bugocity

Hello! It's been a few years since I've availed myself of the good advice of the Fodor's community, but it's that time again...

In late October some artwork of mine will be exhibited in Florence as a small part of a show devoted to artwork created in the virtual world of Second Life.

http://www.festivaldellacreativita.i...mento-virtuale

This in turn is part of a city-wide arts festival. So, ANYway the opening reception for the show is October 21st, and we're using this an excuse to finally visit Italy.

We'll be spending 12 days in the country, flying into Rome, and out of Milan. We enjoy history, art, good food and good wine. I think we may be on the right track here, eh?

I'm mostly looking for tips on places to stay, but advice on anything notable is most welcome.

The current plan is to fly into Rome, and spend three nights there, so two days of sightseeing in Rome. (yes, I know we won't see everything the city has to offer, but....time...)

Then three or four nights in the countryside between Rome and Florence. Perhaps two nights in Perugia, two in Sienna? Another option is a farm house owned by a friend of a friend, which is located in western Umbria. We're not sure if we can get that yet, but if so we could make that our base and make day trips. If anyone knows of other options along the way, please share!

Then...we'll be in Florence for three or four nights, spanning the opening reception. Then off for Milan for one night, and fly home.

Oh, I should mention our budget - we'd like to keep this around $250 US a night for lodging, but could go a bit higher. Rather not, though! Less would be fine.

So in summary: places to stay and good restaurants in Rome, Florence and part in between. Please share your knowledge.

Oh...and if anyone is interested, views of my virtual artwork can be seen here:

http://dynafleur.blogspot.com/

I've had great luck with relying on the comments of this community (including a great meal in a small town on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River) - thanks in advance for the time spent in responding.

zeppole

Were it me, I would take advantage of your friend's offer to stay in western Umbria at least part of the time.

The region of Umbria is one of the easiest to drive, so even though your budget is limited, rent a car.

Presuming that you don't want to impose on your friends too much, I would go from Roma to Perugia (perhaps with a stop in Orvieto for lunch to see the cathedral)? The National Gallery of Umbrian Art is not only one of Italy's finest, its incredibly important collection is indispensable, I think, to understanding the spread of Italian church art, especially frescoes, throughout central Italy and Roma. Perugia also has other outstanding works of art and historical monuments very much worth a two-night stay.

I can recommend Hotel Rosalba, very inexpensive, very clean and very conveniently located.

After Perugia, I would go to your friend's farm. From there, you would no doubt think of doing daytrips to Assisi, and I can recommend Montefalco for the Gozzoli frescoes there, but there are also fine sights and frescoes all over Umbria.

Most people no longer go to Perugia, or if they do, they go for a daytrip, without much interest in art, so you will probably get a lot of discouragement from going there -- often from who have never been! I think for an artist, it is very worthwhile.

Rather than stay in Siena, I would extend your nights in Firenze and do it as a daytrip (or two daytrips if Sienese art and culture fascinate you). Don't underestimate the power of Italians to make friends, and you may find after a few days in Firenze, you have many invitations, and so the extended stay there might really pay off.

Then go on to Milano. While in Milano, I highly recommend the Pinoteca Ambrosiana.

Your budget for a hotel in Milano is extremely low, and you need to book quickly because rooms there dry up. I can recommend the Hotel Palazzo delle Stelline. Sometimes when you book online you can find rooms with a discount. Try the Eurocheapo website.

Also, if you cannot make arrangements to stay with your friend in Umbria, I would leave Roma by train, stop in Orvieto, see the cathedral and have lunch, pick up a rental car, and then find accommodations in Umbria, either in Spello or Montefalco. I can recommend Frantoio Brizi in Montefalco for marvelous, inexpensive accommodations. From there you can do daytrips in Umbria, including Perugia, and at night return to wonderful meals and wine in Montefalco. (The restaurant Il Coccorone is very good.)

