anyone backpacked in italy recently...?

[stewart]

Hi all

I'm off to Italy with my son in August, ostensibly to do some photography around Liguria and Tuscany. Have booked a flight now just need to work out where to stay each night! We're planning on taking a tent and roughing it - anyone done this sort of thing recently? I've looked at campsites on the web but it's not very clear if you can just turn up and hope to get in as I've done in England...

Any thoughts/advice/experiences gratefully received

 

[Jenx]

Not 'Backpacked' Stewart, but been there many times...

Siena and San Gimignano are stunning.
Always find Pisa a bit disappointing, save from the Tower,
Fiorentina is great, but a lot of beggars / pickpockets etc ...
Monte Riggioni is a lovely walled hilltop village ...
Personally, I think Siena is the jewel in the Tuscan crown..

You'll love it there, if you've not been before.. and if you have.. you'll love going back !
I adore the place... its great ! 8) :wink: 8)

 

[woodbloke]

I love Italy and have been trying to persuade SWIMBO to do a driving tour of all the northern cities. We take the Landy with the bikes on the back and camp. In my experience, no booking is required at camp sites after July/August. If you want an even better holiday, try a camping holiday in Switzerland...
...but having just looked at your profile, you'll be doing other things in September - Rob

 

[stewart]

Thanks, Jenx and Rob
Sadly I am going in August so I suspect campsites will be packed - however, I've discovered my YHA membership can be used at some hostels in Italy and it's not much more per night than a campsite and I feel more confident booking them up from here. Also means we'll have access to power for charging camera batteries.
Trying to plan to have a few days in a hostel and travel out from there - unfortunately there doesn't seem to be one in Sienna so I hope we'll be able to get a train from the nearest hostel I can find.
Thanks again.

 

[devonwoody]

I made Venice in 3 days 57 years ago, took me three weeks to get back, I think the trouble was I forgot to wash before setting out each morning.

Took lots of photographs on my Ensign Selfix, (well one film)

 

[contadino]

In August, you'll need to book as it's ferragosto - the national holiday period - between 15th and 25th. Nowadays, people get a little flexibility in some jobs, so it'll likely be busy either side for a couple of weeks.

If you've never camped in Italy before, bear in mind that camping is very different here than the rest of europe. It's very much a "pack everything bar the kitchen sink" affair, where whole families meet up to socialise. Generally speaking, it's not to quiet "at one with nature" experience that Brit campers expect. That said, with some good research, I expect you'd be able to find some smaller, quieter sites if that's your bag.

 

[Boatfixer]

Finding anywhere to stay in August unless you have booked well in advance will be problematic - I used to work a lot in Italy and finding a bed for the night during the holiday period was almost impossible all over the country.