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Italy honeymoon!

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alli_esq

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Okay, everyone--I know I''m crazy, since I have like nothing done, but I figure I could get some good advice from the well-traveled PSers on here...

FH and I are leaving for our Italian honeymoon one week from today, and all I know is that we''re spending:

5 nights in Rome
3 nights in Sorrento (though I think we want to take one day trip to Capri)
4 nights in Florence
2 nights in Venice

We have the hotels and train transfers booked, but that''s all. We are getting tickets to a soccer match in Rome, and I plan on booking a trip to the Uffizi in Florence (soon--I know they book up!), but other than that--we''re just planning on exploring in general.

If you had to choose only one sight to see in each of these cities, what would you recommend? We''re on a budget, so I expect to do a lot of walking around, just appreciating the culture (neither FI nor I have really left the US before this--I went to London once in high school for about 3 days, but I barely count that).

Thank you all in advance!
 
I can''t offer any advice but I just wanted to wish you a wonderful time! Please take lots of photos to share with us.
 
whew that is action packed...!! just one note from someone who just did 12 days in spain this summer in 3 cities, make sure to plan to relax too... there is going to be so much you want to do and see but make sure you factor in an afternoon nap or something at least the first 5 days or so, because you will be tired from all the walking and sightseeing.

we haven't been to italy but i found just making notes on internet blogs and sites on what people's favorites sites were and things to do, or local foods to try etc super helpful and just looking at the notes while you are traveling. it might remind you of something you wanted to do. we also did day trips in every city and it was very tiring but great to get out of the bigger city and look at some older cities.

have fun and enjoy yourselves!! friends who have been to italy say to eat lots of gelato and around day 10 you get tired of pasta! HA.
 
Rome -- a lot of the sites are free or have very reasonable entry fees. The biggie for me would be St. Peter''s & the Vatican Museum. Get there early in the morning; don''t be discouraged by the long entry line because it moves quickly, and be prepared to walk/stand for several hours. Sistine Chapel is at the end of a 2 mile walk thru the museum. St. Pete''s is mind boggling in it''s size and it''s beauty. Well worth the entry fee.

3 nights in Sorrento (though I think we want to take one day trip to Capri). Tourist town. There isn''s much to do in Sorrento other than walk around and eat gelato. There is a gelato store on the main drag, Bougainvillea, where we ate gelato 3 times a day. The best I''ve ever had. From Sorrento we took a bus ride up the Amalfi Coast & spent time meandering thru the wonderful towns clinging to the seaside cliffs. If you have the time, stop in Naples and take the bus to Vesuvius and climb it. Great experience.

4 nights in Florence. The Uffizi is a great choice. The Bargello is another sweet museum that folks often miss. Meandering on the Ponte Vecchio is free and great for people watching.

2 nights in Venice. St. Mark''s Basilica without a doubt. Doge''s Palace. Venice is a great place to unwind after visiting Rome or Florence. Check out the Tourist Information booths for combo passes to multiple museums. Rates were between 12 & 18 euros depending on what you wanted to see.

I highly recommend buying Rick Steves'' travel books. He goes thru each major area and gives recommendations on which sites to visit depending on how much time you have in each place. Also has great recommendations for eating where the locals eat. His tips will save you a lot of time and stress figuring out how to get around and what to see.
 
Yay, that sounds great
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! We did something similar but a bit longer and a few more places; it is so beautiful and romantic there!
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The food is incredible; I gain 10 lbs out there. That is where we went for our honeymoon!

That is great you will be in Rome first? It will give you time to relax a little bit from the flight. We did the Vatican (Sistine chapel), the Coliseum, the Pantheon, Spanish steps, Piazza Navona (w/ lots of cute outdoor cafes and Bernini fountain). We stayed in a central location right by the Pantheon so it was easy to walk to all these places. We did a tour of the Vatican.

Sorrento is a sleepy town so you can just walk around town and it is good you will spend a day in Capri. Capri is so beautiful. You can do similar to the ski lift in Capri which is beautiful. I didn't love the blue grotto though; it took forever, they only allow a certain number of boats in and there are big boats waiting to unload people into the little boats. So it wasn't worth it to me. The views from Sorrento are beautiful and there is this park filled with lemon and orange trees.

