I’m going to Italy in September. I am in the process of coming up with an itinerary that will allow me to see and photograph some amazing places but I also want to get some time to just be. As of today, the first part of the trip is solo and busy with site seeing. Part two, my friend Mary joins me and the site seeing will involve locating a beautiful Piazza and a bottle of wine. Can’t wait.
I am going Italy from 09/07/08 – 09/20/08. I leave from NYC and arrive into Pisa. I may extend this to the end of September depending on my budget and other obligations.
This is Itinerary 1.0 – I am sure it is going to change and get upgraded before September so this blog is meant to help me keep track of my research and changes over time and get other’s thoughts and ideas about what I should do.
September 8, 2008
Arrive Pisa - Pick up rental car from airport and make the the two hour drive to Siena. I still need to research places between Pisa and Siena that would be nice to explore. Any advice??
- Siena, Italy
September 9, 2008
Explore Siena Details and sites TBD
I could use some help with Siena. I know very little.
September 10, 2008
Depart Siena for Rome – it is a 3+ hour drive with no stops but I plan on taking my time a long the way to explore places like Montepulciano, Cortona and San Gimignano.
I am so excited to go back to Rome. I have not been there since 1995. I am staying near the Spanish Steps and some fabulous shopping areas. My first night I plan on just exploring the neighborhood near the hotel - The Spanish Step and Trevi Fountain.
Trevi Fountain
September 10, 2008 - September 12, 2008
09/11 – Explore Rome I booked a 4 hour photography tour with a national geographic photographer. The goal of the tour is to see Rome on foot and all of the amazing landmarks but also learn to take great pictures.
The Roman Coliseum
Tour Highlights:
- The Coliseum
- The Foro Romano, or Roman Forum
- The Campidoglio is a remarkable square and an urban masterpiece designed by Michelangelo.
- Teatro Marcello was the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. Caesar wanted to build a theater to rival the one built by Pompey, whom he had just defeated and killed in the struggle for the control of Rome.
- Tortoise Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) was built by Taddeo Landini and Giacomo della Porta, and located in Piazza Mattei. It is one of the most unique and less-known fountains in all of Rome.
- The Pantheon
- Campo de’ Fiori - the oldest market in Rome, where food and flowers are found. Its name comes from the Piazza (south of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II), where the market has taken place for the last 140 years. The food market had been in Piazza Navona since 1478 but was moved here in 1869. The market is open every morning of the week except Sunday. Campo de’ Fiori, surrounded by many bars and restaurants, is a popular destination at night for locals and foreigners alike.
- Mercato Delle Stampe - Located in Largo della Fontanella di Borghese, this market is the place to find old books, magazines, engravings and prints. Opens Monday to Saturday 7am – 1:30pm
- The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216.
- Via Margutta is a small street in the center of Rome, in the old quarter of Campo Marzio, also known as ”the foreigner’s quarter”, located near to the slopes of Mount Pincio. It is a place with many art galleries and fashionable restaurants, where before the Renaissance there were only modest craftsmen workshops and stables. In the 1950s, after the film Roman Holiday it became an exclusive road, and a residence of many famous people, like film director Federico Fellini. It can be reached from the north traveling by the Via Cassia or by Flaminia until arriving to the large square Piazzale Flaminio, and then passing through the city door in the wall that leads toPiazza del Popolo square, from this point it is a walk of several meters to the left of the Flaminio Obelisk towards Via del Babuino, on the left side of this road there is an alley that leads to Via Margutta.
- Maybe go back to the Vatican to see Sistine Chapel but the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica made me a little angry last time so I may skip it.
The Calandrino - Our Apartment in Lucca
I want to get there at a decent hour to pick up keys to the apartment and be able to see the below festival.
Lucca
Florence
Cinque Terre
That is what I have so far. Any tips or places not to be missed??
7 responses so far ↓
Dan F // July 19, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Leslie,
First, Hurrah for you for stepping out and doing this trip.
Second, San Gimignano is easily worth 3-6 hours, depending on how detailed you want to get. We were in Siena in 2003 & toured S G with a guide– very interesting.
In Siena, we stayed in Grand Hotel Continental (very nice & $$), toured Contrata museum, toured Duomo (wow!). Dined at Trattoria Papei and ate Steak Fiorentina — don’t miss that!
Dan F // July 19, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Florence: We were just there. Had a nice lunch at Alfredo sull’ Arno Ristorante, on the other bank of the Arno River, looking back at Ufizzi Gallery, Ponte Vechio. I’m sure you’ll do the main museums–will be a long but great day!
Barbara // July 20, 2008 at 11:31 am
In Florence, there’s an apothecary that’s in most guide books. The monks sell soap now but they used to sell drinks like Chartreuse which they made. Anyhow, this “nothing” place has fabulous frescoes in rooms that have maybe a desk and a fan in it. It’s awesome to see the extent of frescoes that still light up a room that ’s not even being used. I think it’s in the direction of the train station.
cinque terre // July 24, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi, nice pictures…you can see some tips about the 5 terre on my signature link or.. clicking the following link you can vote the nicest of the cinque terre http://www.cinqueterre.com/blog/la-piu-bella-delle-cinque-terre
If you like to add our blog or main page in your blogroll I can link back to you from the page “parlano di noi” on mine..
Ciao
Carolyn // September 9, 2008 at 6:19 am
I just returned 8/31/08 from Italy. In the Tuscany area, be sure in addition to San Gimingano, Orvieto (I thought the best city) and Radda (best views) Orvietto is on the way to Rome from Tuscany.
The best restaurant in Florence is Ristorante Il Gianostra. Absolutely fabulous and rated #1 in Florence. Unpretentious, not expensive and exquisite food. Lots of foodies go there and movie stars!!! Please look it up on the web.
you have probably already gone to Via Margutto in Rome. At the time we were there many stores were closed. Even so, you need to spend mucho dinero there if you to buy the antiques, jewelry and other high end items. Beautiful buildings to photograph. We found that there is either low end or high end shopping in Italy. Mid-range items really hard to find. Should you come upon stores or good bargains, please e-mail back.
The markets were unimpressionable in Rome and Florence – not worth attending. Lots of junk, no real bargains.
If you can arrange a cooking class, I think that was worth every penny to understand the food and preparation. Best memories for life is to cook the food.
Good luck and enjoy!
Joe // October 21, 2008 at 3:16 am
Leslie,
I was just in Italy at the same time you were, though i flew from San Francisco. I was in Lucca for 5 days, and was witness to the 3 hour procession, too. How did you rent your apartment?
After Lucca i was in 5-Terre, Manarola to be exact. Hiked the whole trail, loved it!
Have been to Florence before, especially liked the David & climbing the Duomo; et tu? Did not go to Siena; how is it?
Rome was spectacular, lots to see, spent my b-day at the Coliseo.
Did you venture south of Roma?
The Hillscapes of the Cinque Terre // June 2, 2009 at 7:15 pm
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