Anyone been to Italy?

[Volgrad98]

were there many major or minor historic features along that route in some of the smaller places or did you concentrate more on food and such? take into account i am still really trying to just simply grasp all that is in italy and there is so much that i am just trying to take it all in. is it pretty costly to rent a car and drive or is it better to stay the publc transportation route?

Renting a car is definitely costly, especially one with air conditioning, but if you can swing it all the better. If not don't sweat it, the rail system is great and fun as well. You will be able to hit a lot of places using the train. I'm gonna tell you right now, if you are gonna ride the train start learning some Italian. It may just save you from getting on the wrong train, which I did on my first trip there.

As far as towns with historical significance along that route, I didn't hit any. Honestly if I wanted to see the the major historical places, I would stick to the big cities. Venice, Florence, Rome/Vatican City are a must. As someone stated above, two weeks will fly by so if you can get to the smaller towns do it, if not you can't miss out on the biggies.

 

[blupotato]

Renting a car is definitely costly, especially one with air conditioning, but if you can swing it all the better. If not don't sweat it, the rail system is great and fun as well. You will be able to hit a lot of places using the train. I'm gonna tell you right now, if you are gonna ride the train start learning some Italian. It may just save you from getting on the wrong train, which I did on my first trip there.

As far as towns with historical significance along that route, I didn't hit any. Honestly if I wanted to see the the major historical places, I would stick to the big cities. Venice, Florence, Rome/Vatican City are a must. As someone stated above, two weeks will fly by so if you can get to the smaller towns do it, if not you can't miss out on the biggies.

i very much appreciate the suggestions. if you think of anything else than by all means feel free to help me out.

 

[cotton]

Renting a car is definitely costly, especially one with air conditioning, but if you can swing it all the better. If not don't sweat it, the rail system is great and fun as well.

I didn't rent a car, and I didn't miss it. I don't know about exploring the countryside, but Florence is walkable, in Rome a car would be a hindrance, and there is easy rail between the major cities.

i was reading a lot last night that pick pockets are awful in italy. this is one of the things that sort of bugs me about possibly going.

It isn't that bad. Pay attention to what you are doing and blow off the gypsy beggars. I didn't find it any worse than any other major city where crowds congregate.

 

[Vols520]

thanks for sharing, i will look up some info on the gardens. if i go i do want to visit the vatican area for sure, even though i have no catholic ties whatsoever.

You won't be able to visit the papal gardens. We knew a high ranking member of the church who got us hooked up. But nobody really knows about the scavi. U may be able to request a tour, but it's tough.
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[Vols520]

Don't give em any money because they keep hounding u. Be careful on trains or subways.

I got my camera jacked and my buddy got his wallet jacked. We ended up catching the girl who wad about 11.

Definitely a wallet in front pocket country.

QUOTE=cotton;5013742]I didn't rent a car, and I didn't miss it. I don't know about exploring the countryside, but Florence is walkable, in Rome a car would be a hindrance, and there is easy rail between the major cities.



It isn't that bad. Pay attention to what you are doing and blow off the gypsy beggars. I didn't find it any worse than any other major city where crowds congregate.[/QUOTE]
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[tvolsfan]

I've been to Italy and I enjoyed it. Certainly a lot to see.

 

[tvolsfan]

You can spend as much time as you want in Rome. It's crowded and dirty and hot, but there is so much there between empire and church that you will never run out of stuff to see and do.

Agreed. Having spent time in Bombay/Mumbai, I didn't find the bold quite as unbearable as most. That being said, my one bad memory of Rome was one time when we were walking around in 100+ degree weather looking for Circus Maximus, only to realize we had passed it multiple time. Roman history interests me, so I enjoyed all the old buildings and remaining structures of that time. Also, even if you aren't religious, you'll probably enjoy the Vatican.

Florence is terrific.

If you care at all about art, you would love this place. I don't, but I still enjoyed it.

Milan is trendy and hip and, IMHO, a place I would skip.

Didn't get to visit, but would have liked to.

There is nothing in Pisa except the tower and it isn't really that interesting.

Agreed, but I'm glad I saw it.

I have not been to Venice, but I would very much like to go.

It was great to visit.

Also, if your eyes can bear to see a lot of pink, you may enjoy Verona, too. Still trying to remember other places we visited. I really wish I could have visited Pompeii.

 

[Volgrad98]

Blu, just want to add one more thing about using the rail system in Italy. As you know, a rail system has stops so it will still afford you the chance to get off and explore if you want. Also it breaks up the monotony of a long train ride. So for example, if you decided to go from Venice to Naples, you will have option routes that will get you there, some more direct than others. So along the way, you can pick randomly yourself, use a travel brochure, or ask the conductor what's a good stop to explore, again if you want.

And also, make sure you have an outlet converter. You can't plug anything into the wall without frying it if you don't have one over there. OK, I'm done.

 

[vol_in_ar]

sounds fun, did the two teachers speak good english?

they were excellent......
actually kept up with them for a few years...

One's now a principal in San Francisco...

 

[blupotato]

Blu, just want to add one more thing about using the rail system in Italy. As you know, a rail system has stops so it will still afford you the chance to get off and explore if you want. Also it breaks up the monotony of a long train ride. So for example, if you decided to go from Venice to Naples, you will have option routes that will get you there, some more direct than others. So along the way, you can pick randomly yourself, use a travel brochure, or ask the conductor what's a good stop to explore, again if you want.

And also, make sure you have an outlet converter. You can't plug anything into the wall without frying it if you don't have one over there. OK, I'm done.

Thanks for mentioning that. That thought had crossed my mind about the sockets being different and then I forgot all about it. Glad you said that for sure. I would probably stick to the trains and subways. I just don't see the need for a car.

 

[blupotato]

they were excellent......
actually kept up with them for a few years...

One's now a principal in San Francisco...

It is a small world.

 

[droski]

ditto on naples being a craphole.

just went there for my honeymoon. what we did:

3 days rome (could easily have done more days. stayed in the trastevere, local cheap food, can walk to most of the major sites. stayed here: Hotel WRH Trastevere Rome - Official website - Best rate guaranteed cheap but very nice)

tuscany:
orvieto
san gimignano
cortona (loved cortona)
florence (loved it)
make sure to get the bistecca fiorentina

amalfi coast:
pompeii (spectacular. no shade anywhere. be prepared to be pooped by the end. surrounding area is a craphole. i wouldn't even eat lunch there, let alone stay the night, if it can be avoided)
positano (stayed at hotel california, spectacular. expect to pay double for everything if near tourist season. unbelievable place though)
from postitano we took day trips to:
amalfi
capri

I can give you hotel recommendations if you like. Also found my mobile with google maps to be invaluable.

 

[rbroyles]

I've never been to Italy, but I ate at Carabbas and stayed at a Holiday Inn Express the same night.

 

[heartvols]

Maybe someday I will go to Italy.

This is what I want to see:

Trastevere
Capitoline Hill
The Colosseum
Pantheon
The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna
Trevi Fountain
St Peter’s Basilica
The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums
Basilica di San Giovanni

 

[BigPapaVol]

what are some of the smaller towns you would suggest that offer sites to see and explore? i am more than down to avoid some crowds wherever i can.

I spent one of my trips there in and around Anzio, which is a port city on the west, central coast. Area is loaded with sweet seaside villas and the area is chock full of incredible seafood done EYE-talian style. I started looking into it because of the beachhead there and stuck to it because it's just a cool, quaint little fishing village amid some incredible scenery, including mountain villas and the like.

