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For those who have visited Italy
Posted on 5/24/24 at 11:20 am
Posted on 5/24/24 at 11:20 am
Did you travel inside the country by car or train and what cities and areas would you recommend besides Rome? I'm sure Venice is rated pretty high up on the list but would you visit Florence, Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Cinque Terre? What is your experience visiting these cities. Thanks in advance
19
Posted on 5/24/24 at 12:08 pm to dek81572
Rome, Florence, Umbria (Assisi), and Tuscany. Over the course of about 12 days.
Car from the outskirts of Rome to Umbria & Tuscany, and then dropped off the car in Florence. Didn't use trains except to/from the suburbs of Rome.
Having the car allowed us to see some sights and spend some time in Tuscany that we otherwise would not have done.
A car within Rome or Florence is useless.
Car from the outskirts of Rome to Umbria & Tuscany, and then dropped off the car in Florence. Didn't use trains except to/from the suburbs of Rome.
Having the car allowed us to see some sights and spend some time in Tuscany that we otherwise would not have done.
A car within Rome or Florence is useless.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 12:42 pm to dek81572
Xrive in the countryside and between cities. Do not even consider driving in Naples, Rome and the Amalfi Coast.
Yes to all but Pisa and Naples. It's a tower, it leans, who really cares? Naples is a shithole as far as I am concerned compared to the great cities of Italy.
What else? The Dolomites are fantastic. Lake Como. Bologna. Tuscany. Piedmonte region around Alba. If you're into wine at all the last two regions are a must.
There are a multitude of other regions to visit and see that all have their charm.
quote:
I'm sure Venice is rated pretty high up on the list but would you visit Florence, Pisa, Amalfi Coast, Naples, Cinque Terre?
Yes to all but Pisa and Naples. It's a tower, it leans, who really cares? Naples is a shithole as far as I am concerned compared to the great cities of Italy.
What else? The Dolomites are fantastic. Lake Como. Bologna. Tuscany. Piedmonte region around Alba. If you're into wine at all the last two regions are a must.
There are a multitude of other regions to visit and see that all have their charm.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 12:46 pm to dek81572
I went backpacking for 3 weeks in my 20’s. Started in Rome, train to Venice, train to Torino en route to Lugano Switzerland, train back to Torino. Rented a car for a few days only in Piedmont region for hiking and wineries around the alps. Train down to cinque terra, train to Florence, train to Naples for pompeii and then isle of Capri, then train back to Rome. You only need a car if you are going to rural areas like we did in the alps.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 1:10 pm to dek81572
Leaving for a trip shortly. Flying into Milan. Training to Verona and grabbing car there. Car for about a week to get to Riva del Garda, Emilia romagna. And Tuscanny. Dropping off car in Florence and then training from there.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 1:12 pm to dek81572
I enjoy driving through Italy. I’d recommend doing some smaller towns rather than focusing on the major areas, but that’s my personal preference.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 3:46 pm to dek81572
Last summer, I traveled to Florence, multiple towns in Tuscany, Rome, La Spezia (Cinque Terre), and Venice.
I am going to retire in Florence. It's a spectacular city with incredible culture and history. Highly recommended.
I liked Pisa more than most but if you missed it your vacation would still be complete. I very much enjoyed Lucca and Siena, as well as some small villages near Siena such as Castellina in Chianti. The Tuscan villages are semi-rural, quiet, and full of good people, food and wine.
Rome...lots to do and see but it is the dirtiest city I have ever been to. That is saying something since I grew up in New Orleans and worked in Southeast Asia for a while. Once was enough for me.
La Spezia is a small but nice town near the Cinque Terre. I wouldn't spend more than a day there but it provides easy access to the Cinque Terre, which is a lovely place when the tourists haven't overrun it. I would not go in the summer again but would absolutely go back in the off-season.
Venice was terrific. It gets very crowded with tourists during peak season but has so many historical sites and intriguing buildings that I will definitely return one day even during peak season. Stay in Cannaregio for a quieter experience. It is mostly local residents but they are hospitable. One of the things I liked best about Venice is that there are no cars on the island. You can foot it everywhere without dodging cars.
Just me but I would not drive in any of the larger cities. It is pure chaos. We rented cars or Uber/taxis and things worked out well. Between cities, the high-speed trains are an easy, affordable, and comfortable method of transportation.
Enjoy.
I am going to retire in Florence. It's a spectacular city with incredible culture and history. Highly recommended.
