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bookmark. Grazie, all!
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Just went through the first thread, so glad I found these threads. So helpful! Thanks to ira, Bob, elaine and all others who have contributed.
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Forgot to bookmark this one when I bookmarked the first one.
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Here is an update for itineraries:
BOB the NAVIGATOR’S FAVORITE ITALY ITINERARIES UPDATED AUGUST, 2006 After 23 trips to southern Europe, and having developed more than 160 customized TRIP PLANS for others, I am now older and hopefully wiser. Here is an updated version of my favorite itineraries & my “Bella Italia” photo gallery. I hope you enjoy. http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3827 1. BELLA ITALIA: Five destinations in 15 days—car & train travel * Arrive in Milan[MXP] & depart from Venice[VCE]or vice versa. * Itinerary to include the Italian Lakes, Ligurian coast, rural Tuscany, Florence, & Venice. Suggested timing is 3-2-4-2-4. * Option: Drop the coast & rent a villa in Tuscany[ 3-7-2-3]. * Best time to go: May & June or Sept. & Oct. 2. LA DOLCE VITA: Three destinations in 12 to 14 days-car & train * Arrival & departure from Rome[ FCO] or arrival in Naples * Itinerary to include Rome, the Amalfi coast, and Tuscany * Best time to go: Easter to end of October * Option: Fly into Naples & stay at 2 locations on the coast 3. CLASSIC ITALIA: Three destinations in 12 to 14 days-car & train * Arrival & departure from Rome—may start trip in Florence * Destinations to include Florence, Rome & Tuscany/Umbria * Best time to go: Anytime, but May & Oct. are my favorites * Option: Consider a weekly rental in Tuscany/Umbria 4. SICILIAN CHARMS: Five destinations in 15 days—car travel * Connections to Catania & Palermo via Rome or gateway city. * Itinerary to include Taormina, Siracusa, Palermo & more. * Best time to go: March to November—May is best for flowers * See: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=634 5. THE VILLAGE SAMPLER: My favorite venues for those who enjoy natural beauty and quaint, small villages. Arranged north to south. * Arrive Milan & depart Rome—car travel-- 3 nites per location * Itinerary to include Lago Orta, Castelrotto/ Ortisei[Dolomites], Portovenere[Liguria], Montalcino[Tuscany], & Spello[Umbria]. * Best time to go: May to October for the lakes and Dolomites * Option: Pick 3 out of 5 and stay longer in Tuscany/Umbria. |
bookmarking
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ttt
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bookmarking.
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bookmarking
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topping - Thanks, Ira! ((S))((*))
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Thanks bookmarking
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BKM
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Details about each of the Cinque Terre trails:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2 :)>- |
Sorry-- duh!
Cinque Terre Trails details: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34871747 :)>- |
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bookmarking
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I've located a map of public restrooms in Florence, complete with prices and amenities (handicap access, baby changing).
http://www.comune.fi.it/servizi_pubb...nipubblici.htm In addition, a list (and map) of bars,shops,restaurants that are part of the tourist access to restrooms selected and monitored by the city of Florence. It appears these participating businesses should have a courtesy point decal as appears on the link. http://www.comune.firenze.it/servizi.../c_p/point.htm |
leighmaida
Date: 07/06/2007, 06:31 pm I spent a lot of time asking questions on this site while planning a recent trip to the Amalfi Coast. The following is a link to all of the websites I used while planning my trip. Anyone headed to the Amalfi Coast or nearby might find these links useful! Here's where to find the list: http://spankyandleigh.com/amalficoastlinks.htm |
Author: Girlspytravel
Date: 08/29/2007, 12:30 am Here's a suggested itinerary I put together on another thread: Author: Girlspytravel Date: 05/01/2007, 12:02 am KK21-here is my suggested itinerary for the city I spend the most time in, anywhere in the world: For Venice, you want to see the history of La Serenissima, to get a sense of the Venetian republic at its zenith-to do that, you have to make the Palazzo Ducale your first stop, you'll want to see the astounding Sala dei Maggior Consiglio, with its huge Tintoretto mural on one wall, the portraits of the Doges along the walls (the Doges being the former civil head of authority in Venice) and the incredible frescoed ceiling-this huge hall, one of the largest in the world of its type, was the diplomatic reception area for the Republic during the 15, 16th century. You'll also want to tour the Basilica of San Marco next door, to see its magnficent golden mosaics inside, its frescoes, and to go up inside so you can walk around the outside of the Basilica to see the view. In any visit to Venice, you'll want to take the vaporetto up and down the Grand Canal to see the magnificent palazzos that line the Grand Canal, but you'll also want to see the inside of one of these gorgeous palazzos as well, to see how the wealthy and titled Venetian families lived during the heyday of the Republic. For that you need to visit the beautiful Ca' Rezzonico on the Grand Canal, with its sumptious decor, and priceless art- works by Canaletto, Titian, and Tintoretto, which shows Venice and Venetians in various centuries, a fascinating pictorial history, as it were, with a lovely garden outside, and a nice little cafe for refreshment. Ca'Rezzonico