GirlTravel

Nessun-for the reasons I stated above, I wouldn't choose to go to Rome for a semester-I would always choose Florence. But given S's options I would pick the Florence/Rome combination.

Sally30

Loving Rome so much from my study abroad experience, I've been back many times since and haven't found Rome to be dangerous or at least not any more dangerous than other cities I've been to in Europe or more so than Boston where I live now. It is a big city that, like any, has crime. I wouldn't feel any less safe there than I did in Florence.

On my point about the study abroaders in Rome being more integrated with the Italians, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the program you are on and the efforts the directors make to get you involved in the city. I'd look a bit deeper into the programs themselves.

singitkash

I really appreciate all of the suggestions you guys (and girls, haha) have given me! You've all brought up points that make me think more in depth for what I want and what I personally want to achieve while abroad.

Now, not to change to direction of this blog completely... but does anybody know the best way to get around Italy/ Europe (it's agaisnt program rules for me to drive...)?

I'll be there over a 10 day Spring Break and will have lots of opportunities to travel... are there specific rails/ buseswhich would be most beneficial for jump on/ jump off service throughout Italy and Europe? Any personal suggestions?

Thanks!

francophile03

I haven't stayed in Florence yet but I have visited the city. Rome I stayed in and I really like Rome alot. One word that most people use to describe Rome is 'chaotic'. It is. Traffic is crazy. We saw a car run into a moped and the driver fell off. Looks like it's a common occurence as both drivers had a few words but that was it. Soon they were off on their separate ways. And it's really crowded especially when we went in June. Florence is quite small and relatively calmer in comparison.

Both cities have their own charms so I guess it depends on if you want to stay in a big city or a small city. Also if you stay in Florence you have the opportunity to visit other Tuscan towns.

Guy18

Trenitalia is the national train line. This will most probably be what you want to use. In some locales at certain dates, you can by your tickets just before hopping on the train. (It's not like train travel in the U.S.)That said, I've been on some pretty packed trains and wouldn't want to risk not getting a seat. Others with more experience can offer their opinions on this.

Trenitalia has a website on which you can plug in different routes, if you are interested.

www.trenitalia.com/

singitkash

Thanks Guy, you've been a huge help

What about Euro-rail and Euro-rail passes? Know anything about them?

GirlTravel

S-

Try www.raileurope.com

singitkash

Thanks, Girl!

singitkash

GirlTravel*

MaureenB

Singitkash, it's all a personal choice between Rome and Florence. Actually, it's "six of one, half dozen of the other" as we used to say in the Midwest. Meaning, obviously, that you will enjoy either city.
My daughter just returned from spending this past spring semester in Florence. She loved it. Florence is full of students, and has a lively scene at night. She went to the Olympics, skied in the Alps, watched the SuperBowl in Rome, went to Carnivale in Venice, went to Greece for Spring break, went to the Amalfi coast, would hop on the train to Pisa for an afternoon break, etc. There's a program there which specializes in planning excursions for students, and she bought two packages from them since she said it was really complicated especially to do the ski trip alone.
She had friends studying in Rome and Bologna, so would visit them, too. It's so easy to get around Italy by train. You can go on a moment's notice, get a ticket, and it only takes about 1.5 hours on EuroStar to get to Rome. (She usually took the cheaper IC trains, I think, which take about 30 minutes longer.)
My point is, you will love either city. Choose the study program that works best for you, that gives you the credits you need, etc.
And have fun!

GirlTravel

That's funny, I've never looked at Rome and Florence as either/or cities -they're so different in every way, you can't really compare them, particularly when you're talking about living there, as opposed to just visiting as a tourist. Rome is not an easy city to live in, as any of my ex-pat colleagues who have lived and worked there will be the first to tell you-it's quite stressful. Florence, by virtue of its much smaller size, is a world apart in that sense.

singitkash

Maureen,
Thanks for the help. Did you daughter purchase any rail passes while she was there or did she just buy tickets when she decided to go somewhere? I'm weary whether I should purchase a Eurail pass (or two, since they are only valid for 2 months at a time) for $350+ a piece... or if I should just buy tickets a couple days before I decide to go somewhere?

