Rome, Venice,Pompeii
Discussion
silverfoxcc said:
Mrs Fox thinks the outside eating is a bit expensive, dont want Michelin star quality, but i work on the assumption 'If the locals use it, then it cant be that bad'!! sort of off main drag establishments type of thing. Any comments?
We found a great place on Piazza Barberini, not fancy but always busy with locals and very inexpensive, they had a 'tourist menu' which usually has me avoiding a place but this one was a find. Also a number of good not too expensive places on Via Sistina which leads to the top of the Spanish Steps.I didn't find Rome expensive to eat and drink, certainly not compared with Venice, but even there if you get a little away from the main tourist area it is not so bad, coffee and ice creams on Piazza San Marco in Venice was not one of my better ideas though.
I can't see how anyone could NOT like Venice personally, but it takes all sorts.
I've only been there for a few hours across a couple of days when we stayed on the Lido. We spent a day on Murano and Burano too. I will definitely go back, one of the few places that have lived up to the hype, imo.
You certainly CANNOT do Venice in 5-6 hours, but you can get a taster.
Rome - It's impressive, but I preferred Venice. Rome feels like a modern BIG city with history here and there (not unlike London, but prettier on the whole). Venice felt like stepping back into the (affluent part of the) middle ages! Rome has plenty to see and you could easily spend a week.
In our 3 days we skipped out on the Vatican, but I'm sure it's worth seeing if you like that sort of thing.
We mostly just walked around, taking things in - Trastevere has loads of tiny little restaurants which are excellent, but off the beaten track (as much as anything is), chararcterful and affordable.
We did, on our last day, take a trip to Ostia Antica (Rome's old port), which was very interesting, cool (for Italy!) and almost empty.
Pompeii - We spent half a day here and it was enough, but only because of the incredible heat. We welcomed the walk up Vesuvius because it was only HOT up there...
You could easily spend a day at Pompeii (or a weekend), but only if you enjoy ruins.
I think all 3 is too much in a short break, but you'll get an idea of each, at least...
We went to Pompeii from Amalfi. This part of the coast and Capri are beautiful and well worth a visit.
From Venice, Verona and Lake Garda are only a short trip and both lovely places to visit.
If I were you, I'd make them 3 trips, not just one.
M
I've only been there for a few hours across a couple of days when we stayed on the Lido. We spent a day on Murano and Burano too. I will definitely go back, one of the few places that have lived up to the hype, imo.
You certainly CANNOT do Venice in 5-6 hours, but you can get a taster.
Rome - It's impressive, but I preferred Venice. Rome feels like a modern BIG city with history here and there (not unlike London, but prettier on the whole). Venice felt like stepping back into the (affluent part of the) middle ages! Rome has plenty to see and you could easily spend a week.
In our 3 days we skipped out on the Vatican, but I'm sure it's worth seeing if you like that sort of thing.
We mostly just walked around, taking things in - Trastevere has loads of tiny little restaurants which are excellent, but off the beaten track (as much as anything is), chararcterful and affordable.
We did, on our last day, take a trip to Ostia Antica (Rome's old port), which was very interesting, cool (for Italy!) and almost empty.
Pompeii - We spent half a day here and it was enough, but only because of the incredible heat. We welcomed the walk up Vesuvius because it was only HOT up there...
You could easily spend a day at Pompeii (or a weekend), but only if you enjoy ruins.I think all 3 is too much in a short break, but you'll get an idea of each, at least...
We went to Pompeii from Amalfi. This part of the coast and Capri are beautiful and well worth a visit.
From Venice, Verona and Lake Garda are only a short trip and both lovely places to visit.
If I were you, I'd make them 3 trips, not just one.
M
Edited by marcosgt on Monday 1st August 11:56
Caterbroon said:
I've done Rome three times and Pompeii once. I would go back to Rome again in a flash, just love it. WE stayed in the Trastevere area which was great and not full of tourists. More a residential part but lovely old streets with restaurants, bars and cafes.
We travelled from Rome to Pompeii by train (via Naples) which took about 2 hours. I wouldn't want to do the return trip in a single day as there is so much to see in Pompeii. We flew home from Naples. Airlines don't charge any extra flying into and out of different airports.
We ended up in Trastevere most evenings. Lovely atmosphere for eating outside and drinking Italian wine.We travelled from Rome to Pompeii by train (via Naples) which took about 2 hours. I wouldn't want to do the return trip in a single day as there is so much to see in Pompeii. We flew home from Naples. Airlines don't charge any extra flying into and out of different airports.
The girlf took me to Rome for my 30th last month,
It was baking hot (always a plus), we went Fri-Mon, we visited the usual spots, all i would say is if you aren't remotely interested in religion sack off Vatican city, neither of us are interested & we both thought it was a bit of a waste of time. The spanish steps were also closed when we were there as well.
