Cjar

By George, I think I've done it. October big three trip is planned. Here is the itinerary. Please, applaud, pooh,pooh or point out uh ohs that I didn't think about.

Oct 2 - arrive Venice 9:30 am
Check into hotel,Ca Maria Adele, Dorsoduro

Ca Macana maskmakers - for my son who is obsessed with plague masks, will send one home

Ca Rezzonico

S.M. Gloriosa dei Frari

St. Marks at night

Oct 3 -
Rialto Bridge, Pescaria

Doges Palace

St Marks - tour 1:45

Campanile

La Fenice ? - audio tour

Interpreti Veneziani - Concert Chiesa San Vidal 8:00

Oct 4 -
S. M.della Salute

Ca D'Oro ? -

Murano -

Burano, Torcello ?

Oct 5 - train to Florence arrive 1 ish
Check into hotel, Firenze Number Nine near Duomo on via de Conti
Have Firenze Card, want to make the most of it so...

S. M. Novello

Opera D'ell Duomo

Duomo

Campanile

Oct 6-
Medici Chapel

Accedemia ? - only want a quick peek at David

Uffizi -

Pitti Palace? -

Piazzale Michelangelo -

Keep my husband from filing for divorce due to excessive museum time

Oct 7 -
Centrale Market ?

Bargello - only day/ time it is open during our stay

Oltrarno- any specific suggestions ?

Bardini Gardens

Santa Croce

Piazza del Signoria

Oct 8 -
Rapid bus to Siena
Check into hotel, Villa Elda

Piazza Del Campo

Duomo
Nice dinner - any suggestions ? Wanted to try Da Divo, but it is closed on Tuesdays

Oct 9-
Private transfer with Hills and Roads to Rome

Montepulciano

Orvieto

Arrive Rome late evening

Check into hotel, Mario de Fiori 37

Piazza Navona - dinner suggestions

Walk back via Trevi and Spanish Steps

Oct 10 -
Walks of Italy tour - campo de Fiori area, food tasting

Pantheon

Sopra Minerva

Trajan's Forum

Roman Forum

Palatine

Arch of Constantine

Walks of Italy - night time Colosseum tour 8 pm
Any food recommendations in this area?

Oct 11 -
Palazzo Barberini

Santa Maria della Consezione - if we are in a crypt kind of mood

Borghese Gallery - don't have tickets yet

Trastavere - food options? Clearly we enjoy eating.

St. Peters -

Vatican - night opening 8pm no tour

Oct 12 -
Return flight home 11 am

Ok. How did I do? Everything is listed in order , so is there anything I should change up? We are only locked into tours ,so everything else is flexible. I am not editing this post due to already having to try it twice ,so please excuse spelling, grammar etc.

sparkchaser

You're going to need a vacation from your vacation.

mama_mia

I don't like your Oct 6 and 7 in Florence, since your locations are not grouped geographically. I would not do Uffizi and Pitti on the same day. The Uffizi can be very tiring and you would definitely have overload. I might try the following:

Oct 6
Accademia (reserve time)
Piazza della Signoria (enroute to Uffizi)
Uffizi (reserve time)
cross to Oltrarno over Ponte Vecchio
Walk up to Bardini Gardens
Walk to Piazalle Michelangelo
You might also stop in San Miniato--a fantastic Romanesque church near Piazalle Michelangelo with great mosaics, frescoes and views of the city.
(Note: this is a fair walk. I have done it several times. Have a good street map so you don't add extra miles wandering. But I think it would be a nice respite from museum overload.)

Oct 7
Medici Chapel/San Lorenzo
Mercato Centrale
Bargello
Santa Croce

I did not include Pitti Palace because I think that does put you in Museum overload. But if you have a particular interest in it, then certainly squeeze it in. I also think you have a lot on your arrival day in Florence, so perhaps move Santa Maria Novella elsewhere.

ShellD

On Oct 10th - doesn't your Walks of Italy 8 pm Colosseum tour include the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Arch of Constantine along with the Colosseum? We had an afternoon tour with them, but our tour went to all of those locations. It was a fantastic tour!

I think sometimes when you list all of the sites you want to see it does sound overwhelming on paper. But in reality, it's often not as rushed as it may seem. As long as you leave some flexibility for changing your mind and rearranging some things as needed I think it's great to have a plan to see what's important to you!

ira

Hi CJ,

> only want a quick peek at David ...

Unless yours is mere prurient interest in a naked male, I suggest you plan about 1 hr at the Accademia.

In addition to the David you will want to see the other sculptures in the same hall.

annhig

phew. no turn left unstoned [or should that be the other way round]. and where's the time for gelati?

seriously, I had to add to your itinerary, but while you're at the Frari on the first day in Venice, you really should see the nearby Scuola di San rocco as well - in for a penny and all that.

the 2nd day, i would hop over to the isola di san giorgio and go up the campanile there - far fewer people and cheaper than the one in San Marco. Do you want to book the Secret places tour of the Doge's palace BTW? - you son might enjoy it.

and on your last day there, do prioritise Burano and Torcello - IMO they far more interesting and worthwhile than Murano.

