sandralist

Rome is a fabulous city and if you've the inclination to spend all your time there, you most certainly will not run out of things to do. It is well positioned for interesting day trips that are a real change of pace, although September is likely to be nicer beach weather than April (although right now, this April, it would be sunny and bright!)

I will point out that if you don't tire of archeological sites then Naples is only one hour away by train. The Archeological museum has some of Italy's most important and fabulous artifacts from ROME. They were transferred there (long story). So between now and 2016, read up on the arechological museum in Naples and see when you get to Rome how you feel.

I don't know when Easter is next year, but if it falls in April, you might want to avoid that time frame due to big crowds and high prices for rentals and hotels.

Rome needn't be a hectic experience at all. There are many quiet corners where you can relax.

http://goitaly.about.com/od/italyboo...ook-review.htm

sandralist

Ooops! I see we had already discussed that book weeks ago. Not trying to beat you over the head with it.

Rien63

It's good you mentioned this book again, I missed it the first time around. I think the cookbooks distracted me! I actually have the one for Paris, different author but the same series. Great little book.

It never occurred to me to do Naples as a day trip. Duh! What a great idea. That way I get to see the museum and only have to stay in the 'Italian Mumbai' (I love that) for a short time. I AM curious about the city, but really hesitant to spend much time there.

Easter is March 27 so I would wait until mid-April. I've heard that the weeks before and after Easter are crowded. As far as beaches, I just enjoy walking on the beach. My sunbathing days are over.

Since you've actually been to Rome, when do you think it would be most crowded, April or September? As far as cost they seem to be around the same--both shoulder seasons.

bvlenci

I think that for crowds September would be somewhat worse. I think June and September are the peak months for tourism in Rome. The week after Easter is pretty busy, but I've been there that week and it wasn't awful. There's always a risk that it could be excessively hot in September and that would be rare in April.

I tried to find statistics on the number of tourists by month, but I couldn't find any.

Rien63

bvlenci,

I appreciate your efforts re tourism by month. I'll do some further research, see what I can find.

Looks like it's going to be April in Rome! I can't wait!

Thanks again for your input.

Blueeyedcod

I find the 'Italian Mumbai' comment pretty offensive. I don't know if Sandralist has even been to Mumbai - but really... grinding poverty, thousands of beggars, open sewers - can't say I've seen that in my many trips and times as a resident in Naples. Perhaps she was referring to the traffic? Well, then say so. In any case, there are quiet pedestrian areas of Naples such as Via Partenope which has been closed to traffic since 2012. The lower half of Via Toledo is pedestrianised as is Via Chiaia from Piazza Plebescito. It is possible to walk from the Lungomare to Piazza Dante and only cross a few streets - and not busy ones.
Rien63 - Naples is rich in history - it's not just the Archaeological museum - I hope you take your time to look beyond offensive Mumbai stereotypes and see the culture and beauty that exists there.

Rien63

You're right. It would be offensive for someone who lives there and my apologies for the insensitivity. When I think it through I realize that I wouldn't appreciate people saying as much about my town/city.

I know there's a lot of history in Naples which is why I'm curious about the city, but I guess I've been put off by some of what I've read in the forums. I imagine an unsafe, trash-laden, corrupt, chaotic city. This is also thanks in part to the media.

Thank you for your advice,and for enlightening me. Can you suggest a good area/hotel to stay in? As I said in my initial post I prefer smaller family-run hotels.

sandralist

There is grinding poverty in Naples, and I have seen people defecate in the alleys near the train station. Mumbai is a much larger city than Naples, so its beggar population is larger, but there is an overlaod of beggars in Naples. Just like Mumbai, Naples has middle class neighborhoods, even very wealthy residents and luxury shopping, and many modern infrastructure assets, and of course Mumbai has, like Naples, fabulous sights of art and history, and superstition galore, and non-stop color and personality. But if you go to Naples, and especially if you walk from train station to the Archeological museum, you will encounter a great deal of true poverty and be prepared for beggars as well.

I think the real insult here (apart from the one to me) is to Mumbai, as if somehow a Italian cities with large problems of terrible poverty are -- what, better than Mumbai? The notion that I take a negative view of Mumbai or India was wrongly presumed. I am not the one thinking in stereotypes, nor do I need to deny the tremendous problems the people of Naples suffer in order to love them and their city.

sandralist

I was so ticked off that someone would accuse me of posting offensive things about Naples I went back and read what I wrote. I contrasted Naples to Capri in terms of relaxation when it comes to walking around. I never said Naples was like Mumbai because of grinding poverty, open sewers and beggars --- all those stereotypes about Mumbai are what are apparently triggered in the mind of Blueyedcod whenever she reads "Mumbai". The people of Mumbai are very proud of their cry. Maybe they would find Bluyedcod's associating it solely with negatives awfully offensive.

Mumbai is a city of 12 million people in contrast to Naples less than 1 million. Mumbai immensely colorful. chaotic, creative place (with arguably a brighter future than Naples) whose proglems are magnified by its size, but it shares with Naples grinding poverty, sanitation and pollution issues, and deep problems of corruption and criminality. "Offense" is often in opinion of the listener, but I would bet you'd find an awful lot of Neapolitans who would be extremely offended to hear their city compared to Rome. And you will find many Neapolitans who care a great to deal about actually publicizing the problems of poverty, sanitation, pollution and crime in their city, in hopes of ending them, as opposed to sweeping them under the rug and pretending they don't exist for the sake of tourist needs.

Blueeyedcod

Lol - your self imposed exile didn't last long.

You were the one who mentioned Mumbai - why make comparisons in the first place - and yes, the trigger images are poverty, hideous overpopulation and massive social issues. Not sure if you've been there (I have) but 'colourful' is not a way I would describe Mumbai. It's confronting and extremely overwhelming.

The area in which Rien63 would explore if she/he stayed there would not be exposed to Naples more ghastly areas - and they exist - but in the historic centre which is UNESCO World Heritage listed for a reason. Napoli Centrale to which you also refer is a transport hub - not a tourist destination. Transport hubs attract the homeless and destitute.

Rien63 - I hope you enjoy your stay. If you mention a hotel budget I may be able to help you further. There are some fantastic B&B's in the historic centre which I love.