Help with Venice & Rome Itinerary
Sep 29th, 2015, 01:52 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Help with Venice & Rome Itinerary
Need your guys' help on two itineraries for Venice & Rome. I have the big things pre-booked, but I'm still missing things to do/see. I'd like to hit the "Must sees" and then just explore both cities.
We'll be in Venice for 3 nights starting in a few days:
Day 1 - Nothing planned (Arrive on this day in the early afternoon)
Day 2 - Secret Itineraries & St. Peter's Basilica
Day 3 - Nothing planned
We'll be in Rome in a week for 4 nights.
So far I have planned:
Day 1 - Nothing planned (We arrive on this day) - Suggestions?
Day 2 - Vatican Museum Tour
Day 3 - Colosseum Tour
Day 4 - Nothing planned
What should I couple with each day? Should I take any day trips to places outside of Rome or do I have most of the stuff covered? The Vatican and Colosseum shouldn't take more than part of the day I would assume.
Can you guys help me put together something?
As always, thank you! So far our trip has been solid and hoping to check out everything else soon!
We'll be in Venice for 3 nights starting in a few days:
Day 1 - Nothing planned (Arrive on this day in the early afternoon)
Day 2 - Secret Itineraries & St. Peter's Basilica
Day 3 - Nothing planned
We'll be in Rome in a week for 4 nights.
So far I have planned:
Day 1 - Nothing planned (We arrive on this day) - Suggestions?
Day 2 - Vatican Museum Tour
Day 3 - Colosseum Tour
Day 4 - Nothing planned
What should I couple with each day? Should I take any day trips to places outside of Rome or do I have most of the stuff covered? The Vatican and Colosseum shouldn't take more than part of the day I would assume.
Can you guys help me put together something?
As always, thank you! So far our trip has been solid and hoping to check out everything else soon!
Sep 29th, 2015, 01:56 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Venice day 3 - how about taking boats on the lagoon to the islands like Burano or Torcello - the latter relatively unvisited by tourists and the den of zillions of feral cats (as is Venice in general) - seeing Venice hovering over the water is a real treat!
and each island - Murano for glass blowing of the iconic Murano Glass and Burano and Torcello are all neat and different. There is also a cemetery island you could visit right offshore.
and each island - Murano for glass blowing of the iconic Murano Glass and Burano and Torcello are all neat and different. There is also a cemetery island you could visit right offshore.
Sep 29th, 2015, 02:04 PM
#3
ok - Venice first [and it's St Mark's BTW - St Peter's is in Rome]
Day 1 - Nothing planned (Arrive in the early afternoon )
Where are you staying? how will you be getting there? if you'll be getting a vaporetto to your hotel, then i would suggest a walk round your neighbourhood when you get there, an early evening ciccetti and spritz, typical Venitian snack and drink] followed by dinner and a late evening ride on the vaporetto up the grand canal.
Day 2 - Secret Itineraries & St. Mark's Basilica
The secret itinerary's tour gives you access to the whole of the Doge's palace but not to St Mark's basilica. you can book that in advance too, and depending on the time of year you are visiting, that can be a vey good idea.
After that, you might like to walk across the Academia bridge to the Academia museum and gallery, or to see the Gugenheim, or alternatively take a boat out to the islands - I suggest Burano and Torcello, though whether you do this in an afternoon, or take a day over it rather depends on what time of year you are visiting.
Day 3 - Nothing planned
Loads of things you could do - an early morning visit to the Rialto markets, a visit to the Frari and the Scuola San Rocco, a tour of the Ghetto, a boat trip to the islands - or just walk in which you get thoroughly lost and then get the vaporetto from the nearest stop back to the centre.
I will come back for Rome.
Day 1 - Nothing planned (Arrive in the early afternoon )
Where are you staying? how will you be getting there? if you'll be getting a vaporetto to your hotel, then i would suggest a walk round your neighbourhood when you get there, an early evening ciccetti and spritz, typical Venitian snack and drink] followed by dinner and a late evening ride on the vaporetto up the grand canal.
Day 2 - Secret Itineraries & St. Mark's Basilica
The secret itinerary's tour gives you access to the whole of the Doge's palace but not to St Mark's basilica. you can book that in advance too, and depending on the time of year you are visiting, that can be a vey good idea.
After that, you might like to walk across the Academia bridge to the Academia museum and gallery, or to see the Gugenheim, or alternatively take a boat out to the islands - I suggest Burano and Torcello, though whether you do this in an afternoon, or take a day over it rather depends on what time of year you are visiting.
Day 3 - Nothing planned
Loads of things you could do - an early morning visit to the Rialto markets, a visit to the Frari and the Scuola San Rocco, a tour of the Ghetto, a boat trip to the islands - or just walk in which you get thoroughly lost and then get the vaporetto from the nearest stop back to the centre.
I will come back for Rome.
Sep 29th, 2015, 02:48 PM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For Venice I second the suggestion of getting lost.
In Rome you could happily spend half a day exploring the area around the Piazza Navona. I haven't done it myself, but the Pamphili park above Trastevere looks good (http://www.minorsights.com/2014/07/i...i-in-rome.html).
If you want to do something outside the city, you can't be disappointed by Orvieto. A quick journey of 1h15 from Roma Termini station. Take a »regionale veloce« train and the round trip will set you back EUR 30 for the two of you, plus some EUR 5 for two return trips with the »funiculare« (running every 10 minutes) in front of the Orvieto railway station to get you to the city centre on top of the hill. (The timetable for the train can be found on the website of the Italian railways http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en. Type »Roma Termini« as departing station and not »Rome«!)