Florence - agree about grouping sights [that applies everywhere, I think]

on the afternoon of you arrival, i would have a fall-back - if you find the queues at the Duomo and Campanile too long, you'll want something else to do. I would suggest an orientation walk over to Oltrarno - and the piazza michelangelo, up to san miniato - after all you'll have been on the train all morning. perhaps in the evening do the late night opening of the Palazzo Vecchio?

otherwise proceed as per mama mia's suggestions.

Rome - your pace is better here, i think and basically you can't go wrong, as there's something interesting to see on every street corner. not sure I'd bother with the tours - you cna walk round most everything on your list yourself, but I would have a guide for the forum - 3 times I've been now and it's still just a pile of stones. Make sure your guide lets you [and especially your son] stop for gelati every so often.

I would however revamp your last day, and I suggest that if you are going to try to get into st. Peter's other than from the rear exit of the Sistine chapel after visiting the vatican museums, [and it will be closed after your night-time tour as it shuts at 7pm] you get there early. 9 am is good. tour the cathedral and then go up the dome. your son will love it, but not if you've had to wait in a queue for a hour. then walk over to Trastevere and visit the lovely santa Cecilia [great mosaic crypt] and Santa Maria in Trastevere. Have a lovely lunch there somewhere then bus/taxi to the Borghese for your tour, after which you can have a wander in the gardens. early supper then off to the Vatican.

you can sleep on the plane home!

vincenzo32951

Reserve timed entry to the Accademia and Uffizi by using the phone service, not the website. The phone service is quick and efficient -- operators speak excellent English -- and you don't have to pay until you actually show up for your time. The website will charge you an extra fee.

David is front and center at the Accademia, so you will be able to duck in, take a look, and then leave, if you so choose.

mama mia has a good suggestion -- do the Accademia and Uffizi on the same day, especially if all you're doing at the Acc is taking in David.

The walk to Piazzale Michelangelo can be a bit time consuming since it's all uphill. I mention that because you seem to be packing a lot into your days and may want to shorten the trip by taking the public bus. I think it's #13, but you may want to confirm that. If you're so inclined, you can walk back down from the PM.

If you're going to climb the Duomo, get there first thing in the a.m. to avoid the lines.

Hills and roads? Is that with Luca? If so, good choice.

Cjar

Sparkchaser- yes, we may very well need some vacation rehab.

Mamamia- Thanks. I am looking at that. I think I did have some sort of crazy logic when planning. I also have Pitti Palace as questionable based on desire, energy and time. I had things planned more similarly to what you suggest, but the Bargello and Oltrarno became an issue. I think Bargello is only open til 1:50 so I didn't think we'd make it and have time to enjoy. As I recall that seemed to be the reasoning behind moving Medici chapel to the 6 th. Also, aren't the merchants near the Santo Spirito area closed in the middle of the day? That means we either have to be in that area early morning or late afternoon. I guess I also figured we could visit the many Piazzas at any hour. I think we may have to just scratch anything questionable. That would include Pitti Palace, Centrale market,and possibly the Accademia as it seems to be the opposite direction of most of our other stops. I may very well have to revert back to an itinerary closer to what you suggest. Thank you.

I believe the Firenze pass has a separate entry line and does not require reservations for all included museums i.e. Uffizi, Accademia etc. Can anyone confirm this?

mama_mia

Your October 10 day in Rome seems like a lot of walking, so be prepared. I assume you are taking the 3.5 hour group tour of the markets with Walks of Italy? That would be a lot of time on your feet and then timewise puts you at 1:00 pm.

The Pantheon and S Maria Sopra Minerva are a short walk from the Campo and very worthwhile of course. The Pantheon is especially nice very early in the day, if it worked with your schedule.

It's about a 15 minute walk to the forums. I assume you will only see what is easily viewable of Trajan's Forum and not be interested in tickets and touring? So then on to the Roman Forum and Palatine, with a bit more walking. I agree with Annhig about a guided tour of the Forum -- money well spent. If it were me, I would swap this for the food tour.

The Colosseum night tour sounds interesting in a way. The problem with a late night tour, though, is that if your are tired out from a day of walking/touring, you are still locked into it.

It might not be a bad day, depending on your stamina and real interests. Just giving you another point of view.

Cjar

Oooh. So many great ideas and excellent additional ideas, I think my head will explode. Has anyone found a way to clone themselves for just such an occasion.

Shelld- unfortunately the after hours tour does not include those sights.

Ira- the naked male form is never a bad thing

Cjar

Annhig- thanks for the bell tower suggestion. That is a great idea

Ira- meant that not the. Hee hee.

