So much to see in Florence and Itay
Sep 13th, 2007, 09:14 AM
#3
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dandj,
Sorry - 2 days in Venice and 2.5 days in Florence. Love architecture and like art and history. Walking a lot doesn't bother me. Since the time in both places is so short, I wantd to maximize the time...
Sorry - 2 days in Venice and 2.5 days in Florence. Love architecture and like art and history. Walking a lot doesn't bother me. Since the time in both places is so short, I wantd to maximize the time...
Sep 13th, 2007, 09:22 AM
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There is, indeed, a lot to see in Florence and Venice, particularly if you love art, architecture, and history! You might check opening hours, consult a map, and plot out a tentative itinerary based on the things you most want to see. Enjoy!
Sep 13th, 2007, 01:02 PM
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Try using the search feature and reading the posts on top things to see as well as suggested itineraries.
You really need to reseach the cities and base your decisions on your own criteria.
These are very short stays for these cities. Perhaps build an itinerary for both and then post and ask for feedback.
Also, the DESTINATIONS tab is a good place to start.
You really need to reseach the cities and base your decisions on your own criteria.
These are very short stays for these cities. Perhaps build an itinerary for both and then post and ask for feedback.
Also, the DESTINATIONS tab is a good place to start.
Sep 13th, 2007, 03:47 PM
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jmjo, I'm assuming you have not been to either place before. I can give you some suggestions, but as the others said, research each city to know all that is available & so you can select what you will most like. Rick Steves tour book (about $10) from local book store is a great resource for advance planning & to take with you.
Also, once you arrive, get lots of info from your front desk staff. However, the maps they will give you will probably not be as good as one you can purchase at home - Barnes & Nobles, a Frey & Brendt map of Venice. Shows vaporetto (water buses) routes & will allow you to get from point A to point B without wasting time - if that is what you want.
Venice - upon returning home, most folks will want to know about San Marco Square (& the pigeons), the San Marco Basillica, & your gondola ride!
1st day -
1. San Marco Basillica - in my opinion, this is a must see site - it is wonderful. don't know your time of year, but in late October 2006, at opening time it only took us about a 5 minute wait in line. You can reserve a tour in advance, no upfront fee, & when you show up, you can then bypass the line if there is one. Note: just before entering the chapel doors, immediately turn right & go up the steep stairs. That is the way to go outside on the upper level - not to be missed. There is also a nice museum up there. I believe it costs a few euros extra - but it is well worth it. http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/eng/index.bsm
2. San Marco Square - Very touristy, but so what - you'll be there anyway! If you are so inclined, you can purchase cheap pigeon feed from a stand & end up with pigeons all over you - makes a great photo!
If you don't mind spending the money, you can have a very expensive (& sometimes not so good) meal while sitting outside. Or, just buy an expensive cup of coffee or soda & sit as long as you like!
3. The Bell Tower in San Marco Square - great photo op.
4. Doge's Palace - just around the corner from San Marco. A wonderful site to experience - the secret tour might interest you. Don't have the website handy, but I'm sure you can find info via the search function on this site.
5. Gondola ride - about 100 euros for 30-40 minute ride in the evening; usually cheaper during the day. Ask your hotel staff, maybe they can arrange a cheaper group ride if you want. A private ride is costly, but how can one return from Venice without experiencing a gondola ride?
6. With what energy you have left, wander, wander, wander! That is the best way to experience Venice. Ask your hotel for directions to whatever shops interest you & explore them.
7. Eating - be sure to try some gelato, of course. Before your trip, search this site for best restaurants.
2nd day - so many things left to see. Some of our favorites are:
1. RIALTO BRIDGE - Can't leave Venice without seeing, photographing, & crossing. Wandering the open-air food market is fun. After crossing the bridge to the opposite side of the Grand Canal from where S.Marco is located.
2. CORRER MUSEUM (one end of S.Marco Sq, opposite the basillica). A favorite of ours. The 11 Euros admission includes admission to the Doge's Palace.
3. CA’ REZZONICO - a favorite of ours.
4. Accademia Museum
5. Walking tour from Rick Steves book; visit a mask shop; visit a glass making shop.
So many places I have not listed, but then you only have 2 days.
We were in Florence in 2005 & don't return on our visits. Others can help you with Florence. But while there, I'm sure you will see the statue of David!
