Thread: Trip to Italy

Next week I go to Italy for 11 days!

I'll be spending 1 night in each of the following cities: Milan, Venice, Bologna.

Then, I spend 4 nights each in Florence and Rome, respectively.

We plan on checking out the museums and other attractions, but I'm a big foodie and wine-o, among other things.

For those who have been, any recommendations?

Thanks!

Ogie

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Next week I go to Italy for 11 days!

I'll be spending 1 night in each of the following cities: Milan, Venice, Bologna.

Then, I spend 4 nights each in Florence and Rome, respectively.

We plan on checking out the museums and other attractions, but I'm a big foodie and wine-o, among other things.

For those who have been, any recommendations?

Thanks!

Ogie

Oh I am so jealous...I love Italy so depply, it's not even funny.

Milan, for me, was one thing only: The last supper. The opera house is beatiful, but in a country like Italy that's like saying the sky is blue...So yeah, I can see only one night there.

4 nights in Florence actually seems a little long--I've been twice, and it is beautiful, but Rome...I mean, it's ROME. Rome is the only city I've ever been where EVERY STREET held something utterly fascinating to me. Even the little alleyways where no one ever goes are freaking amazing. Wander. Try randomly turning into the side streets and seeing what you find.

Rome. I'm trying to think of recommendations, but all I can remember is jaw dropping sights everywhere...

You know what? I do have one piece of advice: I would avoid the Trevvi fountain, actually--it's so freaking crowded all the time, you'll be lucky if you can get within a hundred yards, and there's no dearth of other things to do.
Definitely go for an open top bus tour early on, just to help you get your bearings.

*sigh* I want to go!

Originally Posted by Oglethorpe

Next week I go to Italy for 11 days!

I'll be spending 1 night in each of the following cities: Milan, Venice, Bologna.

Then, I spend 4 nights each in Florence and Rome, respectively.

We plan on checking out the museums and other attractions, but I'm a big foodie and wine-o, among other things.

For those who have been, any recommendations?

Thanks!

Ogie

If you love food and wine then definitely take your time in Florence. My most memorable meal ever was at a restaurant called Buca Lapi in Florence:
Restaurant BUCA LAPI

I could go on about the food/wine in Tuscany. My wife and I had about a 3-hour meal at this place. The wild boar was quite amazing. The wine we drank was Peppoli chianti.

Look into getting advance tickets for the museums. It's the end of tourist season so it shouldn't be too bad but anybody visiting there will also be looking to get into Uffizi and Accademia. We got advance tickets through our hotel -- this was in June '06 with a ton of tourists and the ticket line was crazy long.

We did Rome, Florence and Venice. Have some pics on my site here:
tony & colleen's photos

Florence was undoubtedly our favorite, followed by Rome and then Venice. You're going to love it -- only problem we had was figuring out the flippin' train system.

EDIT: regarding JimR's comment, I could easily enjoy 4 days in Florence if you couldn't tell. I fully agree about Rome -- there are a ton of things to do and see. I actually proposed to my wife on a quiet night sitting right in front of the Pantheon.

I love Italy and Rome in particular. I swear if I moved to Italy I would weigh 300lbs within a year because the food is that good. Rome is like a living museum and although it gets crowded at the Trevi Fountain and you have to be careful of pickpockets etc. I'd still go to see it. It's so beautiful and you have to throw a coin so you'll return one day.

When you go to see The Colosseum you'll see the Forum just over the road, do that first because your ticket for the Palatino gets you into both venues ( Palatino and Colosseum ), but the queue for the forum is always shorter so you'll save time ( up to an hours time at the Colosseum ).

The Spanish Steps, Pantheon and Piazza Navona are best suited to late afternoon/early evening. I'd finish at the Piazza Navona as there are several fine restaurants in the surrounding streets. Don't forget to try the gellato.

The Vatican can take a day purely because of the queues. Plan on snacking rather than finding somewhere to eat near there, the restaurants in that area are overpriced and poor in comparison to the rest of the city. Make sure you take plenty of water with you, although if you see drinking fountains then feel free to drink as the water is fine.

