Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Walking Tours of Venice, Florence and Rome.

It doesn't look too bad actually. If anyone wants the Word doc. I can send it via e-mail because it is formated as I described above.

Walking Tours of Venezia

This isn’t part of the walking tour, but if you look at a map of Venice, there is a street directly behind Piazza San Marco named Calle dei Fabbri, which is a direct/straight walk out to the Rialto Bridge and vise versa. The name changes to Calle Bembo as you approach the Rialto Bridge.

ITINERARY 1:
Piazza San Marco—Between the piazza and the water on the left is a park called the Giardinetti Ex-Reali (Royal Gardens). It is easy to spot on your map, and there is no entrance fee. The gardens have benches that face the water and you can sit down, rest your feet while watching the gondolieri pass by. The famous Harry’s Bar is located adjacent to the gardens at 1323 Calle Valleresso (unpretentious). Over-the-top prices, snooty, but one of those things you should at least pass by when you are in Venice. They serve the famous “Bellini” cocktail. Go back into the Piazza San Marco, facing the water, and on your left is the Libreria Marciana and on your right, the Doge’s Palace. Past the Belltower, and the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) in Piazza San Marco is the Basilica flanked by long buildings, the Procuratie Nuove.

ITINERARY 2:
Start from Piazza San Marco. Take the Mercerie, the picturesque street that passes beneath the Torre dell’Orologio, continue to Campo San Bartolomeo and from there to the Church of San Giovanni Crisotomo on the street of the same name which branches off the square. Turn right beyond the church into Salizzada San Canciano that leads into Campo Santa Maria Nova. Cross the Rio dei Miracoli on the right to reach the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli.

Retrace your steps to the square and go right along Calle Gallina until you come to Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo with the Church of SS Giovanni e Paolo and the Scuola of San Marco. Taking the street along the church’s right hand side, proceed to Barbaria delle Tole, and make a right on Calle Lunga that leads into Campo Santa Maria Formosa and the church of the same name. Just beyond it is the Campiello Querini-Stampalia with an important painting museum, the Pinacoteca Querni-Stampalia.

ITINERARY 3:
Starting from the south side of the Doge’s Palace (facing the water), cross the Ponte di Paglia. On your left you pass the famous Bridge of Sighs. Continue along the water front (Rive degli Schiavoni) and turn left at the second calle to reach the Church of San Zaccaria. Then, passing Rio Sant’Antonin, proceed to Campo Bandiera e Moro, cross the square, and take Salizzada Sant’Antonin. Continue along the water to the Scuola of San Giorgio degli Schiavoni on Calle Furlani.

Again, continuing along Riva degli Schiavoni (that changes names several times), you soon come to the Aresnale and Museo Navale. Walking on, you pass a park (on which grounds the Viennale is held), whereas if you take Via Garibaldi on your left, you reach Isola di San Pietro.

ITINERARY 4:
Begin in Campo San Bartolomeo, cross the Rialto Bridge, and take Ruga degli Orefici, Venice’s main open-air marketplace. Ruga Vecchia on the left leads to Campo San Polo with the Church of San Polo on the southwest side. Make a right into Calle dei Saoneri, then a left into Rio Terrà, cross the canal and you come out at the Church of the Frari. Beyond the Frari are the Scuola and Church of San Rocco.

Continue along the left (west) side of the church, cross the Frecada Canal, take the Crosera San Pantalon on the left and then Calle Larga Foscari on the right to reach Ca’ Foscari. Then, take Fondamenta Rezzonico that leads to Palazzo Rezzonico (Museo del Settecento Veneziano) on your left.

ITINERARY 5:
Start at the Ponte dell’Accademia on the Grand Canal. On the square is the Accademia. Take Rio San Vito, and continue to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Proceeding you reach the Church of Santa Maria della Salute. Return to Rio Terrà Foscarini and continue along the left side of the canal until you come to the Zattere on the Guidecca Canal. Cross the canal by vaporetto to the Isola della Guidecca, and the Church of the Redentore facing into the lagoon. Then take another vaporetto to the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on the island of the same name. From San Giorgio, return to San Marco where you can get a boat to the Islands of San Lazzaro degli Armeni and the Lido from Riva degli Schiavoni.

Walking Tours of Firenze

ITINERARY 1:
After touring the remarkable sights in Piazza del Duomo which includes the Duomo, Baptistry, Giotto’s Belltower, Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, proceed the whole length of one of the major shopping streets leading off it: Via Calzaiuoli, stopping midway for a visit to the Orsanmichele Church. Via Calzaiuoli comes out in Piazza Signorina featuring another cluster of outstanding monuments: Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia della Signoria, Uffizi Gallery.

ITINERARY 2:
From the Piazza San Giovanni side of Piazza del Duomo, take Via Roma, another elegant shopping street. Cross Piazza della Repubblica with its renowned coffee houses and open-air cafes to Via Calimala, which leads to the Straw Market (Loggia del Porcellino). Then proceed down Via Por Santa Maria to the Ponte Vecchio, cross it, and continue down Via Guicciardini until you reach Palazzo Pitti, whose sights include several museums and the “Boboli Gardens.” At the top of the Boboli Gardens there is a café named Kaffeehaus. A street opposite the palace, Sdrucciolo de’Pitti leads to San Spirito. From the square take Via Sant’Agostino and then Via Santa Monica to reach the Carmine Church in the heart of San Frediano, one of the famous historic districts of Firenze.

The Piazzale Michelangelo is further out from this area. The views of Firenze are amazing from the Piazzale. ..definitely worth taking photos. You can take a taxi to the Piazzale, if you can flag one down. Most people take the number 12 or number 13 bus from the train station. The train ride is 25 minutes.

ITINERARY 3:
Take Via Proconsolo (off Piazza del Duomo, north side of the cathedral apse). On the left you will pass Buontalenti’s Palazzo Nonfinito and Giuliano da Maiano’s Palazzo Pazzi, while on the right are two major monuments: The Bargello (Museo Nazionale) on the left and the Badia on the right. Via Proconsolo comes out in Piazza San Firenza: The Baroque façade of the Courthouse is on the left and Sangallo’s Piazza Gondi is on the right. Turn left into Borgo dei Greci, a narrow street that leads into Piazza Santa Croce. Nearby is the Biblioteca Nazionale, one of the most important libraries in Italy.

To get to Michelangelo’s house, Casa Buonarroti, take Via Proconsolo to Via Ghibellina, 70. The casa (museum) is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed on Thursday. Call for reservations to see Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. The Galleria is located at Via Ricasoli, 60.

ITINERARY 4:
Take Via Martelli from Piazza del Duomo (façade side). Turn left on Via dei Gori to reach San Lorenzo (church and marketplace) and the Medici Chapels, or go straight to Piazza San Marco. (Along the way are fine palaces, including the renowned Palazzo Medici at the corner of Via Martelli and Via Cavour). On the square are several notable sights: The Church of San Marco, the San Marco Museum, the University of Firenze campus, and the Accademia (entrance is on Via Ricasoli). Take Via Battisti to Piazza Santissima Annunziata and Spedale degli Innocenti and continue to Via della Colonna (Museo Archeologico).

ITINERARY 5:
Not far from the Santa Maria Novella Station is the Church of Santa Maria Novella on the square of the same name. From Piazza Stazione, take Via Panzani, turning right into Via Rondinelli which continues at Via Tornabuoni. Along the way to the river are Palazzo Strozzi and the Church of Santa Trinita. Cross Ponte Santa Trinita, take Lungarno Guicciardini on the right up to the next bridge, Ponte alla Carraia and cross back to Piazza Goldoni. Here making a left you come to the Church of Ognissanti, while going right into Via dell Vigna Nuova you soon reach Palazzo Rucellai, a famous Early Renaissance palace designed by Leon Battista Albert and Bernardo Rosselino.

Walking Tours of Roma

ITINERARY 1:
The sights on Piazza Venezia are Palazzo Venezia and the Vittoriano. Cross Piazza d’Aracoeli on the right and make the climb to the Campidoglio, the city’s political center. (The sights include the square itself, the Rome city hall the Musei Capitolini, and the Church of Santa Maria d’Aracoeli.) On either side of Palazzo Senatorio are two streets: The one on the right leads to leads to a panoramic terrace overlooking the Roman Forum, while the one of the left descends to the Via dei Fori Imperiali entrance to the Roman Forum. From the Arch of Titus (inside the Forum), you can ascend to the Palantine Hill south of which is the Circus Maximus.
To get to the Bocca di Verità (Mouth of Truth), from Palazzao Senatorio take Via d. Consolazione to Pz. Consolazione and continue straight on V. S. Giovanni.

ITINERARY 2:
Take Via dei Fori Imperiale left of the Vittoriano. A few meters along, opposite Trajan’s Column, are the churches of Santa Maria di Loreto on the left and Santissimo Nome di Maria on the right. After touring the Imperial Forums, enter the church of Santi Cosma e Damiamo (halfway down, on the right), built in 527 in one of the halls of the Pax Forum. Its round-shaped entrance is the so-called Temple of Romulus erected in the 4th Century. The Temple of Venus and Roma is at the end of Via Fori Imperiali. Across the way are two of Rome’s most famous monuments, the Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine.

