Travelling Italy

Italy is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful and history-charged countries of the world! I am from South Germany, and Italy is not too far away. That gave me the possibility to visit it a couple of times. My last visit was this February: http://colin-utz.artistwebsites.com/art/all/winter+in+venice/all

I'm glad you found it beautiful Colin,how was your experience here,any suggestion for the next tourists,something you'd like to recommend...

I was fortunate to visit Italy for the first time last November and I fell in love with your country and it's people. I will be going back and when I do I will have to revisit about 75% of the places that I saw and still leave time to see some new places. I particularly loved Venice which due to the season and no cruise ships in port at the time was not particularly crowded especially for us early risers. I was standing pretty close to where you took your shot from when I took this shot. Can you tell me the name of the building in the background or any details that I can use in my description?

@ Bob

It´s San Giorgio Maggiore Island.

Sure Bob,that's the church of San Giorgio Maggiore

Yeah,one of the biggest problem of Venice nowadays are those monstrous ships crossing the Giudecca canal,but the government has probably found a solution for that aged problem

When you visit Venice one can ride in a gondola with a large crowd of tourists for a very high fee or one can cross the grand canal in a slightly less fancy gondola for just a few euros but the truly adventurous will need to take a lesson in rowing a gondola with an instructor on the quiet back canals near the lagoon.

"I'm glad you found it beautiful Colin,how was your experience here,any suggestion for the next tourists,something you'd like to recommend..."

Italy is a very diversified country. You have the Dolomites (part of the Alps) in the North, Vulcanos in the South, Beaches around the country and the islands, and , of course historical cities everywhere.

Especially for cities like Venice or Rome, I would recommend to avoid the main season during the summer months. You will have millions of tourists and accommmodation ist more expensive.

Go where the locals go. Even in Venice there are places with almost no tourists not far away from the main attractions (Venice is a very small city with almost everything in walking distance).

Don´t forget the countryside. Drive a few miles away from the tourists resorts, and you will find the "real" Italy.

Great hint Bob and of course Colin,the real Italy is in the small villages all around this country
The best moments to visit it are probably the Spring for the North-center of Italy and October for the rest,but then if you want to just enjoy the sun in a beautiful beach in the South,like Sicily,Puglia,Calabria or the Sardinia island,Summer is the obvious choice,if you like skiing choose the Winter and go to the Dolomiti and you'll find all you need to enjoy your time

The cultural-historical centers are surely better with less tourists around and so Spring and Autumn,even the winter is not bad,but the weather won't be too kind,at least in the North,you could still find some great and unusual moments like the Venice carnival 1-31-2015 to 2-17-2015,which is surely unique and many others...

I have been to your country several times, the first time being my honeymoon in 1996. My paternal grandmother was Italian and I fell in love with Italy immediately. I love art, architecture and history, and it doesn't get much better than Italy. The fantastic food is the cherry on top of the sundae. This past July we took our children for the first time and rented an apt in Florence for a week. It was my fourth trip to that incredible city and I would move there tomorrow if I could!

Yes Valerie,all Tuscany is beautiful,people are surely kind and talkative,plus the food is awesome,like you mentioned
Out of those reasons why would you go live there,what capture you?

Yuri,

I have been to Venice several years ago and I have posted some of the pictures on my sight. I love Europe anyway; but Venice was like a fairy tale. I love the canals and the water and I was so curious about life living on the canal. I love the houses all built together and the food was awesome. I did come on a cruise ship; but signed up for the extra days in order to be in Venice. I love the way people enjoy life and do not hurry through it. It appeared as though everyone worked together and I noticed smiling face! No arrogance or sadness or anger!!!! My grandfather was born on the Island of Crete, yet I never had a desire to go there.... just Italy and I am glad I did. I also crossed a small portion on my way from Germany to Villach Austria and the countryside is magnificent! I will return one day and smile the entire time I am there! Thanks for asking!
Roberta Byram
http://1-roberta-byram.artistwebsites.com/

