The Italy Thread

[Texzilla58 4731]

If you had 2 1/2 days in Rome and had never been would you spend one of them on a day trip to the Amalfi Coast?

Uhh 2600 years of history and you want to do it in a day and a half? If you want to go to the beach stay home and go to Galveston.

[texasdago 7562]

Kind of like, "I'm going to hit the California coast for a day"  What should I see?  I'm not going to get started... 

 

[VABuckeye 2472]

Nearly four hours each way for a day trip and one that is on treacherous roads for the last part of the drive?  No thank  you.

[rpspeed 1361]

ok, bad idea. Should I mention my thought of doing a daytrip to the dolomites on one of the 4 days we'll be in Venice?

[Biff Tannen 45661]

1 minute ago, rpspeed said:

ok, bad idea. Should I mention my thought of doing a daytrip to the dolomites on one of the 4 days we'll be in Venice?

You could maybe day trip it around Lake Garda, but you probably won't have enough time to get in a good trip to the mountains, IMO.

[Mo Horn 8817]

I totally get wanting to see as much as possible when you're there. We had the same frustration when we were planning our trip last September. In the end, we decided to spend the time on some things, and save the others for another trip. Having gone once, I totally get why some go back year after year. Part of me wants to do that, but another wants to see other places. The world is just too damn big, and interesting, for those who love to travel. I just need to win the lottery. 

[texasdago 7562]

1 hour ago, rpspeed said:

ok, bad idea. Should I mention my thought of doing a daytrip to the dolomites on one of the 4 days we'll be in Venice?

Man, just hang out in Venice and explore off-the-beaten path locations.  If you really want to see another location, go to Padova or maybe go as far as Asolo and visit some wineries.  Or find a way to spend more time in the mountains, not a quick jaunt.  

 

We are going back this summer... we have a "base" for two weeks to mostly spend time at the beach but for the most part, all of our little jaunts and side trips will be within one hour or less.  We'll probably stay at a winery b/w Bologna and Modena for two nights and then our last night will be in Borgo Panigale.  We focus on an area rather than to spread ourselves too thin.

[rpspeed 1361]

2 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Man, just hang out in Venice and explore off-the-beaten path locations.  If you really want to see another location, go to Padova or maybe go as far as Asolo and visit some wineries.  Or find a way to spend more time in the mountains, not a quick jaunt.  

 

We are going back this summer... we have a "base" for two weeks to mostly spend time at the beach but for the most part, all of our little jaunts and side trips will be within one hour or less.  We'll probably stay at a winery b/w Bologna and Modena for two nights and then our last night will be in Borgo Panigale.  We focus on an area rather than to spread ourselves too thin.

Wife really wants to do some wineries in/around Venice, any recommendations? . We have 10 days planned in France and added a week in Italy while we were "in the area".  I have a bad habit of trying to squeeze too much in.

 

Original plan was to take high speed train from Rome to Venice but any thoughts on renting a car one way and stopping in the Tuscany area for a vineyard?

[rpspeed 1361]

1 hour ago, Mo Horn said:

I totally get wanting to see as much as possible when you're there. We had the same frustration when we were planning our trip last September. In the end, we decided to spend the time on some things, and save the others for another trip. Having gone once, I totally get why some go back year after year. Part of me wants to do that, but another wants to see other places. The world is just too damn big, and interesting, for those who love to travel. I just need to win the lottery. 

Yes, I need to balance seeing as much as I can with enjoying where I go lol.

[texasdago 7562]

3 minutes ago, rpspeed said:

Wife really wants to do some wineries in/around Venice, any recommendations? . We have 10 days planned in France and added a week in Italy while we were "in the area".  I have a bad habit of trying to squeeze too much in.

 

Original plan was to take high speed train from Rome to Venice but any thoughts on renting a car one way and stopping in the Tuscany area for a vineyard?

