Your trip to Italy will go a lot easier if you’ve got your travel plans figured out ahead of time.  Unplanned travel in a foreign country can end up being difficult, and could provide unfavorable results if you are not able to experience things as you would have liked.  Here are some tips on Italy travel – getting there, and getting around once you’re in Italy.

Getting To Italy:

There are a few ways to reach Italy, so it will depend on where you live. For those who live overseas, you have the option to fly by a commercial airline or arrive by cruise ship. Visitors who live in Europe can reach Italy by train that can be another option besides flying.

• Flying into Italy is by far the most common way to reach the destination of your choice. In order to book your flight into Italy you can use a travel agent or search for flights online through a trip planning website such as www.kayak.com. Not only can you search for flights one-way or return, but you can also coordinate hotel availability for the duration of your stay. Most overseas flights into Italy are overnight trips; so planning ahead is essential if you need to arrive into Italy on a designated day.
• Another way to reach Italy from North America is by cruise ship. Although this takes a lot of time that you could otherwise spend touring Italy, it is a glorious trip with stops to some major ports for the tourist attractions.
• For those who are already in Europe, traveling to Italy by train is a great way to experience the countryside. This is an extremely flexible option for those who want to visit some major destinations within a set amount of time and want to avoid all that goes along with driving in another country such as renting a car, paying gas and mileage, as well as parking when you reach the cities you want to visit. You can purchase 1st or 2nd class tickets on most lines.  Information on tickets, lines, and times, is available at the Trenitalia web site.

Getting Around Italy:

Once you have reached Italy, there will be much to explore and experience. In order to make good use of your time while there, take some time beforehand to plan how you’ll get around in Italy.

• Renting a car is a popular way to visit destinations that are off the beaten track and are not as popular to most tourists. Since major flights and trains do not reach the remote towns a car is a perfect solution to experience the countryside and explore parts of Italy that have not been commercialized with tourism.
• If you plan on touring the major centers of Italy, renting a vehicle may not be the best choice for you since parking can be a problem in some places and it can be difficult to drive in an unfamiliar city while making your way around Italy. For popular centers such as Naples, Rome, and Venice, renting a vehicle is discouraged.
• Traveling by train while in Italy is a cost-effective way to travel across the country without spending too much time (and missing out on attractions!) For some, a trip to Italy is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you would not want to miss anything By purchasing a rail pass you can go right from Naples up to Rome and onto Venice without having to rent a vehicle and plan a trip by car.
• Of course the easiest thing to do is to take an organized group trip to Italy!  There are many options, including culinary trips, walking trips, and trips for women.  The group will have all your travel plans pre-arranged, so all you need to do is show up on time.

No matter how you travel to Italy, or get around once you’re there, be sure to do some research and prepare yourself for the difference in culture and lifestyle. Real Italy cuisine is quite different from the North American Italian eateries that we’re used to, and that’s just one of the differences in lifestyle.

First of all, don’t make the mistake of assuming that all of Italy enjoys the same Mediterranean climate. Sure, Italy does lie in the Mediterranean but the country is big enough that Italy weather varies based on three distinct climatic regions:

• The Alpine area in northern Italy;
• The great plain of the valley of the River Po, which stretches from Turin to Venice;
• The rest of Italy – the long, mountainous peninsula which goes all the way down to southern Italy.

Alpine Italy is the wettest part of the country by far, with summer being, surprisingly perhaps, the season with the most rainfall. The summers can still be hot, though, and obviously the winters will find lots of snow and ice, especially in the highest areas.

The Po valley, sometimes known as the North Italian Plain, is the agricultural heartland of the country. The summers can be just as hot and sunny as those further south but the winters can be surprisingly cold – with frequent fog, frost, rain and snow. This area is usually colder in winter than either Paris or London.

The rest of Italy has the more classical Mediterranean climate – mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, although again the higher areas can often be cold and snowy during the winter months. The intensity, and length, of the hot, dry summer will increase the further south you go. Sea temperatures around Italy generally make the waters warm enough for bathing from the end of May until October.

But enough of that!  As a potential tourist, you’re wondering when to take your trip to Italy, so let’s look at what Italy weather you might find visiting at various times of the year.

The most tourists arrive in the summer months, especially during July and August. Temperatures will daily reach 86/30 and often jump to 100/38 during the afternoons. This is when the queues for the museums and galleries are at their longest, the prices for rooms at their highest and the afternoons are too hot for sensible sightseeing. For me, the best places in Italy at this time of the year are around the lakes or in the mountains, avoiding the largest tourist areas.