Have a great trip, Julie
Also, once you arrive, get lots of info from your front desk staff. However, the maps they will give you will probably not be as good as one you can purchase at home - Barnes & Nobles, a Frey & Brendt map of Venice. Shows vaporetto (water buses) routes & will allow you to get from point A to point B without wasting time - if that is what you want.
Venice - upon returning home, most folks will want to know about San Marco Square (& the pigeons), the San Marco Basillica, & your gondola ride!
1st day -
1. San Marco Basillica - in my opinion, this is a must see site - it is wonderful. don't know your time of year, but in late October 2006, at opening time it only took us about a 5 minute wait in line. You can reserve a tour in advance, no upfront fee, & when you show up, you can then bypass the line if there is one. Note: just before entering the chapel doors, immediately turn right & go up the steep stairs. That is the way to go outside on the upper level - not to be missed. There is also a nice museum up there. I believe it costs a few euros extra - but it is well worth it. http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/eng/index.bsm
2. San Marco Square - Very touristy, but so what - you'll be there anyway! If you are so inclined, you can purchase cheap pigeon feed from a stand & end up with pigeons all over you - makes a great photo!
If you don't mind spending the money, you can have a very expensive (& sometimes not so good) meal while sitting outside. Or, just buy an expensive cup of coffee or soda & sit as long as you like!
3. The Bell Tower in San Marco Square - great photo op.
4. Doge's Palace - just around the corner from San Marco. A wonderful site to experience - the secret tour might interest you. Don't have the website handy, but I'm sure you can find info via the search function on this site.
5. Gondola ride - about 100 euros for 30-40 minute ride in the evening; usually cheaper during the day. Ask your hotel staff, maybe they can arrange a cheaper group ride if you want. A private ride is costly, but how can one return from Venice without experiencing a gondola ride?
6. With what energy you have left, wander, wander, wander! That is the best way to experience Venice. Ask your hotel for directions to whatever shops interest you & explore them.
7. Eating - be sure to try some gelato, of course. Before your trip, search this site for best restaurants.
2nd day - so many things left to see. Some of our favorites are:
1. RIALTO BRIDGE - Can't leave Venice without seeing, photographing, & crossing. Wandering the open-air food market is fun. After crossing the bridge to the opposite side of the Grand Canal from where S.Marco is located.
2. CORRER MUSEUM (one end of S.Marco Sq, opposite the basillica). A favorite of ours. The 11 Euros admission includes admission to the Doge's Palace.
3. CA’ REZZONICO - a favorite of ours.
4. Accademia Museum
5. Walking tour from Rick Steves book; visit a mask shop; visit a glass making shop.
So many places I have not listed, but then you only have 2 days.
We were in Florence in 2005 & don't return on our visits. Others can help you with Florence. But while there, I'm sure you will see the statue of David!
Have a great trip, Julie
Sep 14th, 2007, 07:20 PM
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Oh, that is sooo funny that you asked me that! I started a riot on here when I said I did not like the food in Italy! Also, we don't eat a big dinner. Our main meal is at lunch. So the following is for lunch.
Don't know what kind of food & price you want, but here were are 2 favorites - both casual & inexpensive.
The little restaurant behind the Naval Museum. Had pasta with meat sauce - very good & they have great pizzas; good size servings; good service; friendly.
We also liked the restaurant in Campo Zulian (next to San Zulian church between Rialto & San Marco - closer to San Marco. Very popular with locals.
Both places have indoor & outdoor seating. Both E8-E12 for lunch.
Don't tell anyone, but we also ran into McDonalds one day for a quick lunch!
Have fun, Julie
Don't know what kind of food & price you want, but here were are 2 favorites - both casual & inexpensive.
The little restaurant behind the Naval Museum. Had pasta with meat sauce - very good & they have great pizzas; good size servings; good service; friendly.
We also liked the restaurant in Campo Zulian (next to San Zulian church between Rialto & San Marco - closer to San Marco. Very popular with locals.
Both places have indoor & outdoor seating. Both E8-E12 for lunch.
Don't tell anyone, but we also ran into McDonalds one day for a quick lunch!