Yuri,

I have been to Venice several years ago and I have posted some of the pictures on my sight. I love Europe anyway; but Venice was like a fairy tale. I love the canals and the water and I was so curious about life living on the canal. I love the houses all built together and the food was awesome. I did come on a cruise ship; but signed up for the extra days in order to be in Venice. I love the way people enjoy life and do not hurry through it. It appeared as though everyone worked together and I noticed smiling face! No arrogance or sadness or anger!!!! My grandfather was born on the Island of Crete, yet I never had a desire to go there.... just Italy and I am glad I did. I also crossed a small portion on my way from Germany to Villach Austria and the countryside is magnificent! I will return one day and smile the entire time I am there! Thanks for asking!
Roberta Byram
http://1-roberta-byram.artistwebsites.com/

That's usually the impression Venice leaves to the tourists,like being out of a "normal" life style
Well,Italians are not known as been very good when leaving the country,but I believe that some of the stereotypes are exaggerated and anyway everyone is different,so I'm glad you met lovely people

Yes,the countryside is also great,laltely alot of tourists go visit the numerous wine farms and farms holidays to enjoy good food,obviously wine and spend a relaxing vacation in some peaceful places

Here's a link: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/italy+wine-holidays

Thank you for opening this thread, Yuri. I fall in love with Italy and traveled in many wonderful areas of your beautiful country : Venice, Florence, this summer was in Liguria and, of course, I visited all those charming and picturesque villages from Cinque Terre.

If you have any tips for traveling to Naples ... I'll be there in October... I'd love to see also the surroundings : Capri, Ischia, Procida and Amalfi coast.

Yuri...I love everything about Florence. I especially love that it is a smaller city whose center can be easily navigated by foot. Everything you could want is within walking distance. And around every corner is a photo opp! The moment I leave I want to start planning for my return.

Agree Valerie,love Florence for the same reason,it's really a comfortable and livable city

Glad you're coming back Ana Maria and hope you'll spend a great time there,was in Capri and Ischia around an year ago and those are surely places worth a visit,like Amalfi and Procida,all beautiful islands with their small and characteristic villages;I'm sure you'll get the right inspiration for more works
The are boats connecting all the island from Naples and one with the other.

While about Naples: there are lots of things worth a visit even there,take a tour to the city center and it's beautiful plazas,the outdoor markets with their characteristic sellers and products,take a look to Pompei (with is a beautiful archeological site) and if you get a tour to the Vesuvio,then there are the Castel Nuovo,Palazzo Reale and many more
Don' forget to try out the pizza there,but you probably already did,the coffee and ice-cream,even if it'll be October

Oh, my, Yuri...the gelato is worth the trip ALONE! : )

haha agree! : )

Thank you so much for the information, Yuri. I have to plan very carefully 'cause I really want to see as much as I can in only a week.
Oh, yes, the true Italian pizza is very good ... not at all what I was used to call pizza lol .... and the gelato ... let's forget it will be October. :)
Thanks again a lot.

I would love to have a week to spend with a Vespa scooter and a backpack along the Amalifi coast...alas I only had one beautiful day in November of last year.

But what a good spent day, Bob. That photo of Positano is marvelous.

Have you ever visited the Abruzzo region? :)

You're welcome Ana Maria.

Andrea,give hints on why they should come visit your region,what's worth to do...thanks

Cool thread idea! I love Tuscany, Siena especially.

Glad,but can you please tell what you liked of those cities,or what you'd suggest...thanks Ramona

I lived in Aviano for 3 years in the early 1990s, and loved it! I returned to Italy last summer and visited Florence - someplace I never went while living in Italy. I love Renaissance art, and I loved it there. I'm trying to figure out how to go again, and stay longer.

I was the tour guide from hell for my son :-). He learned a lot about Florentine history.

