reedpaints

Hi everyone --

It's getting close! Is there a disease called "Detailitis?? I am overwhelmed trying to get all of the finer points under control. I have been working on this for months (seems like a full time job) and still I'm worried I'm leaving something important out or missing something altogether (or worse yet, just doing too bloody much). This is a long post (3 cities) but I would be so appreciative if you all could comment, suggest, critique, etc. We're actually also going in some smaller directions (Siena, San G. Cinque Terre, Spoleto) but the main cities (and lengthiest stays) are in Rome, Florence and Venice.

Also, am I missing any special combo tickets to buy in Rome or Florence?

I'll start with Venice:

VENICE ITINERARY

For train arrivals, step out of the station onto the Grand Canal and buy the 3 day Vaporetto pass for 20E pp. It will save us if we plan to use the Vaporettos for primary transport. The private sleek speed boats are like taxis, but cost about 50E. Also, buy combo ticket and Chorus pass ( 15.50E +

Arrive Monday October 25
Late Afternoon from very quick look at Pisa via Cinque Terre. Walk around, get aquainted, take a Grand Canal cruise (Vaporetto #1), have dinner and sleep.

Tuesday October 26
Doges Pallace Secret Itinerary tour (ask hotel to make reservations ahead via email), (12.50E) St. Mark?s Basilica (combo ticket) and Square, Correr Museum (combo ticket), have lunch in St. Marks area, see the Campanile Bell. Take the traghetto in Campo Santa Maria del Giglio or cross the Grand Canal via Accademia Bridge. Bear left to reach Santa Maria della Salute, with over a dozen Titian paintings, and Punta della Dogana, one of the best panoramas in town.

Wednesday October 27
Walk from St. Mark?s Square to Frari Church (2E +) (follow Rick Steves two self-guided walking tours ? St. Marks to Rialto and Rialto to Frari Church). Use time to wander around the Rialto market scene. Tour Frari Church. Tour Scuola San Rocco ( 5.50E) for Tintoretto.Tour Museum of 18th century Venice (6.70+).

Thursday October 28
Explore Dorsoduro ? the neighborhood around the Accademia. Tour the Accademia (6.50E) Museum. and take a Vaporetto (#82) out to San Maggiore Island Church.

Friday October 29
Go to the Burano and Torcello Islands or take a Brenta Canal tour and see the villas along the canal (could see one island on another day if we?d rather take the canal cruise).

Saturday October 30
Free day for wandering or day trip. Wind our way through Cannaregio, visiting Ca' d'Oro, a building as beautiful as the art collection it houses.

Sunday October 31
Free morning in Venice. Monks chant at 11 a.m. at San Giorgio church across the lagoon from St. Mark?s. Catch train to Rome (5 hours on Eurostar).


FLORENCE

FLORENCE ITINERARY


Arrive Monday October 18 P.M.
Things open on Monday are as follows: The Duomo, Giotto's Tower (6E if you want to climb), Palazza Vecchio (5.70E), Michael Angelo's House (6.50) Santa Croce Church (4E). I thought perhaps we could go up to the Piazza Michael Angelo at sunset and then take a walking tour of the Oltarano area later that evening depending on how tired we are.


Tuesday October 19
'Original Florence Tour' with Artviva this morning at 9:30 (3 hrs) (25E). Accademia Museum (the David) reservation at 2:30 p.m.( 6.50E = 3E reservation fee). Move on to Piazza San Marco?s Museo di San Marco (6E). In the evening we should take the #7 Bus to Fiesole to see the view at sunset or early evening.


Wednesday October 20
If we get up extra early today we can go to the Mercado Centrale before our 8:30 am reservation at the Uffizi Museum (8.50E + 3E reservation fee). Other places to see today: Santa Croce (4E) and the Bargello Museum (4E), the Duomo, Baptistry (3E), Musee d'Opera (6E).

Thursday October 21
Branacci Chapel (3.10E) and Pitti Palace (Royal Apartments 6.50E / Grand Ducal Treasures 4E / Boboli Gardens 4E). Perhaps the Palazzo Vecchio ( 5.70E). If we don?t make it to the Mercado Centrale on Wednesday, this morning is a good time.

Friday October 22
Day trip to Siena and San Giemgano.

Saturday October 23
Medici day... Medici Chapels (6E +4E), Santa Maria Novella (2.50E), San Lorenzo area. Other Options: the old Perfumerie (free) and an evening stroll to San Miniato to hear the monks chant and see the views.

Sunday October 24
Free day in Florence to relax and see things missed or catch a tour (perhaps a wine tasting tour).


