Please Critique Italy Itinerary.....

Old May 4th, 2005, 09:57 AM
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Please Critique Italy Itinerary.....

We leave in a few weeks & would like your input on our itinerary.

I would appreciate your thoughts and any suggestions you may have.


May 20- June 1st:

Day 1: May 20-
LAX-Rome (1hr layover in NY)

Day 2: May 21
Arrive Rome at 7:15am
Pick up rental car
Drive to Montepulciano
Check in-find market.
Dinner at villa (the family hosts a dinner every Saturday for their guests).

Day 2: Sunday May 22
Pienza, Montalcino, Sant’Antimo Abbey , Monte Olvieto Maggiore, San Quirico d’Orcia, Bagno Vigni
(Should I split these towns into 2 days?)

Day 3: Monday May 23
Chianti region/San Gimignano

Day 4: Tuesday May 24
Assisi/Spello

Day 5: Weds. May 25 Siena

Day 6: Thurs. May 26 Cortona/Arrezzo
(Not sure about this trip-I may split up day 2 and visit the towns I don't get to see on this day instead-any thoughts?)

Day 7: Friday May 27
Train to Florence
Accademia
Duomo
Uffizi
Ponte Vecchio
(It was the only day I could get reservations for the museums)

Rome Itinerary

Day 8: Saturday, May 28
Montepulciano to Rome
Arrive to Rome and return car by 2pm
(Unfortunately we will have to drive into Rome )
Check in hotel
Lunch
Galleria Borghese (5pm-7pm-Arrive by 4:20)
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Dinner

Day 9: Sunday May 29
Attend Mass at the Vatican (It was the only thing my husband requested).
Castel Sant’ Angelo
Lunch-
Pantheon
Piazza Navona
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Colosseum/Piazza Venezzia (no tour-just want to see it lit up at night)
Dinner

Day 10: Monday May 30
Vatican/ Sistene Chapel / St. Peter’s (tour)
Scavi Tour at 3pm
Lunch
Piazza del Popolo
Guggenheim Exhibit (evening)
Dinner

Day 11: Tuesday May 31
Piazza Venezzia/Colosseum/Forum/Palantine Hill (Tour)
San Giovanni Laterno Church
San Clemente Church
Lunch
Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore

Day 12 June 1st
Rome to US
Limoservice pick up at 7am
Flight leaves at 10:30am
***********

Thank you!
Mariana
mv_rd is offline  
Old May 4th, 2005, 10:14 AM
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May 21 - find market - The Conan (grocery store) is at the North end of town, outside the gates. There is an Esso station. As you are facing the station, take the road to the left of the station, down the hill -- there it is. There are 2 other smaller stores in the town on the main street. They should have just about everything you will need -- get the 6-pack of bottled water (1.5 litre bottles) there. Very reasonable.

May 22 -- A little ambitious, especially if you are going to stop for lunch. You can do it, but it will be a "drive by shooting."

May 23 - Chianti/San Gim are kinda/sorta in opposite directions. I would see one or the other, and maybe stop somewhere else on the way to either one.

On the way from Montepulciano to Rome, why not stop for lunch in Orvieto. It's a nice place to visit, and right off the A-1.

You should have great weather in late May. Have a nice trip, and don't drink all the wine.
Budman is offline  
Old May 5th, 2005, 10:06 AM
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We just returned and had a fabulous trip - with similar stops. On the way from Florence, we did stop in Orvieto and the Duomo there is awesome. We also loved, loved, loved Assisi. I posted a report and will top for you.

It sounds from your husband's request as though you are Catholic as are we -here are a few things we really enjoyed:
Day 9: Sunday May 29
I know your husband wants to go to mass at St. Peter's (assuming this is what you mean when you say Vatican). Is it because of the Pope or simply mass at the basilica? If he wants to go to mass at the basilica, an easier way would be to go early on Monday morning, before you start your day at Vatican City. St. Peter's opens at 7 a.m. and there are dozens of priests who come out of the sacristy to say morning mass, many of them in English. Most of them are only accompanied by an altar server and welcome pilgrims who would like to attend mass at one of the altars downstairs. It's not the Pope, but it is mass at St. Peter's up close.
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva - We were so happy we saw this church. Bernini's elephant obelisk in the front was my favorite in all of Rome and St. Catherine of Sienna is buried here. A few suggestions: The Gesu is fairly close and is a beautiful church. The outside was under renovation when we were there in March, but the inside is glorious! Also, the Caffe Eustachia is very close to S. Maria Sopra Minerva (Piazza Eustachia). It is the best coffee in the world, imo. If you are a coffee drinker, go here! Liquid gold. Perfection in a cup. After our first experience with it, it was amazingly “on the way” to wherever we were going. Also, there is a little church - San Andrea della Valle - nearby where there is an incorruptible Saint.

Day 10: Monday May 30
Vatican/ Sistene Chapel / St. Peter’s (tour)
Scavi Tour at 3pm - I'm sure you've read all the info on this but make sure you leave your backpacks, cameras, etc. at the hotel safe or check them before entering the Vatican. They'll make you go back and the tour won't wait. We were lucky enough to have a seminarian from the North American College do our tour (he was from St. Louis) and it was the highlight of our trip.


