My wife and I are returning to Italy in May. Our trip will last about three weeks with the last week in Rome.Many of you on this site have spent considerable time in Rome and Florence. My questions are: Where are the high level view points to sit and enjoy the sunset in Rome and Florence? Any restaurants, bars,monuments,Etc. My second question of height is: if you only had one staircase to climb in Florence would it be in the Duomo or the belltower...or any other choice? Question 3; are there any similar high points of interest in Rome? Which of these is/are the best twilight/evening spots?
Have enjoyed reading on this site and also
Slow Travelers, can anyone recommend others?

Hi Max,

Take the no. 7 bus from the right hand side of the train station (as you face it's front)up to Fiesole - about 20 min.

Have a bottle of wine and some snacks on the terrace of the Bar Blu and watch the sun set. Have dinner in Fiesole. (Nice restaurants right on the square)

If you go early you can wander the town and see the Etruscan ruins.

There is a lovely restaurant on the top floor of the Eden Hotel that has windows with vistas of Rome in all directions. Several years ago we stayed at the Hotel Elesio which is near the Borghese Gardens. They have a breakfast room that has a magnificent view. We had a room on the top floor that had a fantastic view. The bell man that brought up our luggage opened the door to the very small balcony and gestured to the left--"San Pietro"--then to the right--"Borghese Gardens"--then threw out both arms to embrace the whole city and said, very dramatically "Roma!" It was a great moment and he got a great tip, worth every lira. Hope your experience is as memorable.

Two climbing responses:
1. In Florence, I would recommend climbing to the top of duomo (all 463 steps!) because about halfway up, you get a wonderful closeup view of the dome, which is magnificent. Then, once you get to the top, you've got a wonderful panoramic view of Florence. (In all fairness, however, I must also point out that if you climb the belltower, you get a magnicent view of the dome exterior!)
2. In Rome, go to the top of the cupola at St. Peter's in the Vatican. (Of course, you won't be able to sit and enjoy a glass of wine there, however!)

One thing I'm always amazed at ss the middle-aged Italian women making the climb with you. I'm wearing practical walking shoes and climbing slower and slower the higher we go - they're wearing tight skirts and spike heels and charge up as if they're on level ground - even the tiny circular staircase with the rope handrail at the end.

San Pietro in Montorio has a commanding view of Rome fom the Gianicolo hill, supposedly the site of Saint Peter's crucifixion. In the adjoining courtyard of this church is the charming Il Tempietto, a miniature temple/church designed by Bramante. It can hold about 12 standing people. From San Pietro you can walk down the hill into the homeyTrastevere neighborhood, lots of pleasant strolling and places to eat.

In Rome, have some gelato or a drink at Ciampini across from the Medici Villa on top of the Spanish Steps. Gorgeous view at sunset.

The Vittorio Emmanuele monument is now a sit/sip/view option, after being closed for decades(?)

See http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/27/tr...DROME.html?8td (requires registration, as always, but it's free).

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks for the answers. Had heard that the Hotel Forum and also the Hotel Minerva have roof-top venues, has anyone tried either location? We will have 8 or 9 days in Rome at the end of our trip and still have many of the usual sites to see. If we don't ther's always next time. We really do prefer to see one place well as opposed to the Damn the torpedoes approach.

The restaurants at the top of the Hotel Eden (Spanish Steps) and the Hilton (near the Vatican) have spectacular views.

In Florence go to Piazza Michaelangelo. Great panorama of the entire city. There is a cafe up there to get drinks.