Trip to Italy

[diegoff]

Hi MS! I´m going for three weeks with my girlfriend to Italy, in September. Once there, we´ll rent a car and move everywhere. We´ll arrive to Venice and stay for 2 nights, and the last 5 days we´ll be in Rome. That´s all the schedule we have so far.
We haven´t planned yet the tour, but we´d sure like to go to the Tuscany area, Florence, and the Amalfi coast.
Any advice in places to visit? bars? record stores? It would be nice for me, I´ve never been to Italy. thanks!!!

(I´m thinking in going to Pagani´s car museum instead of Ferrari´s)

[floridaorange]

Re: Trip to Italy

Are you going to the Vatican? I recommend going to St Peters in the morning and Sistine Chapel/Vatican Museum in the afternoon. The lines were gone at Noon for Sistine Chapel. Either way, but your tix in advance for Sistine Chapel. Both are out if this world amazing. I'll find the name of this restaurant we really liked.

also I recommend the Trip Advisor App.

And we used Rick Steve's App as our tour guide, which world out great.

Also, you may want to bring boots or something for Rome, the streets are all cobblestone and super old. Lol

[Zover]

Re: Trip to Italy

The old Zover has a trip to Saville, Valencia, Marseille and Paris before flying out to Ibiza. It's going to be a busy 4 weeks

[diegoff]

Re: Trip to Italy

great!
sure we´ll go to the Vatican. I´ll check the trip advisor app

[Haziel]

Re: Trip to Italy

Venice is gorgeous , you couldn't have chosen a better place to go with your gf. The food and the whole vibe of the city is amazing. I was there 3 days and it was awesome.

I was in Rome for 5 days and I did the whole touristy thing, the Roman coliseum, The forum, the Vatican and Castle Saint Angelo, etc you know just to get it off my chest. It has probably been the most overrated city that i've ever been too, I regret not going to the tuscany area. The food in Rome was below average and the city is pretty dusty( if you have allergies take some benadryl with you). Also Make sure you run when crossing the streets because there isn't any stop lights hahaha.

Check out all the episodes Anthony bourdain ( no reservations, the layover , parts unknown , etc) did on Italy I'm sure there is about 7 episodes all together.

The idea of driving around sounds awesome but if you are on a budget I recommend taking the train since the road fees are pretty expensive in italy.

[floridaorange]

Re: Trip to Italy

Hmmm, I thought it was pretty cool. Especially the Colosseum and St Peters. I admit I enjoyed Paris more. Who did you go with? Did they complain a lot or you just simply didn't dig it? Our hotel was really nice, super location too. Perhaps that played a role. It also was very walkable compared to most cities. I did find the food to be just so-so, except for this 1 restaurant, which was amazing. I do want to go to all the other hot spots in Italy though, have heard great things about Tuscany.

[diegoff]

Re: Trip to Italy

nice info about train and road fees

[KiwiTollway]

Re: Trip to Italy

That's really exciting diegoff!! Jealous & have not been so have nothing to offer, but trip advisor is so great for any traveling.
Let us know about your trip when you get back.

hope your accommodations are comfy while you're there.

[DIDI]

Re: Trip to Italy

When I went it was Rome, loved wandering and was the best accommodation I got during the trip.

Venice I found incredibly disappointing. Always wanted to go to Venice and wouldn't go back if you paid me. A B@B owner who obviously was getting kickbacks. Bad food, shouldn't have followed that B@B owners recommendation. I couldn't believe there was that much fake Morano glass in the world. And all this really expensive . Plus I always felt the natives were trying to work out how much money they could screw out of me. I really wish I had the Venice experience I had imagined.

Tuscany I loved .!!! Wonderful fresh clean food , incredibly helpful people . Sienna was just amazing . Had the best hair cut I have had in years. Lots of lovely little shops with interesting things.

Haven't done the Amalfi coast , but people whose opinion I value speak very, very highly of it.

Have a wonderful time !!

[Haziel]

Re: Trip to Italy

Hmmm, I thought it was pretty cool. Especially the Colosseum and St Peters. I admit I enjoyed Paris more. Who did you go with? Did they complain a lot or you just simply didn't dig it? Our hotel was really nice, super location too. Perhaps that played a role. It also was very walkable compared to most cities. I did find the food to be just so-so, except for this 1 restaurant, which was amazing. I do want to go to all the other hot spots in Italy though, have heard great things about Tuscany.

When I went to rome I was by myself as opposed to Venice and Udine in which I had an italian friend that was showing me around at all times. Still in Rome I followed the recommendations that my friend gave me and I was not too thrilled about that city. The sixteen chapel was probably my highlight in Rome. I remember i stayed looking at the ceiling for almost an hour.

On my Next trip to italy I would love to check out Sardinia and Florence.

[Micko]

Re: Trip to Italy

Italy is without doubt my favourite holiday destination....

Have been to Rome and loved the culture/food and of course the vino. Rome is special - so much to see. We used a tour bus and hopped on and off over the course of the day and seen pretty much everything we wanted.

Lake Garda was stunning - from there we went to Venice (couldn't believe all the bird shit ) and Verona. In Verona we went to the opera (see below) for a truly wonderful experience.



I got married in Lake Orta (which is mostly unknown to people outside Italy) - stunning also



I'm planning to go to Sicily and Amalfi Coast at some stage

It's a truly wonderful country - if you are heading up north, check out Lake Orta - it is small, very,very quaint and quite breathtaking.

[Micko]

Re: Trip to Italy

I see you are flying into Venice - the lakes are well worth a visit - in particular Orta

[Zover]

Re: Trip to Italy

Venice I found incredibly disappointing. Always wanted to go to Venice and wouldn't go back if you paid me.

I thought St Mark's Square was nice, but when you get off the beaten track it was a right dump.

[DIDI]

Re: Trip to Italy

^^ Ahh, maybe that was my problem, I tend to wander off the beaten track.

[simonr]

Re: Trip to Italy

I like Venice out of season. Best recommendation is to go on a trail of small bars for Cicchetti and drinks

Crawling Through Venice’s Cicchetti Pubs by Rick Steves | ricksteves.com

36 Hours in... Venice - Telegraph

Amalfi coast is a must, love Positano.
Firenze is stunning and my favourite place