I will tell you Italy is covered with vineyards... everyone says Tuscany but great wine comes out of every region.  You can see some nice wineries north of Venice easily... that's where Prosecco comes from.  Lots of good ones in Veneto (think Valpolicella, Bardolino, etc.) and you'll go through Emilia Romagna to get to Venice... tons of great wineries.  You know what I do?  I use Google Maps and start poking around... I find all kinds of gems that way.  Don't fall in love with the concept of "Tuscany".  It's like assuming good BBQ only comes from Lockhart.

[Mo Horn 8817]

1 minute ago, rpspeed said:

Yes, I need to balance seeing as much as I can with enjoying where I go lol.

We had 6 full days in Tuscany, and one day we just hung at the place we were staying, did laundry, and just chilled. On one hand it killed me, because I had something I wanted to do and see, and we never got there. On the other hand, we were on vacation and it was nice to just sit and read a book... but still. Finding that balance is so hard when time is limited. 

[texasdago 7562]

23 minutes ago, Mo Horn said:

We had 6 full days in Tuscany, and one day we just hung at the place we were staying, did laundry, and just chilled. On one hand it killed me, because I had something I wanted to do and see, and we never got there. On the other hand, we were on vacation and it was nice to just sit and read a book... but still. Finding that balance is so hard when time is limited. 

Funny... I have great memories from relaxing moments like that.  Sitting in an agriturismo across from Gubbio and just hanging out on the lawn and watching rain move in and then watching the cloud clear and the sun come out.   Nothing to do... just chill and enjoy a quiet moment in the Italian countryside.  Millions of people see the sights in ITaly every year.. the same sites... a teeny fraction of them get to enjoy the real moments.

[texasdago 7562]

This was from that moment... 

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by texasdago

[VABuckeye 2472]

57 minutes ago, texasdago said:

We focus on an area rather than to spread ourselves too thin.

Yep.  Italy is a tough cover.  I could spend a year there and scratch the surface of the places I want to explore.

[VABuckeye 2472]

37 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I will tell you Italy is covered with vineyards... everyone says Tuscany but great wine comes out of every region.  You can see some nice wineries north of Venice easily... that's where Prosecco comes from.  Lots of good ones in Veneto (think Valpolicella, Bardolino, etc.) and you'll go through Emilia Romagna to get to Venice... tons of great wineries.  You know what I do?  I use Google Maps and start poking around... I find all kinds of gems that way.  Don't fall in love with the concept of "Tuscany".  It's like assuming good BBQ only comes from Lockhart.

Piednmonte.  

[texasdago 7562]

Not exhaustive but helpful...

[texasdago 7562]

You can also zoom in on this map which has tons of detail to show how wineries are eeeevvverrrywheeerreee...

https://www.delongwine.com/products/wine-map-of-italy

[Gil Bang 25907]

Don't go to Amalfi if you have any issues getting around (physically).  On any given day in Almafi, you will navigate approximately 4,000 stair steps. 

[Hate 20106]

If you are looking g for day trips around Venice, hop in a boat and walk around Murano for a day. Go watch the glass blowers and just stroll through the town. It’s a nice change of pace from Venice which is much busier.

[Biff Tannen 45661]

11 minutes ago, Hate said:

If you are looking g for day trips around Venice, hop in a boat and walk around Murano for a day. Go watch the glass blowers and just stroll through the town. It’s a nice change of pace from Venice which is much busier.

Seconded.  I did this when we got to the Venice airport and our rental car wasn't ready yet.  

[McCroskey 1504]

If you had 2 1/2 days in Rome and had never been would you spend one of them on a day trip to the Amalfi Coast?

Amalfi way too far for a day trip from Rome, as even from Naples it’s pushing it.

Enjoy Roma and what it has to offer, plenty there for that short a time.

[texasdago 7562]

...and if you want to mix it up from Rome but pretty much stay in Rome, go to Ostia Antica, the old Roman seaport.  Usually very quiet and gobs of very cool Roman ruins.

On a side note, just booked two nights at a Ferrari-themed hotel in Maranello since I think the kids will get a kick out of it.  We'll be near Maranello, Modena and the wineries outside of Modena where you can eat like a king at local trattorie.

