Suggest 3rd destination on first trip to Italy?

Already planned for 3 nights in Rome and 6 nights outside of Florence with daytrips throughout Tuscany.



Should we add 3 nights in:

Amalfi coast

--or--

Lake Como

--or--

Other.....



First time to Italy. Taking parents for 60th bday. Aside from Rome, little interest in bustling cities and overcrowded areas. Want to see "true" italy. Not very interested in Venice (as described in Frommers 2008 guide).Suggest 3rd destination on first trip to Italy?
I'm italian...and I travelled a lot throught my nation.

(don't forget to visit Lucca, during your trip throughtout Tuscany: it's simply majestic and I think it's the typical example of italian living in a small town)



I can suggest to you whole the sicily. if you got 3 nights, you can move around palermo in the west part of the sicily. (also if it depends by the season: it's incredibly hot during the summer). you can visit palermo city, cefal霉, corleone, and go to the island of favignana.

if you don't wanto to go there, I suggest the same part of italy: the south! Matera in the Basilicata and the sea in the Puglia (the region are neighbor).



enjoy italy, cause this summer I will enjoy australia!!!
This is the first time I have heard a tourist saying "I'm not interested in Venice"..:)

Anyway, if I were you I'd chose Como lake. I'm in love with it, it's simply fantastic. You can rent a car and take a drive all around the lake. Garda lake could be another option and you could add a day trip to Verona to visit the famous balcony of Romeo and Juliet. Are you coming in the summer? 'Cause there is kind of festival at the arena in Verona if you like opera. It's impressive, I've been there a couple of times. Nice cties to visit, not far from Verona, are Mantova and Padova. Middle size cities, not overcrowed with tourists. What else...Perugia and Assisi! Located in the north of Rome, just on the road to Tuscany they're definitely worth a visit!

Hope this help

Bye!Suggest 3rd destination on first trip to Italy?
I would recommend Cinque Terra (over the Amalfi Coast) - five small villages on the north west coast of Italy, near the Italian Riviera. You can hike or take a minute train from village to village....it is absolutely beautiful and very quaint - a nice getaway after visiting Rome. Here are a couple of links for more information:

http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terr鈥?/a>





Of course Florence is also very beautiful, but will be busy if you are going in the summer.



Have a great trip! :)
Since you're already covering Tuscany, the Amalfi coast is a good choice as suggested by others - you could visit Pompeii and Capri from there. You might also consider Cinque Terre which is incredible and accessible by train. Or Perugia isn't so crowded if you're not there during the Umbria Jazz Fest or the Eurochocolate Festival and is close to Assisi
if you like the art and the history of Itlay, you can visit a beautyful cities like Bologna, Parma, Milano... in the noth of the contry... but if you like seasides you can vist a city that I like a lot: Gallipolli (Lecce, Puglia, in the suth of Italy), there is a wonderful sea and here you can find monuments and older church too.



http://xoomer.alice.it/torredibelloluogo鈥?/a>



http://www.tuttocasarano.it/casarano%20i鈥?/a>



http://www.webalice.it/perfumado/gallipo鈥?/a>



http://www.experiencepuglia.com/Immagini鈥?/a>



I go here every summuer...I live in Italy



i hope i'll help you
If I may suggest a nice trip, I'll tell you to stay 6 nights in Florence/Tuscany and 6 nights Rome/Lazio. There is more to see in Rome than Florence and 3 days aren't enough.

Last resort if you want a 3rd destination and amazing beach time Sardegna island where all the VIP spend their vacations.

I grew up 25yrs in Rome so I know some about it. Buon viaggio.
I suggest you Veneto, but you must spend all 3 days for visiting Venice, or you could visit the other medieval towns in this area like Verona, Vicenza, Padova, Montagnana, Este or if you are interestin about nature i suggest you a trip round the Dolomiti Mountains.

Have a nice trip
try the Cinqueterre ! it is worth a trip, but you can also visit Genoa, a town with a lot of history. Much to see and it's not (yet) on every tourist "must" list. Still it does hide a lot of interesting things to see and discover. Below links show you around and give you further idea's on what to see.
i would say lake como because it is gorgeous! you can take a day trip to milano if you want also. you're the first person i have heard to say that they don't want to go to venezia... it is very nice there, even if you just went for a day - you could visit neighboring towns also. have fun.
Have to ask when you are coming...I'm in the north and its been raining since the 11th of May and its wet, wet and wet. There is no end in sight..............................

If you want wine, food tours..goto piemont region..

if you want beach, hot weather goto the south calabria, sicilia, etc Como is relaxing..not too many tourists but like I said its been raining for three weeks now.....when are you planning the holidays?? Bad weather can ruin a holiday........
Amalfi coast! My dream place.



http://travelerfolio.com/places/europe/i鈥?/a>
you should visit Caserta...



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caserta



yeap...i was sure that some of you will do that...Caserta has a replica castle of Versailles...so...you'd better think twice...
I would go to THE AMALFI COAST. It looks beautiful from the pictures.
Amalfi Coast is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! GO there and its not expensive!
I suggest you to visit Como or Cinque terre...breathtaking views!!