Dordogne france map november 20183/17/2024 But there’s a steep drop-off in traffic when it comes to a town like Canterbury, where I retreated after two exhausting weeks of guidebook research in London. With more time, they add some “second-rate” destinations - Bath, York, the Cotswolds, and so on. In England, everyone wants to go to “first-rate” London. I left Arezzo re-energized - and ready to plunge into Rome. But mostly, I savored simply being alone in Italy…wandering all by myself through colorful and cobbled back lanes having a memorable lunch at the town’s foodie splurge restaurant, just dropping in without a reservation discovering a world-class neighborhood gelato shop and browsing antiques alongside Tuscans furnishing their homes rather than tourists seeking souvenirs. Arezzo has two: It’s home to a thriving weekend antiques market and its Basilica of San Francesco is slathered with colorful frescoes by Piero della Francesca. I love the endearing way that smaller cities have their own idiosyncratic claims to fame, which swell their residents’ pride. And I got exactly what I was looking for. I was here on the recommendation of an Italian friend, specifically to take a day off from the busy tourist towns I was visiting elsewhere in Italy: Assisi, Rome, and so on. It’s a midsize town that’s not included in our Rick Steves’ Italy guidebook - even with 1,250 pages of coverage, Arezzo doesn’t make the cut. I had this revelation when I spent a sleepy, rainy Saturday in the Tuscan town of Arezzo. But even once you get beyond those top tiers, Italy is rich with rewarding destinations. With more time, they add some “second-rate” destinations: Pisa, Assisi, Siena, Milan, and so on. Virtually everyone visiting Italy wants to go to the “first-rate” cities: Rome, Florence, and Venice. And you know something? The experiences I had in Europe’s “third-rate” towns were truly first-rate. But I also mixed in some smaller towns, including ones few travelers have heard of: Arezzo. Last year, I made a swing through what I think of as The Big Three: London, Paris, and Rome. Here’s an idea: Consider going easy on Europe’s top-tier destinations, and instead check out some lesser-known places. As you plan your 2020 travels, you may be looking to escape your fellow travelers. Europe is crowded - especially its big, famous sights.
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