Trip Report - One Week in Tuscany, Five Days Florence, Two Days Rome
Oct 15th, 2006, 08:15 AM
#22
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SusanP - I actually made a mistake in the first line of my report. It should have read "I am back from 2 glorious weeks in ITALY" (not Rome). I actually only spent a day and a half in Rome and did not have one good meal there. I would be interested in hearing from you, after your return, where you ate and what was good!! Have a great time.
MarciaMarciaMarcia - you are welcome!!
dorkforcemom - you are welcome. It is nice to get such food recommendations from this board, and others, and to implement them.
MarciaMarciaMarcia - you are welcome!!
dorkforcemom - you are welcome. It is nice to get such food recommendations from this board, and others, and to implement them.
Oct 15th, 2006, 09:45 AM
#27
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Hi Flame
We have had multiple meals at Pallotino because we have often stayed at a nearby apartment. The first time there was with the people I was working for, who own the apartment. They are locals and so introduced us the restaurant.
Lardo di Colonnata is a specialty from northern Tuscany. Here is an article I wrote about it when I was doing the newsletter:
http://www.florencevillas.com/newsletter/nl_27.htm
We have had multiple meals at Pallotino because we have often stayed at a nearby apartment. The first time there was with the people I was working for, who own the apartment. They are locals and so introduced us the restaurant.
Lardo di Colonnata is a specialty from northern Tuscany. Here is an article I wrote about it when I was doing the newsletter:
http://www.florencevillas.com/newsletter/nl_27.htm
Oct 15th, 2006, 11:57 AM
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Flame, I did realize you were only in Rome for two days. Too bad you didn't have good meals there! I've had wonderful food in Rome, as well as elsewhere in Italy. I will certainly report back after Christmas, as I have a few new ones on my list, but you can see where I had great meals in my previous trip reports:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687434
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34780400
Enjoy!
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687434
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34780400
Enjoy!
Oct 15th, 2006, 03:18 PM
#30
Nice reporting! Was there much language difficulty in the country areas?
You mention pinci as a unique local pasta. Could you describe it?
You had some great and some not-so-great meals. Any difference in cost?
Speaking of cost, could you give us some idea of the prices of your recommended hotels and restaurants?
Thanks!
You mention pinci as a unique local pasta. Could you describe it?
You had some great and some not-so-great meals. Any difference in cost?
Speaking of cost, could you give us some idea of the prices of your recommended hotels and restaurants?
Thanks!
Oct 15th, 2006, 07:46 PM
#31
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SusanP - thanks!! Will remember to take your list next time. I basically decided to "wing it" in Rome, as opposed to more careful planning and reading about the Tuscany area. Also thought I would have computer access while in Rome to check out these boards, etc. Turned out I did not so that was the problem as well. Oh well.......
AJPeabody - certainly. There is no language difficulty anywhere in Italy, for me, for two reasons. First of all, I know basic Italian, not much, but enough to get me by. And second, the Italians are so friendly and easy-going that they are willing to explain to you even in "feet" language to help you. If you show willingness to try and speak just a few words in their language, you have them. I have never been disappointed in their generosity or helpfulness. Obviously in the small towns, they know much less of any other language than in the big cities, but I did not find it a problem at all.
Pinci looks basically like a fat spaghetti. It is handmade and delicious.
Meal costs - they were not always proportionate to what we paid. At Tre Scalini for instance, we paid pretty exorbitant prices for what we ate, but it was good food and drink and we knew that we were paying for the famous name and for sitting in the famous Piazza Navona. At Pallotino we paid almost nothing for a fabulous meal. In most of the Tuscany area where we spent the first week, the meals were delicious, homemade and not terribly expensive, say about 15-18 Euros per person, depending of course on what we had. When ordering the bistecca fiorentina, it cost us about 45 Euros just for the piece of meat. But it was huge and enough to share for three people.
Prices of our hotels : hotel dei Capitani in Montalcino was 103 Euros for double, 88 for single. Casci in Firenze was 150 for double but got 10% discount to 135 Euros for paying in cash. Best B&B in Rome was 130 Euros for double. All included large and varied breakfasts.