Sounds strange,but not that much Melany,I mean not to visit a place when you have the chance to,but then wanting to go back there
The Italian reanissance was probably the best moment Italy ever had for art itself,with lots of amazing artists and Florence was the center of

Well, Yuri, when I was there (I am in the US military and was stationed in Aviano in 1991) priorities were different. In January '91 is when Desert Storm started.
I wasn't into art then either, I loved Rome and Venice, eating and shopping LOL Now that I'm an art student, and I've learned about more than Michelangelo regarding the Renaissance I love it there! The first thing we did (besides gelato) was climb the dome. I got to Academia early, and had David for myself for about 3 minutes before the hoards of people arrived. My hotel was right up the street from the Medici palace, it is in a prior palace for one of their family members, an amazing place.

I've been to Dezinzano (sp?), Verona, Rome (3 times), Livorno, Lago de Guarda, Pisa, and I flew over Sicily when the volcano was 'acting up'

I know you were there for it,not living too far from Aviano,so imagined the reason why.
That's Desenzano del Garda a beautiful and small city by the Garda lake,not far from Verona.

Good morning and Sunday,other suggestions,hints and works are welcome...

Greetings Yuri, wish you a wonderful Sunday morning!
We are from northern Germany - near Hamburg - and have travelled to Italy several times in the past during holidays. Our favorite city is Venice. Florence also is fantastic - but Venice has a very specific feel. Off the beaten track you can walk through the narrow streets, sit on the little plazas in the morning to have your Espresso ... and after a while we realized what makes this place so very special besides the great architecture and history: There is no street noise, no cars - only people and kids playing - we loved it!
Now that we are retired and have more time we maybe will be travelling also further south of Italy with our RV for a while - maybe spending the winter somewhere.
Heiko and Helga

I haven't been yet but have been fascinated with the Venice Carnival and see it as an artistic experience. I am especially interested in the costumes and especially historical costumes. I feel there is more of an interest in the aesthetics of costuming unlike Mardi Gras in my country, which is much more focused on humor and partying.

When I go I definitely will join in the fun and bring my own costumes that I have made. As an artist I think it would be fulling to experience. Italians seem to understand art to a great degree, it is intertwined in your culture. You value quality fabrics, and other materials used in art and it's importance lifestyle.

I am very glad to see the past mayor of Venice and other people of influence are being investigated for taking millions of dollars from the fund for rebuilding Venice and the flooding program. All Italians must be rejoicing especially Venetians, it must be hard to see your city continue to sink, now things can go forward for all our sakes.

If Italy is as European as Montreal I will want to go back, at the very least as Valerie has mentioned the unhurried pace!

One of the reasons urban areas in Italy and other countries in Europe are so attractive is the fact that the old sections were built before the automobile, no parking decks, everything is more compact, most sights within walking distance. Old buildings have not been removed.

The affluence of the US has hurt our heritage, many old buildings have been removed to make way for the newer and bigger Although now it is changing and we better understand the value of the old architecture. Affluence can also make you less sensitive to others and is not fulfilling if it becomes your mainstay.

I'm realizing as I look at my image of Venice revelers it is gray looking, I need to put in a blue sky!

Hi Heikko and good Sunday to you too,can only agree with you,that's one of the main reasons why I love to go to Venice once in a while,just to walk through the narrow alley,even get lost in them and then sit down in a plaza for a coffee or ice-cream.

Hi Suzanne,here is a link for you about the Venice carnival 2015,if you want to take a look: http://www.carnevale.venezia.it/?slang=en

Can only say that we have lots of problems in Italy and our politicians are not the best,we all could probably do much more for our beautiful country,but there are even amazing people giving all they can to make Italy looks at its best

Hi Yuri
I love Siena’s narrow streets and the romantic mood you can find in this medieval city. Last time I went there I was lucky enough to find open for visits the floor in Church Duomo of Siena. Amazing. The floor is not always revealed to the visitors. Also I really enjoyed the Cappella (Chapel) of Madonna del Voto.

