[gjm120]

I used to go to Italy a lot. Saw the well known cities (Rome, Florence, Venice) and they are all special in their own way.

But I most enjoyed renting a car and getting lost in Tuscany and Umbria. Also drove from Nice to Venice and that was great, but not like Tuscany and Umbria. The hill towns are great. Of the hill towns I'd look into Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Cortona, Gubbio, Orvieto, San Gimignano amongst others. Most of these are well known for their wines and deservedly so.

I love early Renaissance art and every small town had an art museum that maybe didn't have dozens of great works, but at least a few of very bigl significance. And you could view and enjoy without hordes around you.

Night life - not much that I can recall other than great eating and wines. The beef frpm the Val di Chiana is some of the best in the world.