[Telegraph_it 3357]

22 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Nope.  You can’t do Rome justice in 2.5 days, and you can’t do the Amalfi Coast justice on a day trip.

Agreed. I would skip Rome and go to the countryside. 

[Telegraph_it 3357]

My best advice for Italy is just go and explore. I’ve been 6 times and I am about to go on my 7th trip. Just go. You will experience something new every time and want to go back again. 

[Tonesky 932]

12 hours ago, rpspeed said:

ok, bad idea. Should I mention my thought of doing a daytrip to the dolomites on one of the 4 days we'll be in Venice?

Day trip from Venice that you might pair with a winery - Ravenna.

Edited March 29, 2022 by Tonesky

[Biff Tannen 45661]

46 minutes ago, Telegraph_it said:

My best advice for Italy is just go and explore. I’ve been 6 times and I am about to go on my 7th trip. Just go. You will experience something new every time and want to go back again. 

Yep. I’m going in June for my 3rd time in 4 years. It’s just incredible. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

Skipping Italy this year, but went last.  In 2023, definitely doing a week in Capri.  I loved it so much last time, but 2.5 days wasn’t enough IMO, but that is because I like beach and boat days interspersed with sightseeing.  Tentative plan is 8 nights in September 2023.

That leaves me with a May 2023 trip.  Have been thinking Venice, but also looking further afield as well.

 

[texasdago 7562]

3 hours ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

Skipping Italy this year, but went last.  In 2023, definitely doing a week in Capri.  I loved it so much last time, but 2.5 days wasn’t enough IMO, but that is because I like beach and boat days interspersed with sightseeing.  Tentative plan is 8 nights in September 2023.

That leaves me with a May 2023 trip.  Have been thinking Venice, but also looking further afield as well.

 

Why not try the less obvious Ischia instead of Capri?  More Italians, less Americans.  More authentic, less expensive.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

34 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Why not try the less obvious Ischia instead of Capri?  More Italians, less Americans.  More authentic, less expensive.

So, in September 2021, I was in Naples, Capri (only two days) and Ischia.  I like Ischia, but there is just something about Capri that I absolutely adore (which is shocking since I hated it after a day visit while on the Amalfi Coast back in 2018).  When we were there this past September, there were Americans, but a lot more Italians than I was expecting.  

 

[VABuckeye 2472]

9 minutes ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

but there is just something about Capri that I absolutely adore

It's Rodeo Drive on steroids and at 5 PM the beautiful people gather in the main piazza for cocktails before dinner.  What's not to like other than the fact that it is $$$$$.

[texasdago 7562]

59 minutes ago, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

So, in September 2021, I was in Naples, Capri (only two days) and Ischia.  I like Ischia, but there is just something about Capri that I absolutely adore (which is shocking since I hated it after a day visit while on the Amalfi Coast back in 2018).  When we were there this past September, there were Americans, but a lot more Italians than I was expecting.  

 

From what I know, Italians took advantage of fewer American tourists to visit places that tend to be frequented by Americans.  That will change next year so it may not be the same experience.  Prices will probably change to accommodate for the shift back to foreign $.  

 

Assuming Europe isn't blanketed in radiation.

[texasdago 7562]

Unrelated - car rental prices are still through the roof.  Sucks.

 

Saw my cancelled reservation from a ski trip in March 2020... it was under 270 Euro for 8 days for a wagon.

[Biff Tannen 45661]

17 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Unrelated - car rental prices are still through the roof.  Sucks.

 

Saw my cancelled reservation from a ski trip in March 2020... it was under 270 Euro for 8 days for a wagon.

Shit, I need to start looking into that for my June trip.  

[texasdago 7562]

5 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

Shit, I need to start looking into that for my June trip.  

Yeah dude... at least where I'm trying to rent, the prices suuuuuck.

[VABuckeye 2472]

1 hour ago, texasdago said:

Unrelated - car rental prices are still through the roof.  Sucks.

 

Saw my cancelled reservation from a ski trip in March 2020... it was under 270 Euro for 8 days for a wagon.

