Anyone recently been to Italy? Where are the best places to go?

Question

I'm looking for someone who can honestly tell me what's good, what's bad... if Venice really stinks as much as people say it does. =( And also, what are the people like? Are they welcoming to Americans, or are they like the French?

Answer 1

I think Venice smells, but doesn't stink.

Been travelling nearly all regions of Italy, from the Alps to Sicily. There is no region that I couldn't recommend, but I felll in love with the Tuscuny, especially the region called Crete around Siena. Emilia Romagna is great for Foods, Milano is great for fashion. Rome for Culture, Amalfi coast has awesome coastlines and views. Sicily is like a country of it's own, historically a mix of greek and roman and other cultures.

There is soooooooooo much to see and like, Maybe tell a little bit more, in what you are interested, to get a better answer ;)

The people are very friendly, more open than the french. Americans do not have the best reputation in Europe (because of Mr. Bush), but it is still fine. Learn some phrases italian, you will be amazed how much it will open doors for you, even if you can't understand the answers.

The french and germans nearly expect you to speak their language, the Italians are a bit more open and really love it if you can speak (even very few) Italian words.

If you need the Adress of a great wine maker and B&B near Bologna, let me know.

Answer 2

Venice doesn't really smell only in the summer and that's only the smaller canals. The Italians are great and I seem to get on with them well. I do speak Italian though. They're fine with tourists but they do like you to try to speak their language. Lots of the youner Italians and many waiters speak English. They tend to like polite tourists who respect their churches and their art.The worst thing about Italy are the beggars and gypsies. There's some pick pocketing but you simply take the precautions you would in any major city. I find the country phenominal and visit several times a year.

Milan - The Refrectory of Santa Maria del Grazie to see The Last Supper (Tickets in advance)

Venice - Saint Mark's Square, The Doge's Palace, Rialto bridge, Bridge of Sighs, Arsenal, The Accademia, Giacomo Cassanova's house, The Grand Canal and Murano.

Rome - Vatican Museums which include the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basillica, Castel Saint Angelo, Forum, Colosseum, Palatine, Circus Maximus, Via Appia, Gallery Borghese, Capitoline Museums, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and many many churches.

Florence - Uffizi Gallery (tickets in advance), Accademia (Michelangelo's David is there, Bargello, Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia with its sculpture, various churches and family chapels, Palazzo Pitti, Fort Belvedere.

Vinci in tuscanny to see the birthplace of Leonardo da VInci.

Naples- Pompeii, Herculanium.(1.5hrs from Rome)

Padua, Verona, the lakes, the Dolomites etc etc.

I can only list a few things here or I'd be going on for days

If you're pushed for time then train travel in Italy is very cheep and efficient.

Great guide books are the Eyewitness Travel Guides. They have photos, every attraction you can think of, opening times and great maps.

Take a look at these web sites and enjoy your trip.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_en/pages/mv_home....

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/englis...

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/scripts/query...

www.venere.com

buona fortuna

Answer 3

Try Florence & Milan.

Florence is known as the most beatiful city of Italy due their museums, art, food & wine.

If you like shopping go to St Lorenzo Market to buy wool sweaters, leather jackets and silk accesories.

Milan is a big city , in Europe, go to Brera Gallery and the Duomo Centre.

They like more the French, the American is still looked as a intruder due the arrogant attitude.

Answer 4

Sicily, Sicily, Sicily...lived there (near Catania).

Great weather, great beaches, great cities, great Greek and Roman ruins, greeeeeeat food, great people...love Americans.  Often ignored by Americans, I call Sicily Europe's best kept secret because the vast majority of the tourists are Europeans, not Americans.

You can drive to Messina, Sicily, from Rome in one day.  The autostrada (freeway) is the fastest way to go, but the coastline highway is gorgeous and worth a day or two exploring (Pompeii is enroute, well worth a lay over).  The ferry ride from the toe of Italy to Messina is fun.  (Better hurry, they're going to build a bridge there.)

Get a hotel room in Taoromina, just south of Messina and plan on seeing eastern Sicily from there.  Taoromina may just be the most beautiful city in the world.  Its cobble stone streets are grooved where the chariots of Caesar used to roll.  In the south, Mt. Etna still pours out smoke (if not lava).  In the north, there is the largest Greek amphitheater still in use outside Greece.  And in the east, ah the east, lies the Ionic Sea crashing against the rocks along the beaches hundreds of feet below.

Have I mentioned the west?  In the west, groves and groves of blood orange trees bear their fruit and fill the air with the smell of orange blossoms or oranges.  Bougainvilla growing along the walls and fences add their fragrance throughout the city.  There is always a sweet perfume in the air of Taoromina.

Plan on driving to the Valley of the Gods, where dozens of temples paying tribute to Zeus, Aphrodite, and others lie as they were thousands of years ago.  Again drive along the coast to get there (you can drive straight through, but the views are not nearly so great).  Along the coast, you'll pass through Siracusa (Syracuse) and see where Jason and Cyclops used to play.  I rochii dei ciclopi are small islands lying just off the coast near Catania.

Stay away from the food...if you're worried about your weight.  I never met a Sicilian restaurant I didn't like...the local bowling alley had the best pizzas in town.  Their mare mistos (sea foods) are to die for.  And the pastas are sumptuous.  I especially liked the spaghetti carbonera with its prosciutto ham and alfredo sauce.

If you do Sicily I can all but guarantee you a great time.

Answer 5

Everywhere in Italy is fabulous.

The Lakes are spectacular and Venice is just the place if you're going with a loved one- BTW I've been three times and never ever found Venice to be smelly!

Milan is the fashion Capital but not the prettiest of places. Pisa and Florence are well worth seeing and if you like the beach I can reccommend Viareggio for the ultimate Italian beach holiday.

Sorrento is beautidul too and you can easily visit Capri from there.

Rome is amazing especially if you are into architecture and culture.

If it were me, I'd try and do a multi-centre if possible. Driving is not for the faint hearted but it's the best way to get around. If you really can't stand the thought of driving, the railway network is excellent!

Have a great time.

Answer 6

I lived in northern Italy for 3 years. Venice is not bad at all. Neither was Verona. In Rome is great. Takes about 3-4 days to do all the site seeing and all. Watch out though there are a lot of Gypsies there so watch your wallet and purse.

My mother in law got her purse stolen by one when she visit us. It was at the McDonalds in Florence in front of the train station.

So be careful about them.

I love the site seeing though and things to do.

I miss it and will be going back when my sons get older they were both born there.

have fun! =)