ROME

ROME

Arrive Wednesday October 6 10:15 a.m. ?
Orientation to Rome. Possibly take hop-on-off tour (about $24E) and see the main sites of the city. Could go to the National Museum (6E)? If we?re up to it, take a look at the Rick Steves Rome guidebook and follow his Dolce Vita Stroll down Via del Corso. Or just walk around the center historical.

Thursday October 7
9:15 a.m. Scala Reale Tour of Ancient Rome (4 hours). Includes Palatine Hill, Palatine Museum, the Roman Forum, Via Sacra, Senate House, temples, triumphal arches, basillicas and the Roman Colosseum. (55E + 8E museum). (Tour Portion pre-paid). Make sure we see St. Peter in Chains Church for Michael Angelo statue and make reservations for late afternoon at Nero?s Golden House (06-3996-7700 8.50E).

Friday October 8
10:30 am Scavi Tour (under St. Peter?s) at Vatican City (12E) credit card guaranteed. 1 p.m. Scala Reale Tour of the Vatican -- Papal Apartments, museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter?s Basillica (55E + 12E Vatican Entrance). From Vatican, take a walk to Castel Sant Angelo (5E if we go inside) for sunset view of the city and the gardens.

Saturday October 9
7:30 a.m. Free Day or Day Tour to Naples/Sorrento/Pompeii ? Includes lunch, all transport and entrance fees. (100E).

Sunday October 10
9 a.m. Borghese Gallery/Gardens. Book back to back tickets (2 hours each) = (17E Total) With guided tour at 9:10 (add 5E). Rick Steves recommended churches in this area and possibly the Baths of Carcalla -- (5E)

Monday October 11
Free day in Rome. Free night or catch a P.M. tour (20E). Possibilities: Michelangelo's Moses in San Pietro in Vincoli a highlight, Bernini's fabulous fountains, Travestere, more churches, back to sites we missed or want to view again.

Tuesday October 12
Tivoli Gardens half-day tour (47E). Free day and evening to enjoy the last night in Rome.


I AM ETERNALLY THANKFUL EVERYONE!

ira

Hi reed,

>Is there a disease called "Detailitis?? <

Yes, and you have it.

You do understand that your whole itinerary will be worthless as soon as the plane is 15 minutes late?

You are going to Italy, the land of il dolci far niente, calm down and enjoy your stay.

SeaUrchin

I agree, calm down. I notice that you have alot of things planned on the first few days you hit a city and then have free days with nothing planned. I would try and stretch out some of your activities to your unplanned days. You want to have time to enjoy yourself and maybe sit in a piazza or a cafe and just absorb Italy as it is today not always as it was if you know what I mean.

reedpaints

Oh guys... I should have put in a little side note about this stuff... I've travelled before so yes, I'm certain that once I land all of this will go out the door and we'll wing a lot of it. I also know that I'm not a machine and I need a lot of "people watching" time and just plain rest time. This is merely an outline to follow (and frankly, I'm a planner even when the plans don't go right). It makes me feel safe to have a list and an idea even if it changes. Sorry I didn't tell you this before posting. Believe me... I will be calm once there.

Thanks!

Chatters

reedpaints--- no, it doesn't look like "This is merely an outline to follow..."; do you really have to write "have dinner and sleep" into a plan for October 25th? It all honesty, so much excruciating details gave me the willis....

reedpaints

Okay...well gosh... Didn't mean to offend anyone just asking for some guidance. It was written just for me originally... Guess I should have edited it but I didn't get the feeling I would need to on this site. My mistake.

LoveItaly

I am confused. You say take a quick look at Cincque Terra, Pisa and take the Grand Canal. You are talking about the west coast of Italy and the northeast of Italy. Please explain

reedpaints

<<Please explain>>

That day (Oct 18) we're leaving Cinque Terre in the morning after having spent a couple of nights there. The plan is to stop at Pisa for a quick look on the way to Florence.

ira

Hi reed,

What's on your 'Original Florence Tour' with Artviva?

DJDxMKD

Reedpaints,

I liked your itinerary. If for no other reason than I can show my wife that I'm not the only compulsive planner in the world!! Though I will give you credit for putting my itineraries to shame. Have a good trip!

mamc

Whew! Once I realized that your itinerary starts at the end and ends at the beginning, I began to marvel at the detail. Indeed, I think you do have detailitis! There is not much missing from what I can tell. The only thing that seems just too complex is leaving Florence on the morning of the 25th, taking a quick look at Pisa and Cinque Terre and arriving in Venice in the late afternoon. Sounds like an episode of the Amazing Race! I'd eliminate the "quick look" and just travel from Florence to Venice.

Wildfire

A fine planner you are! impressive. I thought i was nutty about planning and overplanning. We'll be in Florence at the same time, buy you a capuccino

reedpaints

Okay, I have to admit it: Once I posted that and got the first few comments I was sort of embarrassed. I am a planner (although not quite to this extent on most things!). I know I've gotten somewhat carried away but I can't seem to help myself and it only gets worse the close I get to departure I suppose I feel like I have the weight of the world resting on my shoulders at the moment because I've planned this for two others as well.