GirlTravel

S-Most everyone I know who has bought a EurRailpass in anticipation of getting full use of it while they were attending semesters abroad ended up regretting it, as they never used enough of it to make it worthwhile. My advice is that you will come out ahead by just buying individual tickets.

tcreath

I agree with GirlTravel. The train tickets in Italy are very inexpensive. Unless you plan on traveling a lot, you will probably come out ahead just buying individual tickets.

I think the general consensus shows that you can't go wrong with either city. Both are beautiful and exciting and very different from where you are coming from. We each have our own opinions on which is the best, but only you can decide where you want to stay. And as I (and several others) mentioned above, its a quick 1.5 hour train ride from one to the other, so you could visit either one quite often.

Good luck!
Tracy

MaureenB

Singitkash, we did not buy any rail passes. I think others say the same thing, that passes usually don't help you, unless you are traveling very long distances. For short hops in Italy, point-to-point tickets work best. Even with a pass, you have to pay extra to ride on EuroStar, as I understand it. So it doesn't even save as much as you think.
Go to railsaver.com and plug in a rail itinerary. It will compare the price between point-to-point tickets vs. a pass. When we traveled Rome-Florence-Venice-Santa Margherita Ligure-Nice-Florence over 16 days, a pass didn't even save money.
You don't even need to buy tickets far in advance. As I understand it, my daughter would just buy at the station or on-line that day or the day before. Flexibility is the key to student travel, I think!
She found a very vibrant student community in Florence, and met lots of students in programs other than hers.
You will have a blast. Study abroad is the chance of a lifetime. You are brilliant to do it!

elms79

Florence, hands down, all the way, Florence. Not that Rome isn't great--to visit. But if you're studying abroad with Richmond, Florence is no question the way to go. If I could marry a city, I'd be Mrs. Florence right now. Is it obvious yet that I did so myself? Spring semester, 2004. I met a lot of people who did the program in Rome and nearly everyone said they wished they would have studied in Florence. It's perfect for students. It's less expensive, the Richmond meal plan--generous vouchers to some of the best restaurants in Florence--is incredible, and the apartments (scattered throughout the city) are fantastic, spacious and in great, central locations. It's so easy to get around in Florence. Because of where Richmond puts you up, you can walk anywhere you'd want to go. And I felt safe the entire time I was in Florence, anytime of day or night, even when I was alone. This wasn't the case when I visited Rome. Friends of mine who had an orientation in Rome for a few weeks then came to Florence all agreed they were "so happy to be living in Florence." That's probably a great way to put it--Florence is a very livable, not to mention beautiful and clean, city. And there's so, so much to do. Culturally, artistically, historically and nightlife-y. And if you go to Florence you spend your first 3 weeks of the program in Siena, easily one of the most delightful, enchanting cities in the world, and it's the perfect place to become acclimated with living in Italy. I really think Rome is a neat city, but if you're studying abroad with Richmond (or with any program, probably), Florence is the best choice. It's true that I'm biased, but I also have the opinions of some people that studied in Rome that I mentioned before to back me up.

Honestly, it's Italy, so you can't go wrong. You'll just enjoy not going wrong in Firenze a bit more.

GirlTravel

"If I could marry a city, I'd be Mrs. Florence right now."

Great line, Elms79-I completely get this!

miaspapa

Ness, sorry i ruffled your feathers , but I disagree ,the nite life is far different from being in N.Y. city, and as far tolerance ,the U.S. is very tolerant ,maybe the Republicans are your concern?

SharonNRayMc

Hi singitkash,

I suggest you email elaine and ask to receive her detailed files for Rome and Florence. She works diligently to update her files... and they are jam-packed with up-to-date facts and her fine personal insights/recommendations.

She has offered them frequently and posted her email here numerous times... so I feel free to post her e-mail here: [email protected]

She has excellent guides for many other key places in Europe and you may want to write her for some of the others so you can plan weekend get-aways. I warn you, they are detailed and lengthy...and read like a really good, focused guidebook. (I only say "warning", because she'll have you distracted for a good long while --

I know she has files for these destinations: Amsterdam, Israel/Petra, Prague, Vienna, Paris, London, Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Bottom line, I suspect after you have read through Elaine's files you will be able to prioritize which venue you would prefer.


