Rome, Florence or Venice??

Old Dec 28th, 2003, 11:31 AM
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We went in May, and because I got a great deal on a round-trip flight to Venice, we flew into Venice and immediately took a train to Florence (we were looking for art, not countryside). We then returned for our last week in Venice. The weather everywhere was great. We spent a week in Venice, and wished it could be more. The only complaint was that our return flight was early in the morning, and coupled with the boat ride to the airport, we had to get up very very early.
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Old Dec 28th, 2003, 11:38 AM
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Could someone help with train schedules? Someone gave me a train site but I cannot get it to work.

Looking for travel time/distance from Venice (?Santa Lucia is the train station) to Chiusi (I think). We will be staying at Locanda Amorosa. I believe that is closest, but someone told me there is a train station in Sinalunga.

Is there a web site which lists all train station locations and the name of the station?
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Old Dec 28th, 2003, 01:29 PM
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If you plan to have a car, train to Florence and get it there. Amorosa is only an hour from there. The train to Florence takes less than 3 hours. For Chiusi, you would change trains in Florence and still have a :45 drive.
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Old Dec 28th, 2003, 02:23 PM
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ira
 
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Hi wanderer,

The best site for train schedules everywhere is the German national railway:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

For the Italian rail system this link works:
www.trenitalia.com/en
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Old Dec 28th, 2003, 09:31 PM
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Hi Wanderer,

My wife and I have not yet been to Florence but will go 2004. However, we've been to both Venice & Rome during past 2 yrs. Both are wonderful but Venice takes the vote for first visit. Lots to see. Must take a Gondola ride. Also, Murano is a good visit for the glass blowing. No need for a car!
brgds
BobP
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Old Dec 29th, 2003, 05:30 AM
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Wanderer,

Venice has two train stations. Santa Lucia is out on the islands; Mestre is on the mainland, nearer to the airport. They have a regular shuttle bus from the airport to the Mestre station, although some people recommend taking a cab. We took the bus with no problems.

Fodors has a section on train travel with a lot of links at http://fodors.com/traveltips/traintravel/

For some reason, the Swiss link seems to work best for me. The railpass link also has a section with schedules, but it seems balky, no doubt due to my old computer.

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Old Dec 29th, 2003, 03:21 PM
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<<but love to walk around, love beautiful architecture, good meals, and a sense of romance>>

Venice!! You have to go to Venice. It is without a doubt the most romantic place I have ever been. Mystical. Magical.

It's a wonderful place to walk, it's a maze with treasures at every turn. Beautiful art and architecture.

It's relaxing. Stop at a cafe here and there to take in the scenery and a glass of wine.

I have been to Rome as well, but it is busy - too much to see and do. Although I loved visiting Rome, my feet killed me after two days, I could barely walk by the third day. Again, I love Rome, but found it far from relaxing.
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Old Dec 29th, 2003, 05:19 PM
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I did all three cities in 10 days. If I had to pick one to return to it would be Venice. I have never seen a place so magical and romantic in my life. Every corner you turn presents a new and breath-taking vista. I could have wandered around for days and days.

Rome was amazing and ancient. Florence was interesting. Venice was magnificent.
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Old Dec 29th, 2003, 11:01 PM
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I have looked and looked at hotels - cannot afford E&R, and keep coming back to Londra Palace. Anyone stayed here?

Will we be able to get a feel for Venice with 2 nights?

Bob the Navigator - how difficult driving out of Florence? We are nervous about that, which is why we thought train to Chiusi. If we do train to Chiusi, how far distance (time) from Florence?
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 02:39 AM
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Hi wanderer,

If you go to www.trenitalia.com/en you will find that Florence/Chiusi is 1-2 hrs, depending on the train.
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 05:59 AM
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Take a taxi to the airport for pick up. About :15 and 15E. Much easier than riding a train for almost 2 hours and then driving back for another :45.
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 07:33 AM
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I have not stayed at Londra Palace, but I have stayed at La Calcina. It seems to be a favorite here. It's a nice place and I like the Dosoduro area. We are going in March, but they did not have a room with a view of the Guidecca available, otherwise we would have stayed there again. I think in Venice it is essential to have a canal view. Here is their website: http://www.lacalcina.com/HTML/en/calcina_menu_en.html

This time we will be staying at Locanda Ca Le Vele. There is not much information anywhere that I could find, so we are taking a chance and will post a very detailed review upon our return. We will be staying in their suite with a terrace overlooking a small canal. It is in Cannareggio. Here is their website: http://www.veniceby.com/levele/pages/apart.htm