Have fun, Julie
Sep 15th, 2007, 03:34 AM
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Here's what Girlspytravel recommends for Venice: For Venice, you want to see the history of La Serenissima, to get a sense of the Venetian republic at its zenith-to do that, you have to make the Palazzo Ducale your first stop, you'll want to see the astounding Sala dei Maggior Consiglio, with its huge Tintoretto mural on one wall, the portraits of the Doges along the walls (the Doges being the former civil head of authority in Venice) and the incredible frescoed ceiling-this huge hall, one of the largest in the world of its type, was the diplomatic reception area for the Republic during the 15, 16th century. You'll also want to tour the Basilica of San Marco next door, to see its magnficent golden mosaics inside, its frescoes, and to go up inside so you can walk around the outside of the Basilica to see the view.
In any visit to Venice, you'll want to take the vaporetto up and down the Grand Canal to see the magnificent palazzos that line the Grand Canal, but you'll also want to see the inside of one of these gorgeous palazzos as well, to see how the wealthy and titled Venetian families lived during the heyday of the Republic. For that you need to visit the beautiful Ca' Rezzonico on the Grand Canal, with its sumptious decor, and priceless art- works by Canaletto, Titian, and Tintoretto, which shows Venice and Venetians in various centuries, a fascinating pictorial history, as it were, with a lovely garden outside, and a nice little cafe for refreshment. Ca'Rezzonico is a must-see, IMO.
Then, I would suggest getting on the vaporetto, to go over for a visit to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where Benedictine monks have inhabited this island for over 1,000 years, to see their stunning complex of a church built by Andrea Palladio, with its priceless works by Tintoretto, Palma di Giovane, and Titian, its two lovely cloisters, but particularly, to go up in their campanile (bell tower) to see the incomparable views of Venice and the lagoon area-you can see everything from here, it seems-really stunning.
And finally, I would suggest a tour of La Fenice, the exquisite Venetian opera house, to see Venice's present day culture, and I would try to get tickets to a performance so you can experience this opera house and its magnificent acoustics.
www.teatrolafenice.it/index.php
Or, as an alternative, I would get tickets to a performance at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, to a concert or an opera that they regularly present. San Giovanni Evangelista is a stunning building going back several centuries, with murals and paintings by the great Venetian masters Bellini, Carpaccio, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, sculptural work by Mauro Codussi, among others. It is used by the Venetians for cultural presentations, and the President of Italy came for a visit just last week. The vast salon of San Giovanni is where the concerts are held, and it is truly stunning. You can view the salon, and/or purchase tickets for a concert at this website:
In any visit to Venice, you'll want to take the vaporetto up and down the Grand Canal to see the magnificent palazzos that line the Grand Canal, but you'll also want to see the inside of one of these gorgeous palazzos as well, to see how the wealthy and titled Venetian families lived during the heyday of the Republic. For that you need to visit the beautiful Ca' Rezzonico on the Grand Canal, with its sumptious decor, and priceless art- works by Canaletto, Titian, and Tintoretto, which shows Venice and Venetians in various centuries, a fascinating pictorial history, as it were, with a lovely garden outside, and a nice little cafe for refreshment. Ca'Rezzonico is a must-see, IMO.
Then, I would suggest getting on the vaporetto, to go over for a visit to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where Benedictine monks have inhabited this island for over 1,000 years, to see their stunning complex of a church built by Andrea Palladio, with its priceless works by Tintoretto, Palma di Giovane, and Titian, its two lovely cloisters, but particularly, to go up in their campanile (bell tower) to see the incomparable views of Venice and the lagoon area-you can see everything from here, it seems-really stunning.
And finally, I would suggest a tour of La Fenice, the exquisite Venetian opera house, to see Venice's present day culture, and I would try to get tickets to a performance so you can experience this opera house and its magnificent acoustics.
www.teatrolafenice.it/index.php
Or, as an alternative, I would get tickets to a performance at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, to a concert or an opera that they regularly present. San Giovanni Evangelista is a stunning building going back several centuries, with murals and paintings by the great Venetian masters Bellini, Carpaccio, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, sculptural work by Mauro Codussi, among others. It is used by the Venetians for cultural presentations, and the President of Italy came for a visit just last week. The vast salon of San Giovanni is where the concerts are held, and it is truly stunning. You can view the salon, and/or purchase tickets for a concert at this website:
