Italy Itinerary: suggestions please!
 

Hi, <BR> I had posted this in the "Europe" section and got a few responses (thanx), but tonight I discovered that this separate forum for Italy, so am reposting this. <BR> I'm a 26 y/o guy in Germany (not German!). I discovered this site soon after I decided on my Italy trip, and the suggestions in this forum has helped me plan my itinerary. A BIG thanx to all of you. The following are my rough plans for my 12 day trip to Naples (2.5 days), Rome (5 days) and Florence (4 days). I'd be grateful for suggestions (especially on the undecided days in Rome). <BR> <BR>SAT 7 Oct: Reach Naples (around 10:38 am) <BR> After checking in the youth hostel, sightseeing, especially the Archeological Museum <BR> <BR>SUN 8 Oct: Morning- Herculaneum and Mt Vesuvius (any guided tour recommended?) <BR> Late afternoon (if there is time) and evening-- Naples <BR> <BR>MON 9 Oct: Morning- Pompeii (guided tour?) <BR> Afternoon- "rest of" Naples <BR> Evening-- To ROME <BR> <BR>TUE 10th: 9 am- Scala Reale's Roma Antica tour (4hrs) <BR> 4 pm Scala Reale's Orientation Hike (2hrs) covering churches by Michelangelo, Bernini and other, Capitoline Hill and Roman Forum etc. <BR> <BR>WED 11th: Morning Vatican/St Peter's (perhaps Papal Audience), guided tour of St Peter's by Vatican tourism. <BR> If there is time, Vatican Museums <BR> 4pm- Scala Reale's Orientation Stroll (1-2 hrs) near Tiber and city walls on churches, palaces and monuments <BR> <BR>THU 12th: Morning: Vatican Museums <BR> Afternoon and evening: Panthion, Capitoline Hill other sights of Rome. (suggestions?) <BR> <BR>FRI 13th: Sights of Rome (suggestions?) <BR> <BR>SAT 14th: Sights of Rome, especially those near the churches near the station. <BR> evening: TO FLORENCE <BR> <BR>SUN 15th: Walk around Florence by myself, churches etc (guided tour: Enjoy Florence?) <BR> perhaps no museums. <BR> <BR>MON 16th: morning- Pisa <BR> afternoon-evening- Sienna <BR> <BR>TUE 17th: Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Medici Museums <BR> <BR>WED 18th: Any left over museums and other sightseeing <BR> Perhaps a trip to Fiesole <BR> 9:30 pm -RETURN TRAIN

The Archeological Museum in Naples should be open from 9am to 2pm on Saturday. If you're not able to make it on your arrival day, just plan to visit it before going to Ercolano (on Sunday it should be open from 9am to 1pm). There should be enough time for you to visit the museum, Ercolano and the Vesuvius on a single day. On the other hand, the Capodimento Museum should be open till 7:30pm ... you could easily visit it on your first day. <BR> <BR>Pisa and Siena in a single day? I wouldnt do it ... If you're able to catch the 8:25am train out from Florence, you'd get to Pisa at 9:29am. You should alow at least some 4 hours to visit Piazza dei Miracoli, have a snack lunch and shuttle back and forth to the train station. The 142pm trains out from Pisa would arrive at 3:34pm in Siena. Add some to stroll from the station to the old city center and you'd be in position to start around 4pm ... much too late! <BR> <BR>What to see in Rome? Wow ... I'm a hopeless Caravaggio fan, so I would certainly plan to visit the San Luigi dei Francesi, Santa Maria del Popolo and Sant'Agostino churches, plus Galleria Borghese (further works would be available in Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Pinacoteca Capitolina and Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Barberini and Corsini palaces). <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Thanks for your suggestions, Paulo. <BR>Noted your suggestion for Naples. <BR>About the Pisa/Siena suggestion, actually, my main aim is Florence, but most of the museums seem to be closed on Mondays, so I decided to take the day "off" from Florence and go to Pisa. Many people suggested that Siena shouldn't be missed, so thought I'd go to Pisa early in the morning, say reaching by 9:00, do the tower and some quick sightseeing and proceed for Sienna so as to reach before lunch and return to Florence at night. <BR> I don't think I'll be able find two days for Pisa and Siena. Somebody in the Europe forum even suggested that I drop Pisa. What would you suggest? Should I drop one of them, if so which one? Would it be stupid to do Pisa in such a hurry? <BR>Thanx.

Hi Ady, <BR>My opinion, but I think 2-3 days in Rome is more than enough. Since you'll be in Naples, I suggest going down to the Amalfi coast for a couple of days. However, if the plan is to head north, spend more time in Tuscany. A car helps, but there are day tours out of Florence (see: grapeadventures.com, ibikeitaly.com). Otherwise think about a couple of nights in the Cinque Terre, Lake Como, or the Dolomites. Definitely skip Pisa. They say the Firenzens use to pee off the Ponte Vecchio to spoil the water and town of their enemies the Pisanos. It's not that bad, but its not worth it when their are so many other great places to see. I hope this helps and doesn't confuse. P.S. Even though may find it touristy, Siena is wonderful. I would even stop there for a night on the way to Florence.