The fountain though is incredible, as was the coleseum, Forum etc.
It's worth bearing in mind though that although they have a metro system it only runs in 2 directions, nothing is a million miles away from a tube stop but the stops aren't all that near either.
Google maps on my phone was very helpful!
We also stayed somewhere called 'the independent hotel', it had a stunning rooftop bar & breakfast was top notch
It was baking hot (always a plus), we went Fri-Mon, we visited the usual spots, all i would say is if you aren't remotely interested in religion sack off Vatican city, neither of us are interested & we both thought it was a bit of a waste of time. The spanish steps were also closed when we were there as well.
The fountain though is incredible, as was the coleseum, Forum etc.
It's worth bearing in mind though that although they have a metro system it only runs in 2 directions, nothing is a million miles away from a tube stop but the stops aren't all that near either.
Google maps on my phone was very helpful!
We also stayed somewhere called 'the independent hotel', it had a stunning rooftop bar & breakfast was top notch
Italy in general:
Don't believe trip adviser ratings for restaurants. Bus loads of American tourists get taken to crap restaurants and rave about them because they've never had real "Eyetalian" food before. Google is a bit more reliable but everything seems to get 4 stars and above so it can be a real challenge in the tourist areas.
Venice:
The tourist bits are crap but the bits that are still a living city are really magical. You'll probably just see the tourist bits and hate it!
If you like renaissance art, it's the best place in the world. Scuola Grande di San Rocco is my favourite. This was a great restaurant / wine bar for lunch near there.
Rome:
The forum can be absolute murder on a sunny day as there's no shade. Bring lots of water and an umbrella to hide under if it's crazy hot.
Try to book the "underground" tour for the Colosseum. It's really cool to go under the floor.
I found the Spanish Steps very meh, the fountain great (go first thing in the morning maybe before breakfast) and the Vatican was the least holy place in Christendom with a billion people tramping through.
Food around the Colosseum / Forum can be really terrible and we stayed really close by last time. Some good restaurants that are a couple of streets further away: an OK pizza place, a trattoria and a restaurant.
Don't believe trip adviser ratings for restaurants. Bus loads of American tourists get taken to crap restaurants and rave about them because they've never had real "Eyetalian" food before. Google is a bit more reliable but everything seems to get 4 stars and above so it can be a real challenge in the tourist areas.
Venice:
The tourist bits are crap but the bits that are still a living city are really magical. You'll probably just see the tourist bits and hate it!
If you like renaissance art, it's the best place in the world. Scuola Grande di San Rocco is my favourite. This was a great restaurant / wine bar for lunch near there.
Rome:
The forum can be absolute murder on a sunny day as there's no shade. Bring lots of water and an umbrella to hide under if it's crazy hot.
Try to book the "underground" tour for the Colosseum. It's really cool to go under the floor.
I found the Spanish Steps very meh, the fountain great (go first thing in the morning maybe before breakfast) and the Vatican was the least holy place in Christendom with a billion people tramping through.
Food around the Colosseum / Forum can be really terrible and we stayed really close by last time. Some good restaurants that are a couple of streets further away: an OK pizza place, a trattoria and a restaurant.
Will add my thoughts.
Rome is too busy in the peak season, really quite unpleasant and hot. Out of season lots to do and see.
Venice is great, but you need to stay away from the cruise ship crowds.
Pompeii is very interesting, but I would include this as a Sorrento/Amalfi coast stay, Capri is a good look at during the same stay in this area. The small train runs from Sorrento past Pompeii.
I think many places are too busy unless out of season, but also often to see a place at night makes a massive difference. Venice is one such place
Also agree that generally you are looking at linking too many places at a time.
Rome is too busy in the peak season, really quite unpleasant and hot. Out of season lots to do and see.
Venice is great, but you need to stay away from the cruise ship crowds.
Pompeii is very interesting, but I would include this as a Sorrento/Amalfi coast stay, Capri is a good look at during the same stay in this area. The small train runs from Sorrento past Pompeii.
I think many places are too busy unless out of season, but also often to see a place at night makes a massive difference. Venice is one such place
Also agree that generally you are looking at linking too many places at a time.
If it's any help, we stayed here for 4 nights in Rome - could have done with longer.
http://www.pantheonapartment.com/
The location is fantastic, the apartment is behind one of those anonymous wooden doors you see on all the narrow side streets - right beside the Pantheon. (unsurprising given the name)
Incredible small trattoria a stone's throw from the apartment, nothing like the "tourist food" served in some of the other larger restaurants around.
All the usual main sites are walkable.
http://www.pantheonapartment.com/
The location is fantastic, the apartment is behind one of those anonymous wooden doors you see on all the narrow side streets - right beside the Pantheon. (unsurprising given the name)
Incredible small trattoria a stone's throw from the apartment, nothing like the "tourist food" served in some of the other larger restaurants around.
All the usual main sites are walkable.
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