Who here has been to Italy?

beautiful country, mad expensive.

I've been to Rome and I would love to travel through Italy.

Loved the Vatican.
Didn't love the 5 hour wait for the Vatican Museum. In August.

I was there in March with my school for 10 days. By far the best ten days of my life. I enjoyed Rome, but my favourites were Perugia (great small town), Assissi, Florence, and Sienna. I would LOVE to go back to any of the places I was (and we hardly scratched the surface)!

I think I'm going back next summer, going to hit up Perugia, Florence, and Rome this time. MAYBE go to San Giamano, just to give my family a taste of another small town (they've never been to Italy)

Basically, if there are any Italians on this board, you have a beautiful country filled with beautiful people (honestly the kids we met in Perugia (16-18) were some of the nicest kids I've ever met!).

I loved Verona and Venice. I hated Rome. Rome's become too much of a disneyland now, whoever decided it was a good idea to have men playing dress up outside the collesium should be shot. Venice is obviously almost as touristy as Rome, but I thought it had kept more of its character. Verona is amazing and by far the best place I've visited in Italy. Idyllic and 'quaint', in a good way.

I definitely want to do Sicily to Venice in 1 big trip sometime.

I went for 3 weeks a few years ago (with the Univeristy, for a volcanology training). I went in napoli, Rome, and Eolian Islands (Stromboli, Vulcano, Lipari).
It was really great. Eolian Islands = paradise. I went in May and it was already hot (30° C) but without too much tourists.
Rome was fabulous too.
But it's an expsneive place to be. I live in Belgium, not that far, but the price in Italy are someting like 1,5 x the prices in Belgium

LOVED the architecture, the gardens, the art, the FOOD.....not impressed with the transport. also, not the best a/c in hotels for such a climate. otherwise, a completely beautiful country!


i've been to 6 different cities, and still never rome, venice...or my father's birthplace, sicily!

PJLaur wrote:

I just got back from traveling around Italy for a month in May. I'm curious of what you loved/didn't like about Italy.

I haven't been there yet, but it's someplace I'm dying to go to!! The pictures I've seen make it look like such a beautiful country.

Just got back. I loved that every city is walkable though Venice was by far my favorite in that stead because it scared me a lot less to walk around with less traffic and there seems to be something cool everywhere. It's so relaxed and laid back. The Plazzo Ducale (Doges Palace) was incredible and it pays to book online. Venice is so well signed and marked it's easy to negociate. Florence and Rome tend to not have enough signage and they have the frustrations of a name change every two blocks like most other modern cities. I think it would be fun to live in Venice most of the time. It's just expensive.

I loved Florence and Tuscany for virtually everything, arcitecture, art, local food. Walking and traffic takes a bit of getting used to as do the multitude of street vendors. (I don't want any roses or magnets or fake prada purses but thanks) I did tip most of the street musicians. Speaking of which the Medici's had a fine collection of musical instruments on display at the Gallery of the Academy (David) that I enjoyed seeing.

If you like artwork at all you'll love Italy. Arcitecture. Likewise. History. Impecable. Italy is a phenominally interesting place for a vast numbers of reasons.

Rome was probably my least favorite but amazing none the less.

One thing I think I most noticed was that you really need to take time to find the right place to eat. The tourist places are not unlike the tourist places here. The little Trattorias and Osterias and family owned restaurants were the best.

In Florence Terra Terra and Antique Barile were my favorite places to eat. Both small if not tiny spots on little alley's with tables out in the street.

In Rome there is a tremendous speghetti restaurant with a menu that reads like a novel and cheap excellent food. It's near the Trevi fountain on a little side street L Archetta I think.

Venecian food is not the best but we found a great lunch spot over in San Polo off of San Silvestre just a little Trattoria and there is a pretty nice seafood spot on the St Marks side of the Rialto Bridge that was quite good.


One of my favorite things by far was the Euro Italia train. Electric, extremely quiet. Very comfortable. Fast. and with big windows to see the countryside. If the US had these trains I'd take them in a second over most hour to two hour air trips. FLorence to Rome on the train was spectacular. Sunflowers, olive trees and grapes as far as the eye can see.