SusanG

So, I was feeling really good about my brown walking shoes (which my sister informs me are "hideous") for those really long days, like Pompeii, the Vatican, etc., until I started watching the Inspector Zen series on Masterpiece Mystery. Wow. Has anyone seen those ladies? And yes, I do realize that is TV, but still...wow.

Anyway, I'm planning on wearing the comfy hideous brown shoes for the very long days, and slightly nicer but still comfy shoes for the more relaxed days in Rome and the Amalfi Coast. What do people wear in Amalfi, etc., during the day?

Lastly, I realized that there are holes in the walking shoes..., like big vents . I know there is a dress code at the Vatican, e.g. no shoulders, no knees, etc., but do they allow open toed shoes, or sandals? I'm starting the pre-trip (24 days!) panic. Hope that is not too stupid of a question for the forum. thanks in advance!

lindy27

I wore shoes with large vents, almost sandals but with my toes covered, and nobody said anything while we were in the Vatican.

We leave in about a month also! I just bought some new shoes that will hopefully be comfortable and not too hideous haha. Just remember being comfortable while traveling is, in the long run, much more important than being stylish. I always try to just wear darker shoes to not stand out.

zeppole

I live in Italy and please believe me, not TV.

Italian women under 50 have rebelled against uncomfortable shoes and -- guess what? They think American style footwear shoots the moon. Not only that, when Italian women pack their bags and go touristing, they wear their most comfortable shoes. I encounter Italian women all the time traveling in Europe and America. They do NOT wear stillettos. They wear Nikes.

There is actually a law in Amalfi forbidding the wearing of mules and other clacking shoes. Even the Italians got sick of it.

The ONLY people who were sneer at your shoe choices are tourists. I mean it. They will be flashing their resort wear shoes (in pain) and are desperate to have the world believe they are sophisticates and not suburban Americans.

Wear your most comfortable shoes to climb all those stairs. Gaze into your partner's eyes over your italian dinners, not other people's shoes. Tell yourself -- truthfully -- that people who make judgments about what you shoes you have are sad, small-brained and emotionally stunted people and we hope they will one day grow up.

LSky

Be kind to your feet. Btw my sister thinks all comfortable shoes are hideous. It won't surprise you to find out that she hardly ever smiles. Uncomfortable shoes make for uncomfortable travel.

zeppole

PS: The Vatican is full on monks in sandals, displaying all the toes god gave them.

nytraveler

The Vatican has no interest in your toes. All they want to be sure is that shoulders, bosom and thighs are covered - for adults ofboth genders.

As for shoes comfort is paramount. I refuse to buy ugly shoes - but have had no trouble buying casual but cute walking shoes (as in Skechers Mary Janes or similar) and for evening wear either cute flats or low wedges. For a special event I will wear high heels - but then plan on taxis only - no walking.

aliced

Yes we have watched Zen but tourists in Amalfi look like tourists everywhere else! Pack your Merrells or Naots or Mephisto and slip on a pair of ballet flats to wear to dinner and you're good to go. I packed pair of rather high wedge pumps (for me at least) and found I simply could not wear them on the cobblestones in the dark when walking to dinner when last in Rome 4 yrs ago. You can find comfy non-hideous shoes; sandals will be fine everywhere, just try for padded platform and not too soft a sole.

LSky

It depends upon someone's definition of hideous. My sis thinks Clarks, Merrells, and all above mentioned are hideous. Thank God, I've never take fashion advice from her.

LSky

Meant to add, there are shoes for women who just want to sit and that's it. Then there are (finally a good selection) of shoes for the rest of us who are much, much too busy to sit for long.

SusanG

You guys, thank you SO much! I've read the comments on earlier posts, but I guess I needed a bit more reassurance. You have totally made me feel so much better. And what a relief (I guess there was a teensy amount of worry there) that I was supposed to look like a fashionista! My hotel in Positano is 40 staircases (not stairs) up the hills. I may not make it up there each day, but will for sure be walking down. So thank you all and happy travels. I'll pack my comfy shoes and enjoy every moment.

Tentek

Birkenstock have a great selection of sandals that are pretty cute and many Europeans wear them, especially the Gizeh and Madrid style. As mentioned above, Merrells, Naots, Mephisto are all good comfy choices.

november_moon

ny - I have a pair of Sketchers MJ's that I bought last summer and there are my go-to shoe. They are cute and really comfy. I absolutely love them. I wore them all over DC last summer, I wear them all the time at home, and I am taking them to Germany and Czech republic this month.

Gal_in_EdmondsWA

What is really funny to me is that I have gotten so many compliments on my various Birkenstock/Birkies/Papillio's in Italy than anywhere else. Europeans appreciate their subtance over style function, but also the "cute" styles I buy to be kind to my feet. In the US, I'm scorned as having no fashion or being an old hippy, but in Italy I'm admired!

hanabilly

What's worse than "hideous" shoes? A face grimacing in the agony of sore feet!! As everyone has said, there are plenty of shoes that are comfy yet stylish enough, even tho' they are not fashionista-approved.

I have problem feet and have said goodbye to heels several years ago. My Mary Janes (ala Clark's, etc.) are my "cute" travel/walking shoes. When I know I'm really going to put on miles I break out what have come to be known as my "Herman Munsters." I have to take care of the wheels, as I hope to be using them for MANY for years of sightseeing!

piperfl

I just bought a pair of Keens for my trip in a few weeks. I will probably carry my prettier slides for dinner and days I am not walking too much on cobblestone. I truthfully could care less if people think my shoes are hideous. I have Plantar Faciatis nad it is painful if I dont have the right shoes.

TDudette

Gotta agree with Zeppole on this one!

immimi

I was on a tour two years ago and someone had all the Keen wearers
bring their shoes into the lobby for a group photo - out of 24 male
and females there were 8 pairs of Keens. Good testimonial for ugly
over crippling!

november_moon

I am taking my Keens to Europe next week. I refuse to hobble myself for the sake of fashion. Besides, as others have said, practical footwear is getting more and more respect from people these days.

Tania_S_Smith

Footwear for women is a very important topic and I wish I had read this forum before my trip.

I had a terrible time in Italy wearing the usual Canadian semi-formal wear of a skirt with nylon stockings and flat dress shoes (I was there for business for the first week). After 5 hours of walking in Ravenna on a hot day in July I was the proud owner of 7 new and painful blisters.

Tip: avoid nylons in dress shoes on a hot day when walking on cobblestones and pavement.

Most women at this time of year seem to wear sandals with bare feet.

For the rest of my 3 week trip, I wore (beige skin colored) socks in my sandals and runners because of my blisters and bandages.

aliced

Aahh, to go to Positano is a wonderful thing. Pack the great Bandaid product "Blister Block" and wear comfy shoes and buy some sandals to die for in Positano. Chez Black on the water was a memorable lunch experience too.