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[Amir0x]

Ok, it's sort of a little while away, but I'm getting an itinerary whipped up for a trip in a half a year and I wanted to know some tips, recommended hot spots and good four or five star dinner recommendations.

The trip will be

3 Days in Rome
1 Day Excursion to Pompeii
3 Days in Florence
1/2 Day Excursion to Tuscany/Moterrigionni
3 Days in Venice

Rail between each city.

I'm looking to spend one night in each city at a really great dinner spot. But I'm also looking for some "authentic Italian experience" tips. I don't just want to be a tourist.

 

[Sickboy007]

So you're coming in summer right? And are the trip stops are definitive? Because 1 day in venice is more than sufficent, unless you're going to the film festival.

 

[Amir0x]

So you're coming in summer right? And are the trip stops are definitive? Because 1 day in venice is more than sufficent, unless you're going to the film festival.

no, not summer. we want to be late September, but if we miss that date (there's some jostling going on) the next date will be April 2012.

The slots themselves are not definitive, but everyone keeps telling me not to RUSH each city so I've been trying to give them all equal share. Is Venice so small?

 

[Sickboy007]

no, not summer. we want to be late September, but if we miss that date (there's some jostling going on) the next date will be April 2012.

The slots themselves are not definitive, but everyone keeps telling me not to RUSH each city so I've been trying to give them all equal share. Is Venice so small?

Venice is beautiful but yes, it's small and there isn't much to do there. Maybe shorten it to 2 days? it's also crazy expensive. The small cities in tuscany like Siena and Lucca are gorgeous, my advice is to sleep in a bed and breakfast in the countryside and explore them by day. Also not to far away, the area around the Bolsena lake between tuscany and latium is also beautiful and full of characteristic little towns built out of tuff. i would add a day more to explore tuscany.

I'd also prefer Ercolano over Pompei, but that's just a personal thing. It's smaller but denser.

 

[Amir0x]

Venice is beautiful but yes, it's small and there isn't much to do there. Maybe shorten it to 2 days? it's also crazy expensive. The small cities in tuscany like Siena and Lucca are gorgeous, my advice is to sleep in a bed and breakfast in the countryside and explore them by day. Also not to far away, the area around the Bolsena lake between tuscany and latium is also beautiful and full of characteristic little towns built out of tuff. i would add a day more to explore tuscany.

I'd also prefer Ercolano over Pompei, but that's just a personal thing. It's smaller but denser.

If we shorten it to two days, one of those days will be somewhat taken off by the near 2 hour rail ride from Florence, then checking into the hotel. Is one and a half day really enough? If it is that's cool, I've always been super excited to see Venice so I didn't want to rush it.*


We were considering Siena, but we didn't want to overextend our budget. The main thing about Pompeii is it's been one of my fiancee's life long dreams to see that fucking volcano ravaged ruin, who knows why. Don't think I could switch that out.



*

Spoiler

Assassin's Creed makes it seem big

 

[Sickboy007]

If we shorten it to two days, one of those days will be somewhat taken off by the near 2 hour rail ride from Florence, then checking into the hotel. Is one and a half day really enough? If it is that's cool, I've always been super excited to see Venice so I didn't want to rush it.*


We were considering Siena, but we didn't want to overextend our budget. The main thing about Pompeii is it's been one of my fiancee's life long dreams to see that fucking volcano ravaged ruin, who knows why. Don't think I could switch that out.



*

Spoiler

Assassin's Creed makes it seem big

I think it's actually bigger in Assassin's Creed
But i guess in the end you'll find plenty of stuff to do even for three days.

I wouldn't drop Siena, if you're going to explore the countryside of tuscany for a couple of days why not just stop in Siena to eat or something, just to see piazza del campo!

Herculaneum is also volcano ravaged if your girlfriend is into that kinky stuff. for some reason it's not as famous but in my opinion is better preserved, better managed and the actual remains are more interesting.

edit: i think we have a sienese gaffer btw

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

- If you go to Pompeii, check out the Lupinarium (sp?) AKA the Ancient Roman deluxe brothel for the discerning gent
- Bring a money belt and carry a decoy wallet containing only your cash for that day
- If someone dressed like a cop asks to see your passport, tell them you'd be happy to show it to them... inside the nearest police station
- Watch out for gypsies in the tourist areas. They'll be the ones handing out roses to unsuspecting women and hitting up their partners for cash.
- Stop by Naples when you go to Pompeii and eat pizza there
- Pizza bianca is basically pizza dough topped with olive oil and herbs - it sounds bland, but it's delicious
- When Italian vendors give you change, they'll put coins in a little tray for you to grab. Thing is, they do this thing to tourists where they'll put only some of your change down and wait a moment to see if you take it without counting it (that way they can pocket the rest). If you call their bluff by not taking the money and standing there a little longer, they'll usually put the rest of your money down after a short delay. If they continue the bluff, say "E il resto?" as indignantly and imperiously as you can. You'll get a look, but you'll also get your money.

 

[Sickboy007]

- If you go to Pompeii, check out the Lupinarium (sp?) AKA the Ancient Roman deluxe brothel for the discerning gent
- Bring a money belt and carry a decoy wallet containing only your cash for that day
- If someone dressed like a cop asks to see your passport, tell them you'd be happy to show it to them... inside the nearest police station
- Watch out for gypsies in the tourist areas. They'll be the ones handing out roses to unsuspecting women and hitting up their partners for cash.
- Stop by Naples when you go to Pompeii and eat pizza there
- Pizza bianca is basically pizza dough topped with olive oil and herbs - it sounds bland, but it's delicious
- When Italian vendors give you change, they'll put coins in a little tray for you to grab. Thing is, they do this thing to tourists where they'll put only some of your change down and wait a moment to see if you take it without counting it (that way they can pocket the rest). If you call their bluff by not taking the money and standing there a little longer, they'll usually put the rest of your money down after a short delay. If they continue the bluff, say "E il resto?" as indignantly and imperiously as you can. You'll get a look, but you'll also get your money.

Or, don't go to Naples so that you don't have to deal with this kind of stuff.

Only thing i can suggest is: don't take taxis in rome because they will rip you off.

 

[Amir0x]

Naples that bad, eh?

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Or, don't go to Naples so that you don't have to deal with this kind of stuff.

Saw more of this in Rome than in Naples, but your own results may vary. Much like the US, the South is the seedy part of Italy.

 

[SolKane]

Skip Venice, go to Ravenna instead.

 

[Sickboy007]

Saw more of this in Rome than in Naples, but your own results may vary. Much like the US, the South is the seedy part of Italy.

I don't know, maybe in rome they target tourists but the only place i felt unsafe as an italian was naples. plus the whole complete disregard of traffic laws disgusts me. the rest of southern italy ain't so bad, puglia for example is a wonderful place to live/go in vacation.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

I don't know, maybe in rome they target tourists but the only place i felt unsafe as an italian was naples. plus the whole complete disregard of traffic laws disgusts me. the rest of southern italy ain't so bad, puglia for example is a wonderful place to live/go in vacation.

Fair enough. I can't go to Italy and blend in as a local, try as I might. Naples was for an afternoon and it felt like the low-level constant danger you're in when you go to a bad part of town whereas in Rome, it was like my wallet was being hunted down by predators with heat vision.

 

[criesofthepast]

Saw more of this in Rome than in Naples, but your own results may vary. Much like the US, the South is the seedy part of Italy.

Boo!!!

Southern Italy >>>Northern italy

Spoiler

Calabrian blood

Most of my time in Italy has been in the Calabria (Cosenza) region so I can't really help too much, Amir0x. Anywhere you go I'm sure you'll have the greatest vacation ever.

 

[Banjoman]

Remember: carbonara is without the cream. And pizza usually is good everywhere.

