usvi-on-line
Italy
Italy
Planning a trip to Italy for 10 days in 2009.
Who has been and what tips, experiences, best places, worst places, etc.
We will use train for some and rent a car for other areas.
Just at the beginning planning stages and any advice on regions would be extremely helpful.
Also any forums that you used or websites would be helpful.
Thanks!
Who has been and what tips, experiences, best places, worst places, etc.
We will use train for some and rent a car for other areas.
Just at the beginning planning stages and any advice on regions would be extremely helpful.
Also any forums that you used or websites would be helpful.
Thanks!
you must go to the vatican. and i understand that it's really hard to get in now (limits on the number of people?)
i was there about 6 years ago (drove from Bari to Sicily up the coast to Rome) and I NEVER do tour guides and the like,--however, i thought that it might be a good idea and I was not sorry. ig you google Mayta Munson you will get her website--she is the only (at that time) american certified italian tour guide in Rome--we did a day long tour with her and did the vatican with her.--she puts all the art and architecture in context and it was truly amazing, i real highlight.
the amalfi coast if gorgeous and if you are there , do go to pompeii--
we stayedin a a funky place in vico equense (sp?) a former noble residence/monastery that is now a b and b. I am not sure if your travels will take you south ,but if you get south Sicily is really worth a visit--
oh , how i envy you!
i was there about 6 years ago (drove from Bari to Sicily up the coast to Rome) and I NEVER do tour guides and the like,--however, i thought that it might be a good idea and I was not sorry. ig you google Mayta Munson you will get her website--she is the only (at that time) american certified italian tour guide in Rome--we did a day long tour with her and did the vatican with her.--she puts all the art and architecture in context and it was truly amazing, i real highlight.
the amalfi coast if gorgeous and if you are there , do go to pompeii--
we stayedin a a funky place in vico equense (sp?) a former noble residence/monastery that is now a b and b. I am not sure if your travels will take you south ,but if you get south Sicily is really worth a visit--
oh , how i envy you!
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
Italy, truly my favorite place. Best piece of advice, don't try to do it all in one trip, commit to return. My favorite City is Florence. From there you can tour the Tuscan country side. Renting a car for that is a good idea, but beware, the italians take driving to a new level. I would avoid taking a car into any of the major cities most of the historical centers are off limits to vehicles and it can be nightmare. Trains are easy to navigate. I always loved Siena, a perfect walled City, you walk down the streets and music pours out of the windows. San Gimmiango is worth a visit. If I had only a week I would do only Florence and Rome. Two weeks I'd add a trip south the the Amalfi Coast and maybe Venice. beware, Venice is very pricy!!! I love Naples as well but have visited it with natives which is a different experience. I spent a week on Capri once and it was very relaxing
Sicily is also wonderful, but might be better reserved for a separate trip.
What time of year are you planning to visit?
Sicily is also wonderful, but might be better reserved for a separate trip.
What time of year are you planning to visit?
Loria, just wondering if you went to Bari for any special reason? That's where my grandfather was from...
did not visit it when I went to Italy.
Terry, I also did a ten-day trip a few years back. The country is so varied and offers so much that you have to choose what's most important to you, I think. I decided that for a first visit, I wanted to see 3 cities. I was with my then 19-year old daughter and did not want to drive. We flew to Rome, stayed near the Pantheon, which was a great location, then took the train to Florence, then took the train to Venice... then flew to Ireland from there..
did not visit it when I went to Italy.
Terry, I also did a ten-day trip a few years back. The country is so varied and offers so much that you have to choose what's most important to you, I think. I decided that for a first visit, I wanted to see 3 cities. I was with my then 19-year old daughter and did not want to drive. We flew to Rome, stayed near the Pantheon, which was a great location, then took the train to Florence, then took the train to Venice... then flew to Ireland from there..
http://www.eternaltourist.com/
terry, that is mayta's site--she is a bit expensive, but honestly it was money well spent.--she crafted a very personal itinerary for us.
Maryanne, i was only in Bari since we had taken the Ferry over from Patras in Greece--i was there with my much younger sister and my then 5 yr old daughter--girls trip to italy! (dad's and bros and son went home from Greece)
sadly we did not have much time to spend in the Bari area, but I really want to get back there and see more of the area--supposed to be lovely--you wouldn't happen to know any Mancino's from Bari??? (had to ask....i know, silly)
terry, that is mayta's site--she is a bit expensive, but honestly it was money well spent.--she crafted a very personal itinerary for us.
Maryanne, i was only in Bari since we had taken the Ferry over from Patras in Greece--i was there with my much younger sister and my then 5 yr old daughter--girls trip to italy! (dad's and bros and son went home from Greece)
sadly we did not have much time to spend in the Bari area, but I really want to get back there and see more of the area--supposed to be lovely--you wouldn't happen to know any Mancino's from Bari??? (had to ask....i know, silly)
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
We have done Rome and Florence twice and loved them the two times we went.
What cities are you visiting???
If you go to Rome, make sure to check out Villa Borghesi: http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/villaborghese.htm
There are some great sculptures in there and the grounds are beautiful!
We are dying to go back, but the exchange rate is what keeps us from going over right now.
What cities are you visiting???
If you go to Rome, make sure to check out Villa Borghesi: http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/villaborghese.htm
There are some great sculptures in there and the grounds are beautiful!
We are dying to go back, but the exchange rate is what keeps us from going over right now.
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
Great tips folks, thanks. Please keep them coming.
We are country side folks. Maybe one major city and off to enjoy the locals. My husbands parents were able to travel to Europe for 2-3 months a year during their working years and just "winged it" back then and we're sort of hoping for the same, even though we know it's more expensive now than then.
