So, you're staying in Florence for just one day? TOTALLY a smart move! Not that I have that much Florence disdain, but the rest of Tuscany is just far more charming (and peaceful)!!!
If you're using your own transportation, you should be able to park somewhere designated by your hotel. However, I prefer to use public transportation (again, direct your expenses towards food and wine, not traveling!), which is perfectly comfortable. In fact, if you can use busses, they're the best option - you're still gambling for A/C if you take a train.
Museums and churches have really figured it out by offering the ability to make reservations, and, for ease, I'd recommend that you get reservations for the places where you absolutely MUST visit - the Uffizi and the Academia (to see Il Davide). I'd suggest that you plan to spend two hours in the Uffizi - but you could spend DAYS in there - and at least an hour in the Academia (there are many other great works in there besides the statue), and it takes about 20-30 minutes to get between the two in a comfortable stride. Once you've done those must-dos, there are some amazing churches to visit in this Art-breathing town. (Based on the Duomo, which is more beautiful outside than inside, but totally check out the Bapistery next door) To the east is Santa Croce, a beautiful church and piazza, where you can see the graves of several famous people. Just near the train/bus stations is Santa Maria Novella, which possesses amazing frescoes inside, and, if you go around behind the church, you'll find their Pharmacia, which has amazing perfumes, soaps, etc. Great gifts to take home.
Looking for a great view? Piazzale Michaelangelo, to the south of the river, is AMAZING, and has some really nice restaurants in the area. The Palazzo Pitti is beautiful, and worthy of its own time, but if you're in town for only a day, I'd take on the above mentioned museums instead.
Just like in any big city (like Rome), look out for pickpocketing - more caused by the visiting student population than the locals. You'll find recommendations for restaurants everywhere, but, again, often the best restaurant you'll find is the one you see when you're wanting the rest and snacks! I always recommend wandering off the path to find a good spot, to take some time away from the rush of covering such an amazing city in such a few hours.
I forgot to mention this in the Rome passage - be sure to take time every day to enjoy some peace. There's a reason why Italians have their rest time in the middle of the day, and there's nothing wrong with you doing the same thing. Savor the time to renew yourself after a morning of hard touring, and you'll enjoy your late nights out so much more!!!
You're heading to Chianti after this - have you booked a hotel in a city yet? If you're headed to Siena, there is a cheap and comfortable bus (departing often - almost every hour in the middle of the day and evenings) for 6-7E per person which will take you directly to the train station or Piazza Gramsci, the central bus station of town. Check out the SENA bus line website. There are many trains going out of Florence to the Chianti countryside, too - if you check out the schedule on the Trenitalia website, you might just find the perfect train to get you out of Florence, too!
On to Chianti!!!
L :)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Files?
Want to see the newsletters which I make for my students' edification? After April 3, I'll have all of my newsletters/handouts posted on the SPI Italy Group (see the menu on the left?) - feel free to check these out for yourself!
Hugs,
L :)
Hugs,
L :)
Roma
Ahhhhhhh, Rome. My second home. And where my heart was, until I met my husband. Really, it was the closest thing to a marriage which I had in my life in my 20's - the one place I KNEW I'd return year after year, and always have the same love for it as I did the prior year.
Whenever I hear of someone going to Rome, I get that warming feeling in my chest, and recall how I feel for the city. Rome is amazing - so many places to see, so many levels to understand! Unless you live there for an extended period of time, you're not going to see everything, so instead of draining yourself of every ounce of energy, enjoy Rome for what she has to offer - her beauty, her culture, her food!
When you arrive into Rome by airport, DON'T TAKE THE TAXI to the airport - be a self-respecting tourist and save your money for food and wine! After you exit Customs (be sure you get Euros from the Bancomat while waiting for your bags), look for signs hanging from the ceiling "AI TRENI" - to the Trains. You'll have to take some escalators down, then back up, to get there, but you'll arrive at a small train station (get a snack/drink in the Bar). At the Tobacchi (big T sign - you can always get subway/bus tickets from these spots), request two tickets for the Termini Express. Find where the next Fiumicino/Termini Express train will arrive, and be sure you stamp/validate your ticket before boarding!
When you disembark from the train, you'll walk a LONG way (it seems) before you arrive into the terminal of Termini. You can buy your Romapass in the offices there, or at least get bus/metro tickets there (full-day, multi-day passes are available). Go through the front of Termini (large glass facade), and you'll see the Taxi stop on your right! Take a far cheaper taxi to your hotel.
First day in: drop off your bags, shower if you must, but eat when it's TIME to eat (not when you're hungry), and stay on your feet.