 

[blupotato]

ditto on naples being a craphole.

just went there for my honeymoon. what we did:

3 days rome (could easily have done more days. stayed in the trastevere, local cheap food, can walk to most of the major sites. stayed here: Hotel WRH Trastevere Rome - Official website - Best rate guaranteed cheap but very nice)

tuscany:
orvieto
san gimignano
cortona (loved cortona)
florence (loved it)
make sure to get the bistecca fiorentina

amalfi coast:
pompeii (spectacular. no shade anywhere. be prepared to be pooped by the end. surrounding area is a craphole. i wouldn't even eat lunch there, let alone stay the night, if it can be avoided)
positano (stayed at hotel california, spectacular. expect to pay double for everything if near tourist season. unbelievable place though)
from postitano we took day trips to:
amalfi
capri

I can give you hotel recommendations if you like. Also found my mobile with google maps to be invaluable.

thanks for the ideas and suggestions. do not be surprised if you get a random pm from me somethime about hotels or any other question. thanks again in advance.

 

[blupotato]

I spent one of my trips there in and around Anzio, which is a port city on the west, central coast. Area is loaded with sweet seaside villas and the area is chock full of incredible seafood done EYE-talian style. I started looking into it because of the beachhead there and stuck to it because it's just a cool, quaint little fishing village amid some incredible scenery, including mountain villas and the like.

that sounds wonderful. i will have to do some research.

 

[TennTradition]

Thanks for mentioning that. That thought had crossed my mind about the sockets being different and then I forgot all about it. Glad you said that for sure. I would probably stick to the trains and subways. I just don't see the need for a car.

Just to expand on this...when you go to get sonetging, you'll see both (plug) adapters and (voltage) converters for North America to European. Depending on how many things you will want to plugin simultaneously, you may need several; however, you won't need several of both.

Just buying a plug adapter (cheaper) will work just fine for plugging in any electronic
device that is rated for Europe's 220-240 volt, 50 Hz power. Just look on the device or the cord of what you want to plug in. If it says something like V: 100-240, Hz: 50-60, then this device can be used with no voltage conversion in America or Europe. Just buy a plug adapter so that it will fit in the socket and you are good to go.

On the other hand, some devices will only be rated 110 V/ 60 Hz. If the device or cord doesn't say anything, assume that it falls in this category. In this case, you will need a voltage converter. The voltage converter will have a European male plug and a North American female socket, so you won't need an additional adapter. The downside here is that they are a fair amount more expensive than just the plug adapter. Note that if the device you are running doesn't say it can handle the European voltage/frequency I listed above, it will most likely fry the device if you don't use a converter.

So, think about how many devices you will want to run simultaneously that require conversion and buy only this many converters. You van then pick up a few extra plug adapters for the other items that won't require conversion and that you want to run at the same time, and then you will be good to go.
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[blupotato]

Just to expand on this...when you go to get sonetging, you'll see both (plug) adapters and (voltage) converters for North America to European. Depending on how many things you will want to plugin simultaneously, you may need several; however, you won't need several of both.

Just buying a plug adapter (cheaper) will work just fine for plugging in any electronic
device that is rated for Europe's 220-240 volt, 50 Hz power. Just look on the device or the cord of what you want to plug in. If it says something like V: 100-240, Hz: 50-60, then this device can be used with no voltage conversion in America or Europe. Just buy a plug adapter so that it will fit in the socket and you are good to go.

On the other hand, some devices will only be rated 110 V/ 60 Hz. If the device or cord doesn't say anything, assume that it falls in this category. In this case, you will need a voltage converter. The voltage converter will have a European male plug and a North American female socket, so you won't need an additional adapter. The downside here is that they are a fair amount more expensive than just the plug adapter. Note that if the device you are running doesn't say it can handle the European voltage/frequency I listed above, it will most likely fry the device if you don't use a converter.

So, think about how many devices you will want to run simultaneously that require conversion and buy only this many converters. You van then pick up a few extra plug adapters for the other items that won't require conversion and that you want to run at the same time, and then you will be good to go.
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thanks for that inside info. i appreciate it.

 

[rs16]

Pompeii !!!!!!!!