tedgale

For future visitors to these cities, here are 3 recommendations -- 3 places we have rented for March 2009.

(Still TBD: some place for 3 nights before we head to Bergamo, to hook up with an old friend from the 70s. Probably in the Treviso area, near the Palladian villas.)

We have aleady stayed in each of these apts and they are definite "keepers". We tried, in each instance, to find sthg new for 2009 but could not improve upon these for amenity + price.

Rome:
http://www.romecapitalapartments.com...gli/Miguel-157
They quoted us 105 E per week, ie below website price

Florence:
http://www.residenzailcarmine.com/aparts/e_domus.htm
We got a part-week for 85 E per nt, ie below website price

Venice:
http://veniceapartments.org/html/fegalliano.html
620/650 E per week

Pleased to answer any questions you may have. Enjoy.

Marianna

I love that Rome apartment! I took a look at it when you recommended it to someone on Fodor's. I would reserve in it a minute if it had 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (we will be 4 adults)for our upcoming trip. I will save it for when it is just my husband and me.

Nice idea to start a list of recommended and tried places.

Thanks.

annhig

hi tedgale,

i like the Rome and florence ones, but the Venice one is VERY close to piazzale Roma. Is this a problem with noise etc?

Regards, ann

esm

Thanks very much for sharing the info. We've talked about a trip to Italy and this is so helpful. I also would like to know about the noise factor (if any) in Venice.

tedgale

I had that question too and can reassure you, from staying there for 5 days or so in 2007. The building backs onto Piazzale Roma but no window of the apartment overlooks the Piazzale.

We were totally unaware that there were cars anywhere in our vicinity.

By contrast, we looked directly out onto the Grand Canal -- not the most atmospheric part of the Grand Canal but the Grand Canal nonetheless.

Right in front of the apt is a busy vaporetto stop. But it is not disruptive. In fact, it was quite charming in the morning or at the end of the day, watching *real* people streaming to their jobs or their homes.

A couple of doors down is an excellent food store, with fresh fish, cheeses and the like.

Final note about the location:

You might imagine that the vicinity of the P.le Roma wd be charmless. But in fact there is one of Venice's very few public parks, right at the next corner to the apt. It's a delightful spot to sit on a mild afternoon.

dina4

ted - that is an amazing apt in rome! wow!
thanks for the info.

esm

Thanks Ted.

tedgale

Re the Rome apartment: We stayed in March 2008, when of course we slept with windows closed. One night I found the apt noisy -- though you are 5-6 storeys up, you may hear motorcycles racing along the Lungotevere.

I travel nowadays with earplugs anyway. That night I used them. It was a small price to pay for the view and the location.

Noise is hard to avoid in Rome. Our first rental in Rome was on the ostensibly "pedestrianized" via dei Coronari. Motorbikes revved beneath our window; passersby caroused at the top of their voices; and in the morning we were roused by the garbage man's helpful 8 am blast on our very loud doorbell, as he went his rounds.

tedgale

After Venice, we are now staying in the Veneto -- just outside Cittadella. Here is the link for the B&B:

http://www.lerisare.it

We reserved the Camera del grano, with beamed ceilings and frplce. I have had prompt and helpful replies from the owner of the large villa (closed up, it appears) to which these lovely converted outbldgs belong.

And here is the place we reserved for our final night, before we fly from Florence's Peretola airport. It looks very chic -- former pharmaceutical factory in the hills of Sesto Fiorentino.

An antiques dealer has converted 3 rooms to B&B. We chose the Camera delle rondini -- room of the swallows, because it has a fplce and the bath looked interesting:

http://www.casavaliversi.it/

annhig

hi Tegale,

the person who finds a quiet apartment in Rome is unlikely to share it, in case they can't book it themselves! we had a lovely apartment in the Monti area and though it was at the back of the building, the noise from our neighbours getting up in the morning made sure that we didn't oversleep. the worst though was Saturday night in Madrid - they NEVER sleep.

your accommodation choices look great.

regards, ann

tedgale

Here are my photos of the places we stayed:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...5&l=840faa5003

The album holds photos of the 3 apartments listed above, in Rome, Florence and Venice....PLUS 2 B&Bs:

Le Risare, in the Veneto (Padua province)-- a working vineyard and farm near Cittadella. The area is primarily of interest to those wanting to visit the Palladian and other villas of the Brenta River.

Casa Valiversi, at Sesto Fiorentino just outside Florence (and 15 minutes from Florence airport).

Both those B&Bs are superior places, if you need to stay in those areas.

esm

Thanks again for sharing Ted. The pictures are lovely and I'm sure you had a great time. I'm in the middle of doing our taxes and the pictures provided a welcome break.