I am leaving for Rome, Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany in a week!
 

Well, I just wanted to post my excitement because we leave for Rome, Amalfi Coast (staying in Positano) and and Tuscany in a week!

Please tell me - what was the highlight of your stay in these particular areas?

I would like to thank everyone for all your advice.

Have fun. Eat gelato... loads of gelato. Look for the places that have it hidden in tubs instead of piled high with big hunks of fruite stuck in it.

Visit the Coloseum, my personal favorite (an obvious choice, I know).

In Rome, roam. Walk as much as possible to really see the city. Have fun!

I loved the Ara Pacis museum in Rome. Agree with lots of gelato and walking!

I am going to spend a week in Positano next year so I look forward to your trip report upon your return! :-)

Jill: Lucky you!!! some good moments and things in our trip in 2009(there is a long report in case you are interested,on Rome and the Amalfi Coast):
Gelato in Rome at Blue Ice; Piazza Navona early in the morning,you can be almost alone.Il Gesú;San Pietro in Vincoli;Santa Maria deglu Angeli;Via condotti;the Vaticano,of course and almost all ROME!!!

Gelato in the amalfi coast(Savoia in Amalfi,for gelati and dolci); Amalfi,Positano,the views from Sorrento to Amalfi;Pompeii; RAVELLO(visit both villa Cimbrone and villa Ruffolo),the restauronts alogside the sea in Amalfi; "antipasto di terra", torta caprese; baba al limoncello, Capri etc etc...
Enjoy your trip!!! and let us know about it...it will be a wonderfull trip,no doubts

I leave in jsut over a week..11 days to almost all the same places (but no rome, add vencie and florence)..I'm beyond excited!!! I'll see what others respond to this thread sicne I'm sure it will come in handy :) HAve a great trip!

Hi Gill,

in Rome, we just loved the area around the via coronari [near piazza navona]. loads of good restaurants, interesting shops, things to see. and do try to get to the palazzo doria-pamphilli - some wonderful pictures and hardly anyone there.

and in Tuscany, I fell in love with the area around Orbetello where I stayed earlier this year - just lovely for a day trip to the coast, if it's not too far from where you are staying.

have a great trip!

Long lunches in Tuscany, sitting with a glass of wine and watching all the people, great drives when you're not even sure where you are going, talking all the interesting people from around the world, peeking into all the beautiful private courtyards (all they can do is kick you out).

In Postitano we were woken at midnight on our first night because fireworks were being ignited from the beach and exploding at our windown.... something to do with an earthquake year and year before. There also was a great restaurant above the village (via taxi).

I have a great restaurant list for Tuscany. Email me at [email protected] if your interested.

Have a wonderful trip. We were in those exact locations a little over a year ago with my brother and sister-in-law - their first time ever to Europe. Our first full day of the trip we had dinner at La Tagliata in Positano and it proved to be an ideal introduction for my in-laws. The food kept coming and the wine kept flowing...the atmosphere was fun, my brother-in-law became somewhat "under the influence" and they realized stepping out of their comfort zone by traveling to a foreign land where they don't speak the language could be a fun and rewarding experience. That night, with all the laughter and friendly Italians we met set the tone for our trip. It's a night I will never forget.

I'm leaving soon also and going to much of the same areas. I'm still booking rooms! Last year I arrived Rome with no ressies and may again this time!

Drive the Amalfi Coast; at least to Salerno; if time permits, visit Paestum, just beyond Salerno.

Restaurants; take your choice.
Rome

Bartolomeo
Via Salaria, 215
(Owner of PontiSisto)

Brasserie Ristorante
Aperto tutti I giorn
Ore 19,30-1,000
06.4880457

Da Checco *****
Via Benedetta 10-13

Da Marco e Gloria
Via della Scrofa, 31

Cucina Romana
Da ot ello in trastevere
Via della Pelliccia 47
Pizza S. Egidio 53

Fagianetto
Via Filippoturati 21

Forno *****
Campo De’ Fiore, 22
Bakery & Pizza

Gino ai Funari ***
Via dei Funari 21,
(Piazza Mattei)
06.6874974

Grappolo d’Oro
Piazza della concelleria, 80-81

Harry’s Bar
Via V. Vento 150

La Piazzetta Ristorante
Vio del Buon Consiglio 23/A
06-6991640

L’Antica Birreria Peroni
Via S Marcello, 19
(tuna & beans)

La Romanella Ristorante
Borgo Pio, 124

Mille Panini
Via Eudossiana 20


Bakery / Panella *****
Btw SMM / SJL
L’Arte dei Pane
Via Merulana 54-55

Pierluigi Ristorante ***
Piazza de Ricci 144
06/68.61.302

Pontesisto *****
Via di Ponte Sisto, 80
065883411

Al Tavolino
Via G Fara 23

Ristoranto Asador café Veneto
Via V. Veneto 116

Ristorante Il Drappo
Vicolo del Malpasso 9
00186
06.6877365

Il Ristorante delle Due Colonne
Via del Seminario 122

Tre Pupazzi *****
GREAT PIZZA
Borgo Fio 183
Via dei Tre Pupazzi 1

Trattoria da Luigi *****
MY FAVORITE
Piazza Sforza Cesarini,24
06 6865946

Positano

Saraceno d’Oro *****
Via Pasitea, 254
089812050

Trattoria La Tagliata *****
Via Tagliata, 22
(39) 089 875 872

Trattoria E Pizzeria ***
C’era una Volta
Via Marconi 127/133

Rome..The church of San Clemente
ancient Rome is excavated below the church, fascinating layers.
Visiting the Pantheon.
Seeing Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Tuscany
Florence;; seeing Michelangelo's "David" in person was an all time top travel thrill.
Tuscany, small towns...walking in the various small hill towns, off the beaten path..Dining on Papardelle al Ragu di Cinghiale(wild boar).
Visiting ceramiche, pottery studios..

Hi Jill - A few people have mentioned La Tagliata above Positano. You don't have to call a taxi. Your hotel can call them and they will send a car for you from the restaurant. There is no fee but we did tip the driver. If you go do it for lunch to take advantage of the view.

Can't resist -- Get drunk and make a baby!!

"Can't resist -- Get drunk and make a baby!!"

Actually, folks here are too circumspect in celebrating what is, after all, Positano's main attraction.

Jill, you lucky girl! Have a great time!

My favorite restaurant in Rome is Nino on Via Borgognona
Their grilled fish is amazing, and the steak is excellent!

I am laughing so hard right now with the Suz's comment.

Thank you everyone for your comments! We haven't booked a winery in Tuscany yet. Hoping I can just pop in, but I know the Tuscan wineries don't work like that.

Jill, have so enjoyed reading about your trip planning. We leave for europe shortly after you. Have a fantastic time. Walk for hours, take lots of pictures and enjoy every minute.

I know the Tuscan wineries don't work like that>>

but olive oil producers do. when I was there in May, we stopped at just such a place in southern Tuscany and had it not been lunch-time, we could have stopped a lot longer. As it was, we were shown the old machinery, given a tasting, and then shown the new machinery as well.

sadly I had no room in my luggage but i was very tempted none the less.

make sure you have plenty of room in your cases for things you want to bring home.

Rome:
San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) really impressed me. Michelangelo's statue of Moses is not be believed.

San Clemente!

Baths of Caracalla

Basilica Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill