A Quick Tour of Italy
Nov 29th, 2012, 12:37 PM
#21
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I meant to add that it sounds like a wonderful trip for you and your daughter, and I hope you have a very good time!
Near Piazza Navona there is Frigidarium with the most delicious gelato. Via del Governo Vecchio 112.
Near Piazza Navona there is Frigidarium with the most delicious gelato. Via del Governo Vecchio 112.
Nov 29th, 2012, 12:59 PM
#22
annhig when you describe Rome as madness the week after Easter I get hives, but I am committed to it. I think we'll have to make a game of it, such as keeping track of how many times we have each been stepped on that day and the winner gets to choose where we have dinner that night. >>
undoubtedly the area around st. Peter's will be very busy as will the colosseum area. but other places will probably be ok - we never failed to find somewhere to eat for example, even on Easter Sunday [not a great day to start an apartment let BTW as the shops didn't open again until Tuesday!]
just don't expect to find anywhere deserted!
undoubtedly the area around st. Peter's will be very busy as will the colosseum area. but other places will probably be ok - we never failed to find somewhere to eat for example, even on Easter Sunday [not a great day to start an apartment let BTW as the shops didn't open again until Tuesday!]
just don't expect to find anywhere deserted!
Nov 30th, 2012, 07:12 AM
#23
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Thank you everyone, this advice is priceless. Jent103 I am going to download that app. I recently switched to the iphone 5 after years with a droid so I am just getting to know all the bells and whistles. I will bring it with me for emergencies and to check email etc. I am very relieved to hear that Venice is safe. I was a bit worried about accidentally wandering somewhere dangerous.
Annhig I will stay away from St. Peter's except for Easter morning and the tour of Vatican City if I can schedule it. If we can't get in to see the mass, and we probably won't unless Father Bob can work some real magic, we will just go to St. Peter's when the Pope blesses the crowds around 1:30 and attend a sunrise service somewhere else.
Raincitygirl, I laughed (yes right out loud) at the "Venice is too small for Papa" story and it was the water door that got me too. Italy has some of the best art and architecture in the entire world but I am most intrigued by this tiny door that looks like a window. I am looking up the Hotel Raphael now and I have already saved the Fridgidarium address to my phone.
Thanks again everyone!
Annhig I will stay away from St. Peter's except for Easter morning and the tour of Vatican City if I can schedule it. If we can't get in to see the mass, and we probably won't unless Father Bob can work some real magic, we will just go to St. Peter's when the Pope blesses the crowds around 1:30 and attend a sunrise service somewhere else.
Raincitygirl, I laughed (yes right out loud) at the "Venice is too small for Papa" story and it was the water door that got me too. Italy has some of the best art and architecture in the entire world but I am most intrigued by this tiny door that looks like a window. I am looking up the Hotel Raphael now and I have already saved the Fridgidarium address to my phone.
Thanks again everyone!
Nov 30th, 2012, 08:35 PM
#24
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Well lizziesmom, I hope you get the opportunity to arrive in style through that water door! We arrived at breakfast time to a room full of people and it was kind of a "ta-da" moment as we popped through followed by our luggage.
It was so lovely to eat breakfast there and through the lead-paned window the prow of a gondola would glide past so close you could almost touch it.
I highly recommend seeing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection if you have time. As well as a lovely art collection there is a very pretty garden at the back and a cafe.It felt like a little oasis.
Don't worry about safety in Venice, the two of you can wander and get lost to your heart's content and all will be well. It is quite magical if you get away from any crowds.
Somehow in Rome crowds don't seem so bad, I guess because they are very different cities in their nature.
When you go to the Vatican you may be interested in going to the Post Office. We went in and bought stamps and some postcards to send home to friends who are Catholic, it was really interesting. I didn't find it the first time in Rome but asked the second time once I was in St.Peter's square and then found it easily. If you are standing at the front of the square facing the entrance to the cathedral it is over to your right, but ask someone official looking for proper directions, sorry!
It was so lovely to eat breakfast there and through the lead-paned window the prow of a gondola would glide past so close you could almost touch it.
I highly recommend seeing the Peggy Guggenheim Collection if you have time. As well as a lovely art collection there is a very pretty garden at the back and a cafe.It felt like a little oasis.
Don't worry about safety in Venice, the two of you can wander and get lost to your heart's content and all will be well. It is quite magical if you get away from any crowds.
Somehow in Rome crowds don't seem so bad, I guess because they are very different cities in their nature.
When you go to the Vatican you may be interested in going to the Post Office. We went in and bought stamps and some postcards to send home to friends who are Catholic, it was really interesting. I didn't find it the first time in Rome but asked the second time once I was in St.Peter's square and then found it easily. If you are standing at the front of the square facing the entrance to the cathedral it is over to your right, but ask someone official looking for proper directions, sorry!
Nov 30th, 2012, 10:37 PM
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Glad you've added the extra day, I agree it will make a difference. I presume you've dropped the Pisa idea?
