First trip to Italy Suggestions Wanted!
Dec 5, 2012, 1:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
First trip to Italy Suggestions Wanted!
Hi all,
I am beginning to plan a trip to Italy for May of 2014 with my fiance. It will be my first time to Italy / Europe.
Looking for suggestions regarding a 10 day trip. We would like to see:
Rome
Cinque Terre
Tuscany
Bologna
Venice
and San Marino
These locations are flexible except for Rome, Venice, and San Marino.
Where do I start in terms of booking? Any website suggestions / vacation packages, etc...?
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
Jeff
I am beginning to plan a trip to Italy for May of 2014 with my fiance. It will be my first time to Italy / Europe.
Looking for suggestions regarding a 10 day trip. We would like to see:
Rome
Cinque Terre
Tuscany
Bologna
Venice
and San Marino
These locations are flexible except for Rome, Venice, and San Marino.
Where do I start in terms of booking? Any website suggestions / vacation packages, etc...?
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
Jeff
Dec 6, 2012, 12:02 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Hi Jeff,
I think you may be trying to pack a touch too much ... so I'd say stick to Rome and Venice perhaps if you must also try a smaller add-on such as Lucca which will also give access to Pisa. We really like Lucca and it will give you a bit of a contrast to the other big cities and give a taste of real Italian life. After dark it reverts to being a walled city and there are loads of really authentic and lovely places to eat. It will be an antidote to all the touristy places you will see elsewhere in your plan.
Obviously Rome is a must ..... and I have a couple of suggestions.
Firstly the greatest relatively unknown gem of Rome is Ostia Antica. You may remember in Gladiator he said "meet me at Ostia ...." If you think of Pompeii without being covered in volcanic ash. It was covered in sand but now you can walk around a Roman city and climb the stairs in what was Roman apartment blocks. You can stand in a complete Roman tavern. You really can soak up the atmosphere of what it was like. It's a short easy train trip from Rome. Just google.
Next, if you like music you must visit Alpheus. It is a club in the commercial district and has several music stages playing lot's. of different types of music. On a recent visit one stage had music from the Andes ... another blues ... another jazz. A great way to get your injection of music.
If you go to the Vatican museum ... queue up 45 minutes before they open. When you get in don't follow the suggested route but go directly to the Cistine Chapel. It will mean you get to be in the chapel for 15 minutes before all the crowds catch you up going the normal route. Wonderful atmosphere. You can pre-book to miss the crowds if you want.
Also if you plan to visit the tourist sites get there as they open .. otherwise you'll be competing with coach trips etc.
Venice is particularly wonderful after dark when the day tourists leave ... it's mysterious and dark .. and as long as you avoid the tourist trap restaurants you can eat authentically. If you do the obligatory Grand Canal vaporetto trip - go the "opposite way" to what the normal tourists do ie north to south rather than south to north.
Enjoy your trip ... but don't ruin it by trying to pack in too much.
I think you may be trying to pack a touch too much ... so I'd say stick to Rome and Venice perhaps if you must also try a smaller add-on such as Lucca which will also give access to Pisa. We really like Lucca and it will give you a bit of a contrast to the other big cities and give a taste of real Italian life. After dark it reverts to being a walled city and there are loads of really authentic and lovely places to eat. It will be an antidote to all the touristy places you will see elsewhere in your plan.
Obviously Rome is a must ..... and I have a couple of suggestions.
Firstly the greatest relatively unknown gem of Rome is Ostia Antica. You may remember in Gladiator he said "meet me at Ostia ...." If you think of Pompeii without being covered in volcanic ash. It was covered in sand but now you can walk around a Roman city and climb the stairs in what was Roman apartment blocks. You can stand in a complete Roman tavern. You really can soak up the atmosphere of what it was like. It's a short easy train trip from Rome. Just google.
Next, if you like music you must visit Alpheus. It is a club in the commercial district and has several music stages playing lot's. of different types of music. On a recent visit one stage had music from the Andes ... another blues ... another jazz. A great way to get your injection of music.
If you go to the Vatican museum ... queue up 45 minutes before they open. When you get in don't follow the suggested route but go directly to the Cistine Chapel. It will mean you get to be in the chapel for 15 minutes before all the crowds catch you up going the normal route. Wonderful atmosphere. You can pre-book to miss the crowds if you want.
Also if you plan to visit the tourist sites get there as they open .. otherwise you'll be competing with coach trips etc.
Venice is particularly wonderful after dark when the day tourists leave ... it's mysterious and dark .. and as long as you avoid the tourist trap restaurants you can eat authentically. If you do the obligatory Grand Canal vaporetto trip - go the "opposite way" to what the normal tourists do ie north to south rather than south to north.
Enjoy your trip ... but don't ruin it by trying to pack in too much.
Last edited by uk1; Dec 6, 2012 at 12:16 am
Dec 6, 2012, 12:57 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
If the op wants to read about Ostia Antica before he decides whether to visit or not then I think you'll find there is a lot of helpful information on the web that can keep him occupied for some time and i'm not clear what you mean by "just ask".