Florence we loved the most! There is the Piazzale Michelangelo (an amazing vew of the city on the hill), and there is a gorgeous church up there too worth visiting. Here is the link so you get an idea of what it looks like; I also posted pictures somewhere on Pricescope at one time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazzale_Michelangelo A tour took us up there (maybe there is a city bus that will take you up). I don't know which piazza but there are tons of beautiful leather good sold so that is fun to do. I am glad you are going to the Uffizi. I loved Florence for walking around. Also my husband climbed to the top of the Florence Duomo; the Duomo is worth seeing. I couldn't climb to the top because the stairway is small and curves so I got dizzy but my husband said there is an incredible view. I only got half way up but if you can do half way that is great because you can see the gorgeous duomo frescos from halfway.
We visited the Chiesa di Santa Croce, that is where Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli were buried; I thought this church was very cool! Also there is a lot of gorgeous gold on the Arno.

I liked Venice and we went to Moreno to watch the glass blowing, you can do a gondola ride (they are pretty expensive). I loved the Saint Mark's Basilica, you can tour that too and go to the top where the horses are and you get a great view of San Marcos square.

I would recommend a guide book they can tell you the best times to visit museums and when the lines aren't as long, etc. You do want to pack a long skirt or long pants that you can throw in a backpack because a lot of churches don't let you in in shorts. I remember this couple in front of us (and it was hot out) were in shorts and they didn't let them in; you probably all ready know but I wanted to put that out there just in case because a lot of the catherals and churches are amazing! Also don't worry about there only being pasta, Florence serves a lot of fabulous chicken and potato dishes and each region has their specialty. In Rome they have a lot of fabulous fish dishes. Have a wonderful honeymoon and eat lots of gelato!!!
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Super exciting!!!!
 
My husband surprised me with a trip to Italy this year (Rome, Florence, Venice)--because it was a surprise, I didn''t do any of the planning, but I was so glad he booked all the museums in advance, it saved us SO MUCH time!

One thing he booked that I absolutely loved was the Borghese Museum in Rome. It''s only open one day a week, I believe, but Bernini''s sculptures are some of my absolute favorite. I would say that museum was one of my top 3 favorite things we did in Italy.

Also, D downloaded ALL of Rick Steves'' museum and walking tours to our iPods. I can''t recommend them enough...in fact I did his walking tour around Florence twice because I loved it so much. And we had a regular walking tour in Florence as well (which I loved). I''d say he downloaded over 10 hours of Rick Steves tours and we listened to every minute.
 
We were just in all of those places in June (okay not sorrento but we were in amalfi)

Here''s some thoughts...

#1 HOP ON HOP OFF - yes, it sounds cheezy but it will give you the most bang for your buck in almost every major city you can go to.

In rome after you go to the Colosseum - RESIST THE URGE to eat the pizza they sell around there - it''s worse than any american pizza I''ve ever had - revolting, truly.
Find a restaurant to satiate your hunger. I recommend all of the tourist places - fountains, shopping....

in sorrento - make sure you swim in the med just so you can say you did. I don''t know that small town, but walk walk walk and go to the beach and stay indoors (hubba hubba). It''s very beautiful and romantic... oh and make sure you get some limoncello to bring home and get some of those little candies filled with it - more than you think you''ll want because they are gone too fast and irreplaceable in the states.

Florence - David. It''s short but he''s amazing and bigger than you expect. The food there was better than anywhere else we went (and we had a car so we went all over). If you can swing it get out to san giancomo (sp?) and assisi and sienna... oh and PISA - pisa was a wonderful town, smaller than I thought but quite charming. Florence was my favorite city of all.

Venice - it''s expensive but I''d splurge for the water bus (it''s really expensive) and try to see as much of it as you can - it''s hard to see it all in one day (we were 2 nights there as well). We didn''t see it all. I regret not spending the $ for the water bus but there were 5 of us and ouch.
 
You''ve gotten some great advice here! All I wanted to add was that you definiately should plan to visit Capri. I fell in love with it! The blue grotto was amazing, and swimming in the Med was lovely.

Safe travels!
 
Congrats Alli!!!!

Rick Steve''s....Rick Steve''s....Rick Steve''s.....