I also suggest you read through the "Helpful Information Italy" threads which Ira started...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34568596


What a great opportunity! Please keep us all posted on your semester-abroad experiences!

Sharon

MaureenB

Singitkash, also do a search on this forum for details about each city. Also, do a search on Study Abroad, and you might find my posts when my daughter was deciding between Florence and Seville, Spain. There's a wealth of info here, even if the search feature is a bit cumbersome. I wrote detailed trip reports from my recent visit with my daughter: Rome, Florence, Venice, Santa Margherita Ligure (Cinque Terre, too), and Nice. I'll cut and paste the Florence portion below. If you want others and can't find them by searching, just say so and I'll post them here, too.

"Florence, three nights in May, 2006

We arrived in Florence via EuroStar from Rome, around 3:00 in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we were charged an unpleasant fine on EuroStar, because our ticket was mistakenly printed for 1:30 p.m., and we were actually on the 12:30 train. We bought the ticket at the window in Rome, barely in time for the 12:30 train, and the agent knew we were rushed. But, she issued the ticket for the wrong time, and we had to pay 8 EUR on the train for her mistake. Because, of course, the conductor didn’t believe our explanation. And, to make matters worse, we didn’t have our reserved seats, so we had to search for seats. Oh, well, we got there safe and sound.

We took a short cab ride to the Relais Cavalcanti. a very charming little 'hotel', at Via Pellicceria, 2. It occupies one floor of a building located near the Uffizi gallery, in a very good central location. Because my daughter had just finished her semester in Florence, she was able to recommend her favorite location in town for lodging.

The Relais Cavalcanti building has been in the same family's ownership for 100+ years, the owner/manager of the new-ish Relais is Francesca. She said she inherited this one floor of the building, so she recently renovated it to create a little hotel. It's relatively new, with beautiful tile bathrooms, showers, etc. The rooms are very charming, and good-sized. Our rate for a double/twin was 120EUR, which included an extra 10EUR/day for the better view. Francesca also offered a 5 percent discount for payment in cash.

You have the feeling of entering a very nice, private Italian home, when you unlock the Relais door and smell the potpourri set out on the beautiful tables in the hallway and entry way. It has a small elevator and a/c, too. No breakfast is served, but even better I think is that they have a beautiful little dining room/kitchen that is open 24/7 for guests. You have always available the makings for coffee, hot chocolate and tea, plus containers of pre-wrapped pastries and dessert cakes. That's about as much as you get in any Italian B&B for breakfast, and this way you can serve yourself whenever. One evening we bought wine, cheese, bread, and fruit and enjoyed our own private time in this beautiful room.

The only thing to be aware of at Relais Cavalcanti is that the first floor of the building is the Old Stove Irish pub. The good news is that it's a decent little place for panini, and has free wi-fi. However, it attracts a lot of students and young people, so it is quite noisy into the early morning hours. Our room window was directly above the pub's patio, with a nice view of adjoining rooftops. The double windows, plus the wooden shutters, can block out about 90 percent of the noise from the pub below. I found that I could also turn on the a/c fan in our room, which would then totally cover any outside noise.

Francesca also cautions her prospective guests that she does not staff a 24/7 front desk. She is there during posted hours, mostly till 6 p.m., and has an emergency number on the door. But she is careful to tell guests that hers is not a hotel with full-services at night-time. I highly recommend the Relais Cavalcanti.

The afternoon we arrived, my daughter took me to a rooftop café, which overlooks the Duomo. It is on the top of a nice little ‘department’ store. I think it’s called Ristorante Ottorino, via delle Oche, 12-16r. We enjoyed wine and salads, on the sunny afternoon, with a close-up view of the Duomo. A very nice introduction to Florence for me.

We then walked a bit, and I saw Ponte Vecchio for the first time. Shops were closed by then, but it was fun to see the bridge and the Arno River, after all the photos I’d seen of them from before.

We walked around some more, and window-shopped the designer shops. I have to say, Florence is more upscale than I expected. Because so many students are there every semester, I expected it to be less expensive and have more the feeling of a ‘college town’. Instead, I loved its classy shops and wonderful windy roads. Without my daughter guiding me, I’m sure I would have been lost half the time, though, on those cute cobble-stoned streets. Or, hit by a car on those narrow ‘streets’!

We walked over to visit Santa Croce, which had just closed unfortunately (I think at 5 or 5:30 p.m.) So we got some gelato to console ourselves, at the place recommended by my daughter’s host family as the “best” gelato in Florence. I think it’s called Vivoli (sp?). A very cute little place, with wonderful gelato.

That evening, my daughter recommended one of her favorite restaurants, the Trattoria Garga on Via del Moro 48/R, phone 055 2398898. We had an amazing meal there, probably my best in Italy. My dish was veal with avocado, which sounds odd (most really good dishes do, I think), and was mouth-watering. Our waiter was a riot-- singing and joking all over the restaurant. It was a friendly, lively, bustling atmosphere with excellent food. We paid 81EUR for two, with a half-liter of house wine.

The next morning, we went to the Uffizi. Even though we had a reservation, it was still an ordeal of standing in line, with many people butting ahead of us. I am so amazed how some people have no regard whatsoever for a line, and how chaotic it can become.

But, once inside, I had a personal art history guide, as my daughter had been studying in Italy all semester. She was able to tell me all about each of the ‘significant’ pieces of art. It is all pretty overwhelming, and a lot to take in. I especially liked Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. It is amazing to see all that art in person, and under one roof.

We walked all day, seeing places my daughter had visited during her semester. We went up the hill to her college’s villa, so I could see it and meet the coordinator there.

We also took the bus up to the San Miniato church, to visit it and enjoy the sweeping views over Florence. It’s pretty to see the Duomo and all the rooftops of Florence from that perspective. Walking down the hill a bit, we found a little café with a nice outdoor terrace, which actually looked across the hills at the college’s villa. It was a nice place to take a break, again with caprese salads and wine.

We returned to town and finished our shopping mission: to find a wallet and a belt for my son. My daughter’s recommendation was a little store on Via del Corso 69/r, called Leonardo da Vinci. A very nice woman runs it, and my daughter thought her prices were the best for quality pieces.

That evening, we were invited to her Italian host family’s home for dinner, which was a special evening, with a very nice woman and her two daughters, who shared their home with my daughter. It was a treat to meet them, share dinner at their table, and see where my daughter had lived all semester.

Our second day, we took a train and then a bus to San Gimignano, for a day-trip. We had beautiful blue-sky weather, about 75 degrees. It was a perfect day to wander the little town. We had wine and salads at a wine bar, overlooking the hills. It was called Enoteca di Vinorum, Pza Cisterna 30.

We returned to our hotel, to get ready for dinner, again at one of my daughter’s favorite restaurants, Acqua Al 2 (pronounced 'aqua al duo'), Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40/R, phone 055 284170. They are known for their perfect steak with balsamic. I had it and was impressed. (They are now opening a restaurant in San Diego, believe it or not.) This restaurant is known throughout Florence, and is very popular, so it gets loud and crowded, but very worth it, even though the service was a tad spotty. We split a half-liter of house red wine, and we paid 50.70EUR for two dining.

Our final morning we had reservations at the Accademia. I am now a life-long admirer of Michelangelo. Having just seen his Sistine Chapel and the Pieta at St. Peter’s Basilica, I was primed to see David. But, I don’t think anything prepares you for seeing it in person. I will say it is more impressive and awesome than I’d expected, as is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. As people rightfully say, it appears as though David will walk right off that pedestal. How on earth did Michelangelo create such life out of marble?

After the Accademia, we found a place to sit on the patio and enjoy a nice lunch, at Trattoria Za-Za, at Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26R. It's popular with business people, and we enjoyed nice omelettes there. Lunch for two, with a glass of wine for each, was 25.50EUR.

That afternoon we walked through the gardens at the Pitti Palace, before taking our late day train to Venice."