The Rocks: If you want to get over jetlag, here's a great way to stay on your feet your first day. Of course, you have to endure the old stuff - the Forum is a necessity. The Palatine is cool (and you get a great view of the Circus Maximus). Enjoy stepping along paths where people - CIVILIZED PEOPLE - have trod for almost three centuries. People were giving timeless speeches right there on the Rostra ("Friends, Romans, Countrymen . . ."), and saints were imprisoned there (Carcer Mamertinus). But enjoy being in the dust only until you're tired of it. If you MUST go into the Colosseum, do so, but please be sure you've bought your RomaPass elsewhere, so that you can pass through on the right side line! Just past the Colosseum is the church of St. Clemente, which has four levels of Rome under it (WAY COOL). The courtyard of this church has been the same one since the 11th century! Just north of the Forum/Imperial Fora - off of Via Cavour - is the church of St. Pietro in Vincoli, where you not only see the chains which held him, but you see the infamous "Moses". Take the Subway line from Colosseo down to visit the Basilica of St. Paul Fuori i Muri (I think the stop itself is St. Paolo), where you'll find Paul's remains - the best of the four major Basilicas, I think.
Take the metro back to your hotel. Shower up and head to a nice filling dinner. Can I recommend Trattoria del Pallaro, located just next to the church of St. Andrew, right between the Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona? It's about 30E per person for a five-course fixed price menu - FABULOUS food, and wine and dessert are included. Or, if you choose to stay near your hotel, let me share my philosophy on Roman restaurants (as Mom says): if it's open, it's good. But you might want to avoid places who have five languages on their menu.
Day two: Get up at an early time, and head to the Vatican! If you can get there early enough, you beat the crazy tourist lines. (but, of course, there's the Gelateria Old Bridge - a local fave - where you can stop while waiting in line) If you can't, head there around 1:30 PM, when everyone has gone through there. Maybe take a morning in at the Villa Borghese? Make it a totally cultural day? Consider having dinner at Pancrazio's, located just on the edge of the Campo dei Fiori - if you go down into their basement, you see some cool stuff. If you go through that doorway from their basement, you'll see the foundations of the Theatre of Pompey, where Julius Caesar was murdered (not in the Forum, like Shakespeare claims). And their signature dish is AMAZING.
Day three: Here's a fun morning walk: start at the river - the Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus. Walk up to the Piazza del Popolo (go into that church on the far north side - famous Caravaggios), stroll down to the Spanish Steps, then walk down to the Piazza Barberini, and go into the Cappucin Crypt (just north of the large shell statue on the north corner of the piazza). See my favorite fountain (the Triton), then stroll (watch your pockets) to the Trevi Fountain, head across to the Pantheon (take a stop at Tazzo d'Oro for a Caffe Granita), then head to Piazza Navona for lunch! There are so many gems between each of these major points - fountains, picture ops, churches - it could take you a day to do this stroll. Cafe Pancotto is just east of the Piazza navona - they have mom's favorite salad!
Also, just west of the Piazza Navona, on the Via Vittorio Emanuele, is my favorite pizza place - Montecarlo's. A local favorite. Consider going there for dinner.
Day four: Tired of walking? Head up to the Piazza Garibaldi on the Gianicolo for a beautiful view of the city! Take a train to Naples, then get to the harbor and take a boat to Capri (be back in time for bed)! Take the 110 (starts and ends at Termini) around town to see if there's another spot you've missed which you HAD to see! :) Or, do what I prefer, and find a nice, hidden table somewhere in Trastevere or in the Piazza Navona, and watch people all day long. Be sure that you've had tartuffo at Tre Scalini (in Piazza navona) during your evening stroll before you leave Rome behind.
Oh, no - I've got to head to professional development training! Next on the list: Florence!
Whenever I hear of someone going to Rome, I get that warming feeling in my chest, and recall how I feel for the city. Rome is amazing - so many places to see, so many levels to understand! Unless you live there for an extended period of time, you're not going to see everything, so instead of draining yourself of every ounce of energy, enjoy Rome for what she has to offer - her beauty, her culture, her food!
When you arrive into Rome by airport, DON'T TAKE THE TAXI to the airport - be a self-respecting tourist and save your money for food and wine! After you exit Customs (be sure you get Euros from the Bancomat while waiting for your bags), look for signs hanging from the ceiling "AI TRENI" - to the Trains. You'll have to take some escalators down, then back up, to get there, but you'll arrive at a small train station (get a snack/drink in the Bar). At the Tobacchi (big T sign - you can always get subway/bus tickets from these spots), request two tickets for the Termini Express. Find where the next Fiumicino/Termini Express train will arrive, and be sure you stamp/validate your ticket before boarding!
