Rome - Florence - Siena - In February

Yes yes and yes. Great part of the world.

Honeymoon was last January to Rome, Florence and Venice. Some of my recs...

Rome:
Osteria Da Fortunata
Il Barroccio Roma (just around corner from Pantheon)
-FYI on the 1st Sunday of every month, the admission to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and possibly the Vatican(?) are free. Shouldn’t be too much of a wait either since it’s offseason.

Florence:
Trattoria al Trebbio
Vinaino Cicalone (Beef Stew)

Did a day trip tour of Siena and Tuscany. Siena was arguably my favorite location we visited but Rome had it all.

Okay here you go. As for the Brunello tour, I agree with the advice above about getting a rental car and driving to Montalcino and going to the enoteca in the fort. That is the best place to sample the top notch Brunellos. ..... If you want a tour guide from Siena check out Dario Castagno www.dariocastagno,com. We took two of his tours, the best one being a behind the scenes Palio horse race tour. As a consequence, we are now (half jokingly) honorary members of the Caterpillar Contrade which we pull for every time the race comes around........ Restaurants - Sienna - Our favorite was La Taverna di San Guissippi which is about a five minute walk down a narrow alley off Il Campo. The food is delicious and the restaurant is built in an old Etruscan house. Da Divo is another great restaurant built in to an old Etruscan cave. Le Logge near Il Campo is another good one......... Florence - Natalino was good as was Ristorante Saint Ambrogio where we had a very good dinner on Easter Sunday last year.........Rome - Where are you staying? Two good casual places - Our hang out is Enoteca Cul de Sac, a wine bar near Piazza Navona that serves very goon food. We like Hostaria Costanza near Campo di Fiore. This is an old historic place built in to the remnants of the Theatre of Pompey which is where Julius Caesar was stabbed by Buutus. And the food is very good.

Thanks for all the great replies and suggestions! I can always go to a guidebook but I got so many fantastic recommendations from this board for our trip to Kauai last year. geauxpurple we are staying in the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome.

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As of now it looks like you drive to hilltop towns, see the Duomo and walk around a bit, then on to the next town.

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You forgot “eat lunch, drink wine”......and then walk some more after lunch to help w digestion. Each of the Tuscan hill towns offer some local attractions—dig a bit deeper than Steves for town info, esp in the food/dining realm (to me, that’s where he’s weakest). His recs tend to be middle of the road. I like to hit a coffee bar near a town center: not a super fancy touristy one, but a place that looks like locals frequent. Order an espresso, talk to the server....good food tips often come from these ppl. There might be an interesting salumeria, bakery, or pasta shop....an olive oil mill just outside town, or an enoteca tucked down an alley.

In Feb in Tuscany, you’ll be able to buy the olive oil pressed in Oct/Nov. So maybe allocate some space in a checked bag on the homeward journey for edible liquid souvenirs.

Read up on the Italian Renaissance—you are visiting the heart of it. Knowing a bit more about the politics and art history of the period will enhance your trip immensely.

As for Rome, definitely do not spend all of your time at the Vatican. The Roman Forum deserves a visit, and perhaps hiring a guide/taking a tour unless you were a classics major in undergrad. Also walk the city at night, it is safe and the major monuments are well lit and very interesting to see that way. A nighttime walking/gelato eating stroll is one of my very favorite things to do in Rome. (I mapped out one many Italian threads ago on this board, I should dig it up and repost.)

Here is our basic itenerary:

Leave MSY on British Airways Friday Feb 21 - Arrive Rome Sat Feb 22 around 4:30 PM.

Most of the Walks of Italy tours are dormant in February- I would love to get an in depth Colosseum/Forum Tour. The Colosseum has been on my bucket list since I was around 8 years old.

Tuesday Feb 25 - Pick up rental car, drive North. Possibly stop in Siena along the way. Stay in Monticchiello 3 nights. Tuscany is the wife's top choice to visit in the world.

Drive to Rome Airport Hotel Friday Feb 28, fly out to MSY Saturday morning

Thanks, I would have liked to taken the earlier flight as well- pretty much the same price as BA. Not thrilled about the late arrival to Rome, but my wife and I both are working Friday morning so we just couldn't swing the afternoon departure.

Just remember that some of the best things to eat in Italy aren’t necessarily in restaurants. In Rome. Brave the crowds to eat at Roscioli bakery, get a pizza Bianca slab stuffed with porchetta.....or any of the dozens of other tasty things offered there. Stroll to the Campo di Fiore, ignore the horribly touristy market in the Piazza that’s been going downhill into schlocky for years now, and head to the Antico Forno in the corner (upriver, riverside corner if you figure directions like a person from NOLA). Eat more pizza Bianca there, and for comparisons sake, try the pizza rossa as well.

Anyone been to the gardens in Bomarzo? Looks pretty cool.
LINK
We may stop off on our way from Rome to Orvieto to check it out.