I liked Pisa more than most but if you missed it your vacation would still be complete. I very much enjoyed Lucca and Siena, as well as some small villages near Siena such as Castellina in Chianti. The Tuscan villages are semi-rural, quiet, and full of good people, food and wine.
Rome...lots to do and see but it is the dirtiest city I have ever been to. That is saying something since I grew up in New Orleans and worked in Southeast Asia for a while. Once was enough for me.
La Spezia is a small but nice town near the Cinque Terre. I wouldn't spend more than a day there but it provides easy access to the Cinque Terre, which is a lovely place when the tourists haven't overrun it. I would not go in the summer again but would absolutely go back in the off-season.
Venice was terrific. It gets very crowded with tourists during peak season but has so many historical sites and intriguing buildings that I will definitely return one day even during peak season. Stay in Cannaregio for a quieter experience. It is mostly local residents but they are hospitable. One of the things I liked best about Venice is that there are no cars on the island. You can foot it everywhere without dodging cars.
Just me but I would not drive in any of the larger cities. It is pure chaos. We rented cars or Uber/taxis and things worked out well. Between cities, the high-speed trains are an easy, affordable, and comfortable method of transportation.
Enjoy.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 5:27 pm to dek81572
I have rented a car a few times but only because we were staying in the Tuscan countryside.
You don’t want a car in the big cities. Most are walkable and the only thing worse than the traffic is the parking.
With regard to the destinations you asked about-
A big thumbs up to Florence and Venice, two of my favorite cities. Not so much for Naples. The only reason to go there is to get to nearby places such as the Amalfi Coast which is spectacular.
I also recommend the Cinque Terre which is a much smaller version of the Amalfi Coast.
Pisa is worth seeing but only if you don’t have to go too far out of your way to get there.
Train travel between the big cities is fast and easy and if you drive, the toll highways are very good.
You don’t want a car in the big cities. Most are walkable and the only thing worse than the traffic is the parking.
With regard to the destinations you asked about-
A big thumbs up to Florence and Venice, two of my favorite cities. Not so much for Naples. The only reason to go there is to get to nearby places such as the Amalfi Coast which is spectacular.
I also recommend the Cinque Terre which is a much smaller version of the Amalfi Coast.
Pisa is worth seeing but only if you don’t have to go too far out of your way to get there.
Train travel between the big cities is fast and easy and if you drive, the toll highways are very good.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 6:18 pm to dek81572
Mainly train.
Must sees:
1. Florence. One of the greatest cities in the world.
2. Rome. Went after many years. Didn't really like it the first time. This time (a couple of years ago) it was much more enjoyable.
3. Orvieto. Visit it on the way down to Rome from Florence on the train. So cool. Perched way up on a plateau in the heart of Umbria. Spend the night.
You'll thank me later.
4. San Gimignano. Wow. A stunning medieval town in the heart of Tuscany!
Must sees:
1. Florence. One of the greatest cities in the world.
2. Rome. Went after many years. Didn't really like it the first time. This time (a couple of years ago) it was much more enjoyable.
3. Orvieto. Visit it on the way down to Rome from Florence on the train. So cool. Perched way up on a plateau in the heart of Umbria. Spend the night.
You'll thank me later.
4. San Gimignano. Wow. A stunning medieval town in the heart of Tuscany!
Posted on 5/24/24 at 6:23 pm to Nole Man
quote:
1. Florence. One of the greatest cities in the world.
I want to ask this question beginning with the caveat that my opinion is just that and nothing more, and to try and get why I may be wrong.
Why is Florence so great?
I have to be honest, I really didn’t like it. It was crowded, touristy, quiche, and just not for me.
Again, I can’t impress enough that I’m not trying to be rude or go against the grain to be edgy. I just don’t get it. But I’m open to understanding why everyone loves it so much.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 6:54 pm to dek81572
The best thing you can do is go in early April or late September to October. The experience is so much better when you are not packed together with too many people. Rent a camper van from Indie Campers in Rome or Milan.
You can camp in walking distance to most towns.
The city campgrounds have shuttles to the center of town.
Freedom to go where you want.
Don’t let people fool you , it is easy to drive in Italy.
Hardest part is getting through the toll booths.
The campgrounds are very nice with really good facilities. Most have cafes on site.
We went for 17 days then did it again for nine days.
Can’t wait to go back and get to Sicily.
You can camp in walking distance to most towns.
The city campgrounds have shuttles to the center of town.
Freedom to go where you want.
Don’t let people fool you , it is easy to drive in Italy.
Hardest part is getting through the toll booths.
The campgrounds are very nice with really good facilities. Most have cafes on site.
We went for 17 days then did it again for nine days.
