JUST RETURNED 3 WEEKS VENICE AND FLORENCE...
 

<BR>Happy to offer thoughts and suggestions to you fodorites about to travel. Off hand, even with the advantage of a strong dollar, Italy is still very expensive...but get out of the heavily touristed areas and bargains can be found. Wine bars in Venice offer good and reasonable food, to say nothing of the vino. <BR> <BR>There is construction and scaffolding galore as Italy prepares for 2000. Be prepared for long waits everywhere...even the Duomo. Museo del Opera del Duomo is closed; MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR UFFIZI; no one was getting in by showing up , and there was a 8 day wait for reservations. Que up on line and have your tickets waiting...easy as pie.

Hi Becky, <BR>Welcome back. Would love to hear more about the highlights of your trip. Any sights you particularly enjoyed? Anything not worth seeing either because of crowds or scaffolding? Great restaurants in either city?

hi becky our family is arriving june 26 thru the 10th of july we are renting a villa in montspertoli. any great hill towns to see what is a good time of day to visit florence?how is parking in florence ? more questions to follow p. catania

P. Catania- <BR> <BR>I gather from your question, "a good time of day to visit Florence", that you only plan on spending a few hours there. Be forewarned that Florence can't really be seen in a few hours. If indeed you only have 1 day to spend there, I would get there early and spend the whole day. If you are interested in the art, which is primarly what Florence has to offer, you will need to decide in advance what you want to see in the city, because you will only be able to see a very small portion of what Florence has to offer. If you just want to stroll around the city and see the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, etc., a day trip should suffice. As far as driving and parking in the city, even my husband, who enjoys driving in cities, has said that he wouldn't attempt it. You might want to consider other transportation into the city.

Regrettably, I have been offline due to illness and may remain so for a while. Some of the highlights include Torcello (my 3rd visit and it is still wonderful), Burano, Taverna La Fenice (best meal of the trip besides Torcello), practically no one in the Piazza on a Monday evening in May and the bands played on! The Audrey Hepburn exhibit at the Ferragamo Museum in Florence, and best meal there Osteria Caffe Italiano...make reservations. Lovely and tasty. Italy has lots of scaffolding as Cheryl mentioned...she took better notes than I. Additional thrill, drinks and a light dinner at Aurora in Fiesole as the sun went down. Splendid! <BR>

For what it's worth, scaffolding has been a part of Italy ever since I first set foot there almost 50 years ago. Back then, it was made of bits of wood tacked together, and now it must all be steel. Some progress! It's all done in a good cause, of course. So much of Italy's glorious architectural past has fallen victim to industrial and automobile pollution. Bit by bit, it must be replaced, repaired, and protected. If I were to guess, I would have to believe that the job will never be completed.

There is indeed always scaffolding,but the last time we were in Italy, you could still get into the sites, albeit with scaffolding. The difference is that now several sites are closed altogether while the repairs go on.

Hi ladies, <BR> <BR>I am so glad that Italy is taking care of these places that we love to talk about! And I appreciate the interest in their 2000 celebration...it provides impetus. Somehow, there seemed to be scaffolding at every turn, and many of my favorite places were, as noted, out of view or closed. <BR> <BR>My point is that if people go to Italy for the first time especially, they should know what is and isn't available and, it isn't always the way it is now. Still wonderful though! <BR> <BR>My hope, like yours, is that the scaffolding continues (perhaps not as thickly as not) and that we may enjoy the fruits of their labor for many years to come. Molto bene, and ciao! <BR> <BR>Gelato, anyone? <BR>

I will be going to Venice first week of July and am looking for a place to stay. I would like a clean - updated place that is accommodating to families. Any suggestions?