Where would you go in Italy over Easter?

[jeaux90]

Avoiding Rome as it will be nuts over Easter but basically DD16 really just wants to go to Italy. I have been several times for various reasons but never to the South. It will also include my partner and his DS21. Any recommendations?

Stay in Sorrento, use the circumvesuviana to get around. Visit Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum and climb Vesuvius.

The east coast of Sicily. Lots to do and very pleasant weather in April.

Florence but it will be chaotic over Easter in general and you need to check that you can actually visit places.

Otherwise may be Sicily

Sicily or the Amalfi coast, but probably Syracusa in Sicily.

We were in Naples at Easter a couple of years ago and it was lovely.

We’re going to Naples the week after Easter. I don’t like traveling during the Easter holidays especially if flying to Europe.

I spent easter with a friend of mine in Sardinia and it was fantastic! Especially if you want to celebrate with all their local traditions (here are some info we used to prepare for our trip here, here, strictlysardinia.com/easter-in-sardinia/ ).
Otherwise, If you really want to avoid crowds, maybe try to visit the Amalfi coast or some more traditionally summer destinations, but are nice during spring as well

Lecce in Salento region of Puglia. On the Thursday before Easter, visit the churches in the main historic centre in odd numbers (1, 3, 5 etc). They’ll all be draped in white, candles, lillies etc and the whole place will be buzzing until late. Catch the traditional Easter parade of the coffin and Maria through the city. Weather permitting, go to the seaside and have a swim; I was swimming last Easter and it was gorgeous. Gallipoli on the western coast of Salento is beautiful. Will need a car, though.

I'm going to Liguria, just over the French border (literally walking distance from France in fact- I'm aiming to walk up a mountain straddling the border from my accommodation) this Easter.

It always amazes me how Liguria gets overlooked- it's like a much cheaper Cote d'Azur without the crowds. It also contains Genova, one of my favourite cities. And, with Piedmont, it's the closest bit of Italy to the UK (I'm taking the train).

I'm going to add Liguria to my list of places to visit by train @crackofdoom . It looks amazing.

Rome was actually amazing at Easter, i mainly went to see the art work in the churches and the city was so atmospheric, incense and smoke in the evenings outside of churches. I avoided the Vatican but the quieter neighbourhoods like Trastevere were very cool.
Sicily too, pastry shops were amazing with all of the special Easter treats.
Naples, Capri, Amalfi Coast all really lovely at easter

Lucca (double check there isn't a festival on for the dates you want). Use as a base for Florence & Pisa and maybe cinque terre - although that will be busy. Lucca itself is beautiful.

We did this one year and another year did East coast of Sicily by train then hired a car to do the south and west back up to Palermo. Fabulous!

Check out the Ligne des Merveilles/ Linea dei Meraviglie! It's running again after a few dodgy years. I'm staying near one of its stations, so on my last day I'm planning to take it the long way round back to Nice to catch my sleeper train. Very excited!

We skiied in Italy one Easter.
I also agree with Sicily- it will still be warm but not the scorching heat of the summer.

Sorrento is very busy at Easter. There is a religious parade on Good Friday and on Easter Monday the entire population of Naples arrives. If you want to experience Italian culture it's great. If you want peace and quiet not so much. We really enjoyed it.

Sicily.

Stay in Syracuse.
Make sure you visit this place
https://www.visitsicily.info/en/villa-romana-del-casale/

Bologna has a lot going for it. Great food, markets and a very old university. Go to Modena to the Ferrari museum, Ravenna for the mosaics in the churches and then Parma for some ham. Trains go everywhere. Should be ok at Easter.

Lots of fantastic recommendations thank you! I’ll pop back once decided.

Another shout for Lucca which is beautiful and an excellent base for other places which can reached by train.