Have a great trip! It will a special thrill to be an artist whose works sit side by side with some of the greatest artists in Western civilisation. Try not to miss Museo San Marco while you are in Firenze.

zeppole

PS: If you are not being provided with accommodations in Firenze, I can recommend (as can many others) Tourist House Ghiberti, well within your budget and a terrific place to stay.

zeppole

One more PS:

If you can stay on your friend's farm, I suggest first taking a train or bus from Roma to Perugia, spending 2 nights, and then renting a car to drive to the farm. Use the car to do daytrips, and return it in Firenze (although it is such a pain to return a car in Firenze, you might choose a different drop off point and train in, even the airport).

If you can't stay on your friend's farm, train from Rome to Orvieto and pick up the car there, getting rid of it before you start spending nights in Firenze.

bugocity

Wonderful - thank you for the tips. I'm not sure if we'll be able to use our friend's farm. It seems that it's olive-harvesting time, and the husband sometimes likes to harvest his own olive crop (flying in from NYC to do so.)

In Florence I was eyeing the J and J Hotel on the advice of a friend, but will check out alternatives.

For Milan, the same friend also recommended the Star Hotel.

Oh, and yes...we are planning to rent a car in Rome for our journeys and then drop it off in Florence.

zeppole

Unless you are carrying a lot of luggage (never recommended) consider taking public transportation to Perugia or Orvieto and picking up your rental car there rather than picking it up in Roma. It's often less stress and less traffic.

bugocity

Oh, good thought on the car rental, zeppole.

I'm going to look up the web sites of some of the hotels mentioned here.

annhig

Hi bugocity,

what zeppole said. can't top that!

regards, ann

WebVisionItaly

No question the Perugia musuem is one of the best in the world.

My wife makes her living as an artist, and we certainly love spending time in Perugia to visit the Museum and eat at D'Cristofaro.

For a place to stay, however, it is my opinion that Perugia is no longer what it once was.

I think Spello provides a much better "Umbrian" experience while only 30 minutes from Perugia. If you do love art, the artist community in Spello is alive today.

You can see some video of Perugia here:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=206

Introduction to Umbria here:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=127

Jean

Whatever you decide, you need to make hotel reservations ASAP. October is still a very popular time to visit the very popular places you mention.

I can second the recommendation of the Tourist House Ghiberti in Florence, but there are only 5 rooms total. I can also second the recommendation of the Star in Milan.

Another Umbrian town that works well as a base with a car is Bevagna.

TDudette

Congratulations, bugocity! I too am an artist but have never shown internationally so have only an inkling of the joy you must be feeling! Bravo or brava! Will go directly to your blog.
Agree with OP about possibilities. From personal experience, I add Spoleto as a place to visit.
I'm a Bernini fan so anything in Rome with his name involved moves me (Borghese museum, churches with the "ecstacy" statues, St. Peters, Piazza Navona and some bridges!)
Check map distances from Florence-you'll see many towns in easy commuting distance from there. I'm a Pisa fan also-think it's duomo is under-reported and the tower is great fun.
Enjoy, and again, good going!

TDudette

ps-should have previewed my reply above-its duomo typo.

Went to your blog and the work is awesome! Are they fractals???

Forgot to say that we stayed in Hotel Clitunno in Spoleto. It's owner operated and has an excellent restaurant. If Marco still works there (he looks like Mr. Monk) please tell him the Rhodys say hey!

Again, congrats!

bugocity

Okay....! We're booked into the Tourist House Ghiberti for our four nights in Florence (thank you.) And in Milan we're in the Hotel Star, which came recommended by a friend of a friend.

I'm still weighing my options in Roma (more queries about that later) and considering your suggestions and others for the countryside in between. I still don't know if we'll be able to use the Umbrian farmhouse or not, but hope to find that out soon.

Tdudette, thank for the kind words about my virtual art installation. To answer your question: no, it's not fractals, but was made using the building tools that the Second Life virtual worlds provides you with. Once these 'objects' were created, I coated them with my real-world flower photographs, and my partner used computer programming to make the parts react, move, and make sounds. The sound design was done by a talented fellow who is a professional composer in London. There, that's more than you wanted to know about that!

TDudette

Awesome nonetheless. Actually what you described makes more sense than fractals! Again, good show.

Agree with the advice to get your car in Orvieto. The duomo in Orvieto is gawdgeous (mis-spelling intended).