Day 11: Tuesday May 31
Piazza Venezzia/Colosseum/Forum/Palantine Hill (Tour)
San Giovanni Laterno Church - Across from this church are the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) believed to be from the house of Pontious Pilate and walked on by Jesus during the passion. They are closed in the early afternoon - I think until 3 or 4. You are only allowed up the stairs on your knees, stopping to pray at each step. Even if you don't go up the stairs, you'll be right there and it's worth the stop.
San Clemente Church - This was awesome! We debated the extra time and $$ to go down in the excavations, but it was so worth it. There are 1st century ruins, Constantinian ruins and the current structure on top.
Lunch
Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore - Beautiful. My husband's favorite church (outside of St. Peter's) in all of Italy.

The only "major' basilica I don't see on your itinerary is S. Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul Outside the Walls – the first of the four major basilicas we saw). Very easy to get to on the subway. (Bought “BIG” ticket – which is 3 euro and good all day). Believed to have been built (and rebuilt twice) over the tomb of St. Paul, there are several awe-inspiring elements here. Our favorites:
Outside: the mosaic on the façade of the building, the courtyard, the huge doors with the gilded cross and images of Peter and Paul.
Inside: The mosaic portraits of every Pope, from Peter to the current Pope, whose portrait is lit. When we were there, a short time before JPII’s death, his portrait was lit. It would be interesting to see if they have a new portrait of Pope Benedict.

We went via subway from St. Paul to the Colosseum and it was very easy.

Have a great trip and be sure to post when you return!
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Old May 5th, 2005, 10:20 AM
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My advice is to slow down and realize that you don't have to see everything in one trip. You won't really enjoy everything you want to do if you are in a whirlwind (I have learned this from experience when I also was ambitous and tried to see everything). Also remember that if you go to a town on your list to have lunch and want to explore afterwards, most shops/museums remain closed until 2-3 pm. You have listed 6 places in one day! Plus it takes time to get from one town/site to another. A couple years back we stayed in Pienza and one day did Montalcino (wine tour as well), Montepulciano and the sant'antimo abbey. That was enough. I don't know you age but we were in our late 20's and were tired at the end of the day. Take your time and enjoy it...it is suppose to be a vacation
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Old May 5th, 2005, 10:41 AM
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Well, first of all you've made no allowance for jet lag. I'd hesitate to fly so long overnight and then leap into a rental car and dive into Italian traffic. Have you driven in Italy before? Your drive, Fiumicino to Montepulciano, is not a bad one, but still....

Use one of the mapping programs (www.mappy.com, www.maporama.com, etc.)to lay out your routes and get an idea of how long the drives are.

You've really crowded a lot into your days. You're going to lose the experience of la Dolce Vita. You'll have seen everything but not experienced Italy.

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Old May 5th, 2005, 10:47 AM
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Hi mv,

You have a rather ambitious itinerary.

I suggest leaving Florence for another visit.

Rather than drop off the car in Rome, could you drop it in Orvieto and train into Rome? You could spend the night in Orvieto.

ira is offline  
Old May 7th, 2005, 03:31 PM
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Budman: Thanks for the tip on finding the market. We will stop in Orvieto for lunch on the way back to Rome.

dc-Thanks for putting things in perspective.

Two Ravens: Great suggestions and tip about the coffee place. I coffee and can't wait to try it.

Mimar: Jet lag is a tough one. Last time I went to Europe it took me 5 days to recover. I'm hoping that's not the case this time.

Ira: I asked about dropping off the car in Orvieto but AutoEurope would not give me the same rate because Novarentacar doesn't have a drop off option in Orvieto. The guy told me it had to be same drop off and pick up location in order to get the same rate. I ended up saving close to $200 so I couldn't complain.

I realize that I planned too much for this trip. I intend to take info I have researched and take it day by day once we are there. After all, it is a vacation. My husband also has to come back and leave the next day for training in the East Coast and the last thing I want is for him to return exhausted.

Once again, thanks for the input.
mv



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Old May 9th, 2005, 12:21 PM
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Wow, a pretty aggressive itinerary. I'll assume that you've already got your tickets to the Borghese and Scavi tour. Perhaps I can offer you the Mass Schedule at St. Peter's on my website at: http://www.stpetersbasilica.org/touristinfo.htm#mass

Alan
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Old Jul 15th, 2005, 11:19 AM
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I also think your plans are a little to ambitious expecially at the beginning of the trip. The second day I'd only do 2 towns such as Pienza and Montalcino. On the San Gimigiano/Chianti day, I'd say pick one or the other. Actually on that day, I'd skip San G and go to Volterra, the ride is amazing, some of the most beautiful vista in all of Tuscany. Just a few thoughts. Where are you staying in Montepulciano? In town or out? You do need to spend some time there as well.
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Old Jul 15th, 2005, 11:47 AM
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I think they've come & gone and had a wonderful time. Who wouldn't with that itinerary. Anybody hear how things went?
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