In Rome you could happily spend half a day exploring the area around the Piazza Navona. I haven't done it myself, but the Pamphili park above Trastevere looks good (http://www.minorsights.com/2014/07/i...i-in-rome.html).
If you want to do something outside the city, you can't be disappointed by Orvieto. A quick journey of 1h15 from Roma Termini station. Take a »regionale veloce« train and the round trip will set you back EUR 30 for the two of you, plus some EUR 5 for two return trips with the »funiculare« (running every 10 minutes) in front of the Orvieto railway station to get you to the city centre on top of the hill. (The timetable for the train can be found on the website of the Italian railways http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en. Type »Roma Termini« as departing station and not »Rome«!)
Sep 29th, 2015, 04:47 PM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is much more to the Vatican than the Museum - you can also visit St Peter's, the Treasury, climb to the Dome, visit the Scavi (although you may be too late to get tickets) and then head to Castel Sant'Angelo - which we found fascinating. A fairly full day.
As for the day you do the Colosseum you should also visit the Forum - the political and religious center of ancient Rome. Again fascinating with a decent guide or a good guidebook. Also do not miss the Pantheon, near which there are several nice cafes that let you sit and watch the locals wander by.
Finally Rome is filled with wonderful piazzas (esp Pza Navona) many with beautiful fountains created by famous sculptors. Great for a romantic home walk to the hotel after dinner.
Also there are several charming neighborhoods to explore as well as a large number of local churches with great artwork.
If you are more interested in ancient Rome do a day trip to Ostia Antica - and ancient Roman port that is within easy reach of the city by train.
As for the day you do the Colosseum you should also visit the Forum - the political and religious center of ancient Rome. Again fascinating with a decent guide or a good guidebook. Also do not miss the Pantheon, near which there are several nice cafes that let you sit and watch the locals wander by.
Finally Rome is filled with wonderful piazzas (esp Pza Navona) many with beautiful fountains created by famous sculptors. Great for a romantic home walk to the hotel after dinner.
Also there are several charming neighborhoods to explore as well as a large number of local churches with great artwork.
If you are more interested in ancient Rome do a day trip to Ostia Antica - and ancient Roman port that is within easy reach of the city by train.
Sep 30th, 2015, 06:33 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tivoli and Hadrian's Villa - the latter an excellent Roman ruins site in a stark setting - the former has the fabulous gardens of the Villa d'Este - about an hour each way by train and or bus. And yes Orvieto is a great place too if not into old Roman ruins.
Sep 30th, 2015, 09:05 AM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,093
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some good suggestions here but it would be helpful to know what your interests are and also if this is your first visit.
A few comments about Rome since I was just there last week. It's was incredibly crowded and hot and we enjoyed wandering around Villa Borghese. You can even rent little golf cart type things and bicycles to explore the grounds. The museum is well worth a visit but you need reservations. Do you enjoy art? If so, you could easily fill your time going to some of the churches to see some of the magnificent pieces. I also like the Capitoline Museum.
We also did a day trip to Orvieto but I wouldn't do that if it's your first visit because there's so much to see in Rome.
A few comments about Rome since I was just there last week. It's was incredibly crowded and hot and we enjoyed wandering around Villa Borghese. You can even rent little golf cart type things and bicycles to explore the grounds. The museum is well worth a visit but you need reservations. Do you enjoy art? If so, you could easily fill your time going to some of the churches to see some of the magnificent pieces. I also like the Capitoline Museum.
We also did a day trip to Orvieto but I wouldn't do that if it's your first visit because there's so much to see in Rome.
Sep 30th, 2015, 10:07 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, first time in Rome. We are staying in the P. Navona area.
Not huge fans of art. Like we like to see the big ones but for me, Uffizi for example wasn't worth the time almost. I liked the David sculpture though.
We like to just site see and be wow'd by cool things. We lived Pisa for the tower and the surrounding area.
We really liked Pompeii for example.
Let me know if you need more info to make reco's! Appreciate all the insight so far!!
Not huge fans of art. Like we like to see the big ones but for me, Uffizi for example wasn't worth the time almost. I liked the David sculpture though.
We like to just site see and be wow'd by cool things. We lived Pisa for the tower and the surrounding area.
We really liked Pompeii for example.
Let me know if you need more info to make reco's! Appreciate all the insight so far!!
Sep 30th, 2015, 10:11 AM
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Art Biennale is under way in Venice right now, installations all over Venice, plus the Arsenale and the Giardini. Most of the art does not grab me, but the venues are something else.
Many are in Palazzi that are closed to the public most times, and many venues look pretty ordinary at street level. But once you are inside, and upstairs, you get to see how wealthy Venetians once lived. Beautiful decor and frescoes, chandelairs weighing a ton.
Mostly you get a glimpse of these rooms from the vap on the Canal Grande, being inside is special. Admission is mosty free, just walk in, stroll around and go on your way.
You can pick up a brochure and map from the Biennale offices, just a little bit west of the Piazza, Calle del Ridotto, on your left as you head west. The installation in the Church of San Antonin is great.
I've written about Venice - click on my user name and you'll find my trip report.
Many are in Palazzi that are closed to the public most times, and many venues look pretty ordinary at street level. But once you are inside, and upstairs, you get to see how wealthy Venetians once lived. Beautiful decor and frescoes, chandelairs weighing a ton.
Mostly you get a glimpse of these rooms from the vap on the Canal Grande, being inside is special. Admission is mosty free, just walk in, stroll around and go on your way.
You can pick up a brochure and map from the Biennale offices, just a little bit west of the Piazza, Calle del Ridotto, on your left as you head west. The installation in the Church of San Antonin is great.
I've written about Venice - click on my user name and you'll find my trip report.