Can’t wait to go back and get to Sicily.
This post was edited on 5/25/24 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 5/24/24 at 7:38 pm to AbitaFan08
Tuscany is amazing in itself and Florence is a perfect capital. The art, history, food, wine, shopping, architecture is elite and unique.
When I return to Italy, one day in Rome and the rest in Tuscany and/or Amalfi coast.
When I return to Italy, one day in Rome and the rest in Tuscany and/or Amalfi coast.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 8:12 pm to dek81572
When we went, we did Venice, Florence and Rome. Traveled between cities by train. What places people enjoyed more will vary greatly depending on the person, but for us, I would probably rank them Venice, Rome and then Florence. I know lots of people say they hated Venice and Florence was their favorite. As I said, YMMV.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 8:17 pm to dek81572
Imo, things like the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are things to do AFTER you do Rome, Venice, Naples/Pompeii, and Florence. Greek Isles are better in my experience but what you get in the aforementioned places cannot be matched anywhere else in the world. Definitely worth going to (if you have time), but prioritize the ones above
Also the trains are pretty good in Italy. Not as good as Germany, France or UK, but they'll pretty much take you anywhere
Also the trains are pretty good in Italy. Not as good as Germany, France or UK, but they'll pretty much take you anywhere
This post was edited on 5/24/24 at 8:18 pm
Posted on 5/24/24 at 8:46 pm to dek81572
Took trains. Went to Rome, Pompeii, positano, Venice. Lake Como and Milan.
Posted on 5/24/24 at 10:37 pm to Napoleon
Several years ago we went to southern Europe for two weeks around our Thanksgiving holiday.
A lot of museums were simply closed. The real bummer was a series of rail strikes in Italy that made train travel there unpredicatable. So we went back to Spain and southern France.
A lot of museums were simply closed. The real bummer was a series of rail strikes in Italy that made train travel there unpredicatable. So we went back to Spain and southern France.
Posted on 5/25/24 at 7:44 am to dek81572
We did both.
We took a train from Rome to Florence when we first got there, but got a car while in Florence, drove to Tuscany, and then used that for day trips from there, and then down to Rome where we ended the trip.
I loved Florence - so much to see and do.
Pisa was fine, but there's really just the tower. It's like San Antonio - once you've seen the Alamo, you're done.
We took a train from Rome to Florence when we first got there, but got a car while in Florence, drove to Tuscany, and then used that for day trips from there, and then down to Rome where we ended the trip.
I loved Florence - so much to see and do.
Pisa was fine, but there's really just the tower. It's like San Antonio - once you've seen the Alamo, you're done.
Posted on 5/25/24 at 8:30 am to dek81572
Don't go in August. Half of the counr shuts down for the month and it's hot. Spring or early Autumn are wonderfult imes to go.
Posted on 5/25/24 at 9:06 am to AbitaFan08
quote:
I want to ask this question beginning with the caveat that my opinion is just that and nothing more, and to try and get why I may be wrong.
Why is Florence so great?
I have to be honest, I really didn’t like it. It was crowded, touristy, quiche, and just not for me.
Again, I can’t impress enough that I’m not trying to be rude or go against the grain to be edgy. I just don’t get it. But I’m open to understanding why everyone loves it so much.
We learn from each other. Not rude at all to ask questions.
Here's "my why". Others can feel free to chip in.
First, I think the time of year you go anywhere in Europe is key and can temper your opinions. Huge crowds in touristy type locations can really cloud your experiences. We like to travel in the offseason, usually in the late fall through December, where we can catch the Christmas festivities. I've been to Florence 3 times: Once in April, late November and last time we stayed over New Years for a week. Seeing the fireworks on New Years was magical!
Why Florence? For a trip to Italy, you can't compare it to other locations for a singular location rich in history, incredible art, and stunning architecture. Florence houses world-class museums like the Uffizi Gallery. In terms of overall awe-inspiring magnificence, think the Duomo is the most spectacular cathedral I've been to. And that includes many others I've been to like la Sagrada Família, the Cathedral in Cologne, Notre Dame etc.
Second, it's conveniently located and you can use it as a base to tour Tuscany. We did day trips to the amazing San Gimignano, a small walled medieval hill town, and there's a similar vibe at Monteriggioni and Sienna.
I can't think overall of any singular city in Italy that's "cooler" than Florence! It has it all.
Why Florence!
This post was edited on 5/25/24 at 9:26 am
Posted on 5/25/24 at 3:05 pm to Nole Man
Here's mine. The view from our balcony in Florence and from the next bridge up.
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