Christmas...can't say that I would recommend either...Trieste or Venice would be much better choices. Trieste is by far the nicest Italian city I've visited...Florence would be a good third choice.

Cheers lads ... Rome has kinda dropped off the options so far based in my research. Flo' is looking good Jon. Everyone seems to love it. Venice has so many photo opportunities but part of me is thinking it's been featured a million times in movies so may not be quite fresh to see (even saw the remake of Italian Job at the weekend!!)

Amalfi coast, south of Naples, scenic, beautiful water and cliffs, historic.

or,

The Italian Riviera. Great food, also very scenic.

Italy is a great place to visit.

On the other hand Lisbon, Portugal is probably the best value in Europe. Friendly, economical, historic and scenic.

Have fun!

Don't think those options will meet my criteria for a short trip Ron. I also did Lisbon 2007. Cheers for the thoughts tho'.

I loved Milan, Lake Como, Monza

why only europe, fly to Bangkok ( i had one 4day trip... )

From memory I think bangkok is around 16 hours door to door and I didn't like it that much. Plus the cost of long haul flights makes it impractical for a four day trip.

I can't comment yet, I'm doing Rome and Venice in July

condyk wrote in post #7992620
From memory I think bangkok is around 16 hours door to door and I didn't like it that much. Plus the cost of long haul flights makes it impractical for a four day trip.

Though I have done this trip a couple of times. Bangkok to London in July 2007, and London to Bangkok February 2008.

Both these trips were around 10-12 days each, and probably wouldn't want to go there for less than 7 days, when 36 hours is wasted from travelling.

I'm sure you'll have a great trip wherever you decide. Sounds like you're coming back for New Years though? I'd imagine New Years on a beach in Thailand would be rather interesting.

Well, fall of '07 Piazza San Marco in Venice was loaded with scaffolding, and I hear they've added video billboards there now . . .

I was in Italy in December of 2008 and Florence, Lucca, Monteconti, Pisa, etc. areas were pretty COLD. It was much nicer in Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, etc.

hawkeye60 wrote in post #7994274
I was in Italy in December of 2008 and Florence, Lucca, Monteconti, Pisa, etc. areas were pretty COLD. It was much nicer in Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri, etc.

Yup, Tuscany is cold and damp in December. Christmas in Italy is more a family holiday, not a big xmas decoration/lights/orna​ments holiday (although that concept has been catching on the past half dozen years). Christmas in Italy is a six hour meal with friends at their grandmothers house in a mountain village.

Cheers for the inputs guys ... all being noted.