One place I would tell everyone to try is Est! Est! Est! dei Fratelli Ricci which is the best pizzeria I have ever eaten in. It's mostly dark panelled wood and rustic furniture, but it has a great atmosphere with a very good house wine to go with the pizzas. It's at Via Genova 32 just off Republica.

No matter what restaurant you're in you'll find it's customary to order at least two courses, but don't sweat it too much, it's a cosmopolitan city and they're used to foreigners just ordering one course.

I've been to a few other places in Italy and enjoyed them all, but Rome has a particular pull for me. Have a great time.

Spent a week in Rome this summer and loved it. Definitely agree with JimR's comment about taking an open-bus tour early in your stay there.

If you want a quick place to stock up on cheap shaving goodies, there's a nice shop near Termini that I marked on a map here.

ah, italy - cool!
looks like you're doing the touristy stuff, so as far as good food goes just find a way away from the tourist places and you'll be good. in that sense bologna would be easiest, but i've done it in every single place of the rest and it's not very hard.
local wine bars (enoteca) are great and my friend and my friend and i stumbled into an awesome restaurant by just walking through some small dark streets - they had no problem seating us even though we didn't have reservation and at the end one of the stuff brought us some really nice desert wine from his region or town that he insisted we must drink with him
if you don't have reservations for the last supper you probably won't be able to see it, but give them a call today and see if they have spots for when you'll be there.

florence is quite small, but it's fun. i haven't been in a while but when i go i'll spend some time with SMN and i profumi di firenze.

Oh, and the wine in restaurants is cheap! Nothing like the markup in us, plus it's cheaper to start with, so don't miss an opportunity to enjoy that

Make sure you're dressed appropriately when you go to the vatican - first time i tried the men in black suits and sunglasses didn't like me wearing shorts...

In 11 days you'll probably have to deal with a strike at least once - don't worry that's just the italian way, things work out at the end one way or another

Never been there but I'd love to go. If I did I would find my way to San Giovanni wherever that is and pay a visit to Mastro Livi. Maybe leave with a straight razor. Bon Voyage Ogie.

Best pizza I ever had was from a street shop in Florence. As I remember, it was thick crust and dripping with olive oil.

Best gelatto was in Florence too. Marron (chestnut). Yummm

(Worst pasta ever was at a youth hostel in Florence)

It was so long ago - some day I hope to go back. Next time without a back pack and clogs - really a bad idea.

Oh yes, the Gypsies at the train station caused a bit of a problem when they robbed my then fiance while she was waiting in line. Caused us to stay an additional few days (weekend) waiting for the American Consulate to open on Monday so that we could get her a new passport. Not the best part of our visit. Makes for great stories now.

If you can find the time and squeeze it in, I recommend visiting Perugia. Beautiful old medieval city, and place of a certain workshop owned by Mastro Livi!

Rome is fantastic! Go to Piazza Trilussa and go down the street the runs from the right hand far corner. Theres a little cafe up there that has great prosecco and if you head round the corner theres a great little restaurant, it only has abour 6 tables, and it does the best food...!

If you eat somewhere like Piazza Navona you'll pay 70+ Euros for a 3 course meal with wine for 2 people. At this place, my girlfriend and I paid about 40..! And we had a bottle of Amarone with that as well, unbelievable value and exceptional quality. We ended up going back a couple of times in the end. They do a sublime wild boar ragout, makes me want to go back just thinking about it!

Check out the Trevi fountain really late at night (like 2am late) when its quieter, its usually rammed during the day. And dont take anything from the sellers round there! As far as they're concerned if you touch it, you've bought it and the prices are a rip off. You can haggle, but they'll still charge loads. Having been cornered into paying someone 20 euro for a rose and to take some pics of us on my camera I can attest to this!

The pantheon is incredible, definately check that out. I'd also go see the Vatican and have a wander along the river as well. Theres a little island in the middle of the river at one point with a few shops on it and theres a great ice cream place on there, get some pistachio ice cream!

If you like your wines then Barolo and Amarone are two of the best in Italy, and in the world IMHO!

Ask at the hotel for the places that the locals go to eat, you can get some good pointers!

If you happen to pass near Perugia you could also drop in on Mastro Livi and pick up a razor or two..!

Hope you have a great trip and let us know what you thought of Italy!