So what about other times? Well, January can be cold and wet or snowy but, after the Christmas holidays, which finish on January 6th, you’ll get real bargains in hotel rooms and the tourist sites will be empty. Expect daily temperatures around 46/8 in Rome; a little lower in Milan, Venice and Florence.  Sure it’s chilly, and some places will be closed, but you’ll have a lot more space to yourself.  It’s wonderful to walk the streets of Venice without the crowds!

February is similar but, if you’re around on the 3rd, then have a drink on Saint Biago day – the patron saint of the throat! I’m reliably informed that the best firework display in Italy every year is on Saint Biago’s Day in Mugano di Napoli, just outside Naples.

And, of course, 40 days before Easter marks the beginning of Carnevale for many Italian cities and towns, with the highlight of these being the Viareggio in Venice. Venetians claim that their carnival is best because it appeals to all 6 senses – that’s the usual 5, plus the sixth: the imagination.

Italians say that March is ‘the crazy month’ because you just don’t know what weather to expect but visitors can still be surprised by the coldness. March 8th is the wonderful Festa della Donne – the festival of women, where the flower of choice is the yellow mimosa and around the 21st there are many festivals welcoming spring (primavera).

In spring the Easter celebrations are always a highlight of the year – especially in Rome but also in Florence, with the Scoppio del Carro. Needless to say, it involves another firework display; this one where a priest puts a rocket into a cart that has been dragged through the streets. I’m sure there’s a logical reason behind it. (?)

April is a little warmer, often reaching 65/18 or even higher. Watch out for festivals such as that in Verona celebrating the delicious white asparagus. Also, Rome and Venice have big ‘birthday’ parties on 21st and 25th respectively this month.

May is traditionally the month of roses in Italy and the weather is now beginning to get pleasantly warm throughout most of the country. At the end of May, and the beginning of June, there are a vast number of infiorata – flower festivals, which will captivate your senses of smell and sight.

See video of the infiorata:
Pienza Infiorata: Streets paved with flowers

May, June and September are, for many, the perfect months for visits to Italy – when the weather is usually dry, not so hot that you’re miserable, and there are fewer tourists. September is also the time of the Venice Film festival and its fantastic Regatta Storica – a day of races in all kinds of craft. The real romantics might want to go to Verona on 12th September – it’s Juliet’s birthday!

October is a beautiful month – the colors of fall, the cooler temperatures and the abundance of food-related activities make it a culinary dream. There are all kinds of food festivals celebrating mushrooms, chestnuts, truffles and chocolates – especially in the Umbria and Piedmont regions. You might even, towards the end of the month, get the first of the vino novella – the year’s new wine. Many people find Rome at its best in October – the sunny days here are known as the ‘ottobrate romane’ and, although the evenings are by now a little chilly, the air is often crisp and clear.

In November and December, the days are short and often rainy but the real attraction is the build up to the Christmas season, with the elaborate traditional celebrations accompanying it. If you’re around at this time, try to get to see a living nativity scene; most towns and villages have them and they are a spectacle to behold.

A great resource to look at average temperatures in different areas is
Weatherbase: Historical weather.  You can search for the cities you’re thinking of visiting and find out what’s typical.

To summarize the weather in Italy, and help you decide when to take your trip to Italy, just remember this:  There’s no such thing as bad weather there – only the wrong clothes!

Gondeliers in Venice are known for seranading their passengers as they glide through the canals of Venice.

Even in Italy, people are paying attention to the US Presidential election, and here it’s no different, as these gondeliers express their preferences in song! Destined to be a classic.
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There is no place on earth quite like Venice, Italy. It took a tremendous feat of engineering to create a city out of 118 small islands… and nature may someday reclaim this “living museum” of gondolas, bridges and ornate churches and palaces. Venice is sinking and has been for years, and sea levels are rising, and if global warming is as much of a threat as we think it is, they may rise much higher. If you want to see Venice at its best, try to plan a trip soon! Here are a few tips to help in planning your trip to Venice.

When to go

Venice is hot and muggy in summer, and cold in winter. The best time to go is April or May… you’ll get mild spring weather, and miss the worst of the summer crowds. June through August is “high tourist season” in Venice — it seems like half the world is trying to squeeze itself into the small city during these months, and the situation is not helped by the hot and humid weather. After August, the weather is cooler but the crowds subside somewhat – so September and October are also good times to plan a trip to Venice.

Rialto Bridge on a busy day

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If you like festivals, Carnevale is the Venetian answer to Mardi Gras. However, the Carnevale that exists today is a commercial revival of an event that natives actually stopped celebrating in 1797. Other festivals include the Venice Biennale, a modern art exhibition that happens in April, during odd-numbered years only. The Venice Film Festival is an annual event that happens in late August.