We loved the Scavi tour, also do try to go to mass at St Marks in Venice, there's a mass every morning ( I don't remember the times) and you enter through a small door on the left.I went with my mother and It was a beautiful experience.
In Rome a tour of the ancient sites could help bring the history alive for yourself and your daughter, like a lot of people here we can recommend Context Rome. I have to say I found the tour of the Forum much more meaningful and memorable than the tour of the Vatican Museum which I think one can visit on your own. Personally I visited Rome many times before making it to the Sistine Chapel, if it is closed or too busy there are lots of other things to see.
In terms of accommodation in Venice do try to stay away from St. Marks, I'd go for Dosorduro or Cannaregio. On one trip we were in Venice at Easter and it was lovely.
It sound like a lovely trip.
We loved the Scavi tour, also do try to go to mass at St Marks in Venice, there's a mass every morning ( I don't remember the times) and you enter through a small door on the left.I went with my mother and It was a beautiful experience.
In Rome a tour of the ancient sites could help bring the history alive for yourself and your daughter, like a lot of people here we can recommend Context Rome. I have to say I found the tour of the Forum much more meaningful and memorable than the tour of the Vatican Museum which I think one can visit on your own. Personally I visited Rome many times before making it to the Sistine Chapel, if it is closed or too busy there are lots of other things to see.
In terms of accommodation in Venice do try to stay away from St. Marks, I'd go for Dosorduro or Cannaregio. On one trip we were in Venice at Easter and it was lovely.
It sound like a lovely trip.
Dec 2nd, 2012, 12:21 PM
#26
If you are standing at the front of the square facing the entrance to the cathedral it is over to your right, but ask someone official looking for proper directions, sorry!>>
mmm - sorry raincitygirl, but I think it's actually to your left as your face the Basilica, just up from the toilets and before you get to the Scavi offices - it's at the far end of the souvenir shop.
mmm - sorry raincitygirl, but I think it's actually to your left as your face the Basilica, just up from the toilets and before you get to the Scavi offices - it's at the far end of the souvenir shop.
Jan 10th, 2013, 09:51 AM
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Well the first time in Rome I looked in vain for either post office and never did find one, so was very happy on the 2nd trip when finally I found it! DH collected stamps as a boy so it was fun to get him some Vatican ones.
annhig, I am hoping to get to Cornwall this July and need to get your local, expert advice, so shall I start a " help me please dear annhig" thread? Thx!
annhig, I am hoping to get to Cornwall this July and need to get your local, expert advice, so shall I start a " help me please dear annhig" thread? Thx!
May 2nd, 2013, 08:02 AM
#32
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Just an update, we had an amazing trip and thank you all so much for your help and encouragement! We stayed at No. 9 Colosseo in Rome and I would highly recommend it. The view of the Colosseum from the window in our room was priceless, and my daughter got a kick out of the fact that we were staying in a room called "The Egg" on Easter. We also enjoyed the Colosseum underground tour with Dark Rome and I would recommend that as well.
We arrived for Easter mass a little before 7 am and were lucky to get seats about ten rows back. Just before the mass began, I told my daughter to turn around and look behind her. The sight of 250,000+ people took her breath away. It was a long day but well worth it and I am glad we had the experience. Everyone loved Papa Francesca.
Navigating the train stations was one of my biggest fears, but it went without a hitch.
One of our best memories of the trip was definitely the bike tour in Tuscany. It was an easy downhill ride and we enjoyed the picturesque village of San Gimignano. Also I think we had eight types of gelato that day.
We also loved Florence and my daughter found a beautiful red leather jacket.
We had rain in Venice so I'd like to go back in the warmer weather and see it again. The Locanda Orseolo was great though, and when we left we exited through the water window just as I had pictured.
We would like to visit Ireland next but Italy was just so wonderful I suspect it might pale in comparison. Thanks again everyone. I am now going over to haunt the Ireland forum to see if it can help me overcome my gelato withdrawal...oh baccio, I still miss you so...
We arrived for Easter mass a little before 7 am and were lucky to get seats about ten rows back. Just before the mass began, I told my daughter to turn around and look behind her. The sight of 250,000+ people took her breath away. It was a long day but well worth it and I am glad we had the experience. Everyone loved Papa Francesca.
Navigating the train stations was one of my biggest fears, but it went without a hitch.
One of our best memories of the trip was definitely the bike tour in Tuscany. It was an easy downhill ride and we enjoyed the picturesque village of San Gimignano. Also I think we had eight types of gelato that day.
We also loved Florence and my daughter found a beautiful red leather jacket.
We had rain in Venice so I'd like to go back in the warmer weather and see it again. The Locanda Orseolo was great though, and when we left we exited through the water window just as I had pictured.
We would like to visit Ireland next but Italy was just so wonderful I suspect it might pale in comparison. Thanks again everyone. I am now going over to haunt the Ireland forum to see if it can help me overcome my gelato withdrawal...oh baccio, I still miss you so...