Thanks for sharing you experience in Siena,Ramona

Thank you Yuri for the Venice website. Trust me I have already checked it out and then some! I have even thought about what to wear under my costume to keep warm in February. I have Googled a lot of subjects. Lol

One suggestion that I have to share is that, if you are in Rome, you should have gelato at Giolitti which is the oldest (and best) gelato in the city. If you are traveling to Italy anyway, Rome is worth a stop for the gelato and there are also other interesting things to see and do there.
One caution though to save you all from making the same mistake that I made in my three day visit to Rome: When the man asks if you want cream with that, the correct answer is "Si Grazie". I spent the first two days there saying "No Grazie" because I had never had cream on top of gelato and did not know that it really should be added. I'll never get those two days back and I know that, as much as I enjoyed my (approximately 9) gelato, it could have been much better if I had answered that question correctly from the beginning.
Also the Hotel Parlamento is well situated for gelato tourism,

You're welcome Suzanne and could imagine you already had a look there
Yes,last year was pretty cold the day I went to see the carnival and snowing,which is not so common in Venice

haha thanks Bob,we should start a new topic for the ice-cream lovers! lol

Growing up in Northern VA there was an ice-cream stand we called "custard" that was extremely rich ice cream. I will never forget that custard, one scoop was all you could eat it was so dense with eggs and heavy cream. We would go there as a family even in the winter and stand outside in the cold waiting for our order. I'm guessing the family had Italian roots and gelato is the same thing or close to it.

Do you have what we call here "NY cheesecake" that actually ripens as it sits in the refrigerator and gets better and better as it sits. I wouldn't be surprised if it's roots are from Italy. Italian food still dominates NY from hole in the wall restaurants to big restaurants that serve wonderful food.

you just can't go wrong with Italy, visit the smallest village - it is charming

visit Rome or Venice or any other big city you will be blown away

visit anywhere and you want to stay

:)

can you guess? I love Italy

I haven't seen anyone mention Alberobello and the trulli houses. A very unique style of architecture that is used in many different types of building from sheds out in the fields to churches. The interior of the trulli church is beautiful.

Yes Suzanne,we have it here too,but not sure it was something coming from the Italian tradition,it's more like an American one,still delicious where ever its origin is
What you call custard we use here in the cakes or it's served as a dessert with caramel on or other garnishes


hehe yes,I'd have guessed it Nina and so glad you do,I see that many of you have enjoyed their stay in Italy and had a great time

Yes Bob,Alberobello is a very particular city and site we have in Italy,for those unique houses and villages

For Suzanne here it's a few pics of the past venetian carnivals I took

Nice photos, Yuri thank you for thinking about me! Love the black and white they turned out great with a lot of contrast, crisp and nice lens! Yes, I'm jealous it doesn't take much to make me feel that way, especially if you flaunt photos of Venice and costumed revelers! Those are excellent photos.

I was just given a simple gold filigree mask for my birthday it made me think of Venice! I'm going to wear the mask all day on All Hallowed Eve, probably with my brown velvet hat that is decorated with gold and copper fronds and branches. My family has to put up with me when I go with them in the car but it is so much fun and people appreciate it.

That is why Venice is my first destination of choice it would be a fabulous fun time for me. I'm not interested in going to any of the public parties, I would like to hang out in my costumes and camera taking everyone's picture and posing. I would also very much like to buy seafood at the Rialto Market, take it to my hotel and cook it. Of course sampling the Venetian food in the more out of the way neighborhood restaurants would be a wonderful experience. I will probably be hooked on the first visit and want to go every year!