 

[Sickboy007]

Fair enough. I can't go to Italy and blend in as a local, try as I might. Naples was for an afternoon and it felt like the low-level constant danger you're in when you go to a bad part of town whereas in Rome, it was like my wallet was being hunted down by predators with heat vision.

Just for curiosity, where did you go to in rome?

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

Just for curiosity, where did you go to in rome?

Oh you know:

- Forum / Collosseum / Palatinate
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Trastevere
- Il Tiberino
- The Vatican
- That weird pyramid
- Spanish steps
- The Appian Way / Catacombs

All over, really. I spent about four or five days there and just walked to wherever each day.

 

[zero_suit]

Oh you know:

- Forum / Collosseum / Palatinate
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Trastevere
- Il Tiberino
- The Vatican
- That weird pyramid
- Spanish steps
- The Appian Way / Catacombs

All over, really. I spent about four or five days there and just walked to wherever each day.

What did you think of Rome overall?

 

[Il Piccolo Fiammiferaio]

Skip Venice, go to Ravenna instead.

Don't say bull, please.


Amirox, for a good eating experience the only rule is to avoid restaurants in tourist areas.
Try to explore a little more deeply the cities and you will find whatever you want.
Also, you need to pay attention to your stuff when you are in those huge groups of tourist; don't go around showing off your golden Rolex or waving your money, especially when you are in Naples, where sadly tourists are the ultimate prey of skilled robbers and crooks.
I also recommend, when you are going to visit Naples, to leave your wallet and your money in the hotel safe, bringing with you only a small amount of cash for your shopping.

 

[coldvein]

daaaaamn i wish i was going back to italy. such good memories. TORNO SUBITO ITALIA

 

[Sickboy007]

Oh you know:

- Forum / Collosseum / Palatinate
- Trevi Fountain
- Pantheon
- Trastevere
- Il Tiberino
- The Vatican
- That weird pyramid
- Spanish steps
- The Appian Way / Catacombs

All over, really. I spent about four or five days there and just walked to wherever each day.

wow that must have been exhausting
From what i can imagine, the professional tourist muggers probably amass near the colosseum and in piazza san pietro. the best advice is to avoid gypsies really, for better or worse we have it so ingrained that we automatically steer clear, and normally they don't pester us.
And fuck roman taxists, scum of the earth.

Don't say bull, please.

Ravenna is awesome man, last capital of the western roman empire.

 

[Banjoman]

wow that must have been exhausting
From what i can imagine, the professional tourist muggers probably amass near the colosseum and in piazza san pietro. the best advice is to avoid gypsies really, for better or worse we have it so ingrained that we automatically steer clear, and normally they don't pester us.
And fuck roman taxists, scum of the earth.

Metro is your friend.

 

[SolKane]

Don't say bull, please.

It's good advice. Venice is an open sewer.
And it fits his needs as per the OP.

 

[TheLegendary]

Dont listen to these crazy motherfuckers saying to skip Venice. Maybe there's not as many touristy things to do there but there's so much culture and places to explore that 1 day would not do it justice. Personally I was more interested in soaking up the culture than visiting 100 museums and buildings a day (although I did my share of that as well), and Venice is great for that. Im not exactly a huge traveler but Venice is one of the more unique places to visit and definitely the most memorable place I've been, I wouldnt cut it short.

 

[viciouskillersquirrel]

What did you think of Rome overall?

It was a holiday in and of itself, like going to New York, Paris, Kyoto or Jerusalem. It's not that the place is big, it's just that it's so densely packed with iconic stuff to see and so old that there are layers upon layers that you can peel back and see what's underneath. Fascinating place.

Oh, Amir0x, make sure you see the Museo Burghese when you're in Rome. You have to book ahead of time and it costs a little more than you might pay at a public museum, but it's well worth it. Seeing Bernini's Apollo and Daphne in person is a life-changing experience.

Nero's Domus Aurea is another that you have to book in advance. It'I thought it was mega cool, but might not be worth it if you're not a huge history nut.