You can do Venice in a day if you like…but you really shouldn’t! Why rush? Stick around for a few days or even a week to sample all that this city has to offer.  To pique your interest, check out a leisurely morning in Venice.  Yes, this could be you!

How to get there

If you are arriving in Venice, Italy by plane, the Marco Polo Airport is about 13 km away. From the airport, you can proceed to Venice by either land or water. The most cost-efficient option is simply to take a bus. ATVO buses leave from the airport and will drop you off at the Piazzalle Roma in Venice. If you want to go by water, there is a hydrofoil connecting the airport to Venice and surrounding islands. Speedboats called water taxis are also available, but they are significantly more of a drain on your budget.

Looking for flights to Italy?  My favorite site by far for checking flights and fares is Kayak.com, where you can search the best deals from 100+ sites all in one place.

Getting Around

There are two modes of transportation in Venice – walking and floating. The city is relatively small, so traveling by foot is not a problem. However, it’s easy to get lost. If and when this happens to you, just keep walking and enjoy the experience… you’ll get to see more of what real life is like in Venice that way!

There are several options for water travel in Venice. Your best bet for most transportation needs is the vaporetto, or water bus. You can buy a travel pass to save on ticket costs. Gondolas are expensive and cheesy. They are fine for a one-time photo op after you’ve had a few glasses of wine, but not really a viable means of everyday transportation. Water taxis are also expensive, but less embarrassing than a gondola ride. The exception to the “no gondola rule” is a commuter gondola called a traghetto that ferries people across the Grand Canal.

Where to stay

Historic Venice is divided up into 6 neighborhoods. Of these, lodging in San Marco tends to be the most expensive, but is also the most convenient to the Piazza San Marco. Dorsoduro is primarily residential, but has some hotels that offer better pricing, and are still close to the action. You can also rent an apartment-for longer stays, this is often cheaper than getting a hotel room. San Polo is an excellent neighborhood to stay in if you can-it’s charming and medieval, and convenient to all sorts of shopping, including Venice’s famous fish market. Santa Croce has good bars and pizzerias. Canareggio is the quietest neighborhood, and one of the most picturesque-if you need a retreat from the crowds, this is it. Castello also has some excellent places to stay – if you avoid the border with the Piazza San Marco, that is.

Another option is to stay on the Lido, an island just outside of Venice. There’s a beach, restaurants and nightlife, and the city itself is only a short vaporetto ride away.

You can find information on hundreds of Venice hotels at Venere.com, along with ratings, maps and photos.

What to do

• Basilica di San Marco – Venice’s main cathedral is a feast for the eyes, richly decorated with a Byzantine feel.
• Gallerie dell’Accademia – The best of Venetian art, with work by Giorgone, Titian, and Veronese.
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection – Need a break from Renaissance art? Check out this superb modern art collection, with pieces from Dali, Picasso and others.
• Doge’s Palace – Tour the former headquarters of the Venetian republic-you’ll get a sense of the grandeur and pageantry that characterized old Venice at the height of its power.

And above all? Savor the experience, and have fun in Venice!

Fountain in Piazza Navona, Rome

I found a fun post today over on Adventure is the Spice of Life. They have some antique photographs of Rome, which look at least 100 years old.

Yet considering their age, they also look remarkably like the same scenes would today. Given that many of the sights in Rome are well over a hundred years old, perhaps that shouldn’t be all that surprising. As long as you don’t get any cars or iPods in the picture, this scene in Piazza Navona probably hasn’t changed much in the past century.

But there’s more… a hidden side to it that you can actually make use of yourself!
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Catch the surprising conclusion, and news you can use, at:
Adventure is the Spice of Life — Rome: Eternal city 100 years ago = deja vu!

Memories are precious — my first memories of Rome certainly are.

I have a photo that was taken during my first trip to Rome, Italy. I’m sitting on the Spanish Steps, wearing a t-shirt with a famous Life Magazine photo — a nurse kissing a sailor on V-J Day. The word “PEACE” is written in capital letters on the front of my shirt. “Peaceful” is the word that describes how I felt on that day. This was Rome before the addition of McDonald’s and other Americanisms. This is the Rome I choose to remember.

Often, we’d prefer that our initial contact with a person or place remain unchanged. Strong emotions can be attached to first experiences, so these are often the most memorable. This is what we want to hold on to.

I was enroute to Perugia, where I would spend the summer studying Italian at the University for Foreigners, otherwise known as Universita per Stranieri. Traveling solo in the most sensual of cities, I was struck by a sudden sense of freedom and independence. It was both frightening and enticing. Even for a streetwise New Yorker, Rome could be challenging. Simply crossing the street from the Coliseum was an adventure!

