We leave for Italy in one week. We'll be spending three days in Venice, three days in Rome and seven days in a villa in Greve in Chianti, with sidetrips to Florence, San Gimigniano, etc.

Any last-minute tips for our trip? Restaurants -- getting along with the locals -- anything at all. Many thanks!

When using the vaporette in Venice, make sure you have a ticket already purchased. I boarded the vaporette before 7:00 a.m. at the Accadamia stop and the ticket office was closed. I boarded without a ticket, but had my money in hand (about $3 US). My mistake was not to handover to the boat person upon boarding. When approached by the vaporette police they laughed at me when I tried to or demanded, I pay $35 US dollars on the spot for not having a valid ticket. As I was leaving Italy I had no money with me so I had to get off the boat, go to a bank, get money and pay them. Missed my train connection by 2 hours. Don't make the same mistake. The ticket may also have to be validated in a machine, I don't remember.

I'm envious, we won't be going until next March. Anyway, I enjoy the triangular piazza in the town of Greve and the surrounding countryside is absolutely beautiful. Sit outside one day at the cafe at the foot of the piazza with proscuitto e meloni and a glass of wine and watch the world go by for me!

eurogal -- the ticket booth for the zattere stop was closed for us at 7 a.m. when we were trying to get to the airport. There was a newspaper kiosk next to it, so I asked them where I could buy tickets, and was able to purchase the tickets right at the kiosk. There is a machine to validate before getting on the boat. I imagine other kiosks sell tickets as well, or just buy your tickets ahead of time, but don't validate the ticket until right before you get on the boat.

Bon voyage, brooksari! 2 restaurant recommendations for you: I loved Acqua Pazza (San Marco, a few blocks from the Accademia bridge) in Venice and Ditrambo (Piazza Cancelleria, one block from Campo dei Fiori) in Rome. I look forward to hearing about your time in Tuscany, as I am planning a trip there next.

Lucky you...sounds like a great trip.

We just loved Greve. Such a pretty town with the right mix of shops and people and charm. If you enjoy shopping, there are some wonderful shops and the nicest shopkeepers. Grazia Giachi Ricami embroidery shop is worth a trip from anywhere. Her family makes wonderful handmade baby items, elegant embroidered sheets and stunning tablecloths. I also really enjoyed Valoriani for tablecloths and Macelleria Falorni was an amazing meat shop. Sit outside Caffe Lepanto and have a snake or some gelato and just bask in the wonderfulness of where you are.

We also did a wine tour at Castello di Verrazzano which was such fun. If you are interested, this is their Web site: http://www.verrazzano.com/default.htm

Venice and Rome are two of my favorite cities. Get lost in Venice, you don't have to try, it will happen. But enjoy meandering through these tiny streets and over the many tiny canals. Go to San Marco Piazza either early in the morning or late in the evening after the day trippers have gone home, sit at a cafe and enjoy the music and a Bellini...magical.

As far as getting along with the locals, the Italians are some of the friendliest people anywhere. Just relax and be friendly and smile and try a few words of Italian, and you will be fine.

Re: tickets,

If you don't have a ticket, tell the person in charge before they ask you for one, whether bus, train or vaporetto.

You might have to pay a little extra, but you won't be fined.

The best two words of travel advice for first-timers come from the late Douglas Adams: Don't Panic.

You <i>will</i> get lost in Venice. You <i>will</i> become confused in Rome. You <i>will</i> be driven to distraction by vespas in Florence. But it's all part of the experience. And it's all good.

Even the non-enjoyable parts will be Mostly Harmless.

We were in Rome and Venice last week, my first time there (my wife had been before). In Rome, I highly recommend L'Orso 80, a restaurant we tried based on comments here. It was the best meal we had in Rome. Also, Pizzeria Baffetto in Rome (based on comments here and elsewhere) was amazing (it's on Via del Governo Vecchio--they open at 6:30 and it does get crowded, but they take reservations).
Just enjoy your time there, soak it all in, you'll love it.

I didn't think the vespas in Florence were all that good.

We really loved the restaurant at La Badia di Coultibuono and their winery/garden tour. Remember that the roads in Chianti are windy and driving may take a little longer than you expect.

Buon viaggio!

A couple of restaurants that I can recommend:

In Florence - Le Mosacce in Via del Proconsolo....just around the corner from Piazza del Republica (I think!!)

In Rome - Trattoria del Pallaro in Via Largo del Pallaro south of Piazza Navona......great food, 20E per person, and you'll get lots of food include wine and water, dessert.

Have fun!

I agree with Carlos. We ate at Trattoria del Pallaro twice when we were in Rome last week. Family affair, mom &amp; pop operation. Quiet, quaint location. Lots of food. Wine was good, the owner even kissed my wife's hand when we left, which she loved, of course!

Carlos: We were there on Sept 21 for lunch and Sept 22 for dinner...we must have just missed you!

My wife would recommend buying some shoes in Greve. She certainly did .Gee, I even bought a couple pairs there.
It looks like you have a great trip planned.

Many thanks for these truly terrific responses!

My Favorite Ristoranti:

Rome:
La Fontana - via Liguria (off Via Veneto)
Al Picollo Arancia - v. Scanderberg (Trevi Area)



Florence:
Il Latini
Ristorante Bibo
Ristorante Sasso di Dante (Duomo square)

My turn now !!!!
Am leaving in 72.5 hours (yes I'm reduced to the sorry state of counting half hours :0 )
It's my 1st time to Italy and I've been planning some variation of this trip every year for the last 4 years and have had to cancel each year for one reason or the other. This time I <u> am</u> going! My parents will be joining me in Venice (they are coming in from India).

Maybe I was fated not to go till I found this forum and got hooked Thank you so much everyone. I've been reading so many posts, I feel like I know some of you better than many people I meet in person everyday. You guys/gals have been great and I will post a report when I get back.

My itinerary:
venice-4 nights, florence-4 nights, siena-1 night, orvieto-1 night, 1day for herculaneum, 1 day for pompeii and stay the night in between in Sorrento, rome-5 nights.

Again, Thanks a ton!

ssachida. How excited you must be!!! Have beautiful and safe trip. Bet you are almost counting the minutes. Happy Italian vacation!

brook...7 days in a tuscan villa...you will be in heaven. usually people make the mistake of moving around far too much. we stayed a week in a half at one place in chianti and were able to explore all of tuscany from there via daytrips with a car. staying put makes for a much more relaxing and richer experience in my opinion.. have fun.

walkinaround, I hijacked brook's thread. Brook's bennthere and back now . I just didn't want to start yet another 'leaving now' thread.

LoveItaly, thanks. And yes, it is now 71h50mins to go (thats if the flights on time)