NOTE: IF YOU CONTINUE PAST THE COLOSSEUM AND THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE, THIS TOUR BRINGS YOU A VERY LONG DISTANCE, PAST THE ROMA TERMINI AND YOU END UP IN AN AREA THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

Then, take Via San Giovanni in Latrano, in the vicinity of which there are two important churches, San Clemente and Santi Quattro Coronati. At the end of the street is the basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano dominating the square of the same name. Proceed to Piazza di Porta San Giovanni and take Viale Carlo Felice to Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and the Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali. Then take Via Eleniana that leads to Piazza di Porta Maggiore and Via Giolitti (remains of a 4th century S.D. building, the so-called Temple of Minerva Medica). Along Via Giolitti is the 17th century Church of Santa Bibiana (inside is a statue by Bernini). Just before the church is an underpass, which you take to the San Lorenzo Gate, and continue along the Via Tiburtina until you reach the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.

ITINERARY 3:
Take the Via Corso, the street running perpendicular to Piazza Venezia. On the left is Palazzo Doria, while a bit further, on the right hand side is the 17th century Church of San Marcello (with a Baroque façade designed by Fontana). Take Via Caravita on the left to reach the Church of San’Ignazio. Further along the Corso is Piazza Colonna, next to which is another square, Piazza Di Montecitorio. Continue to Piazza Di San Lorenzo in Luciana and the church of the same name (THE INTERIOR IS ADORNED WITH BERNINI STATUES AND RENI PAINTINGS), after which you reach Largo Goldoni. Going left on Via Fontanella Borghese brings you to Palazzo Borghese, a 16th century building designed by Vignola and Ponzio, whereas if you take Via Condotti on the right you come to Piazza di Spagna. At the top of the Spanish Steps, go left along Viale Trinità dei Monti (Villa Medici), which changes to Viale G. Annunzio until you reach the Pincio. Descend to Piazza del Popolo, return to the Corso (or you can take via Ripetta from the Pz. Del Popolo), and proceed to the Church of San Carlo al Corso crowned by an immense dome by Pietro da Cortona. Ahead are two major sights: The Mausoleum of Augustus Caesar and the Ara Pacis inside (Altar of Peace). Small animals were sacrificed at the altar. Take a right on Via Tomacelli.

ITINERARY 4:
Starting from Piazza Venezia, take Via del Plebiscito to the Church of Gesù (Jesus). Then take Corso Vittorio Emanuele II that starts by the church and terminates by the bridge of the same name. Right before the bridge is the 18th century Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini (fine interior), and nearby is a charming, well-known old street, Via Giulia. Midway along Via Giulia on the right hand side is Via Sant’Eligio and the Church of Sant’Eligio degli Orefici (interior was designed by Raphael). Proceed until you reach Palazzo Farnese, which looks out on Piazza Farnese off of which is a tiny street: Vicolo dei Venti, leading to Palazzo Spada. Retrace your steps to Piazza Farnese, passing its neighboring square, the charming Campo dei Fiori. Continue to Piazza della Cancelleria, cross the Corso, and reach Piazza Navona by way of Piazza San Pantaleo. Off Piazza Navona are three interesting churches: Santa Maria dell’Anima and Santa Maria della Pace on the left and Sant’Agostino on the right).

Then, take Corso Rinascimento and Via del Salvatore to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Afterward, go down Via Giustiniani until you come to the PANTHEON on Piazza della Rotonda. The Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva stands on the adjoining square of Piazza Della Minerva.

ITINERARY 5:
Take Via Battisti from Piazza Venezia and continue to Piazza Santi Apostali (Palazzo Colonna and the Church of Santi Apostoli). Cross V.S.S. Vaccaro and continue straight ahead on Via San Marcello to Via dell’Umità and turn left on to Via San Vincenzo to reach the TREVI FOUNTAIN. Retrace your steps to Via San Vincenzo and take Via Dataria that leads to Piazza del Quirinale to the four-fountain intersection (Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane). Take Via del Quirinale and turn right onto Via Quattro Fontane and continue along Via Depretis to Piazza dell’Esquilino (on the street to the right, Via Urbana is the Church of Santa Pudenziana with a 4th century mosaic). The square is dominated by the immense bulk of Santa Maria Maggiore’s apse end. On the basilica’s façade side is Via Santa Prassede, along which is the church of the same name.

Returning to Piazza dell’Esquilino, go left onto Via Cavour down which you proceed until you come to a ramp of stairs on the left hand side. Climb the stairs to the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, then proceed along Via Eudossiana, which leads into a tree-lined boulevard, Viale del Monte Oppio. In the Parco Oppio are the ruins of the Trajan’s Bath’s. The road descends to the Domus Aurea (Nero’s Golden House). The Domus Aurea was one of the most fantastic, if vulgar, palaces Rome has ever seen.

ITINERARY 6:
Starting out at Piazza Venezia and Piazza d’Aracoeli, take Via del Teatro di Marcello and then Via Portico d’Ottavia where you find the Portico of Octavia, which is the entrance way to the Church of Sant’Angelo in Pescheria. (Beyond is the fine Baroque Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli designed by Carlo Rainaldi. Beyond the theater, on Piazza Monte Savello, is the Church of San Nicola in Carcere built over the remains of three ancient temples, once standing on the Olitorium Forum.