Seemed like a reasonable and helpful suggestion to me and I'm sure if he has questions he will ask ... as he already has done!
Dec 6, 2012, 8:18 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
i presume you have family in san marino. i have been there. it is not special. and if you are lucky, it will only take a whole day. from rome or venice, probably 2 days. are you the person who posted before who had to go to san marino, or is everyone from san marino.
Dec 6, 2012, 9:04 am
#8
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Welcome to Flyertalk, waych955. As we have a dedicated Italy forum, I'm going to move your thread over there so it can get the specialist attention it deserves. Please continue to follow this thread in the Italy forum.
stut
Co-Moderator
Europe Forum
stut
Co-Moderator
Europe Forum
Dec 6, 2012, 12:22 pm
#9
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Given the OP's time constraints, it might only make sense if he/she had a car and was staying in Bologna.
I have been there twice (first time by myself, second time with a Canadian friend who wanted to see it), and both visits were IMO a waste of time. But both times we were driving in from Pesaro, so we were just a few miles away from SM.
Dec 6, 2012, 12:33 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
This is really great info, thanks a ton!!!
Hi Jeff,
I think you may be trying to pack a touch too much ... so I'd say stick to Rome and Venice perhaps if you must also try a smaller add-on such as Lucca which will also give access to Pisa. We really like Lucca and it will give you a bit of a contrast to the other big cities and give a taste of real Italian life. After dark it reverts to being a walled city and there are loads of really authentic and lovely places to eat. It will be an antidote to all the touristy places you will see elsewhere in your plan.
Obviously Rome is a must ..... and I have a couple of suggestions.
Firstly the greatest relatively unknown gem of Rome is Ostia Antica. You may remember in Gladiator he said "meet me at Ostia ...." If you think of Pompeii without being covered in volcanic ash. It was covered in sand but now you can walk around a Roman city and climb the stairs in what was Roman apartment blocks. You can stand in a complete Roman tavern. You really can soak up the atmosphere of what it was like. It's a short easy train trip from Rome. Just google.
Next, if you like music you must visit Alpheus. It is a club in the commercial district and has several music stages playing lot's. of different types of music. On a recent visit one stage had music from the Andes ... another blues ... another jazz. A great way to get your injection of music.
If you go to the Vatican museum ... queue up 45 minutes before they open. When you get in don't follow the suggested route but go directly to the Cistine Chapel. It will mean you get to be in the chapel for 15 minutes before all the crowds catch you up going the normal route. Wonderful atmosphere. You can pre-book to miss the crowds if you want.
Also if you plan to visit the tourist sites get there as they open .. otherwise you'll be competing with coach trips etc.
Venice is particularly wonderful after dark when the day tourists leave ... it's mysterious and dark .. and as long as you avoid the tourist trap restaurants you can eat authentically. If you do the obligatory Grand Canal vaporetto trip - go the "opposite way" to what the normal tourists do ie north to south rather than south to north.
Enjoy your trip ... but don't ruin it by trying to pack in too much.
I think you may be trying to pack a touch too much ... so I'd say stick to Rome and Venice perhaps if you must also try a smaller add-on such as Lucca which will also give access to Pisa. We really like Lucca and it will give you a bit of a contrast to the other big cities and give a taste of real Italian life. After dark it reverts to being a walled city and there are loads of really authentic and lovely places to eat. It will be an antidote to all the touristy places you will see elsewhere in your plan.
Obviously Rome is a must ..... and I have a couple of suggestions.
Firstly the greatest relatively unknown gem of Rome is Ostia Antica. You may remember in Gladiator he said "meet me at Ostia ...." If you think of Pompeii without being covered in volcanic ash. It was covered in sand but now you can walk around a Roman city and climb the stairs in what was Roman apartment blocks. You can stand in a complete Roman tavern. You really can soak up the atmosphere of what it was like. It's a short easy train trip from Rome. Just google.
Next, if you like music you must visit Alpheus. It is a club in the commercial district and has several music stages playing lot's. of different types of music. On a recent visit one stage had music from the Andes ... another blues ... another jazz. A great way to get your injection of music.
If you go to the Vatican museum ... queue up 45 minutes before they open. When you get in don't follow the suggested route but go directly to the Cistine Chapel. It will mean you get to be in the chapel for 15 minutes before all the crowds catch you up going the normal route. Wonderful atmosphere. You can pre-book to miss the crowds if you want.
Also if you plan to visit the tourist sites get there as they open .. otherwise you'll be competing with coach trips etc.
Venice is particularly wonderful after dark when the day tourists leave ... it's mysterious and dark .. and as long as you avoid the tourist trap restaurants you can eat authentically. If you do the obligatory Grand Canal vaporetto trip - go the "opposite way" to what the normal tourists do ie north to south rather than south to north.
Enjoy your trip ... but don't ruin it by trying to pack in too much.
Dec 6, 2012, 1:00 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
I think it's a really good point to not pack too much in. Good call on Lucca and Ostia, will definitely be adding that to the list!
