Need your expert advice – where to visit in Italy?
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:21 PM
#1
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Need your expert advice – where to visit in Italy?
My fiancé and I are having a very hard time trying to decide on what areas to visit in Italy. We have read Rick Steve’s book on Italy and still cannot decide. Can you all help us?
We love scenery and wine! We would like to learn more about wine as well as visit Rome. This trip will be our honeymoon and I was told visiting Venice is a must for a romantic. I have researched Venice and it seems the only thing romantic is the gondola rides, the bridge lit up at night, and a romantic restaurant on the canal. Honestly, it didn’t seem worth our time. We can be romantic in Paris or in other parts of Italy while enjoying the scenery and wine at the same time!
I’m interested in the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre; however, we will be in Italy in either January or February, so it may too cold to enjoy it, I do not know. Also, for wine Florence and Tuscany seem like a must. Advice?
We will have 7 nights and will be flying in from Paris. Your input is greatly appreciated!
We love scenery and wine! We would like to learn more about wine as well as visit Rome. This trip will be our honeymoon and I was told visiting Venice is a must for a romantic. I have researched Venice and it seems the only thing romantic is the gondola rides, the bridge lit up at night, and a romantic restaurant on the canal. Honestly, it didn’t seem worth our time. We can be romantic in Paris or in other parts of Italy while enjoying the scenery and wine at the same time!
I’m interested in the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre; however, we will be in Italy in either January or February, so it may too cold to enjoy it, I do not know. Also, for wine Florence and Tuscany seem like a must. Advice?
We will have 7 nights and will be flying in from Paris. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:34 PM
#2
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Wine - - in January or February - - means a wine store (enoteca), nothing more. Nothing wrong with that. Search Buccone here on this site (enoteca in Rome).
Forget the coasts in the winter.
Four days/nights in Rome. One in Florence. Two nights in Venice. Trains in between.
Whatever your decisions, congratulations on your new life in marriage... and...
Best wishes,
Rex
Forget the coasts in the winter.
Four days/nights in Rome. One in Florence. Two nights in Venice. Trains in between.
Whatever your decisions, congratulations on your new life in marriage... and...
Best wishes,
Rex
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:42 PM
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Hi AB,
My suggestion:
Fly from Paris to Venice.
See
http://web2.myair.com/docs/cust/it/index.shtml
3 nights Venice, 4 nights Florence (day trip to Siena), fly home from FLR or PSA.
My suggestion:
Fly from Paris to Venice.
See
http://web2.myair.com/docs/cust/it/index.shtml
3 nights Venice, 4 nights Florence (day trip to Siena), fly home from FLR or PSA.
Jun 13th, 2005, 04:27 PM
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If the thought of Venice doesn't appeal to you, by all means skip it--don't force yourself to go somewhere because other people tell you it's "romantic." I find Rome very romantic and January and Feb. are a great time to visit it because it's not crowded and you can see all the wonderful museums and churches without regard to the weather. Hotel rates are cheaper too, whereas Venice hotel rates in Feb. go up due to Mardi Gras (as do the crowds). Although the scenery won't be as lovely as the spring, summer or fall, Tuscany is still a good choice. Florence won't be crowded and you can still visit the Chianti area, or better, the Montalcino area and enjoy the wines in any number of good restaurants. The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are virtually shut down during winter and I wouldn't advise going there at that time.
Jun 13th, 2005, 04:39 PM
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Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.
IMO Paris and Venice are two of the most romantic cities in the world. I have never been disappointed with either.
When I was in Venice last month, I also came upon a hotel that was unbelievably romantic (we didn't stay there, but saw a few of the rooms) called Ca Maria Adele (www.camariaadele.it). I don't know what your budget is, but this place was amazing.
Also, we stayed at a place in Florence that while not as romantic, was lovely and very reasonalbe called Hotel Villa Belvedere (www.villa-belvedere.com).
IMO you should save Rome for another trip.
IMO Paris and Venice are two of the most romantic cities in the world. I have never been disappointed with either.
When I was in Venice last month, I also came upon a hotel that was unbelievably romantic (we didn't stay there, but saw a few of the rooms) called Ca Maria Adele (www.camariaadele.it). I don't know what your budget is, but this place was amazing.
Also, we stayed at a place in Florence that while not as romantic, was lovely and very reasonalbe called Hotel Villa Belvedere (www.villa-belvedere.com).
IMO you should save Rome for another trip.
Jun 14th, 2005, 07:01 AM
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Hi AustinBride,
I too, agree, that you and your groom-to-be should decide where to visit in Italy based on your tastes, not what other tell you, you have to see.
With that being said, I would explore all options with pictorials and by reading as much as you can.
This descriptive post may help you decide whether or not Venice is for you, it did for us
:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34604835
Congrats and best wishes, Tiff
I too, agree, that you and your groom-to-be should decide where to visit in Italy based on your tastes, not what other tell you, you have to see.
With that being said, I would explore all options with pictorials and by reading as much as you can.
This descriptive post may help you decide whether or not Venice is for you, it did for us
:http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34604835
Congrats and best wishes, Tiff
Jun 14th, 2005, 07:12 AM
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Rome is perfect in Jan.-less crowded and cheaper rates. We were there 7 nights and found it perfect,but you would never see all there is to see in that time. Many good restaurants with the wine you would enjoy.
Whatever you decide sure it will be a great trip it being your honeymoon.
Congratulations on your marriage!
Whatever you decide sure it will be a great trip it being your honeymoon.
Congratulations on your marriage!
Jun 14th, 2005, 08:35 AM
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If you love scenery, Venice is nothing but one continuous and constant scenic revelation. I would disagree that the only thing to see in Venice is the bridge lit up and a gondola ride. The canals, the buildings the squares, the art, the ambiance - all are lovely.
