willowjane

I have looked and looked at so many trip reports and used so much advice from so many of you. For the first time we are taking train travel only and not renting a car - thanks to KY bourbon especially for train tips!

We are: me, my sweet mother (72) my DH and our dear friends. A group of 5.
Any advice to the trip itinerary would be appreciated. I know we are probably missing some major sights but I am trying to balance activity level and interests with "must sees". Please let me know what I have missed!

We are really just stopping overnight in Florence for our dear friends to see David - we have been before and I know we are missing a lot!
May 31st – Friday Arrive in Florence –-3:45pm arrival, Hotel Monna Lisa, walk to see Duomo and possibly a return to the Uffizi just to see Botticcelli
June 1 – Saturday - Florence - David at 11:30
*Depart for Rome at 3:05

June 1 – Saturday - Rome – arrive at 4:30, check in to apartment - in Trastevere, shop, eat dinner in area - perhaps walk into central Rome but I think we will be tired.

June 2 - Sunday - Rome – Spanish Steps area, Trevi Fountain, Borghese Gallery and Gardens booked for 3:00pm

June 3 –Monday - Rome – 9am Scavi tour (booked), Walks of Italy 2:00pm (booked) Sistine, Vatican and into St. Peter’s. Not sure how tired we will be, could stroll the Centro Storico area – Piazza Novanna to Piazza della rotundo to the Trevi Fountain

June 4- Tuesday-Rome –9am, private tour - Marti Marcilli – Colosseum/ Forum/Palatine Hill 4 hours
Lunch In the afternoon we could go to the Capitoline museum and go to the rooftop café for lunch? after that: Palazzo Doria Pamphilj

June 5th –Wednesday - Rome – Pantheon and Castel St. Angelo, Walk over - pass by Palazzo Gaddi , Santa Maria Sopra Minerva , Piazza Novana

June 6th –Thursday - Rome – Depart to Venice at 10:55 am
June 6th –Thursday - Venice, arrive at 2:35 , get the 72 hour pass
La Fenice Opera House – self guided tour if time permits and possible
St. Mark’s in evening for music and wine, Café Florian

June 7th – Friday – 9:30am private tour - Monica Bittante tour (booked) 3hrs – she will come and get us at apt.
Visit Peggy Guggenheim modern art museum, take vaporetto up and down grand canal, Ca’ Rezzonico (great views of the canal), Gondola Ride in the evening

June 8th – Saturday – Islands, Torcello, Burano, Murano
Restaurant is "Da Romano" in Burana 1pm reseravation

June 9th –Sunday - Leave at 10:50 pm for Stresa - we will take local train to Lake Stresa and then taxi in to hotel (la Luna nel Porto in Stresa) , enjoy and relax a little on the terrace, walk the area
Al Buscion – wine bar with good snacks as well

June 10th – Monday – Borromeo Islands (Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori, etc)) , Ferry Ride to Villa Taranto
June 11th – Tuesday – Locarno (train trip) – train up and ferry back – most of the day

June 12th – Wednesday – Cable car up to Monta Mottorone, Isola madra

June 13th – Thursday – Local islands, Grand Hotel, etc.. Hit any little local island that we didn’t get covered and relax.

June 14th – Friday – return to the States.

bobthenavigator

I love it---can I tag along?

willowjane

Oh Bob! If you only knew how you basically planned our last trip to Italy in 2007! We did you wagon wheel suggestion (Sienna area as base) and you were so kind to send an email with lots of details. We would never have thought of the towns and suggestions you gave us. It was our first glimpse of the Lake district which we think is the most beautiful place on the planet. We had the best trip ever and made memories that will last a lifetime! We would take you with us in a red hot minute!!

neckervd

I suppose you know that you reach Stresa only 20 min later if you leave Venice SL at 11.50. Fastest afternoon connection: Venice SL dp 14.20 - Stresa ar 18.20

Hotel Residence La Luna is about 1 km from Stresa railway station and very close to the boat's pier.
Easiest way to go to Locarno: boat up to Intra, then bus to Brissago and Locarno
or
direct boat or direct catamaran from Stresa up to Locarno
http://www.navlaghi.it/file/PDF_orar...estate2013.pdf
http://www.vcoinbus.it/cagnoli/vco_t...a_brissago.pdf
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadm...013/62.316.pdf
http://www.navigazionelagodorta.it/e..._and_fares.php
http://www.lagomaggioreexpress.com/P...e/Eng/15_e.pdf

willowjane

Neckervd, thank you so much for the advice on the train travel and on the trip to Locarno! The links are great!

stevewith

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I'm a little concerned that with 5 people, you won't be able to move around with luggage in a single taxi. You can always take two taxis, but on June 1, are you planning to leave your bags at your hotel while you see David and eat lunch and then take a taxi to the station? That seems to me the best way to make sure that tight timing works. However, you may need to ask your hotel to arrange for a larger, van sized taxi to pick you up at a specified time since you'll have all your stuff.

As for June 3, I wouldn't plan anything for after those walking tours. It sounds like a lot of walking.

The one time I ate at the terrace cafe in the Capitoline Museum it was off hours, so I had a sandwich. But I didn't have the impression they serve full meals -- but I could be wrong. After the morning you've outlned, I would want a full meal.