You won't regret your decision to go to Venice.
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 12:18 PM
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If ROMANCE is what you are looking for - Venice is it! We were there two nights - and it wasnt enough for us. Our next trip will be a week. It is a magnificient place and it truly touches your heart.
Rome was wonderful and I'd love to make a return trip It is a different atmosphere than Venice -- so plan it for another trip (but be sure you do it - you'll love it).
Florence was my least favorite of the three cities - it just didnt press my buttons! Although - DAVID did - and it was worth the trip!
Have a wonderful time - you are going to love Italy!!
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 02:08 PM
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How difficult is it to get out of Florence airport with a car to head to Sinalunga?

We've heard horror stories of people driving round and round not knowing which way is out. Don't care to have that experience in a foreign country with a foreign car!!

Thanks LindyE for the hotel recommendation! Anyone have others? We can't do the high end - someone mentioned Metropole as being "reasonable" and it seemed so when I saw the web site, then I noticed that it said the rates were PER PERSON!! It was @ $700 I think for basic room. We cannot spend more than $400 or so. We would kill for a canal view, but would settle for a nice place with charm and atmosphere, and - maybe there is no place like this - not gaudy over-decorated "grammy" type furnishings - we like the sophisticated comfortable look of Londra and Metropole - that type of decorating is more our style.
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Old Dec 30th, 2003, 03:17 PM
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Forgot to ask - anyone stayed at Hotel Colombina? Looks pretty nice, and was especially interested after reading in Karen Brown guide that one room has it's own rooftop terrace.
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 03:36 AM
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It is really what you want out of the holiday and what you like to do, do you want city or countryside, relaxed or buzzing, balanced with how many tourists are around when you go.

Rome famed amongst many things for the Forum and the Vatican and all its rather off putting gold and glitter. Its a fast city, beautiful and ancient, exhausting but then I do shop and there is Gucci. I'm going in 2 days time for the weekend, I brag.

Florence is the heart of the rennaissance, if you like art its your town you'll be tripping over them (book tickets beforehand or from your hotel the queues are horrendous). For me Tuscany has the best food by far in Italy, contentious I know of me to say, and I always return half a stone heavier but happy. Apart from the artists, there is the Duomo, a thousand churches and monasterries. The countryside is indeed beautiful, rather like England but with just a tad more sun, and emm umm chianti.

Sienna is nearby with its amazing black and white cathedral, its smaller than Florence and more medieval, with lots of bars and delicatessants.

Now to relax San G. with its amazing towers, top food and great villages and vineyards nearby, we had a picnic in the countryside, I can still picture it now bliss.

For me Venice could only have been built by the Italians, beautiful, romantic, ridiculous! I did find the food rather processed, and less fresh tasting but I did go in December or is it the naughty influence of the Austrians? That aside it is the most amazing place on earth, and yes it occassionally floods but very rarely and more so in winter not summer, dont let that put you off.

I'm sure you can tell I love Tuscany, and theres so much to do around Florence. However my sister thinks its average and likes Sorrento much better, so the final decision is yours, but shame on you for only giving this beautiful country 3 days!
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 05:48 AM
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My vote would absolutely be Venice. It is very romantic, extremely unique. The time of year will make a difference though. I was there in early May and loved it but have heard some say that the summer brings about an awful stench and it gets too hot and too crowded. Florence is very pretty but a lot of art! You cant go wrong with Rome, it has the Vatican, Colosseum great places to eat and lots to do but is the farthest away for you.
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 06:24 AM
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The "awful stench" in Venice is a myth. I would imagine that it was started by people who don't travel much, or at least haven't been near the ocean--folks from Iowa and Kanasas perhaps. They think the sea air is a stench, when it's just the sea air.

Like all of Italy, it gets hot in July and August, but not as hot as Florence.
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 08:26 AM
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Could not be more simple--all autostrada until you exit near Sinalunga from A-1.
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Old Jan 3rd, 2004, 08:23 AM
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Dear Wanderer, I just replied to a question you had on the France board and now find your Italy question. We love Italy--our second home-- and know that you, too, will become entranced with Tuscany. Again, I think you might enjoy my website with lots of pictures, recommendations and info. about these areas. http://www.janeandken.com/Italy2003/Italy2003.html
From there you can navigate to the 2001 section also with pictures and information. As far as which city, if you enjoy history then Rome is the place. Florence is wonderful but since you are not into museums that is much of what Florence is, including the cathedrals. It's a hard choice. You will enjoy your trip,
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