When you disembark from the train, you'll walk a LONG way (it seems) before you arrive into the terminal of Termini. You can buy your Romapass in the offices there, or at least get bus/metro tickets there (full-day, multi-day passes are available). Go through the front of Termini (large glass facade), and you'll see the Taxi stop on your right! Take a far cheaper taxi to your hotel.
First day in: drop off your bags, shower if you must, but eat when it's TIME to eat (not when you're hungry), and stay on your feet.
The Rocks: If you want to get over jetlag, here's a great way to stay on your feet your first day. Of course, you have to endure the old stuff - the Forum is a necessity. The Palatine is cool (and you get a great view of the Circus Maximus). Enjoy stepping along paths where people - CIVILIZED PEOPLE - have trod for almost three centuries. People were giving timeless speeches right there on the Rostra ("Friends, Romans, Countrymen . . ."), and saints were imprisoned there (Carcer Mamertinus). But enjoy being in the dust only until you're tired of it. If you MUST go into the Colosseum, do so, but please be sure you've bought your RomaPass elsewhere, so that you can pass through on the right side line! Just past the Colosseum is the church of St. Clemente, which has four levels of Rome under it (WAY COOL). The courtyard of this church has been the same one since the 11th century! Just north of the Forum/Imperial Fora - off of Via Cavour - is the church of St. Pietro in Vincoli, where you not only see the chains which held him, but you see the infamous "Moses". Take the Subway line from Colosseo down to visit the Basilica of St. Paul Fuori i Muri (I think the stop itself is St. Paolo), where you'll find Paul's remains - the best of the four major Basilicas, I think.
Take the metro back to your hotel. Shower up and head to a nice filling dinner. Can I recommend Trattoria del Pallaro, located just next to the church of St. Andrew, right between the Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona? It's about 30E per person for a five-course fixed price menu - FABULOUS food, and wine and dessert are included. Or, if you choose to stay near your hotel, let me share my philosophy on Roman restaurants (as Mom says): if it's open, it's good. But you might want to avoid places who have five languages on their menu.
Day two: Get up at an early time, and head to the Vatican! If you can get there early enough, you beat the crazy tourist lines. (but, of course, there's the Gelateria Old Bridge - a local fave - where you can stop while waiting in line) If you can't, head there around 1:30 PM, when everyone has gone through there. Maybe take a morning in at the Villa Borghese? Make it a totally cultural day? Consider having dinner at Pancrazio's, located just on the edge of the Campo dei Fiori - if you go down into their basement, you see some cool stuff. If you go through that doorway from their basement, you'll see the foundations of the Theatre of Pompey, where Julius Caesar was murdered (not in the Forum, like Shakespeare claims). And their signature dish is AMAZING.
Day three: Here's a fun morning walk: start at the river - the Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus. Walk up to the Piazza del Popolo (go into that church on the far north side - famous Caravaggios), stroll down to the Spanish Steps, then walk down to the Piazza Barberini, and go into the Cappucin Crypt (just north of the large shell statue on the north corner of the piazza). See my favorite fountain (the Triton), then stroll (watch your pockets) to the Trevi Fountain, head across to the Pantheon (take a stop at Tazzo d'Oro for a Caffe Granita), then head to Piazza Navona for lunch! There are so many gems between each of these major points - fountains, picture ops, churches - it could take you a day to do this stroll. Cafe Pancotto is just east of the Piazza navona - they have mom's favorite salad!
Also, just west of the Piazza Navona, on the Via Vittorio Emanuele, is my favorite pizza place - Montecarlo's. A local favorite. Consider going there for dinner.
Day four: Tired of walking? Head up to the Piazza Garibaldi on the Gianicolo for a beautiful view of the city! Take a train to Naples, then get to the harbor and take a boat to Capri (be back in time for bed)! Take the 110 (starts and ends at Termini) around town to see if there's another spot you've missed which you HAD to see! :) Or, do what I prefer, and find a nice, hidden table somewhere in Trastevere or in the Piazza Navona, and watch people all day long. Be sure that you've had tartuffo at Tre Scalini (in Piazza navona) during your evening stroll before you leave Rome behind.
Oh, no - I've got to head to professional development training! Next on the list: Florence!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Checking In!
Just checking to see if you're looking - I promise to start entries next week, after State is over! (this thing has taken FAR more planning than even my wedding!!!)
Until then, please know that this blog is going to be used for both the Italy group commentaries, as well as my sharing information for family friends who are planning to head to Italy before we even depart! Talk about getting a great taste for OUR trip, by living out someone else's fabulous trip!!!
abbracci,
L :)
Until then, please know that this blog is going to be used for both the Italy group commentaries, as well as my sharing information for family friends who are planning to head to Italy before we even depart! Talk about getting a great taste for OUR trip, by living out someone else's fabulous trip!!!
abbracci,
L :)
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