Experiencing Italy while avoiding museum overdose - how to do it?

Question

I am planning a trip to Italy with a family member that will include Rome, Sorrento, Naples, Florence.

I know there are so many incredible museums, art galleries, and cathedrals to see, and we plan to hit the major ones, but we're really more interested in experiencing the Italian culture.

Do you have any recommendations on what we should do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Rent a villa overlooking the ocean in naples.  Do a lot of walking and hang out at the locals restaurants and bars.  Avoid touristy areas like museums, resorts, hotels.

be friendly and cordial, you may get invited to dinner.

if you do, accept immediately, you'll have a great time.

Answer 2

Italy has a lot to see other than museums, Rome, the beautiful artichtures, Colosium, Patheon, Vatican, Bernini fountains, ancient ruins such as the Forum ; Sorrento, the stunning beautiful Almalfi Coast; Naples, the national museums of artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum and the actual sites itself 1-2 hours from Naples to Sorrento by the local train Circumvusius, are very very interesting; Naples is very good for fashion shopping, cheap and fashionable; Florence, the whole place itself is a museum though the museum Uffici(wrong spelling ???) is the most popular, but I don't think you should miss the Academia (again wrong spelling ???) where the statue David is.

Answer 3

With the cities your already overdosing.. they are amazing cities.. you should pick one and go there for a few days but stay in a small town/city (my suggestion is where I am from its called Ferentino.. It is older than Rome and is gorous and full of historical things) If you do the small city then a big for just a few days you should avoid the overdose and have a nice relaxing trip while still getting the history lesson heres a few pics of ferentino

http://www.signaromanorum.org/jpg/TEA_Fe...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

http://www.romeartlover.it/Gregfer5.jpg

http://www.viselli.it/la%20ciociaria/Fer...

Answer 4

Look for local festivals near where you'll be - it makes a nice break from the museums/churches/galleries and you'll get a better feel for the traditions and actual life in Italy. An added advantage is great food. Some of the most interesting are in the smaller towns.

There are several sites that list events by type of event, month, location: http://www.sagreinitalia.it/Default.asp, http://www.sagreinromagna.it/romagna_fea... http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.ht...

Answer 5

In Rome -- spend and evening in Trastevere -- across the river.  Also, if you are there on a Sunday take a walk on the Via Appia Antigua --- the old Appian way -- it's closed to cars and the locals with their families are all out walking and riding bikes -- have a picnic or lunch in one of the restaurants.

Take a tram ride on the #3 and #8.

Answer 6

Yes, museums and cathedrals are great, but the best way to experience Italian culture is to do what the locals do. Use local buses and trains to get to the cathedrals etc. Last January, we spent 4 days in Pompeii - we caught a train to Sorrento one day. Another day we took the local bus to Vesuvius and actually climbed right to the top.

We often stayed in small, family-run 3 star hotels. When you want to eat, look for a small restaurant and do a lot of sign-language and pointing if your Italian is not so good.

Walk as much as possible, so wear comfortable shoes.

I hope you have a great time in Italy.

Answer 7

That's easy, don't go to many-it's a personnel choice. No one is forcing you to go. I was in Italy for three weeks and only went to one museum to see David. Otherwise, my preference was to be in Italy, to wander, etc. You say that you want to experience the Italian culture, just walk and it will surround you everywhere you go! Buon Viaggio