Yep, We've decided just to do private drivers between a couple of cities in Spain.  It's not much worse than renting a car without any of the  hassle.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

10 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

It's Rodeo Drive on steroids and at 5 PM the beautiful people gather in the main piazza for cocktails before dinner.  What's not to like other than the fact that it is $$$$$.

Still cheaper than NYC...at least to eat and drink it is.  Shopping is the same.  Yeah, the hotels are $$$, but that is what AMEX points are for.

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

9 hours ago, texasdago said:

From what I know, Italians took advantage of fewer American tourists to visit places that tend to be frequented by Americans.  That will change next year so it may not be the same experience.  Prices will probably change to accommodate for the shift back to foreign $.  

 

Assuming Europe isn't blanketed in radiation.

The very nice thing about Early September is that Americans are back in school...everywhere.

[Texzilla58 4731]

If I have a week in Italy I’m spending it all in Rome and Florence/Tuscany. Venice is a long way for little reward. Just my two cents.

[Telegraph_it 3357]

The St. Regis in Florence is great. That is all. 
 

On day two in Florence. Go to Trattoria Sostanza and get the chicken in butter. Damn that was tasty. 

[Telegraph_it 3357]

On 3/30/2022 at 3:45 AM, PenelopeWitherspoon said:

The very nice thing about Early September is that Americans are back in school...everywhere.

Tourists are definitely out in early April but it’s no overwhelming. I am hearing a lot more English then I am used to. I think Americans are making up a larger % of tourists right now. Not very many people from Asian countries or other European countries it seems. 
 

The service employees seem to be pleased since traffic is up and they probably aren’t annoyed yet with dumb travelers. 

[VABuckeye 2472]

4 hours ago, Telegraph_it said:

Go to Trattoria Sostanza and get the chicken in butter.

My favorite chicken dish in the world.  Glad you found it.  We love that place.  It's such a simple delicious dish.

[Telegraph_it 3357]

As much as I love Florence. This is why I come back to Tuscany. 
 

[VABuckeye 2472]

This is why I go back.

Among other reasons.

[Telegraph_it 3357]

Well dammit. I tested negative for Covid so now I get to go home tomorrow. 
 

Pro tip. Go to Laura Laureto’s store right off the piazza in Cortona. I bought a pair of dress shoes there and the Laura might be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. 

[msbesq 385]

Just got back from two weeks in Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Rome. We had a fabulous time and Michelangelo's David is the most magnificent sculpture I've ever seen. Food was great, wine was great--never more than 5 euros a glass, vistas were beautiful and the people were friendly. The shopkeepers were glad to see Americans come back and we had an incredible time.

[Mo Horn 8817]

2 hours ago, msbesq said:

Michelangelo's David is the most magnificent sculpture I've ever seen.

I am nowhere close to being an art aficionado, and have zero art training. I've seen quite a bit of the world's great art, but there are tons more I haven't seen. But, I was totally mesmerized by it. There are no words to describe it, and no photo can do it justice. It has to be seen, and I love that you can get really close to it, and see it from every angle. 

[Gil Bang 25907]

 

[Biff Tannen 45661]

2 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

 

Like a button wearing a fur coat.

[Mo Horn 8817]

Watched the 2nd episode of the latest Stanley Tucci series on CNN. They make me so schizophrenic. I drool over everything he eats, and yet it's pure torture because I want to go to every place he goes. Damn, why am I not independently wealthy. 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19100]

8 hours ago, Mo Horn said:

Watched the 2nd episode of the latest Stanley Tucci series on CNN. They make me so schizophrenic. I drool over everything he eats, and yet it's pure torture because I want to go to every place he goes. Damn, why am I not independently wealthy. 

I love that show. When I head back to Capri next year, I am going to try and take a day and hit the place with the zucchini pasta (Lo Scoglio).  It is on the mainland, but I think I can swing it.  Can ferry back to Naples or Sorrento and get these relatively easily.  Stay on the beach for the day and eat at the restaurant.  The other thing I could do is go there for a day or two and then spend the week in Capri.  Oh well, have until September 2023 to figure all that out.