…a couple of days in Rome, Venice & Milan. Any tips for anyone that’s been Venice other than the usual Gondola ride? We’re pretty much booked up in Rome and Milan with excursions etc. but have a couple free days in Venice. Going San Siro next Saturday for the AC Milan - Verona game which should be decent before it eventually gets knocked down. Would’ve loved to have been in Milan whilst the Geordies are in town Tuesday but that’s when we’re in Rome. TIA.
Internazionale is my 2nd team been regularly to Giuseppe Meazza that's the official name but adopted name to San Siro after the district its in, its magnificent, iconic but obviously c..p when full of Milan fans and last night's 5-1 thumping in Derby Della Madonnina was glorious, in all seriousness enjoy it. Milan itself, lots of graffiti everywhere surprisingly, its a working industrial city but brilliant in the centre, designer label paradise if that's your thing if not still lots to enjoy, try to avoid bars and restaurants close to train stations etc well known for charging excessive prices especially for a pint €30 euro not uncommon for tourists, if in doubt always get a menu, check prices first, same with taxis, confirm price and destination. Long time ago since I was I'm Venice, gets really busy, tight narrow streets just adopt the usual common sense pick pockets at large. Enjoy Italy is beautiful, my favourite country along with Croatia
AC is my Italian team, been to the San Siro 3 times and seen them away at Juve. Hoping to go after Xmas before it gets knocked down If you want to see the Last Supper - pre book, I didn't.
It's nice just to wander round Venice, all the little bridges and waterways it's very easy to get lost though!
Did cicchetti tour which is like a tapas tour..took us to little bars we wouldn't have looked at. really enjoyed it
If you have time, take a trip out to one of the islands in the lagoon. Murano or burano. Some great restaurants there and less tourists.
Venice is the only place I’ve been to in Italy, albeit 30 years ago. From memory, the minute you sit down in St Mark’s Square and any of the tourist places, you are getting charged. Great if you can afford to pay alot for a coffee, but if not, head into the back streets where food and drinks are far more reasonably priced.
Went last year. Beautiful. Would highly recommend hopping on / off water taxis. And would also recommend a boat trip (approx 25 mins away) to Burano, where they have the picture postcard multicoloured houses and amazing shops and restaurants. Can walk round the whole island in a couple of hours. Another island hop is to Isola Di San Michele. One of the most peaceful and serene places I've been to and a lesson in how some cultures respect their buried through many generations. Enjoy. Edit. Although you mention Rome and Milan, we did Bologna which became my newest favourite city ever.
Rome there is so much to see and different excursions. We did the Rome in a day one. It was a bit rushed. Shame Florence doesn't look to be on your itinerary. Beautiful in every sense. Stunning.
I love Italy and watching Equaliser 3…or was it 4, I can’t keep up…the other day, which is set on the Amalfi coast, it made me pine to go back. Never been to Milan, but Rome is just beautiful and you can walk to all the famous tourist spots quite easily. Venice is also just like you imagine it to be, except with more people, especially in the most well known spots. Go for a wander into the backstreets though and when it Italy (whilst making sure you know where your wallet and phone are!) look up, because some of the buildings are just beautiful and even the smaller ones will have some sort of statue or figure or something. And brace yourself for the prices if you are considering a gondola ride!
Cheers all, we have booked The Doges Palace for the day we haven’t got anything planned from looking into it. Weather forecast is looking really good as well, Rome is looking extremely hot.
Re Venice can just echo other peoples advice, just come a couple of streets back from the main areas and the price drops dramatically. We stayed in Cannareggio and there were some decent little bars serving cichetti.
If you are planning to visit the Sistene Chapel, don't wear shorts. It might have changed in the last 30 years, but they wouldn't let you in wearing them. Oh, unless you want an angry Italian waving a machine gun in your face, don't take your shirt off in Venice...
