Where in Italy
 

I'm thinking of taking the family over to Italy Nov/Dec time to see what the Romans did for us, have a sticky beak around Pompeii etc. then go off skiing somewhere - that part doesn't have to be in Italy though.

Never been to Italy before, any recommendations for where to go, stay, see, not to do, to buy or not to buy?.........

Is it worth staying in Rome or just outside the city and where else is worth visiting other than the two places I've mentioned? Will have about three weeks available inc stop overs in KL/HK

Re: Where in Italy
 

Pompeii and Herculaneum are worth a visit. So is Florence if you are an art lover. Avoid Naples, and keep a tight hold on your belongings in Rome- my aunt had her camera stolen. Northern Italy for the Alpine areas is good for skiing, but depends where/when you go.

Leather goods are best to buy.

Re: Where in Italy
 

Nov could be dodgy for skiing in a lot of European locations.

Re: Where in Italy
 

Years ago I had friend that was a multimillionaire. He wanted us to go with him and his wife to Italy. He was a trip planner extraordinaire, so we said you plan it we'll turn up. Well! He planned it alright! Like any one would when money is no object. Best trip I've ever been on. Cost me 7 years to pay off the loan I took out to do the trip - took him about a week to pay it off. And! would do it all again and more in a heart beat.

If you have the cash staying right in the middle of Rome is good. We were 100 yards from the Spanish Steps and it was great as anything we wanted to see in Rome is within walking distance and it was very safe.

I can remember looking at a circular building that was really run down, surrounded by a moat and infested with the toughest looking cats I've ever seen... There was a sign but I couldn't read it... Years later I saw a picture of that building and it turns out it was the oldest tomb in Rome. Can't remember which emperor was buried in it... You miss out on all sorts of things like that when you're as ignorant as I am about Roman History. Next time I go I will hire a 3rd year history student to go around and tell me what I'm looking at. The history spans thousands of years and you need a tour guide to interpret it. I latched onto a couple that had a paid guide for about half hour (before the realized I was shadowing them LOL) and it was invaluable.

Take a small pair of binoculars with you to the Vatican. Off a whim I grabbed a pair from an African fellow selling them on the way and I have to say it was the best $25 I spent that day. Lots that you will see is quite a distance away that being able to zoom in makes a big difference - like the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Siena - climb the tower in the square. Can't remember what it costs but at the time I was feeling stingy and missed out on excellent views and pictures.

Venice was good - I regret not buying the little grappa stills they sell there.

Pompeii was excellent - take your time and explore. That's if you're into to history...

Re: Where in Italy
 

I've hears that Lampedusa is nice at the moment

Re: Where in Italy
 

Just book well in advance and don't expect top of range digs as rather a run on all types of gaffs there at the moment.

Re: Where in Italy
 

I would second the suggestion that a guide in Rome is well worth it. After our walking tour the city took on a new life for me. Do it early in your trip. So many amazing things..."The Forum", the colosseum (when explained it is amazing), castel d'angelo, trevi, churches, piazzas, Vatican city etc etc...Maybe you could do the dan brown tour :)

Re: Where in Italy
 

This is going to be a long one :) I lived in Italy in the mid-90s and was blessed with a GF turned wife, who has a masters degree in history of arts. So we did pretty much all the touristy stuff Italy has to offer, so it may be too much for here, but hey, someone will find different pieces helpful. Much will depend on the time you want to spend there and your route. So. In no particular order:

Milano
Malpensa airport is far from town (up to two hours by taxi). Best way to travel there is by train, you find yourself smack in the middle of the town.
Things to see - the cathedral (get to the roof, the view is wow), La Scala opera house (you can now hear the performance on the square through the loudspeakers if you are too cheap :p according to Euronews channel), Art gallery Brera and Sforzesco castle (see how the local rulers lived. The family was a majour art sponsor and commissioned lots and lots of paintings, depicting biblical stories, with them as participants of the action. One of the family men had a schnozz you wont miss, it's a bit of fun playing where's Waldo in art galleries actually). The Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, if you want to see the actual Last Supper fresco (a real bitch to get to though)
Fashion district - well, spend your kids inheritance away ;) most stores will have a tailor on premises.

Venice - the whole town is a museum in itself. Nuff said. May be getting a really s***ty weather in Nov/Dec and that may include flooding of the, umm, streets. When St. Marco square is flooded it is a really sad sight.

Pisa - The Original Leaning Tower. Not hugely famous for other things, in comparison. Funny factoid - when engineers figured out what to do with the ground waters that were destroying the foundation and reduced the angle of the tower to a safer level, they could actually put it straight up, but the city had objected. Fairly recent story actually.

Genova - one of the oldest (circa 6 century BC) surviving European port towns that kept its appearance. Beatiful little town, just to walk around taking pictures. Best seafood I had in my life ( and I dislike, err, Hate seafood, so it is saying something)

Ravenna - a bit out of the way, famous for its medieval mosaics and a statue of Juliette (of Romeo and Juliette fame) with one tit polished so it hurts to look at. some sort of a good luck charm :)

Napoli - a place to sleep, if you want to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. If you travel by local train to any of these places make sure you figured your transportation for the evening. Local service stops at around 8pm and if you do not know how to call a cab you may find itself in a dire situation. Which is a totally separate point:

- most places, Ex. Rome, Milano, i.e. largest touristy places, shut down about 6pm. or 7. In little places nobody seems to care to respond to anything but Italian. So be prepared. A low-tech phrase book is a must have IMO. Also - taxi call in numbers are (used to be when I lived there anyway) so called numero verde (green numbers) that are free from any phone, including payphones, AND here is a twist - they are different in every place and not necessarily posted around. You also have to impress the operator with an address you want it at :) and ask when it will pick you up. Long (by taxi driver definition) trips out of their usual area will invite a discussion about a some money on top of the fare as well. The further south, the more it tends to happen.

Back on track - Pompeii is to be seen with a tour guide if you want to enjoy it to a maximum. Unfortunately it was being stripped bare for several decades, so what was not completely lost in time is now in Naples museum. Go there *after* having been in Pompeii, it is less shocking to see what it actually was when unearthed and what it is now. But is still shocking. It was the finders-keepers time.

Herculaneum runs theater performances (not sure about Nov/Dec) that uses several excavated houses as a set, with a final scene in the city theater. Used to be run at night. If you are not staying the night locally, good luck getting out of town in the middle of the night. Sear "quanta costa?" into your brain before you go, no matter what the response is, reply "ca**o" with the fingertips of one hand all together and wave this in front of your face. (I am not to be held responsible for any bodily harm resulting out of the conversation) :)))))

Florence/Firenze - too much to describe, may be later

Sienna - beatiful little place about an hour by a local train from Florence (remember 8pm shutoff?). If you are not there for the Palio (a fixed horse race) you miss out on 98% of the fun though. There are two in the year, in Jule and August, but you need an accommodation and, ideally, a window sit on the city square, otherwise you may be staying in the sun for hours - they close access at noon and if you want to pee, I guess you can leave but there is no coming back. Or just do it in the pant pocket of the person in front of you, to learn new swear words from whatever country they happen to be from. A sudden onset of sh*ts just before it all starts will ruin months of careful planning, so a strict diet a day before.... who am I kidding, there is no dieting in Italy, full stop. Anyway, the vendors on the square sell water and ice, so there is no risk of dehydration.

Rome - some other time.

Phew :)