Cross Ponte Fabricio to the Tiberine Island, then take Ponte Cestio and continue down Via Anicia to Piazza Santa Cecilia in Trastevere and the Church of Santa Cecilia. . Via Anicia ends at Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi. Inside the 17th century Church of San Francesco a Ripa on the square is a fine Bernini statue. A bit farther is the Porta Portese, the site of ROME’S FLEA MARKET EVERY SUNDAY MORNING. Take Via San Francesco a Ripa off the square to Piazza San Callisto and proceed to the adjoining square, Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere and the church of the same name. Then, from Piazza Sant’Edigio, beyond the church, take Via della Scala to Via della Lungara, along which are Palazzo Corsini and the Farnesina Palace, and eventually takes you to the Ponte Vittorio Emanualle. You can retrace your steps to Via Garibaldi that ascends to San Pietro in Montorio and the Giancolo.

ITINERARY 7:
Cross Ponte Vittorio Emanuale, and go right along Lungotevere Vaticano to Castel Sant’Angelo. Then take Via della Conciliazione that brings you right into St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. After touring St. Peter’s, take Via di Porta Angelica, Piazza del Risorgimento and Viale Vaticano. Along the viale is the entrance to the Palazzi Vaticani inside of which are the Vatican Museums the Sistine Chapel and Raphael’s Stanze.

ITINERARY 8:
Take Via del Tritone from Largo Chigi (in the vicinity of Piazza Colonna) to its end point, Piazza Barberini. In the middle of the square is Bernini’s Fontana del Tritone. The entrance to Palazzo Barberini is on Via Quattro Fontane. Continue along Via Barberini to Largo Santa Susanna. At the intersection of Via XX Settembre is the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Then, take Via Orlando to Piazza della Repubblica. On the square is the Church of Santa Maria delgi Angeli, alongside of which is the Museo Nazionale Romano. The Stazione Termini dominates the adjacent Piazza dei Cinquecento. Along the Termini are remains of 4th century B.C. Roman walls, the so-called Mura Serviane. Continue along Via XX Settembre to Porta Pia and then along the Via Nomentana to the Church of Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura and the adjoining Mausoleum of Santa Costanza.

ITINERARY 9:
Take the Via Veneto from Piazza Barberini to Porta Pinciana, which stands at the entrance to the Villa Borghese Park. You reach the Galleria Borghese (museum) by way of the first street on the right, Viale del Museo Borghese. Take Viale dell’Uccelliera to Viale d. Giardino that runs into Viale delle Belle Arti, along which you find the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna and the Museo Nazionale di Ville Giulia.

ITINERARY 10:
From Piazza del Colosseo, take Via Claudia. Turn right into Via di San Paolo della Croce (passing beneath the 1st century B.C. Arch of Dolabella) that leads to the Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Retrace your steps and turn right onto Via della Navicella (churches of Santa Stefano Rotondo and Santa Maria in Dommica) that terminates in Piazza di Porta Metronia. From here, turn right into Via Durso, which leads into Piazzale Numa Pompilio (churches of San Sisto and on the right and Santi Nereo e Achilleo whose façade is adorned with a striking 8th-9th century mosaic). The piazzale overlooks the attractive Porta Capena Park on which grounds you will find the Baths of Caracalla and the 5th century Church of Santa Balgina.

Then take Via di Porta San Sebastiano along which are some interesting Roman ruins, including the Sepulchre of the Scipio, and the Tomb of Pomponius Hylas, as well as the Church of Cesareo. Proceeding until you reach Porta San Sebastiano, the starting point of the Appian Way, along which are the most important Catacombs.

ITINERARY 11:
CIRCULAR WALK FROM PIAZZA SANTA MARIA IN TRASTEVERE:
Start in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. Cross Piazza di San Egidio and turn right. Follow Vicolo del Cinque to Piazza Trilussa and cross the Ponte Sisto., Turn left at Via Giulia, to V.S.F., then a sharp right at Via del Pellegrino to Campo dei Fiori.. The mosaics on the façade of Santa Maria in Trastevere dominate the piazza. Vicolo del Cinque is one of the many tiny old streets in the pretty quarter of Trastevere. Follow Via dei Giubbonari to Piazza B. Carioli and cross Via Arenula into the Jewish Ghetto. The old Jewish Ghetto is Rome’s nicest area in which to wander. Pass the Portico d’Ottavia, fragments of a classical ruin and the Teatro di Marcello, over-built with medieval houses. Return to Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere via Via Arenula, cross over the Ponte Garibaldi, walk down Viale di Trastevere to Sidney Sonnino and finally Via della Lungaretta.