AJPeabody - certainly. There is no language difficulty anywhere in Italy, for me, for two reasons. First of all, I know basic Italian, not much, but enough to get me by. And second, the Italians are so friendly and easy-going that they are willing to explain to you even in "feet" language to help you. If you show willingness to try and speak just a few words in their language, you have them. I have never been disappointed in their generosity or helpfulness. Obviously in the small towns, they know much less of any other language than in the big cities, but I did not find it a problem at all.
Pinci looks basically like a fat spaghetti. It is handmade and delicious.
Meal costs - they were not always proportionate to what we paid. At Tre Scalini for instance, we paid pretty exorbitant prices for what we ate, but it was good food and drink and we knew that we were paying for the famous name and for sitting in the famous Piazza Navona. At Pallotino we paid almost nothing for a fabulous meal. In most of the Tuscany area where we spent the first week, the meals were delicious, homemade and not terribly expensive, say about 15-18 Euros per person, depending of course on what we had. When ordering the bistecca fiorentina, it cost us about 45 Euros just for the piece of meat. But it was huge and enough to share for three people.
Prices of our hotels : hotel dei Capitani in Montalcino was 103 Euros for double, 88 for single. Casci in Firenze was 150 for double but got 10% discount to 135 Euros for paying in cash. Best B&B in Rome was 130 Euros for double. All included large and varied breakfasts.
Oct 17th, 2006, 09:09 PM
#32
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Thanks for the great report and tips. I'm leaving for Rome, Montepulciano & Florence in a couple weeks, so I marked down several of your suggestions. Thanks for the tip about getting Uffizi tickets across the street. Already have reservations, so good to know!
Oct 17th, 2006, 11:45 PM
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kcitalia10 - your are most welcome. Hope you have at least as good a trip as we did. As for the tip about getting Uffizi tickets across the street, don't know what you are talking about!! Maybe you mixed me up with someone else that wrote about that? My husband had Paolo at the Hotel Casci order the ticket for him the day before and he just went to the Uffizi and got it at the designated time.
rbny - your are welcome. Great choice in Hotel Casci. We love it, every time. Hope you will too.
rbny - your are welcome. Great choice in Hotel Casci. We love it, every time. Hope you will too.
Oct 18th, 2006, 06:23 AM
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samsmom - welcome. I would be interested to hear how your trip was during February. Have never been during that time and wonder how the weather will be. Have a great time and do post when you return please.
Oct 18th, 2006, 10:52 AM
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Flame123, yes, I realized later that the Uffizi tip was on another trip report thread. That's what happens when I stay up too late reading these addicting reports! Sorry. I still thoroughly enjoyed your report and wrote down several tips. Now I've got to try Trat. Pallottino (hopefully we'll find it). I'm also going to start another thread w/ some shopping questions, so maybe you can help.
Oct 18th, 2006, 11:22 AM
#38
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kcitalia - I saw your shopping thread before I looked at mine and I did answer you. Hope it helped.
We happened upon Pallotino, but if you ask anyone where the Vivoli gelato is, I think they will know and it is right next door!!
We happened upon Pallotino, but if you ask anyone where the Vivoli gelato is, I think they will know and it is right next door!!
Oct 26th, 2006, 05:23 AM
#39
Hi Flame 123 - Very much enjoyed your trip report. Have your read Vanilla Beans and Brodo? The author often mentions Gropolo Blu. She is good friends with the owner who sounds pretty neat. We were there for a few hours 3 weeks' ago and we could not find it.
Oct 26th, 2006, 01:33 PM
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Micheline - glad you enjoyed my report. Actually I had not managed to get a copy of Vanilla Beans and Brodo before our trip and was kinda disappointed about that. Now that our trip is over, I would like even more to read the book. I guess I will get a copy eventually.
I know it is moot for now, but Grappolo Blu is on Via Mazzini if I remember correctly, which is THE street for most of the hotels, restaurants, etc. I am sure anyone local can tell you where it is.
I know it is moot for now, but Grappolo Blu is on Via Mazzini if I remember correctly, which is THE street for most of the hotels, restaurants, etc. I am sure anyone local can tell you where it is.