is a must-see, IMO. Then, I would suggest getting on the vaporetto, to go over for a visit to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where Benedictine monks have inhabited this island for over 1,000 years, to see their stunning complex of a church built by Andrea Palladio, with its priceless works by Tintoretto, Palma di Giovane, and Titian, its two lovely cloisters, but particularly, to go up in their campanile (bell tower) to see the incomparable views of Venice and the lagoon area-you can see everything from here, it seems-really stunning. And finally, I would suggest a tour of La Fenice, the exquisite Venetian opera house, to see Venice's present day culture, and I would try to get tickets to a performance so you can experience this opera house and its magnificent acoustics. www.teatrolafenice.it/index.php Or, as an alternative, I would get tickets to a performance at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, to a concert or an opera that they regularly present. San Giovanni Evangelista is a stunning building going back several centuries, with murals and paintings by the great Venetian masters Bellini, Carpaccio, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, sculptural work by Mauro Codussi, among others. It is used by the Venetians for cultural presentations, and the President of Italy came for a visit just last week. The vast salon of San Giovanni is where the concerts are held, and it is truly stunning. You can view the salon, and/or purchase tickets for a concert at this website: www.classictic.com/venues/52.html These are some of the places I would advise to see for a first trip to Venice, to get a sense of its history and culture, past and present. |
I just returned from Rome and hope these will be helpful hints for others
Author: julies Date: 01/15/2008, 10:37 am 1. The Roma pass is a good deal IF you can find one. We made the mistake of believing all the info out there that said they were available at all locales they can be used for. So, we went to the ticket booth by the Colosseum (not the Colosseum's busy one) wanting to buy passes. They only had one available and they called around trying to find another one--no luck. We finally ended up buying the one pass they had and something else called the Piu Pass which costs E5 more but has a larger radius of transportation included. The tour guide we went with at the Colosseum told us that even though they are highly publicized, the passes frequently are not available. 2. We are not typically guided tour people, but an excellent guide really makes the Colosseum and Forum come alive. We used Through Eternity Tours small group tour, and our guide Marle was superb. 3. Early January is a fantastic time to visit Rome if you want to avoid crowds. Apparently as soon as the school holidays are over, tourist numbers plummet. You can walk right into most places and are not facing crowds. Our guide told us that this is the time of year she can take a vacation because there isn't nearly as much demand for her service. 4. Buses are helpful, but you will really need some sort of good bus map guide to figure out the system. Originally we had thought we'd buy the week long bus pass. Then, our first day of walking to every place we wanted to go convinced us that a pass wouldn't be all that useful. By the end of the trip we'd bought and used the Roma pass's transportation pass and were glad we'd gfigured out how to use the buses as we weren't nealy as exhausted after not walking everywhere. 5. Do not even think about trying to use a bus to your hotel from the train station unless you only h ave a teeny, tiny suitcase or no luggage. Even during off-peak hours I can't imagine trying to get on a bus with a suitcase. 6. We did three guided visits that we felt tied all of the early history together for us into one seamless piece. See if you can do these things too--the Vatican's Scavi tour, visit the catacombs, and take a good tour of the Colosseum and Forum. 7. The little electric mini-bus 116 goes directly to the Borghese Gallery. We caught it by Campo d'Fiori. We'd tried to figure out all the various transportation options, and this was by far the best. 8. The Catacombs of Priscilla are within about 3 miles (away from the city) of the Borghese and are fascinating with no tourists at all. We walked from the Borghese not realizing how far a walk this would be, but there is probably a better trransportation option. 9. Guidebooks. I took Rick Steves' 2008 Rome and it was excellent for the nitty-gritty info like how to get places, tours of museums opening times etc. But, he certainly doesn't cover everything of interest, just the main attractions. We also used Rome in Detail which had some excellent off the beaten path places and walks. National Gographic Traveler book was also helpful. 10. Decide if you really want to take a guided tour of the atican Museums. We had originally thought we would but then changed our minds and were glad we canceled the tour. We spent 5 hours at the museum alone (the guided tour was 5 hours including time for lunch and St Peter's), and we would have spent more time but they were kicking people out because the museum was closing. 11. If you are in the Sistine Chapel when they close the doors 1/2 hour before the museum closes, this means that your touring time is all over. All visitors are herded and prodded along and out. Guards will shout at you if you stop to look at anything or take a photo along the way. Their goal is to have everyone out the door of the museum 10 minutes before it closes. 12. Buy a really good map of Rome before you leave or else as soon as you get there. Streets are very, very confusing. My husband also brought a compass, and we relied on it a lot. 13. Take time to visit some lesser know and visited sights. 14. Bring LOTS of money. |
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