Go Italy!

Interested in traveling to Italy? I would highly recommend going, if you have never been! Northern Italy is one of the best places I've visited so far. There is so much history and culture in this area, that there is no way to see it all in a short period of time. Each city my husband and I visited had its own unique flavor. The cities we visited during our travels were Milan, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Siena, and Rome.

Italy is beautiful no matter when you go, but September and October are the best times to go. Even though traveling to Italy during these months are more expensive than other times of the year, the weather is perfect! It is not to hot and humid or to cold.

If you have a few weeks to spare and want to see the best of Italy, following are a few things my husband and I experienced while we were there a year ago. 

Italy Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Milan

Day 2: Tour Milan

Day 3: Arrive in Venice

Day 4: Tour Venice

Day 5: Arrive in Florence

Day 6: Tour Florence

Day 7: Tour Florence and day trip to Pisa

Day 8: Arrive in Siena

Day 9: Tour Siena

Day 10: Arrive in Rome

Day 11: Tour Rome

Day 12: Tour Rome

Day 13: Tour Rome

Day 14: Leave Rome and back home

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MILAN

Milan has excellent shopping as well as some good sites to see. The Last Supper Painting, by Leorardo da Vinci is in Milan as well as the Duomo and Baptistery cathedral. Milan is one of those places where you can have an excellent shopping experience and then sit at one of the many cafes in the city center and just people watch.

Hotel

Enterprise Hotel

Corso Sempione 91

20154 Milan

Tel: 02-318181

Hotel Review: The hotel is nice and good price, but it is far away from the city center. I would recommend staying in the city center.

Things to Do

• Shopping! Most shops are closed Sunday and Mondays
  
• View The Last Supper painting by Leonardo d Vinci (purchase tickets well in advanced!)
  
• Tour the Duomo & Bapistery Cathedral - go to the top of cathedral and walk around on the roof - amazing views! This is one of the 4 largest cathedrals in the world.
  
• La Scala Opera House - Highly recommend going to an Opera! Purchase tickets well in advanced
  
• Brera Picture Gallery - One of the largest galleries in Italy! Be sure to take take for a gelato break while in this neighborhood!
  
• Ambrosiana Library and Picture Gallery - 15th and 17th century pieces - see the Madonna and Angels by Botticell.

Dining

• A Santa Lucia (moderate price)
  
• II Luogo di Aimo e Nadia (expensive) - Italian/Mediterranean & great wine list
  
• Cracco Peck Restaurant (expensive) - Milanese/Italian
  

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VENICE

Venice was one of my favorites. It is like no other place you'll ever visit! There is not a ton to see, but it is so nice to just walk around the neighborhoods and stop in to have a drink at the little cafes along the way.

Hotel

Metropole Hotel

Castello

4149 Riva degli Schiavone

Tel: 041-52-05-044

Hotel Review: I loved this hotel! It was beautiful and right on the Grand Canal and walking distances to the St. Mark Square. Try to get a room with a view of the Grand Canal. You'll pay extra, but it is worth it!

Things to See

• St. Marks Square - wake up early to feed the pigeons in the square
  
• St. Marks Basilica - no shorts or short sleeve shirts allowed
  
• Ducal Palace & the bridge of Sighs
  
• The Rialto Bridge
• The Accademia Bridge
  
• Gondola Ride - best to do late afternoon - very romantic! Plan to spend about $100 for the ride.
  
• Teatro Le Fenice - see performing arts and opera

Dining

Harrys Bar (very expensive) - Made famous from Hemingway. I'd recommend going in for a snack and have your Bellini.  There is a dress code.

Antico Martini (expensive) - Venetian Style & good wine list

Quadri (expensive) - Venetian Style - opens up to the Piazza San Marco. In the evening, a band will play - very fun!

La Caravella (moderate/expensive) - Venetian Style

Caffe Florian (moderate) - popular cafe

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FLORENCE

If you like art, then Florence is the place to be! Florence has a ton of museums and galleries filled with the best art you'll ever see!

