Returned from Italy
 

Returned last week from 15 days in Italy. We spent 5 days in Rome and 10 days in Florence. We took the train to Florence from Rome. We attended THE POPE's General Audience speech in Rome. From Florence we took small trips which included Verrazzano Castle in the Chianti area, Siena, Pisa & Lucca, Azezzo and Cortona.

Arrived in Rome after our 9 hour flight and our context tour driver was there waiting. Stayed at the Marriott Flora. They upgraded us to a suite. Room 602. Fantastic! Unpacked and headed out for some lunch. I had notes from the travel board that said to try San Marco and il pompdorino. They are both close to the Marriott. We liked il pomodorino better! However, both restaurants still allowed smoking inside. After lunch we headed for the Spanish Steps but I was corrected because the Italians call it the Spanish Square. Anyway, we found the Spanish Square and walked around for 3 hours and I was pretty beat!

Next afternoon met our Context Tour guide for our Ancient Rome tour. I did not even have the taxi door closed and the tour guide approached me and asked if I was looking for the Context Tour. I was amazed how he knew. (he probably saw the glazed over look in my eyes and all my papers in my hand as I was trying to determine if the taxi driver left us off in the right spot- ha! I kept saying are you sure this is the right spot - ha) The afternoon was amazing and it rained part of the day but I didn't care because I was in ROME!!!!

The next day we met our Context Tour close to The Vatican. I booked the reserved tour. We moved past all the lines but they did not seem too long. Another amazing afternoon. St Peter's was too much for one person to absorb!!! It was very crowded.

The next day was the Pope's General Audience talk he gives during the month. I had a letter from the Vatican that gave me specfic instructions on where to pick up my tickets. I was to come to the Bronze Door of the Apostolic Palace to collect my tickets. Good grief, I thought, I hope I can find this door! Well, I found security and they pointed toward 2 Swiss guards. They would only let one of us go to the guards. So I took my letter and my husband stayed behind the gate. I presented my letter to the Swiss Guards. These Swiss Guards made me feel like I was in Oz. They had orange and blue coats with matching leggings! They let me in and I walked down a long hall and went in a room and they gave me our tickets. We did not have assigned seats. The Pope circles the seating area in his Pope mobile so everyone gets a pretty good view of him. Another amazing experince.

The next day we met context tours for a Culinary Stroll through Rome. This included a coffee bar, a candy shop, a bakery and a gelato shop. It was a blast. All the owners were 3rd and 4th generation and the candy samples were heaven!

In Rome we ate at - Le Fric(good), Tre Scalini on Pizza Navona (not so good) Girarrosto Tosca - (just ok), il pomodorino (good) and San Marco (ok)

The next day we took the Eurostar to Florence. Sorry folks but I booked my tickets IN ADVANCE with Rail Europe. I know, everyone says to wait till you get there. Not always a good idea because on Friday we tried to get tickets to Venice ( just on a whim - we were not planning to go there) and all the morning trips were full and it was our last day in Florence.

Anyway, stayed at the Grand Hotel in Florence. They upgraded us there too! A nice hotel next to the Westin and across the river. Also, not too far from the train station.

To be continued . . . .

Oooh. Bookmarking for after-dinner reading material. Thanks Natbug.

ok finally continuing where I left off last week.

Returned last week from 15 days in Italy. We spent 5 days in Rome and 10 days in Florence. We took the train to Florence from Rome. We attended THE POPE's General Audience speech in Rome. From Florence we took small trips which included Verrazzano Castle in the Chianti area, Siena, Pisa & Lucca, Azezzo and Cortona.

A few more notes on Rome --

During the Context tour "Culinary Stroll" We stopped at Sant Eustachio il caffe close to Piazza Sant Eustachio 82. Walk back down the hallway and see their coffee machine. Their cappuccino was delicous! Very old business!
Then we stopped at a candy maker. Confetteria Moriondo & Gariglio Via del Pie Marmo,21-22. Everything hand made!

Our tour director taught us to find the best gelato! She said the pans should be filled flat across not piled high. She said look at the pistachio gelato. It should be a brown color not bright green. In Florence we went to Vitti! It was hard to find but worth it! I will have to check on the gelato store in Rome. I cant remember the name. We went in the back of the store to see if being made. They were making one made out of rice!!!! We ate gelato all over Rome and Florence and agreed the ones off the beaten path were sooo much better than the ones around the piazzas.

On to Florence --

We took the Eurostar from Rome to Florence. Thanks to Ron from Rome we could figure out the boards and ticketing! The Eurostar was sooo nice. What a way to travel!

We stayed at the Grand Hotel. It was across the street from The Arno. Great location as we could walk to the train/bus station.

