thanks for all the insight guys... This is an awards trip for my company so dates are non negotiable.... as for the 3-4 night excursion, my options are endless, just logistically don't want to spend and entire day getting somewhere.

Lake Como sounds and looks amazing and Mark mentioned a great option in the Amalfi Coast.... Im sure after 5 nights in Rome i will be ready to escape the "ancient ruins" and move onto something more relaxing and peaceful.

Keep the input coming

 

PM me your address Janko and I'll send you my Michelin Guide for Rome. I've highlighted the places I went and I'll make a few notes about restaurants etc.

Milan is great and I think your missus would REALLY enjoy it. You could rent a car for one of those days and hit Lake Maggiore/Stress for a day/night.

 

dont go to the south...
come over to portofino or go to porto cervo or porto rotondo in sardinia..
great parties and beaches...

 

Lake como. Without a doubt.

 

Bingo, unless your going to Capri.

 

Are y'all lumping amalfi coast with Capri or the dirty south(would feel like home ehy)?

 

Check out the Villa de Este on Lake Como. I's mind numbing, so unbelieveably amazing. My GF would not believe me until I took her there. Built in 1560's. Make sure you check out the pool, it's IN the lake.

Villa d'Este - Luxury Hotel Lake Como, Cernobbio | Villa d'Este

NO Capri is one of my favorite places in the world. Depends when you are going though. Summer is terrible on the entire island. May or September are my favorite times there. Best little hotel there. Small, intimate, family owned and staffed.

http://www.villasarahcapri.com/en/index

So you got my top two picks. If you want any more info on either, feel free.

 

The way I explane the north/south debate of Italy is just like the US back in the early 1900's and still a bit now. South is more agricultural and the north has all the nice citys, factories, 75% of tourism... ect. Amalfi coast area is beautiful though! I wouldn't skip out on that.

 

well if I have to be honest there are a lot of gorgeous places to visit in the south of italy... but the rest is shit...

 

Actually, you may surprised there is very little of "ancient" Rome. Other then colosseum, forum, pantheon and aurelian wall most of Rome was built by the Catholic church and the popes 400 years ago, and the stuff they put up is MIND blowing. You will not believe your eyes of what is inside the buildings both outside and inside. Rome also has a ton of green space, the parks are just great for relaxing and there is like 5-6 major ones, not to mention the Roman hills. You will be rushing around in Rome if you want to do everything in 1 week. There really is nothing else like it in the world.

Yea south of Italy is poor so what? I still prefer it 10x better then the uptight nordic countries where lighting up a smoke is considered taboo and the ever watchful state is on every corner dictating your life. South of Italy is kind of like a mediterranean version of the wild west. Its not for everyone but it has its charm and its own thing. Naples has a tailor scene that makes Saville Row look like a joke. People talk about North Italy but fail to mention that Naples was extremely wealthy once and when Italy unified the northerners basically robbed the south of capital. To each his own.