Venice/Rome
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- Ranger
I'm off on Friday for 3 nights in Venice then down to Rome for 4 nights. I've never been to Italy before. Does anyone have any recommendations of things I should see/do?
- MikeJ0
Firenze
- Fariska0
if you can make to firenze would be great as well
otherwise venice and rome are pretty full of things to see
In venice at the arsenale there is the "Biennale of Architecture". Recommended. Then you can go around the place for museums, and landmarks (in venice more or less every place has an interesing background)
Same thing for rome. Load of stuff to see: you can choose among old roman ruins, reinassiance and barouque buildings and churches, Vantican and town museums, and if you can go to eur to see what moderinity looked like in the 30's.I mean with 2 week on every of these cities you would have still things to see, so have fun :-)
- Greedo0
The Doge's palace is a must, even though Napoleon stole all the furniture. Also, the Guggenheim villa there is pretty impressive, especially if you like modern art. Venice is kind of dead at night since nobody actually lives there. Maybe take a boat trip to Murano or Burano, the former has many glassblowing factories, the latter is famous for its colorful houses and lacework.
Rome you'll find plenty to do in.- I really like glass blowing. A proper skill. Unlike my pushing shapes around a screen all day.Ranger
- taxiguerrilla0
Both Venice and Rome are beautiful.
In Rome, go visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano and the Via Appia Antica. In both cities, just walk and keep your eyes wide open.
I know a very good and not so expensive restaurant in Venice, but can't remember the name, I'll write here asap.
- Greedo0
I'd check this out in Rome:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/tapholo…
- agentfour0
was in rome a few weeks ago. best thing i did was go up to the Cupola in the vatican.
Some nice restaurants/bars around Viale di Trastevere
- skulldaggery0
yeah trastevere is a great place to see real roman people at night.
- stewart0
mmmmh, laboratorio gelati...
- formed0
Hike to the top of St. Peter's in Rome, well worth the hike. Go to the typicaly hot spots (cathedral, etc.).
In Venice be careful not to get lost (seems obvious, right?). Bring cash to buy goodies. I wish I had bought more of those hand made books/sketchbooks stuff. Some really beautiful stuff.
Buy some glass thing, although it is pretty generic there unless you have big $$. Murano is cool. We got a tour of one of the older glass blowing facilities - very cool, crazy guys in there (beer, cigarettes, t-shirts, naked chick posters and glowing glass!)
If you can, visit some of Carlos Scarpa's work there. He was truly a great architect and the juxtaposition of his modern work with the ancient buildings is amazing stuff.
Florence is ok, but I prefer the newer architecture of Rome and the unique qualities of Venice. Really great if you love shopping, I suppose.
- chuparosa0
For Venice, I totally agree with Greedo, check out the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doges Palace. I'd also recommend visiting Saverio Pastor workshop where you can purchase one of his mini forcola. Too bad you don't have time to travel to Bologna to see the Ducati factory.......
- Ranger0
Thanks for all the advice people. I'm looking in to each suggestion.
It was recommended that I watch 'Don't Look Now' before going to Venice. Now my girlfriend is scared to go. I'm gonna pay a midget to follow us in a red mac when we're there.
Has anyone got any suggestions of hotels in Rome. Ones that I can afford?
- demafleez0
Beware of pickpocketers. I had been warned before we went but didn't expect anything. Sure enough in broad daylight, a woman tried to distract me while urging her kids to grab at my pockets! Luckily I had a concealed money belt and I'd recommend you do the same.
- zaq0