I couldn''t have survived Italy without Rick Steve''s book on Italy. It will be the best investment you ever make. Chart out your time with it and you will see the get the most out of your time and money. The sites, the restaurants, the views, the people.

We veered off some of the suggestions when we were there, and we were so disappointed that we whipped out the book again and had the most amazing meal we have ever had in our lives. We all still talk about that meal. We wouldn''t have been able to do "Rome in a day" either had it not been for the book. I didn''t want to carry the entire book around so I removed the chapters on each city that we were going to see.

We were able to avoid long lines, unexpected closed dates, knew what clothing we had to wear to be admitted into places...all while watching other people who were pissed off that they were being denied entry due to the unknown rules. Trust me on this....

Rick Steves!!!! Go now and buy the paperback.
 
I''ve never been to Italy, but wanted to wish you a fun trip! Someday I''d love to go.
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I have such wonderful memories of Florence and Venice. You'll have such a wonderful honeymoon in Italy. All the places have been mentioned that I woulld have... Do make sure to hit Harry's Bar for a Bellini And next door is The Griti Palace hotel, great for a romantic dinner, but is $$$$.
I'd skip the Gondola ride, it's $$$$. I don't love the whole blown glass thing, saw it when I was younger so we skipped going to Moreno.

My advice, walk about Venice, get lost even. You'll have such fun discovering little bakeries, and wonderful restaurants that the locals go to...

Of all, Florence is my most favorite city. I could go on and on.
 
Another Rick Steves junkie here!

Venice was actually my favorite as I found it very relaxing. At night wear long sleeves and pants though because mosquitoes come out in full force. I just found walking around and getting lost in the windy streets amazing.
 
I''m going to third Rick Steves....he has so much helpful information. Like when we wanted to purchase tickets to tour the colloseum, he recommended a ticket counter that isn''t surrounded by all the hoopla. Wouldn''t you know the "tourist" line was packed and where we went to get our tickets there was no one there.

We went to Rome, Florence, Pisa, Naples, Sienna, and Capri. Naples is bleh but Capri is so beautiful....please try to go!!! Blue Grotto! In Rome I''d definitely do a tour of the Vatican--so amazing. Rememeber to cover your shoulders that day though....they''ll turn you away if any skin is showing.

Never went to Venice...I wanted to so bad though!
 
Never been there, but pictures are gorgeous and I hope to one day visit Italy! Have a wonderful honeymoon!!!
 
I''ve never been to Italy either but I''m sure it will make for a beautiful honeymoon!

I was out of town during your ring thread - did you get your new ring yet?
 
Yay, Alli! I hope you have a wonderful time! While you're in Sorrento - try to go to Le Sirenuse in Positano and have dinner!! The Michelin starred chef is amazing, but the view is simply magical and romantic, and although it's a major splurge, it's one I know is worth it if you love food!

I planned my entire trip to Italy with the help of PSers, and I *wish* I had taken their advice and spent more time in the Amalfi Coast. Three nights should be great, but I've also heard Hurculaneum is better preserved than Pompeii. Florence was amazing, and I think you've got the right amount of time spent there and Rome!

Let me get a link to my Italy thread from last year, but also, let me ask you; why did you guys choose to go to Italy? The wine? The food? The history? The architecture? The amazing coastline?

www.car-rental-italy.com - I'd almost suggest renting a car in Sorrento and driving the amalif coast on your own. Get a small car!
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Oh, and in Rome, if you've read Angels & Demons (and liked it), bring the book with you. Kind of neat to do the path of enlightenment - all free except for the Castello San Angelo.
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Link to my Italy thread; https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/back-from-italy-with-loads-of-pics.82143/

If you take the bus, you can easily get to Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, etc.! Very cool (STEEP) villages along the coast, with just amazing architectural and natural beauty. Chez Black's is also awesome if you can't get reservations at www.lesirenuse.it . . .

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Congrats alli - this will be an amazing trip
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im very jealous
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You have a fair while in Rome, i would suggest staying in Trastevere - its not the centre of Rome but its a beautiful area, and you can still walk to the big sights. Its home to many universities (international and italian) and a fantastic restaurant and bar scene. The food is amazing round here (very authentic) and much much cheaper than the restaurants around the sights (where the service tends to be awful). The houses are medieval and the streets are cobbled, and the area has attracted many famous artists over the years! Its very cool...

