We will be staying in the town of Terni at a Bed & Breakfast. My daughter and her family will also be staying in Terni with relatives at a vacation home. We will be ten minutes away from each other by car, but knowing my family, everyone will have his/her own itinerary. For example, my husband and I will enjoy the cities in Umbria while other family members will visit the Vatican in Rome.

Here are some of the things I learned by reading Fodor’s Italy 2005:

• To learn where everything is located and approximate travel distances, I studied the map of Umbria on page 450. The towns we will tour are Terni, Spoleta, Orvieto and Assisi. We’re also hoping to go by train for a three-day stay in Venice.

• Renting a car for traveling is always convenient; however, the public transportation in Italy, as in most of Europe, is extensive and reliable. A short drive starting in Terni would be to take the SS79 west, visit the village of Labro and have lunch outside Rivodutri at La Trota, an inn set beside a trout stream that is said to have some of the best food in Italy!

• Spoleto is small and best explored by foot. "Begin at Piazza del Duomo and visit the Duomo, which stands against a backdrop of hill and sky with Larocca towering overhead. Cross the piazza and go up” (p. 464). I would like to quote the entire Fodor’s Italy 2005, but that would be impossible (not to mention a violation of copyright)! While reading the itineraries, I feel like I am already there!

• Orvieto is 32 miles west of Spoleto. "Carved out of an enormous plateau of volcanic rock high above a green valley, Orvieto has natural defenses that made the high walls seen in many Umbrian towns unnecessary. The Etruscans were the first to settle here, digging a honeycombed network of more than 1,200 wells and storage caves out of the soft stone. The Romans attacked, sacked and destroyed the city in 283BC; since then, it has grown up out of the rock into an enchanting maze of alleys and squares. Orvieto was solidly Guelph in the Middle Ages, and for several hundred years popes sought refuge in the city, at times needing protection from their enemies, at times from the summer heat in Rome. When painting his frescoes inside the Duomo, Luca Signorelli asked that part of his contract be paid in Orvietan wine…the caves underneath the town were used to ferment the Trebiano grapes used in making Orvieto Classico; now modern production has moved out to more traditional vineyards" (p. 470). Today Orvieto is known for its wines, and this is one of many reasons to visit this wonderful town!

• Assisi is 30 miles north of Spoleto. "The legacy of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan monastic order, pervades the rosy hills of Assisi … Each year the city hosts several million pilgrims, but not even the massive flow of visitors to this town of only 3,000 residents can spoil the singular beauty of one of Italy's most significant religious centers. The hill on which Assisi sits rises dramatically from the flat plain, and the town is dominated at the top of the mount by a medieval castle; on the lower slop of the hill is the massive Basilica di San Francesco, sitting majestically on graceful arched supports" (p. 454).

From walking tours to visiting basilicas in Assisi, this trip will definitely be one I will never forget!

Taking a trip like this is expensive, and because there is so much to see and do, it is a good idea to read through some of the Fodor’s travel books ahead of time. These books give you more than just a general idea of other countries; they give specifics on restaurants, lodging, sightseeing tours, boat and ferry travel and much more. Because Italy’s culture, landscapes and architecture are so diverse and abundant, it is very beneficial to research before your holiday in order to make the most of your stay. However, always be ready for any unexpected adventures or opportunities that come up along the way. Ideally, a balance of preparedness and spontaneity makes for a fabulous vacation!