The reason I said San Marino was to get more to the Adriatic side + some of the world's greatest motorcycle racers and race tracks are in and around San Marino.
Anyone been to Pesaro or Rimini? Thoughts?
I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see, objections?
Thanks again all!
Jeff
The reason I said San Marino was to get more to the Adriatic side + some of the world's greatest motorcycle racers and race tracks are in and around San Marino.
Anyone been to Pesaro or Rimini? Thoughts?
I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see, objections?
Thanks again all!
Jeff
Dec 7, 2012, 7:42 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
have you been to a track when no races are scheduled. i have been to a few on the way to somewhere else. there is nothing going on. just a chunk of crooked asphalt, and abunch of billboards.
"I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see," i don't think there is such a place as la grassa. i sort of think it a style of cooking. bologna is a nice place. over the past 20 or so years, the restoration has been phenomenal. the buildings are beautiful. the arcade walks are great. the fish market is not that big. the closed market small. the open market on sat is large. my wife loved it. go after 2pm when the tax collectors are not around and the prices drop. the square is a delight, passa ghatta(sp) is amazing. the food is quite good. i would not make a special trip to go there after the first time.(i attended about 20 trade shows there, and had 40-60 dinners there)
the place is not car friendly(as is most of big city italy).
you might try to arrange a tour of the ducati factory, and do the ducati museum, in bologna. they probably have parking.
"I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see," i don't think there is such a place as la grassa. i sort of think it a style of cooking. bologna is a nice place. over the past 20 or so years, the restoration has been phenomenal. the buildings are beautiful. the arcade walks are great. the fish market is not that big. the closed market small. the open market on sat is large. my wife loved it. go after 2pm when the tax collectors are not around and the prices drop. the square is a delight, passa ghatta(sp) is amazing. the food is quite good. i would not make a special trip to go there after the first time.(i attended about 20 trade shows there, and had 40-60 dinners there)
the place is not car friendly(as is most of big city italy).
you might try to arrange a tour of the ducati factory, and do the ducati museum, in bologna. they probably have parking.
Dec 7, 2012, 2:39 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7
"have you been to a track when no races are scheduled. i have been to a few on the way to somewhere else. there is nothing going on. just a chunk of crooked asphalt, and abunch of billboards.
"I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see," i don't think there is such a place as la grassa. i sort of think it a style of cooking. bologna is a nice place. over the past 20 or so years, the restoration has been phenomenal. the buildings are beautiful. the arcade walks are great. the fish market is not that big. the closed market small. the open market on sat is large. my wife loved it. go after 2pm when the tax collectors are not around and the prices drop. the square is a delight, passa ghatta(sp) is amazing. the food is quite good. i would not make a special trip to go there after the first time.(i attended about 20 trade shows there, and had 40-60 dinners there)"
______
ok, first of all I intend to visit a race track to see a race, I certainly understand the minutia of a race track, thanks for clearing that up. My apologies about referring to Bologna as la grassa, that was a grievous mistake, thanks for rectifying that as well.
Given your obvious expertise where do you suggest going, if not bologna?
"I feel like Bologna "la grassa" is a must see," i don't think there is such a place as la grassa. i sort of think it a style of cooking. bologna is a nice place. over the past 20 or so years, the restoration has been phenomenal. the buildings are beautiful. the arcade walks are great. the fish market is not that big. the closed market small. the open market on sat is large. my wife loved it. go after 2pm when the tax collectors are not around and the prices drop. the square is a delight, passa ghatta(sp) is amazing. the food is quite good. i would not make a special trip to go there after the first time.(i attended about 20 trade shows there, and had 40-60 dinners there)"
______
ok, first of all I intend to visit a race track to see a race, I certainly understand the minutia of a race track, thanks for clearing that up. My apologies about referring to Bologna as la grassa, that was a grievous mistake, thanks for rectifying that as well.
Given your obvious expertise where do you suggest going, if not bologna?
Dec 7, 2012, 3:54 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: AA, UA lowly commoner
Posts: 780
No need to apologize; there's nothing wrong in referring to "Bologna la grassa." Meaning "Bologna the fat," it is indeed a traditional way of referring to the city, based on its rich cuisine. Similarly, Bologna is sometimes called "la dotta" (for its famous university) or even "la rossa" (for its traditionally left-wing politics). Personally, I'm quite fond of the city and have eaten well there, but peoples' tastes differ. It's been a while since my last trip there, and I don't remember the names of the trattorie where I ate. The small food shops in the center of the city can also be quite good.
Dec 7, 2012, 6:55 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Phila, PA
Posts: 891
Here's a guide/blog for Rome @ KatieParla.com. She is a food and travel writer and a great art historian. I have hired her a few times to take me around, as it were/ You don't have to do that, but start reading her blog and take some notes. She has a short varied list of recommended hotels/B&B's as well. Pack comfy walking shoes, although sore feet are a great excuse for stopping for gelato or a coffee!