First full day visted the Uffizi museum. I booked on line and they emailed me the confirmations. Then you go to the window across the street from the entrance and they give you the tickets. No lines - walked right in. There were lines for the people that did not have reservations. We spent 3 hours there.

That evening we had dinner at il Latini! OMG! What an amazing dinner. It just went on and on . . . . They kept bringing us after dinner drinks we did not order. They sat us with another couple and we had a blast! I shared the Florentine Steak with my husband. It was huge!

Next day we took a bus to Siena. We spent all afternoon there. We purchased the multi-ticket for 12.00 Euros and saw Duomo, Museo Dell opera del duomo, Battistero, and cripa. In the Museo dell we climbed the winding steps to the top of the building and wow what a view from there! The steps made me dizzy but I kept going! There were not too many! ha! Dont miss Siena! We took a double decker bus back. Caught the bus back the same place we picked it up Piaza Gramasci and then picked the bus up in area 3. On the way to Siena was passed a field of RED Poppies!!!!!!!!!

Sunday - We actually went to mass! The 10:30 mass has a choir at the Duomo. Thanks for the tip our hotel gave us. After mass, we walked to the Boboli gardens. What a beautiful place! I really enjoyed it. At the top was a terrace filled with beautiful pink peonies! We walked through all the gardens and came out at the Palazzo Pitti. There are sculptures all throughout the gardens. Just beautiful! Some are very different! I will leave it at that! ha!

To be continued or maybe not if no one is reading these!

We're reading- honest. :) Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Was this your first trip to Italy?

I, too, loved my Context Rome tour. Did you have good results with them? Sounds like you took more than one. :)

I'm reading your report - keep going, it's a good read.

Yay! Someone is reading these!!!!!!!!

Yes, it was our first trip. We took 3 tours with them in Rome because our stay there was short and I used their airport pickup service too!

I am sure reading your wonderful trip report, Natbug, and enjoyng every sentence especially because I have spent so much time in Rome but even more in Florence as I have several dear Italians friends that are residents of Florence! So please share more of your time in Italy with us. Your trip report makes me wish I was again there but I will live it through your words! P.S. Inspite of all the time I have spent in Italy over the decades I have never been to Siena for some reason but I have been to so many out of the way small towns so I guess it all equals out. I must get to Siena however.

I'm definitely reading! :)

Any names of restaurants or gelato stores that you liked is appreciated. My Mom and I are going in August and I've bragged up how excellent real gelato is. :)

Another tip re gelato that may or may not be true. We were told to only buy gelato that was in metal containers as the gelato in plastic containers had probably been commercially made elsewhere.

Iowa_Redhead if you go to Florence, avoid the gelato places near the Ponte de Vecchio as the prices there are outrageous!! There are plenty of other places in Florence that are just as good and much, much cheaper.

Glad to hear about the Context Tours, I know they are highly recommended if a little more expensive than some others.

REALLY appreciate the Gelato tips!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you get in touch with the context tour in your country of origin or once you were there ? And did you book all your museum tickets before you embarked or is it possible to do it while you are there ?

We are a family of four and travelling through Europe next week. In Rome for four nights, Florence three nights and then driving to Cinque Terre region through Pisa. Three nights in Cinque terre and then a flight from Milan to Prague. Another three days there , then to Munich for two nights.

Any suggestions ? Have two teenage boys with us,

thanks,

nishi.

I booked everything over the internet a few months in advance. Context tours has a web site. The museum has a web site too but it takes a few days to get confirmations back from the museums. The museums do have phone reservations. I just felt better getting an email back to present to the window.

With two teenage boys, they might be better exploring without an adult tour group. Just my opinion. There were times during the tours we just stood and listened for a long time to the historian.

For museums in Florence
http://www.firenzemusei.it/00_englis...izi/index.html


www.contexttravel.com
U.S. office - 1-215-392-0303
Italy office - 39 - 06-976 25 204

safe travels!

I heard back from my Context tour guide today.

The gelato shop we visited in Rome was Alberto Pica located at:

Alberto Pica
located Via della Seggiloa 12 (area:Largo Argentina/Campo dei Fiorni)

Area - Largo Argentina -

Natbug, thank you for finding that address! I'll definitely remember your tip that the best gelato is off the beaten path.


"Really Mom, we're not hopelessly lost, we're finding the best gelato!" Think she'll believe me? ;)

Natbug, I'm really enjoying your report and am looking forward to more. :)

Hey nishilal - and everybody else wanting to experience Florence. I took different tours with the "Walking Tours of Florence" and both times it was the most amazing experience! I can't recommend them enough. You can find them here: http://www.italy.artviva.com/locatio..._tuscany_italy.