Thought about a visit to the catacombs which are on the outskirts of Rome? We visited them last year - very enlightening. Also, don't forget to include the Trevi fountain. If you like history, visit the Mamertime Prison where Peter and Paul were held in chains. It's right behind the Victor Emmanuael Monument.

Ady, regarding the Pisa/Siena issue, it's really too much to do both in a single day, mainly because you'd be travelling from from place to place for about 5 hours. IMO, you'd have only 2 choices: <BR> <BR>a) you may visit both Pisa and Lucca; and <BR> <BR>b) you may visit Siena and eventually San Gimignano <BR> <BR>Though I love Lucca and Pisa, I must say that I've a very strong bias toward Siena (much less so to San G.). In your shoes I would take an early express (direct) SITA bus to Siena (the bus departs just off the square in front of Sta. Maria Novella train station in Florence). This bus will leave you at the San Domenico church within Siena's city walls. I would take my time and play it by ear. If you "discover" that you love Siena you'll probably spend the dday there. Otherwise, you may take an afternoon bus (once again at San Domenico church) to San Gimignano. Arriving in San G. check when the last bus to Siena leaves. If you con't make it, don't worry too much. You may always take a taxi to the train station in Poggibonsi and catch a train to Florence. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>PS. Everything in Siena (Palazzo Pubblico, Duomo, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Battistero, San Domenico church, etc) but the Pinacoteca Nazionale should be open on Mondays. <BR>

Thanx, Jodi and Mike. Jodi, I'm afraid, I won't be able to do Amalfi during this visit, nor the other places in Tuscany that you suggest. Since this is my first visit, I want to do the main places reasonably well and not really hop from place to place. But then there's always a "next visit(s)!!! <BR> <BR> Paulo: Thanks a lot for your suggestions, both here and for the inexpensive restaurants post. I wish you, Richard and some of the other people here would get together and write a book on Italy! I'd be the first one to procure a copy! <BR> Anyway, I think I'll follow your suggestion about Siena/San Gimignano and skip Pisa. Or perhaps simply take a train to Pisa on one of the evenings, have a look at the tower (I bet it'll be lighted up?) and come back. It's actually too tempting not to be so near and miss the tower. <BR>PS- would you mind if I contacted you directly if I have further questions?

Be my guest, Ady! You'll get an answer if I have one :-) <BR> <BR>In your shoes, though, I'd try to post your questions both here and in the "general" Europe forum. There are many contributors out there that may have a better answer that I can give you. Unfortunately, till things get settled here at Fodors regarding the sub-forums many of these are not posting in the Italy sub-forum. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

My thoughts on your upcoming trip: <BR>Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to see. Plan to change your mind as you go - and be flexible. I fell in love with Rome, and left Florence early (after 7 days) to go back. Do visit the churches in Rome, (Il Gesu, etc.)do see the Sistine Chapel, if you are interested in Bernini, the Villa Borghese is a must, but you need tix, get number online & call now. You can also reserve tix for Ufizzi - saves hours of your time. Your absolute must see (my opinion) is the Forum, which will blow your socks off. Have fun!

A couple of ideas for Rome: (1)) If you're going to a Papal audience on Wed., try to get a seat near the "corridor" separating the first seating area from the second, because before going to the stage, the Pope takes the PopeMobile down that corridor and greets the crowd. We were within 5 feet of him. <BR>(2) Since you have some free time in Rome, spend your nights sitting in some of the main piazzas. The Piazza Navona is especially nice -- you can drink, eat, and watch the world go by. Have fun -- I'm envious!

Thanx Susan and Jim for your comments. <BR> <BR>Susan: Yeah the Forum, Sistine (OF COURSE!), Villa Borghese and many of the churches are among my plans. <BR> <BR>Jim: great tip for the Papal audience. Will try.

Ady: <BR> <BR>I highly recommend hiring a guide at Pompei. It will be worth the expense and help you make sense of the vast and fascinating ruins. <BR> <BR>Unless the weather is very good to allow you what should be a fabulous view of the Bay of Naples, I would skip Vesuvio. It was very hazy on our visit and the while the crater was impressive, the volcano is dormant so no steam. etc. The journey up and back will take half a day and I think the time would be better spent in Naples, or take a ferry to one of the islands or an Amalfi coast town (Positano is my favorite) for the afternoon. A visit to Naples is incomplete without a cruise on the Bay. <BR> <BR>Haven't been to Pisa, but Siena was one of the highlights of our visit and on our list places to return to one of these days. <BR> <BR>Sounds like you have a great trip planned. <BR> <BR>Buon Viaggio! <BR> <BR>Dan