Thanks for the capris explanation gelatogirl! We call those alla pescatora - fisherman's pants. I live in Rome (and wear Hogans which are great for walking on the cobbles) so if you need any help I'm here!

Carrom, You live in ROME!!! Wow! From now on I am calling capris "alla pescatora"! I'll look into Hogans. Thank you! Oh, what's your fav flavor of gelato??? :)

Always chocolate with either pistacchio, pinoli, marroni (chestnuts) and recently I had crema di mandorle (almonds) which was fabulous but not easy to find. I also make walnut ice-cream at home which is delicious! One tip avoid those places where the ice cream comes in huge mountains and too many falvours!

Hogans are great. Also, the flexa range from Fratelli Rosetti. There are a lot of mary-jane type shoes and ballet flats at the moment that would look great with capris. Very Audrey Hepburn! And if you're stuck for something to wear, Zara always do great comfortable skirts, in linen or cotton.
Have a great time!

Just ran across a cool website:

http://www.most-comfortable-shoes.co...als_clogs.html

Have no idea why I'm resurrecting this thread, but I had to add my two cents.

I broke my foot a month before I went to Italy. The shoes that I brought to walk in were awful...blisters, etc. Because of my cast, I wasn't able to break them in before I left, and as luck would have it, my old shoes weren't fit to take as they outlived their life span.

So I had to buy shoes in Florence.

I actually found a pair of Rockports. In coral. They were SO comfortable; I wore them all over for the next two months. They looked nice with my linen pants and no one ever thought I was American. OK, maybe the shoes didn't contribute to that, but if I had worn white tennis shoes, I would have been marked instantly.

E_M - LOL... no kidding, never wear white tennis shoes while in Europe unless you want to stand out. Only Americans were them when not running.

Carrom - where can I find the Hogan's you referred to?

Ah, yes, the eternal quest to "pass" as a European.

Heaven forbid anyone should think you are an American.

Tell me: Do you speak fluent Italian?

Take a look at a really cute shoe called "The All Arounder." I got mine at a Mehpisto shoe, but also see them on other sites such as those recommened here. They have the build and heft of an athletic shoe, but are styled kind of like a Mary Jane-type style Would look cute with socks or without and do for many occasions. Of course, I got mine in black, but there are really some cool colors too--like the brick-orange. I am now wearing mine around to break them in and make sure that they are my best choice for Rome next month. Very cute, lots of compliments, but good solid shoes as well.

Mephisto? OK, here we go. Is there a prize for the person who spends the most on a pair of shoes.

Dear Faux, these are just glorified gym shoes, though well made, and were probably the cheapest shoes in the store. They have the Mephisto label but were made in China. They cost less than the New Balance shoes I bought last year. I'm a retired teacher and not in any type of contest for how much money I can spend on shoes, usually from Famous Footwear. Geez, sorry I mentioned the name Mephisto! That won't happen again! Hey, you rich guys out there...better keep it down. Now I must go ask my chamber maid to turn down my bed. Ta ta!

My husband and I lived in our Adidas for our 2-week trip in Italy. They are very popular abroad and you will look like a local if you go with some funky color (i.e., pinks or greens)--all the 20 & 30 somethings are wearing throwback air jordan types now. They were extremely comfortable. I also wore Diesel sneakers with Dr. Scholls gel inserts.

susiq, I love Siebels but they are German, not Italian.

For walking in Europe I wear Clarks, Mephistos, SOfft, Merrells. Mules or slides work in the summer, flats and low heeled boots in winter.

I also would never break in a new pair while knowing i will be walking many miles a day.

Just curious, have you all heard of a brand called Aerosoles? I'm just surprised that I haven't seen it mentioned. I'm going to Rome next month, and I just bought a cute pair of black suede wedge boots from them which I will wear at night with a wrap dress or jeans/nice shirt. I wanted something closer to what I would wear at home, but I feel safer with a wedge then an actual heel.

I plan to buy a pair of Adidas or Sketcher sneakers that are more cute/trendy than athletic. I will also bring a pair of broken in Enzo Angiolini flats with a slight wedge to them as well. Not risking those cobblestones, thank you!

Sketchers are a great plan. I love mine. they are plenty funky for Europe.

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/17503434/c/3.html

Ant -- I wear aerosoles in Europe all the time -- the 3 inch wedge slides in spring/summer and the tall suede boots with a 2 1/2 wedge heel last month in Paris. They don't feel like josef seibel's (IMO) but I very comfortably walked over 7-10 miles a day in them and they're 60% cheaper than most of these other brands.

Watch out for the sketcher-type sneakers. I have a pair of Tsubo that are incredibly comfortable on the foot, but really have zero support once you get walking.

I've had mixed results with Aerosole brand.

I thought I couldn't wear Joseph Siebel but finally realized I need a 1/2 size larger than usual in them (their 'toe box' feels short to me) to be comfortable.

I find sketchers to be incredibly uncomfortable, as well -- they tend to be too clunky and the profile is too high. They are second only to Steven Madden who seems to make an effort to make their shoes as hard and inflexible as humanly possible.

funny Fishee, several times I bought Steve Madden (slow learner i guess) because they seemed like they would be good, and every pair ended up in the 'donation box' nearly new.

When I was still working (teacher), Aerosoles were my only choice. I would go into Famous Footwear, walk up and down the ailes until I found aerosoles and start trying on. I wouldn't even look at anything else. But then. . . I discovered Merrells! They are my new love--sandals, leather clogs, mesh clogs, fleece-lined clogs, athletic design--all of them! When I first put my feet into them I knew I had found a new love. The mesh clogs are the best because they stretch out around my aching bunion. When they start to get a little worn, I wear them around the house as my bedroom slippers, even wearing them right now. I did buy a pair of those Mephisto Allrounders for my upcoming trip to Rome, but now I'm even rethinking that in favor of my trusty, never-fail-me Merrells. Guess you can tell I'm a fan.