Nothing fancy. Looking for local environment. Tuscany was our first choice with that coastal area. But are open to all other ideas. Hence the post and hoping for everyone's experience and ideas as you folks are a good source.
Sailorgirl,
I'll be PMing you on a few questions as that is the region we're homing in on. Thank you.
We are country side folks. Maybe one major city and off to enjoy the locals. My husbands parents were able to travel to Europe for 2-3 months a year during their working years and just "winged it" back then and we're sort of hoping for the same, even though we know it's more expensive now than then.
Nothing fancy. Looking for local environment. Tuscany was our first choice with that coastal area. But are open to all other ideas. Hence the post and hoping for everyone's experience and ideas as you folks are a good source.
Sailorgirl,
I'll be PMing you on a few questions as that is the region we're homing in on. Thank you.
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toes in the sand
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:21 pm
We visited Venice and then stopped at a small coastal town called Alassio in Liguria.Venice was nice but I felt like a tourist there. When I return, I will make Alassio my first stop. I have never found freindlier people in a fantastic setting on the Mediterainian coast.
"got a drink in my hand and my toes in the sand"
Sorry for the delayed response on this - very busy with a new project. The big 3, Rome, Florence, and Venice - are all great and all have their certain charms. Most of the cities you have probably heard of (Bologna, Milan, Ferrara, Siena, Parma, Naples, etc. etc. etc.) all have a reason to visit. Italy really is a tourist friendly place - and always full of foreigners (me included).
I think what is most important is what you are looking for - roman empire, renaissance, baroque, art, history, churches, ruins, religion, food, etc. Hotel or villa - coast or mountains, north or south - Italy has it all really.
Very broad and general tips -
Trains can be expensive - especially if there are more than a couple of you. The freedom a rental car affords is great, and even if you can not drive in the center of many of the cities, you can usually get close enough and parking is ample and affordable.
All of the big destinations can be overtly touristic - but you can also find the quiet spots with a little work. Florence is sort of like a Disney land now - you can get the feeling you are in the park if you are anywhere inside the old walls (or what used to be the wall and is now the ring road around the city).
I love Rome - it never ends. The Villa Borghese (mentioned already) is great. The Vatican Museum is unseeable in a day - but just rushing to see the Cistine Chapel is worth the whole trip. St. Peters is fantastic. Going with a guided tour is a good route there - otherwise, you will wait in line for a while to get in. The Coliseum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Capitoline hill, the Roman Forum (a guide there is recommended too) - all fantastic sites
I was only in Venice for a few days a couple of years ago (and for a day once 20 years ago). I loved it though - it is a completely different world.
Of course - I am partial to Tuscany - Florence, Siena, Lucca - and all the little towns and villages in between... I could go on for days.
If you have 10 days I would maybe only pick 2 major places - Rome for 3 or 4 days, then up to Florence, with day trips to Bologna, Siena, Lucca -that would be a nice trip.
Anyway - if you have more specific questions let me know. If you have questions about Florence I would love for you to ask here: http://www.florence-on-line.com/forum/index.php
I am trying to get that forum going and it would be great to have some questions to answer there.
Also see the rest of that site - it needs a lot of work but we do have some stuff there and are working on more, http://www.florence-on-line.com and you can also find a lot of tidbits on a blog we run http://www.florence-journal.com/
Almost forgot - if you are in Rome - visit the newer museum by Richard Meier - not for the museum really but for what is in it - the Ara Pacis http://www.ara-pacis-museum.com/
I think what is most important is what you are looking for - roman empire, renaissance, baroque, art, history, churches, ruins, religion, food, etc. Hotel or villa - coast or mountains, north or south - Italy has it all really.
Very broad and general tips -
Trains can be expensive - especially if there are more than a couple of you. The freedom a rental car affords is great, and even if you can not drive in the center of many of the cities, you can usually get close enough and parking is ample and affordable.
All of the big destinations can be overtly touristic - but you can also find the quiet spots with a little work. Florence is sort of like a Disney land now - you can get the feeling you are in the park if you are anywhere inside the old walls (or what used to be the wall and is now the ring road around the city).
I love Rome - it never ends. The Villa Borghese (mentioned already) is great. The Vatican Museum is unseeable in a day - but just rushing to see the Cistine Chapel is worth the whole trip. St. Peters is fantastic. Going with a guided tour is a good route there - otherwise, you will wait in line for a while to get in. The Coliseum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Capitoline hill, the Roman Forum (a guide there is recommended too) - all fantastic sites
I was only in Venice for a few days a couple of years ago (and for a day once 20 years ago). I loved it though - it is a completely different world.
Of course - I am partial to Tuscany - Florence, Siena, Lucca - and all the little towns and villages in between... I could go on for days.
If you have 10 days I would maybe only pick 2 major places - Rome for 3 or 4 days, then up to Florence, with day trips to Bologna, Siena, Lucca -that would be a nice trip.
Anyway - if you have more specific questions let me know. If you have questions about Florence I would love for you to ask here: http://www.florence-on-line.com/forum/index.php
I am trying to get that forum going and it would be great to have some questions to answer there.
Also see the rest of that site - it needs a lot of work but we do have some stuff there and are working on more, http://www.florence-on-line.com and you can also find a lot of tidbits on a blog we run http://www.florence-journal.com/
Almost forgot - if you are in Rome - visit the newer museum by Richard Meier - not for the museum really but for what is in it - the Ara Pacis http://www.ara-pacis-museum.com/
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