I’m off to Europe for the very first time on November 10th. (I’m so excited!) I’m going to Rome and Florence. I want to visit at least one coastal city as well. I love seafood of all kinds, and really enjoy small towns. Please offer your recommendations for where I should go.
Thanks!
-Fosfero
If you want to go to the coast from Florence, maybe you could make it up to the Cinque Terre. These days it is fairly filled with tourists, from backpackers to more affluent types, but the 5 coastal towns are charming, the hikes fun, and the pesto and seafood delicious. If you want to see the coast from Rome, you could take a daytrip to Ostia Antica (beautifully preserved ancient town) or take a few days to visit the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi is some of the most stunningly, breathtakingly gorgeous coastline you will ever see, and its small towns, Sorrento, Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Ravello are charming, each in its own way. (I thought Positano a bit pricey, I much preferred Amalfi…the rest of my family preferred Sorrento, it has a livelier nightlife.)
If you want to go to the coast from Florence, maybe you could make it up to the Cinque Terre. These days it is fairly filled with tourists, from backpackers to more affluent types, but the 5 coastal towns are charming, the hikes fun, and the pesto and seafood delicious. If you want to see the coast from Rome,take a few days to visit the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi is some of the most stunningly, breathtakingly gorgeous coastline you will ever see, and its small towns, Sorrento, Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Ravello are charming, each in its own way. (I thought Positano a bit pricey, I much preferred Amalfi…the rest of my family preferred Sorrento, it has a livelier nightlife.)
If you are going to the Amalfi coast try and get across to Capri. I know it is a tourist magnet but in November it should be much less crowded .I was there in the middle of October five years ago and the weather was fantastic. It is stunning island and only takes about 30 minutes by hydrofoil either from Naples or Sorrento . In same area don’t forget Pompeii.
Fosfero
I tried to edit the Ostia suggestion but my post went on before I could catch it. There are two Ostias, the Lido and Ostia Antica, the former is a crowded seaside resort which is probably not what you are looking for, and the other is the one I described in my very first post; it is interesting but not a coastal village. I guess what I am trying to say is that the Cinque Terre or the Amalfi is probably more what you are looking for.
I thought that I would dislike Capri but was most pleasantly surprised. Unbelievably beautiful scenery there.
Pompeii is a must, too, but takes all day to see the highlights. Both are well worth it.
Yeah, would you stop in Naples and drop off Snatch on DVD? He left it here when he was visiting last month.
Radda in Chianti, about 30 minutes south of Florence, is a small (very small) fortified hilltop town. There is a four star hotel/inn in a converted winery on one end of town, which is expensive, but wonderful. The hotel is called the Relais Fattoria Vignale. Across the street and down about 100 yards is the restaurant run by the hotel. It is fabulous. Giaccomo is the host/waiter. His family has lived in Radda forever (and a day). He loves food, he loves wine, he loves serving great (amazing) food, and great wine. Radda is a great base of operations for exploring Tuscany and the Chianti region. And that restaurant is sorth a side trip for lunch or dinner for sure. In fact, if I’m ever within a day’s journey, I make sure to stop in there.
Another tourist trap but still worth a visit is Pisa.This should also be much less crowded in November and is just a short journey from Florence. After a huge rescue programme the leaning tower has been declared safe and you can now climb it and get that fantastic view of the cathedral and baptistry.
The airport
I must second the Cinque Terre.
I can’t even talk about it without getting worked up. I don’t think it is fair of God to give us a glimpse into heaven like that. I have literally no other goal in my life than making it back there as soon as I can.
Italy is wonderful. Make it a rule to eat gelato everyday. Make triple sure to eat gelato at Vivoli’s in Florence. Oh gelato! Oh Italy!
Oh dear, I am about to cry, I love Italy so much! Have a wonderful time, I know you will.
If you’re an art slut and want to see the Uffizi, Accademia et al be there 20 minutes before they open. Unless you really want to be in queue for 3 hours a day. If you can, go pick up the guide book the day before you go and get an idea of what you want to see or want to skip. Make every effort to see the church of Santa Croce in Florence, corpse repository for Michaelangelo and Machiavelli.(You may remember this place from A Room With A View-“This church was built on faith.” “Built on faith? That just means the workers weren’t paid properly!”) The, go find the courtyard behind the church and go up the stairs. It’s a leathercraft school. Not MallWart cheap but good stuff.
Eat everything. Except the McToasts. They’re hideous. One caution about Cinque Terre-the trails between the towns close in bad weather, and Corniglia is half an hour up a flight of stairs from the train station. Vernazza was the niftiest of the towns-not too clotted with tacky crapotoria, and a nice harbor with adequate drinking facilities. Hey, all that trail walking makes a gal thirsty.
My only recommendation is that you avoid Alitalia and Iberia like the plague. US or other European airlines should be OK. Well… I’m not sure I’d recommend Air France but…
When in Florence make sure you visit Pisa (indeed) and Sienna as well. And most certainly, San Gimignano, a small medieval town that’s just amazing.
I didn’t get much chance to do much of any tourism things while I was in Europe Sep 8-15, (note the dates!), but I found Naples to be incredibly dirty, at least up until we had an enormous rainstorm there that almost kept us from making it to the airport.
I did get to go to a saxophone concert in the church in a smaller town (Viggiano), and if there is any way to do it, I recommend getting away from the tourist traps and seeing some real people.
I don’t know if you are aware but Italy, together with eleven other members of the European Union , change over to the Euro currency on first January 2002. After that there is only a very short time (about 2 months) when the Italian Lira is still legal tender. So do not be tempted to hang on to any unused currency when you get back home. If you do not exchange the surplus before the end of February you will be left with notes that will be worthless .
I really appreciate the help. I think so far Cinque Terre is the most interesting looking idea. I can’t wait!
LaToyota: Yours was a particularly good idea. Thanks a million!
Sailor: Do you have a horror story about Alitalia I should know about?
Thanks again for the input!
-Fosfero
This is a place that has always fascinated me-I think I learned of it from an old movie. Is it worth the effort to get to? How much time should you spend there?
I was there in July. You’ll have a great time!
See the stuff you want to see in Rome and then get out. It’s crowded, expensive and dirty, but I’m glad I went for a couple of days.
Wandering around Florence and the countryside is a lot more fun. You can make reservations at the Uffizi and Accademia galleries so you don’t have to stand in line or wake up at a godawful hour. If you give them a call the day before, then you can bypass the line.
Don’t take food advice from the Rick Steves guides, the Lonely planet is better. But Rick Steves recommends great hotels on a budget.
Try to get to Siena for sure. I really enjoyed roaming around there and wished that I had more time. Check out the weather in Cinque Terre before deciding to go there. If the weather is bad, there may not be much to do.
I lived in Maniago, about an hour north of Venice, for two years. Of course, I was quite busy with work at the time, and didn’t get to get out much. Still, I have to tell you: Try to go to the plces where the tourists don’t. That’s where I had the most fun.