Mama mia- yes that is a lot of walking. I think I'll get some moleskin shoes. : )

vincenzo32951

I believe you're correct about the Firenze card having priority access to museums, etc. Wasn't aware you had it when I recommended calling for reservations.

mama_mia

Bargello--you might doublecheck the hours. I am seeing 5:00 as the closing time.

Medici Chapels--I am also seeing later hours here. I also note that it is closed first Sunday of the month. So you might want to double check that before moving this around.

Regarding Santo Spirito--I did not see that on your earlier schedule. The church of Santo Spirito is on the Oltrarno. San Lorenzo Markets I do not think are open Sunday and MOnday. Mercato Centrale is closed Sunday but open Monday.

This is to best of my knowledge. You might double check.

mama_mia

And for what it's worth (as in, this is strictly a matter of opinion):

I would choose Burano over Murano. I thought the Lace Museum in Burano was worth the visit. There is a film on lacemaking that is very interesting and there were old women lace makers in the museum practicing their craft (and arguing over a stool while we were there). Burano also seemed more charming than Murano.

Instead of Palazzo Barberini, you might consider Palazzo Doria Pamphilij. Both have great art, of course. (In the Barberini, Cortona's Triumph of the Barberini ceiling fresco is fascinating, over-the-top Barberini arrogance.) I just think the Doria Pamphilij is a more pleasurable visit, with its nice audio tour. But that is a challenging day, with three museum visits.

I do think you have some nice sites mapped out and most of your days are not too unreasonable, if you have the stamina (I do, when in Italy!) and are prepared to adjust as necessary. I think the (hopefully) cooler weather in October will be on your side.

Cjar

Mama mia - thank you. I will double check Bargello hours too. If it is open later that may give more flexibilty with the order of the day. As both you and annhig recommend Burano over Murano we may skip the latter. We have seen glass blowing before and if there is nothing unusual about the way it is done on Murano, we might actually prefer Burano. I too am hoping for cooler weather this time of year.
I tried to take closed days, short hours into account when planning, but I will definitely look at Medici Chapel as I would really love to see Dawn and Dusk.
Everyone has my sincerest thanks for all of the guidance and for sharing your vast experience.

Cjar

Vicenzo- Yes, hopefully Luca will be our guide for the drive from Siena and I appreciate the info about the bus. Ithink the Firenze card covers public transport as well, so we won't need to worry about having correct fare.

ekc

Another vote for Burano over Murano - and I love glass! If you are on Burano at lunch, I recommend Gatto Nero.

annhig

if your DH is museum-phobic, I'd do the Doria Pamphilij rather than the Vatican museums. yes they are wonderful but they are very much a route-march round the art of the last 2000 years which is a lot to take in in a couple of hours.

The Doria-Pamphilij, OTOH starts with a collection of rooms laid out in period style with a fascinating commentary by a scion of the family speaking english with the most cut-glass accent you are ever likely to hear outside the walls of Eton, and is followed by a superb collection of paintings and other works of art many of which would appeal to your son and husband.

AND there are very few people there.

Jean

I was less impressed with Ca d'Oro than Ca Rezzonico, although the canalside entry of Ca d'Oro has a fabulous tiled floor. Unless there were specific things you wanted to see at Ca d'Oro, you might consider dropping it to reduce the museum list.

In Florence, the Bargello is open every day 8:15a-5:00p except the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month and three holidays that are not within your timeframe.

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/?m=bargello

The Pitti Palace encompasses five museums and the gardens. I'd drop it to save time and your husband's patience.

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en...m=palazzopitti

But you could substitute one or two much smaller attractions if any interest you.

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/?m=davanzati
[make reservations for upper floors or just see lower floors which are interesting enough]

http://museicivicifiorentini.comune....i/visitamuseo/
[in the Oltrarno; make reservations for a 15-minute slot to view the chapel]

http://www.palazzo-medici.it/eng/museo.htm
[spend a few minutes exploring the palazzo (which is also the Florence "city hall," but the real attraction is the minuscule Chapel of the Magi]

In Florence, on Via del Corso, just east of Ristorante il Paiolo (which we enjoyed), there is church where concerts are held most evenings. Tickets are fairly cheap and can be purchased that afternoon.

You may have noticed that the drive from Siena to Rome including the stops at Montepulciano and Orvieto will take about 4 hours. You'll leave the car at the bottom of the towns and walk into Montepulciano and take the funicular up to Orvieto. I would just stroll through Montepulciano and have lunch, and give more time to exploring Orvieto.

Cjar

I am always pleasantly surprised by the willingness of those in this forum to share their experience and knowledge.

Jean - i will look at some of your suggestions for options in Florence.

Annhig- my husband is lucky to have you watching out for him. Although not museum phobic, he has his limits. Our Vatican visit is primarily to see the Sistine Chapel which is his desire as much as mine. We won't be disappointed if we dont spend hours in the museums.