I would spend 3 days in Venice and 4 in Rome. If you were going in the summer, the coastal areas would be worth a visit but in January or February, not a desirable destination. I agree that Paris and Venice are the most romantic cities I have ever experienced.
I would spend 3 days in Venice and 4 in Rome. If you were going in the summer, the coastal areas would be worth a visit but in January or February, not a desirable destination. I agree that Paris and Venice are the most romantic cities I have ever experienced.
Jun 14th, 2005, 08:53 AM
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Just to balance out the Venice side of things...my husband and I went to Venice (and Bellagio, Milan and Rome) for our honeymoon a few weeks ago. We had a great time, and Italy is a wonderful country with many things to see (certainly several trips' worth).
While Venice is certainly more romantic than Milan, we still enjoyed Venice the least of any place we saw. We both loved Rome. On the other hand, if you are going in January, Venice probably won't be as crowded as it was in May (and the tourist overload was one of the things that absolutely spoiled the romance for us).
Also (sorry Venice!), to me a "romantic" destination is more than the architecture - it's the whole mood of a place. Our impression of Venice was day trippers trying to see as much as they could cram in a few hours, and merchants selling things for rather exorbitant prices.
I'm definitely in the minority not loving Venice, but I don't think it hurts to get numerous opinions! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
While Venice is certainly more romantic than Milan, we still enjoyed Venice the least of any place we saw. We both loved Rome. On the other hand, if you are going in January, Venice probably won't be as crowded as it was in May (and the tourist overload was one of the things that absolutely spoiled the romance for us).
Also (sorry Venice!), to me a "romantic" destination is more than the architecture - it's the whole mood of a place. Our impression of Venice was day trippers trying to see as much as they could cram in a few hours, and merchants selling things for rather exorbitant prices.
I'm definitely in the minority not loving Venice, but I don't think it hurts to get numerous opinions! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
Jun 14th, 2005, 09:06 AM
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I feel compelled to give you some insight as we will vacation in Italy for seven nights at the end of this year into the beginning of next.
Deciding where to go or what to do can be a daunting task given all that the region has to offer.
We will fly into Rome and do bus tours to the Vatican Museums/ancient christian Rome; Naples/Pompeii; and Florence. These are day excursions. We will also try and fit in at least a day in Venice.
Good luck with your travel plans and congrats on the marriage!
Deciding where to go or what to do can be a daunting task given all that the region has to offer.
We will fly into Rome and do bus tours to the Vatican Museums/ancient christian Rome; Naples/Pompeii; and Florence. These are day excursions. We will also try and fit in at least a day in Venice.
Good luck with your travel plans and congrats on the marriage!
Jun 14th, 2005, 10:23 AM
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AustinBride - I've never been to Sicily; someday I hope!
But I can tell you that it enjoys a Meditteranean climate meaning that along the coasts it should be pleasantly mild (maybe rainy though).
Why don't you do some research (use the box here for that). I shouldn't think that hotels and restaurants close down but, then again, I don't know. Look into it...
But I can tell you that it enjoys a Meditteranean climate meaning that along the coasts it should be pleasantly mild (maybe rainy though).
Why don't you do some research (use the box here for that). I shouldn't think that hotels and restaurants close down but, then again, I don't know. Look into it...
Jun 14th, 2005, 10:43 AM
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What a delightful decision! As you're visiting London and Paris before Italy, do you want to restrict your Italy time to big or medium-sized cities, or do you want some variety by visiting the Italian countryside? I've never been to Italy in the winter, so I'm not sure what Tuscany, for example, would be like then.
Re Sicily, I haven't been there, but my parents did, and really enjoyed their visit. They were with a good friend, however, who speaks fluent Italian and had lived in southern Italy previously. They did have the impression that less English is spoken in Sicily, so that might be a factor to you. I looked at the websites for the hotels they stayed at, and their trip photos, and it made me want to visit Sicily!
On Venice, I would defintely say to not go if you're not interested. But Venice is an entrancing city to me (possibly also romantic) because of the buildings, and the water, and the passageways everywhere. Just the idea of a city built on water is entrancing. And wandering around the streets, with an occasional visit to an intriguing church, is what makes Venice worth visiting to me. So if you like scenery, you might want to reconsider Venice, though depending on exactly when you go, the city would have fewer tourists, or possibly more if its Carnivale.
On the wine thing, my husband's really into wine, but what he has done is visit small producers in the Montalcino area and enotecas in every town we're in, and I'm not sure how open the producers would be in the winter. I know there's a big enoteca in Siena that's fun, but I wouldn't go to Siena (worth visiting in its own right) just for that.
Re Sicily, I haven't been there, but my parents did, and really enjoyed their visit. They were with a good friend, however, who speaks fluent Italian and had lived in southern Italy previously. They did have the impression that less English is spoken in Sicily, so that might be a factor to you. I looked at the websites for the hotels they stayed at, and their trip photos, and it made me want to visit Sicily!
On Venice, I would defintely say to not go if you're not interested. But Venice is an entrancing city to me (possibly also romantic) because of the buildings, and the water, and the passageways everywhere. Just the idea of a city built on water is entrancing. And wandering around the streets, with an occasional visit to an intriguing church, is what makes Venice worth visiting to me. So if you like scenery, you might want to reconsider Venice, though depending on exactly when you go, the city would have fewer tourists, or possibly more if its Carnivale.
On the wine thing, my husband's really into wine, but what he has done is visit small producers in the Montalcino area and enotecas in every town we're in, and I'm not sure how open the producers would be in the winter. I know there's a big enoteca in Siena that's fun, but I wouldn't go to Siena (worth visiting in its own right) just for that.