Is there a special draw to going to the Doria Pamphilj for your group? It's a marvelous museum, but it is hard to absorb all this art unless people have an unusual pre-existing appetite for Italian art history -- which might describe your group to a T! I don't know. Just pointing that out. Most people getting around to going their 9th visit to Rome.

You'll see Castel Sant'Angelo on the day you are at St Peter's. (I'm guessing you already know this, but the piazza della Rotunda is right in front of the Pantheon, and you've got the piazza Navona listed twice. You MUST see the Pantheon during daylight hours, but you could see the Trevi in the evening; likewise the piazza Navona).

As for Venice, I think the Peggy Guggenheim is a real letdown, except for the terrace view of the Grand Canal, but you are already going to the Ca'Rezzonico for that and taking a boat trip down the Grand Canal. But maybe you all have a special reason for wanting to go inside and see the collection, which is not all that great.

Maybe it's just a typo, but Isola Madre is part of the same ferry circuit as the other Borromean islands.

If you are staying in Trastevere, walking to the Jewish Ghetto across the river and eating there for dinner can be incredibly atmospheric, especially around the Portico d'Ottavia. But you should plan to do that on a day when you haven't already been walking for miles. Even though it is not far from Trastevere, you will have a rebellion on your hands I suspect if you ask people who have been marching all through centuries most of the day to walk half a mile to dinner. Your Wedsnesday in Rome is fairly light, so maybe you could do it then.

willowjane

Stevewith: Thank you so much for your advice and comments! This type of information is exactly what I was looking for. We do plan on taking 2 taxis, or trying to schedule something larger.

Thank you for the information about lunch at the Capitoline museum! I will look for something in the area that is more like a "real" lunch! Any suggestions in the area?

I thought June 3rd seemed packed as well, so I will leave some free time there.

There is a reason for Doria Pamphilj - specifically for some artwork and sculptures for one in our group and he hasn't asked for anything else.

I will make the adjustment for the Pantheon - I was kind of throwing Trevi and Piazzona Novana in where I could think it would work. Just hoping we could wander by as we went about our days.
Venice - do you think the Guggenheim is a letdown because you don't like modern art or do you think the museum is a letdown? Just curious. I was thinking the Ca' Rezzonico for the view and the Guggenheim for the modern art lovers in the group (not all would do this visit).

We have been to Stresa before and stayed on Isla Pescatori and had the best time with the ferries and all the islands. It was a typo about Madre. We did not have the opportunity to do the trip to Locarno (train versus ferry) so any tips about that are appreciated.

Again, I really appreciate your time and advice. I will make good use of it!

stevewith

I suspected there might be a special request for the Doria Pamphilj, so of course it makes sense.

I am interseted in the work of Max Ernst, so I was keen on seeing the Peggy Guggenheim. I enjoy modern art and enjoy seeking it out in Venice and other places in Italy. But I felt the museum is arranged in a very uninteresting way. It probably didnàt help that it was a humid day, and either the air conditioning wasn't working or they don't have it. I was also disappointed in their cafe lunch, which I had been pointed to as good. It wasn't.

But the museum is not large and if some in your group have a curioisity to see it, why not go, I think. If they are bored, a quick look see will suffice and it is in an interesting neighborhood with art galleries around.

I wish I could offer an alternative to the Capitoline cafe, but I can't. You should double check about what the cafe serves, because they might serve a full lunch menu. The space if very lovely, so if it is a nice day, it would be a nice break.

Mimar

I looked at the Peggy Guggenheim less as an art museum and more as a private house with an interesting collection of modern art, now open to the public. I loved the porch on the Grand Canal and envied Peggy her house.

willowjane

Thank you all so much! I really do value your input.

stevewith

I felt that Peggy was nowhere to be found in the house they turned into a gallery museum. I wished they had left the house as it was, with the artwork where she had placed it.

But your friends can be the ultimate judges!

One more thought about the caffe at the Capitoline: You might ask your friends if they would mind a lunch of sandwiches and salads, and dessert and coffee. You can always order extra food for the table and split it as needed. I say that because the terrace is really spectacular, and it is very convenient to your itinerary that day. If everybody is signed on to the idea that it will be somewhat pedestrian-museum-caffeteria food, but a great place to relax, see the view of Rome, catch a breeze and linger over wine and coffee until it is time to head off to the next museum, then you can find enough food/fuel there to keep you going.

But also have a plan B restaurant in case the day is windy/rainy or some folks vote for a serious meal.

tuscanlifeedit

willowjane, you're so nice. I love the way you respond to the other posters. Thank you.

I agree that the Capitoline cafe is well worth a visit if the weather is nice. Three of us had breakfast there, and although I don't remember a thing about the food, the atmosphere was stunning. Gorgeous. Truly special. The service was lovely too.

Here is a link to a report on our latest Rome dining experiences, which were very good:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/882066

Leely2

Looks good. June 4 would be too busy for me and I like to pack a lot in. The Capitoline museums, Doria Pamphilj and ancient Rome in one day? Or did you mean the Capitoline just for the terrace and lunch/snacks?

willowjane

Tuscanlifeedit, I am just thankful that you all reply to all my questions! I will read your trip report tonight. June 4th does seem busy, I will rethink some of that day. We were just thinking of Capitoline for the view to be honest with you!