Hotel

Bernini Palace by Baglioni Hotels Group

Piazza San Firenze, 29

50122 Florence

Tel: 0039-055-288-621

Hotel Review: Awesome location! The rooms are small, but it was right in the center of town and easy to walk to everything! The hotel was beautiful too!

Things to Do

• Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell Accademia - view Michelangelo's David
  
• Go to the market and buy your leather items!!! Good price at the street market. Ask hotel for exact location.
• Ponte Vecchia area - area with many small shops
  
• Piazza della Signora - lively square with shops and food
  
• Pitti Palace
  
• Boboli Gardens (view from the Pitti Palace)
  
• Ponte Vecchio (The Old Bridge) - crosses the Arno River
  
• Duomo of Florence - 4th largest cathedral in the world, after the St. Peters in Rome and St. Pauls in London, and the Duomo of Milan.
  
• Day trip to Pisa. You can also take a day trip to Siena and other areas in Tuscany.
  

Dining

• Paoli (moderate) - Tuscan/Italian - opened in 1824, good tavern atmosphere and homemade pastas
  
• Becconfino (expensive) - Interacional/Mediterranean - across the Arno
  
• Cantinetta Antinouri - (moderate) - Good wine bar and standard food
  
• La Giosta (moderate) - Tuscan style, very good food
  
• Mamma Gina (moderate) - good, traditional pasta dishes
  
• Fuori Porta (moderate) - best wine bar and good food
  

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SIENA

I loved the Tuscany area. I would highly recommend renting a car and just driving around the Tuscany area. It is so beautiful and just going for a lazy drive one afternoon is such an adventure.

Hotel

Villa Scacciapensieri

Ristorante Altri Tempi

Strada Scacciapensieri 10

1-53100 Siena

Tel: 39-0577-41441

Hotel Review: This was a beautiful Villa. It was very old, rustic, and quiet. When we went, it was really quiet and not a lot of people around. It was nice, but felt a little odd, since we had just been to all the crowded cities. I would recommended that you go see all the big cities first and then end in Tuscany. It is so mellow and relaxed!

Things to Do

Piazza del Campo - see the fountain of joy, Fonte Gaia

Tour the downtown area and see all the little shops. If you like pottery, this is the place to buy it! They have amazing pottery for a really good price!

II Duomo - located in the Piazza

Dining

Restaurants are located throughout the town center

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ROME

Rome, Rome, Rome....Wow! There is so much to do in Rome! Tons of people fill the streets everyday, racing to their jobs and driving the cars on tiny streets. Even though Rome is a very modern city, you can still fill the history around every corner. I honestly don't know what my favorite site was, because there was so many, but I do have to say the Vatican City was very memorable. The Pope will hold a ceremony in St. Peters square every week. Be sure to check out the Vatican website on when he is scheduled to host the ceremony before you go.

Hotel

Hotel Manfredi

Via Margutta 61

Rome

39-06-320-7676

Hotel Review: Extremely small hotel, tucked back in a little alley way. It received good reviews, because it is a stones throw away from the Spanish Steps, which is a very good area! This is the shopping mecca of Rome and a ton of restaurants. Even though the hotel is very tiny and the rooms are very, very small, the service was good, it was nicely decorate, clean, and they offered a nice breakfast in the morning.

I would recommend, if you have a week or so to stay in Rome, to rent an apartment. Your not in your room that much and I think you could find a good deal on renting a standard place for a week vs. spending so much for a very tiny hotel room.

Things to Do

• Vatican City and the Vatican museums
  
• Trevi Fountain - toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain and make a wish
  
• The Spanish Steps - see the artists at the top of the steps
  
• The Roman Forum - an open air museum
  
• The Pantheon
  
• The Sistine Chapel
  
• Piazza Navona
  
• Saint Angelo Castle
  
• Catatombs
  
• Day trip to Pompeii

Dining

There are so many restaurants to choose from, but here are a few suggestions:

• Boccondivino (moderate/expensive) - Very good food next to the Spanish Steps
  
• El Toula (moderate/expensive) - Very good food and next to the Spanish Steps
  
• II Bacaro (moderate) - Italian - good food, small restaurant