Major Cities of Italy by Train -- August 2008

Usually $130-145 pp got a special at the train station for $96 pp.

Ticket office recommended calling 166 from Switzerland the day before travel to find out if Italy was having a strike.

I highly recommend this hotel. We didn't get what we signed up for exactly since one couple was supposed to get a private bath and the other a shared bath. However we got a suite that had two rooms and a bath to ourselves. It worked out much better than the quad rooms we had throughout the rest of the trip. The larger room had a very impressive view while the other looked out to another building. The breakfast wasn't very good/generic but the rooms were excellent with beautiful furniture and comfortable beds. The staff didn't seem especially welcoming but we had the trip planned out so didn't talk with them much.

Double with shared bath 112 Euro or $168
Double 170 Euro or $255
The price includes: air conditioning, breakfast, intenet wi-fi free near the desk

Check in: 1:00 PM - Check out: 10:30 AM

DIRECTIONS:

To reach us from Piazzale Roma or from train station “.S. Lucia” take water bus line 1, direction
S.Marco square. You must get off at stop called Cà d’Oro, then walk down the main street at your right straight on till a little square called Campo S.Apostoli. Turn left and left again into our street Calle dell’Oca

Although I like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence better, this is still a must see stop on your walks through Venice. It's simply a bridge lined with shops, however, it's a great place to window shop, people watch and gaze at the gondolas and boat traffic below. My husband and I had seen a glass piece on Murano that we were interested in but it was large and a little out of our budget. We found a shop near the bridge that had a smaller piece that was very similar that we purchased.

Walk around and get acquainted with Venice.

I was disappointed because I really liked seeing the Bridge of Sighs in 2003 but they are currently doing renovation on the buildings on either side and you can hardly see the bridge.

$46.20 pp after fees.

Go in the evening for live music, dancing and a drink. You will not be disappointed because there are often 2-4 different bands at the open-air restaurants competing for your attention. Even if you can't afford the drinks it's still worth the atmosphere... A romantic night in Venice.

Quad room 115 Euro or $172

include continental buffet breakfast, Wi-Fi internet connection, air conditioning, map of the city

I cannot really recommend this hotel. The beds were fairly comfortable, the pillows terrible, the bathroom reeked like there were rotting vegetables stuffed down the shower drain, there was hardly any water pressure and it was just an old building. The good news is that the breakfast was good, though cramped at times. However, the price was right and the location was PERFECT. The Duomo was only a block away. So, if you're on a budget and you like to walk (like we do) then you can walk away realizing that you didn't come for the hotel but to experience the city.

I would recommend going into the baptistery. It's fairly cheap and the guide they hand you explains what you're seeing. If you like art or mosaics then the ceiling and doors will keep you in awe for quite some time.

Mon-Sat: 12-7
Sun: 8:30-2

3 Euro

Three of us went to the Medici Chapels while my husband went to the Dante Museum because he's a big fan of Dante's work. He didn't enjoy the place much because he knew most of the history they "talked" about within the museum.

Choose to go to Dante or Chappel.

Daily 10.00-18.00

Orari
Tues: 10:00 - 16:00
Wed and Thurs: 10:00 - 15:00
Sat and Sun: 10:00 - 17:00

We enjoyed the Medici Chapels but they were out of English pamphlets when we went and so it was difficult to get much out of the visit. I would not recommend a visit but if you would like to learn more about the Medici family then I suppose you would enjoy it.

Daily 8:15-5

€ 6,00

The garden wasn't very impressive but it did have its highlights; amazing sculptures, wonderful grottoes and outlooks over the countryside and Florence. I felt it was too expensive for what it was, but we did enjoy a break from the city for a while.

June August: 8.15 – 19.30

€ 6.00 or Pitti Palace inclusive ticket (valid 3 days) includes the entire museum complex of the Pitti Palace: € 11.50 or € 9.00 after 4pm.

I really enjoy the Ponte Vecchio. It is such a unique bridge with a great history and the window shopping (for jewelry) is out of this world. Plus it's free and outdoors so it's a nice break from all the museum/sightseeing.

Watch the sun set over the Arno River.

If there is one place you have to eat in Florence this is it. It was the best meal we had while in Italy and the best part is that it was also a great value. There were four of us so we ate "family style" by getting a sampler of firsts (which serves you five soups and pastas) and then for the main you have to get the arrosto misto (pork, rabbit, chicken and beef). Set some time aside to eat. We were some of the first to arrive at 12:30 (when they opened the doors) and some of the last to leave. I think our meal took 3 hours. If there are just a couple of you and you can't get all that food then the one thing you have to try it's the ribollita. This is not a pasta, but minestrone soup that has been reboiled with bread. A dish that takes days to make and comes out with an amazing explosion of taste at Il Latini. The favorite meat was pork for the women and beef for the men. We were also suprised that the men liked the bean soup so much. On top of all the food you get a bottomless house wine which was very good. To top it off, we were also served homemade biscotti and Amaretto on the house. I usually don't enjoy biscotti but they were exceptional. The hardest I've ever eaten with a strong vanilla flavor and fresh almonds inside. The Amaretto was smooth and a perfect pairing with the delicious biscotti. Lets just say this, I want to go back to Florence just to go to this restaurant again!

Tues-Sun 12:30-2:30pm and 7:30-10:30pm
Closed 15 days in August.

Primi 6€ ($7.80); secondi 8€-16€ ($10-$21); unofficial fixed-priced full meal with limitless wine 30€-35€ ($39-$46)