I've never left the American South, so I've planned a solo 7-day trip to Italy over my school's spring break this March. I will have $2000 saved up by March, and I've already bought the plane ticket so I just have to make reservations for hostels and trains. My interests: I am willing to splurge on sightseeing--especially baroque architecture, nature and fountains--but I am not a foodie or shopaholic in the slightest. I do plan on seeing some museums, but I'm far more interested in architecture and I get exhausted after a couple of hours in a museum. To be honest, I really just love the ocean and my heart just cries a little every time I see photos of Cinque Terre--however, I could be persuaded if there's another town nearby, especially since I'm told March Italian weather can be too chilly for a trip to the beach. I've read four different guidebooks and I'm starting to feel like my head will explode. Here's the itinerary that I've planned. Saturday March 13th 4:05 p.m.--Plane lands in Rome. - Things I want to see in Rome: Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colloseum, Sistine Chapel, various plazas and Monday March 15th, 3 p.m.--Take a train to Venice - Things I want to see in Venice: Rialto bridge, Doze palace, evening gondola ride, possibly Murano glass factories and a lace factory Thursday morning: Take a train to Veneza in Cinque Terre. - Things I want to see in Veneza: Cliffs, get a sense of a smaller Italian town, the ocean - Train back to Rome: Friday night Saturday March 20th, 6:45 p.m.--Plane leaves Rome On Florence: Everyone says I should see Florence, but to be honest I just don't feel attracted to it the way I want to see Venice (after all, it is sinking) and Cinque Terre. I might see Florence if I had an additional two days, but for now I want to make sure I enjoy my time in Rome, Venice and a country town. On the flight: I cannot change the flight time, location or details. It will cost over $300 to change it and I don't have that kind of money. However, I don't have any other reservations at all. I can change the details about my trains and the order I'm visiting the cities.
Other - Italy - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
nice! you should really check out the markets if you get the chance
2 :
Its great, you'll just need to go back again and Again! You are missing FLorence, which is a sin to miss. The museums are to die for.
3 :
Hi, the place that you want to see are very beautiful (i've seen them) but in my opinion it'll better if you arrived in Venice, you catch the train for cinqueterre and then you go to Rome (you don't miss so much time in travelling). Then you can take the plain for return in Rome... Have a nice trip... (sorry for the bad english, i'm italien)
4 :
It sounds like a great trip although it would be better to stay longer, it is a long way to go so stay as long as you can. I wouldn't worry to much about Florence, although it is listed as one of the five best cities in Italy (http://www.venice-italy-veneto.com/best-cities-in-italy.html) I think you are seeing the two best cities and Cinque Terra is great. If you had more time a few days exploring the countryside in a region like Le Marche ( http://www.my-italy-piedmont-marche-and-more.com/best-of-le-marche.html ) would be great.
5 :
I am sure you will have a great time, the weather should be mild and you will be surprised by the Italian spring. But since it's your first (and hopefully not last) time in Italy, I would try to see as much as possible. Cinque terre are great, but they are far from Venice and Rome and you can reach them just by local trains, wich are kind of slow... From Rome you'll be in Flr in 1.40 h, and I can help you booking a nice hotel close to the train station for 65 euro for 2 with breakfast. And before going to the beach or the country i would visiti Siena (Piazza del Campo and the Palio) or Pisa (leaning tower). Let me know if I can help you!
6 :
Personally, it sounds like you're trying to cover too much area in too short a time, but it is possible to do this. I would recommend considering a change in the plan though. First, rather than taking a 3 pm train from Rome to Venice, consider taking the night train. It leaves Rome (from the Roma Tiburtina Station) at 10:36 pm and arrives in Venice at 5:26 the next morning. You can sleep in a berth in a 4 bed compartment through the night. This gives you more time in Rome, the night train is cheaper than the 2:45 pm train to Venice, and you won't have to pay for a hotel/hostel the night you travel. http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html While you're in Venice get a day pass for the vaporetto. A trip down the Grand Canal is worth the cost and you can use the ticket to get to Murano or Burano if you choose to do that. Venice is a walkable city though and it's easy to get around on foot. Getting from Venice to Cinque Terre will take a couple of train changes. The cheapest option is to start at 3:11 am from Venice and change trains in Bologna and Parma to get to Monterosso. There's also a 7:39 am train from Venice to Florence where you can change to a train to Pisa and then to Monterosso, but that doesn't get you to Cinque Terre until 1 pm. When you're in Cinque Terre, buy a day pass for the trains between the town that also allows you to walk the blue trail along the cliffs. I use this site for hotels here: http://www.venere.com/hotels/italy/
7 :
Sorry, I've already a lot of similar plans by people who have never seen Italy, and I don't like at all. You have included the most popular and touristy places (and the most popular and touristy sites in each place), even far one from another, and you think you can see "everything" of that in few days. But Italy is not small, distances are not short and you risk to travel around spending a lot of money and time and to see really nothing the best way. I suggest to stay one week just in Rome. Rome is a wonderful city, it has everything you can interested in, and one week can be hardly enough for it. You like baroque architecture, fountains and nature? there are plenty of baroque churches, almost all with free entrance not crowded by mass tourism (Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza, Gesù, Sant'Ignazio, Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Santa Maria della Pace, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane...) lots of marvelous fountains (Trevi Fountain is unfortunately always obsessed by tourists but there are also Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, Fontana dei Fiumi, Fontana del Tritone, Fontana della Barcaccia, Fontana delle Naiadi, Fontana delle Tartarughe...) and large green areas (Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphili, Villa Ada, Villa Torlonia...) You don't like museums, but if you visit in Rome the Galleria Doria Pamphili or the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica you will be able to discover the magnificent inside of baroque palaces, and you'll have the option also to see some paintings, the best of the collections, without getting bored or tired. Staying in one place you would save time, money, stress, and above all you would have the pleasure to know this place the best way, discovering on your own things that no tourist know. I understand you can hardly change your plan, but I liked to tell you my personal opinion.
Read more discussion :