That said, the Coliseum is one of those “must see” sights of Rome. When I think of it, I see the thousands of cats that call this ancient amphitheater their home. For me, images of the architecture are vague, but the cats and the traffic around the Colloseum hold distinct places in the forefront of my memory.

The trick to visiting Rome involves understanding its paradoxes. The Eternal City is both frenetic and laissez-faire. Daily life moves at a fast past, but when it’s time for afternoon siesta, there’s a lull, and time for a rest. Spending an afternoon sipping espresso in Piazza Navona is just as much a part of the Rome experience as a visit to the Trevi Fountain. Meals are leisurely experiences. The Italians savor their food. After your evening meal, a passegiata, or evening walk is in order. This is one of the best Italian traditions. You get to people watch and burn calories at the same time!

Like many travelers to Italy, a visit to Florence was on my must-do list from the beginning. There is much to see in this incredible city. Who can resist the lure of Michelangelo’s David, or the intrigue of the Duomo. For a unique shopping experience, spend a weekend afternoon on the Ponte Vecchio. The words “Ponte Vecchio” mean “old bridge.” This is no exaggeration – the Ponte Vecchio was built in the 14th Century! The crafts vendors who line the bridge sell some magnificent items. In some cases, the prices are even reasonable!

When I think of Florence, I think of Fiesole. When you’ve had your fill of churches, museums and street vendors, Fiesole allows you to escape to higher ground. It stands majestically on a hill north of Florence. From a distance, it almost appears to be magical. You can reach Fiesole by the Number 7 bus. Historians believe that this was an Etruscan city founded in the 9th Century BC. It was known as a training center for the Augurs, who were priests trained in the art of divination. They foretold the future by interpreting the movements of birds.

While there is much to see in Fiesole, my most vivid memories are of the Villa Medici, which dates back to the Renaissance. It’s interesting to note that while most villas of that period were built for agricultural purposes, the Villa Medici was the exception to the rule. In contrast, as an intellectual center, it was involved in the farming of ideas, not crops. Villa Medici also has one of the best-kept gardens in Italy. Gardens, cathedrals and villas aside – like Montmartre in Paris, there is something intrinsically intriguing about standing at the top of one city and looking down at another. It invites a distinct sense of perspective.

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If you are lucky enough to be visiting between May 15, 2008 and December 31, 2008, you can take advantage a new program called the Fiorino Effect, designed to ease the expense for US visitors. Download the voucher from Firenze.net, and you can get ten percent off on participating hotels and restaurants, and 20 percent off on participating museums.

If you’re heading to Italy over the summer – any summer – consider checking out some special events or celebrations while you’re there. You can get a different view of Italy through its festivals. Besides, who doesn’t love a party?

June

Pisa, Luminar di Saint Ranieri: June 16th every year the city of Pisa celebrates the Luminara di Saint Ranieri, the Patron Saint of Italy, who died as a Saint in 1161, and who has been celebrated since the late 17th century. Along the river Arno, more than 70,000 candles are lit, which light up the river, the buildings, the bridges and the whole city. Several of the wax candles are also sent floating down the river. The only thing not lit by candles is the Leaning Tower, which is adorned by oil lamps, instead. The celebration also includes a fireworks celebration at the “Cittadella Vecchia” after dark, around 11 at night.

The next day, there’s a regatta on the 17th, which has four boats rowed by men from each of Pisa’s four competing districts. At the finish line, the winner climbs a rope to claim the Victory Flag.

Florence, San Giovanni Feast Day: On the Sunday following June 24th every year in Florence, San Giovanni Feast Day, the celebration of John the Baptist, is celebrated. This celebration includes a medieval tournament that dates back to when the festival started, followed by music, drinking and feasting.
There is also a fireworks celebration preceded by rowboats carrying lit candles paddling down the Arno River.

July

Genoa, Festa del Cristo degli Abissi: On July 29th, off the Ligurian coast, there is a procession that leads to the underwater statue of Christ. The statue is dedicated to those who lost their lives at sea, and a mass is held on the beach.

Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo: From July 1 through August 15, Rome celebrates Castel Sant’Angelo beside the Vatican. There are all kinds of concerts, shows, and plays performed in the evenings, until after midnight. There are also events for the children, so they enjoy the celebration too.

August

National, Ferragosto: Assumption Day, celebrated August 15th, is a national holiday, celebrated with music, food and fireworks. Since it is a national holiday, it’s not a good day to go shopping, but there are plenty of other things to do. Food is sold inexpensively, and you can enjoy it while listening to music, watching concerts and admiring the fireworks.

These are just a few of the many, many options. No matter where you’re going in Italy, there’s a good chance you’ll find a celebration!