I studied in Florence and cant say enough amazing things about it
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if you like renaissance works, across the river is Santa Maria del Carmine - and inside it the Brancacci Chapel by Masaccio. He was the first renaissance painter and this chapel is amazing and away from the more heavily tourist-ed areas. Another of his famous works, The Holy Trinity, is inside Santa Maria Novella. If you like gardens, the Boboli gardens are lovely, part of Palazzo Pitti. There''s a gelato shop near the ponte vecchio which is amazing, its across the road, tucked away a little. If you like shoes, the salvatore ferragamo museum isnt always open, but its pretty cool! Beneath the Duomo, the crypt is quite fun and eerie. Oh and i second the recommendation for David, he''s truly a sight to behold, and worth the line up.

Venezia - you''re a pricscoper so definitely pay the little extra to see the pala d''oro in San Marco''s - its amazing! Also in Venice, the Peggy Gugenheim museum is a gem, full of the big guns of modern art and i thought it was the best art gallery i went to in italy. Also if you''re even a little interested, the Arsenale is in the old naval ship yards of venice and is an amazing museum that really captures venice''s naval history (and venice was nothing if not a naval power). Oh and if you''re keen, Christopher Hibbert''s book about venice is awesome - La Serenissima has an amazing history which knowing, if you can read it before you get there, really adds to its faded grandeur.

For Sorrento i would recommend a day trip to Pompei if you are interested in archaeology - it makes a great day out, definitely get an audio guide/take a tour/have a guide book. Its a fascinating sight.

sorry for the book - im so excited for you
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I''m going to second some of the other recommendations:

Florence: get the Rick Steves'' guide to Italy immediately and follow his directions to get a reservation to see Michaelangelo''s David at the Accademia. This is my one can''t miss. Try to go as early in the day as possible to avoid crowds. The Bargello sculpture museum is fabulous if you like sculpture and it''s a manageable size. Be aware that the Uffizi, like the Louvre, is huge and can be overwhelming. Unless you''re a museum fanatic, drop in to see the greatest hits and then move on. The climb to the top of the Duomo is worth it if it''s a clear day. The Piazzale Michaelangelo can have a nice view of Florence if it isn''t too smoggy or cloudy. And I second Skippy''s suggestion to go see the church that''s above the Piazzale. It''s amazing. Do one of the guided walking tours if the weather is good. Walk to the other side of the river - the Oltarno district - which is quieter and less touristy. Go to the pharmacy at Santa Maria Novella (yes, I said the pharmacy) if you''d like to get some amazing (although expensive) gifts for people. Their almond soap is to die for. If you want to get away from it all for a bit, take the bus up to Fiesole and have lunch. It''s smaller, quieter, and has a nice view of Florence.

Venice - the Peggy Guggenheim, the Peggy Guggenheim, the Peggy Guggenheim. It''s the perfect museum. It''s in a villa on the Grand Canal with a terrace overlooking the water, it''s small enough to see in an hour and has exquisite modern art. It''s the perfect antidote if you''ve had your fill of the Renaissance. Take the vaparetto route that goes down the Grand Canal to the Rialto Bridge. Tour San Marco, but otherwise just walk around and get lost in Venice. At this time of year, you won''t need to worry about crowds. Skip Murano, skip the gondolas, and enjoy the uniqueness that is Venice. And don''t eat anywhere that has a menu in English or pictures of British or American flags.

In general, I''d say walk around, have long lunches at places that don''t cater to tourists (which means don''t eat at places close to the major tourist attractions), stop in for a coffee in the morning, find out where locals take their pre-dinner evening stroll (la passaggiata) and do the same. Don''t go to a restaurant for dinner until 8:30 or 9. Take your time and enjoy the food and wine and the people watching. See some of the main sites but don''t spend all your time rushing from one tourist attraction to another. The people and the food are the best experiences you can have in Italy.
 
Another Rick Steves! We went on his group tour last year and it was amazing! Follow his guidebook and you will have the time of your life! My favorite place in Florence was Santa Croce Church, In Rome: the coliseum, In Venice: EVERYWHERE!
 
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