Well,I really hope you'll enjoy the experience that much you will have to come back every year,but first of all I'm pushing you to just come for the first time hehe

You should buy your own seafood at the outdoor market,I go there once in a while to buy something but even to look around and take photos,there are always some curious people

Oh I definitely would, and it wouldn't take much encouragement for me! I think of the Venice Carnival often, I love textiles and I like history very much, put the two together and I'm in heaven! I just looked and noticed you live there. Did you know you live in heaven?!! You seem to be very appreciative of the fact, although I know not every where is historical and much like our suburbs. A good place to live to build your portfolio/gallery or should I say Italy in general. I almost bought my airfare and room some months ago but I thought I would wait until it gets closer to December before I decide. By the way that is a beautiful hand knit cap you are wearing.

Not exactly in Venice,but my city is not too far from there,so I go quite often
Italy in general,for what I get to see : )

Yes,bought it an year ago in Guatemala,beautiful place as well,loved it

Close enough to heaven! I already know one person who lives there. It appears you are very familiar with Italy, easily recognizing the places everyone has mentioned. Your enthusiasm is remarkable, like someone who is older and knows the value of what they are seeing. You must have been around people who like to travel. South America is far away and seems very exotic to me. Do you mind me asking what brought you to visit Guatemala?

My nephew Ben has been to Chile for white water rafting, there is a network of people around the world who do river sports and many of them know one another. He lives in West VA where there are rivers and other outdoor sports nearby.

Well,have been around Italy quite enough to know most of the well known places,but there are still and surely alot I don't know
haha no,I went to Mexico with a few friends but we wanted to move down the East coast (Yucatan,Quintana Roo),then we crossed the border and went for a few days to Belize and on the way back we decided to pass through Guatemala,so that's why I visited it,but really loved my few days there and would like to go back

Now it is my turn to ask, please say why you liked it! I probably shouldn't say this but I have been laughing to myself for the last half hour. My only remembrance of Guatemala (besides owning a handmade sweater, although not as nice as your cap) was a teacher I knew who visited there in the mountainous region where there are mountain tribes.

She was invited to lunch and watched while the women preparing the food chewed whatever they put into the soup! She felt she had to be polite and eat it and will probably never forget it! I can still see her face as she talked about it. I just remember her having some very challenging adventures there. That is the extent of what I know about Guatemala. I think it has some wild beautiful countryside. You probably had a much different experience.

As for challenging adventures,I had them too,like jumping down from the bus on a muddy road because it was too full and we needed to pull a track that was stuck in the middle of the road.
I think it depends the most what you expect when travelling and I didn't ask for anything different than meet nice people,understand how they live there,share some time and even explore their beautiful national reserves
Have not uploaded pics of that yet,but Tikal has some wonderful mayan ruins in the middle of the forest,then the beautiful pools of Semuch Champey and the lake Atitlan with its vulcanos;there's lots to see

Probably a lot less human encroachment than here and the place to go before it changes. It will be interesting seeing your pictures. It's a country you don't get to see often. If you hang around the Discussions everyone will see them. You remind me of Ben, he lives in the mountains (the whole state is mountains!) and at one point wanted to move to either Montana or the Dakotas, now that his favorite uncle has passed who lived out there he hasn't mentioned it.

True,there are not so many pics around,I'll do soon or later

Hi Yuri and greetings from France (living close to Geneva).
I'm not living very far, so several opportunities to come and visit : Roma, Florence, Tuscany, lakes...

Hi Patrick and thanks for sharing your pics,we'd be even interested in knowing your experience here,what you liked,what you didn't...

I've been to the Amalfi coast - stayed in Praiano, hung around Positano, went to Pompeii and Herculaneum - was shooting film then, and haven't scanned my photos in, so nothing to show... hoping to go back to Italy (northern bit) next summer.

If anyone is going to Pompeii - don't skip Herculaneum, it's the better preserved of the two sites and well worth going.

My best experience in Italy ? renting a flat in Roma for a week... being downtown and enjoying life style !

Thanks for sharing Heather and Patrick

If you plan a travel to Italy on the fall time,don't miss out the beautiful colors of the vineyards and a walk on the hills of the Tuscany,sit down and try even a good glass of wine