When I travel I normally bug the hell out of my friends because they can't get me out of the museums. Maybe I was just trying to be a little more well-rounded! HA Anyway, I do thank you for making me feel like I'm not the only one in the world right now who gets crazy before leaving for a month long trip. YAY.

Re: Cinque Terre -Pisa - Florence...

We will have already been in Cinque terre for a few days on this part... so we plan to leave Cinque terre around 9 am that morning and go straight to Pisa for just a couple of hours. This was a deal breaker... I am being forced into going to Pisa by the others. I swear! Although I can't see how it will hurt to see that lovely field and the tower in person for the first time in my life. From there it's off to Florence where we'll be spending a week.

Re: Wildfire... You're on for the beverage but only if I can buy you a gelato to go with it!

Thanks again!

Wildfire

I know how it is, as vacations can be so short and intense (and expensive) i find it easier to make a detailed plan and do as much research before going over. I do like to leave plenty of time to see things that catch my eye, coffee breaks etc....after having fed my museum craze

the day of the trip i stop worrying about the details, i just go off and have fun.

Reed, sounds good with gelato. Im staying at the Tourist House Ghiberti by the Duomo.

Dayle

Hi Reedpaints,

Yes I can see you have detailitis, but your trip will be fun as a result of all the homework you've done! I, too, am a high energy sightseer, so I understand. The nice thing is, you have all the info you need to add/drop/make adjustments as you go along!

I believe you have to change trains in Pisa when traveling from Cinque Terre to Florence. We did a 3 hour stop over in Pisa and found this just the right amount of time. We walked from the station to the Piazza dei Miracoli (SP?, saw the Tower and the Duomo. (Taxis were hard to come by at the Pisa station!)

The Duomo is very beautiful and I was much more impressed than I expected to be. You'll enjoy this stop.

1 day for both Siena and San Gimignano is too much. You might want to combine San Gimignano with Voltera and give Siena nearly a full day.

As far as your Venice itinerary goes - I'm so glad to see you plan to visit Ca d'Oro, Scuola de San Rocco, and Il Frari - those were some of the highlights of my last trip! If you are going to visit Burano and Torcello, do both the same day. It takes about 45 minutes to get to these islands. They are right next to each other.

Buon viaggio!

ejkonz

Sounds like the trip I took with my daughter in May ... had I it to do over I would have started in Rome and worked my way North. After the relative peace and quiet of Venice ... no cars, no vespas, virtually no bicycles. Strolling has evolved into an art form there ... we had a hard time adjusting to the somewhat more hectic pace in Florence and then Rome! Loved it all though and would go again in a minute! While you are in Florence take an evening ride up to Plaza di Michaelangelo and have dinner at the little pizzaria on the right side of the road behind the parking lot. It is small and weather permitting you can catch a lovely view of the sunset over Florence. That was far and away my favorite meal on our trip (and we spent time in Paris, Amsterdam, London and Zurich as well!) ... the food was adequate, the wine was great, and the view spectacular! We lingered well into the evening and enjoyed every second!

jal52

We really enjoyed the Palazzo Medici Riccardi. You can make a reservation or stand in line for a ticket and then wait for your time. You only get 15 minutes in the tiny chapel with it's Procession of the Magi frescoes; it's a real jewel! This was the home of Lorenzo the Magnificent.

sherhatfield

reedpaints,

As an extremely detailed over-planner myself, I can appreciate your situation. I sometimes think things were much easier before having the internet to research everything! I drive my husband crazy with my planning, but I would rather be very prepared than find out later I missed out on something! I am just starting to plan our first trip to Italy and I am overwhelmed with information. I am just glad to have this message board to get tips & ideas! Have a great trip!

reedpaints

Wildfire --

I'll be on Borgo San Lorenzo #13 (have NO idea what the tel# is). Perhaps more fodorites will be in town and we can all have a get together... My email is [email protected]. Here's to Italy!

Sue_xx_yy

Ah, so you are doing Pisa en route to *Florence* from Cinque Terre - initially, you said en route to *Venice*. The first makes a lot more sense than the second.

Some days seem a bit tight - but you have free days planned, so you can use them to catch up if you wish.

I would suggest having two lists for each place, the 'must-sees' and the 'bonus optionals', both roughly organized by urban area. Scheduling the 'must-sees' isn't a bad idea, given the complex opening hours of various museums. However, I would make it only one 'must-see' per day (max.) Let the rest fall into place...or not, depending on your fancy.

Don't worry about overplanning, it is only trying to overexecute a plan that is a mistake.