Italy


I'm doing scads of research on Italy right now. I'll have lots more to share when I get back from my trip in June.

Florence

Luci wrote: One can get around in Florence extremely easily by foot, and the trains are easy and inexpensive in Italy. I recommend going first-class by train (doesn't cost much more at all).

Robyn wrote:

I cannot recommend any Italian city more than Florence ... it's beautiful, full of unique Florentine art (think about ALL the Renaisssance classics - -- daVinci, Michaelangelo, Botticelli ... they were all Florentines) and incredible architecture (the Duomo is unbelievable) ... and shopping in open-air markets for leather goods and papers. Florence is also extremely gay-friendly, and just friendly in general. The surrounding geography -- Tuscany -- is also stunning. As we traveled OUT of Florence, all I could do was look out the train window and try to figure out something I could do for a living there, a reason to move there!

Florence is beautiful but DO NOT drive in the city. It is absolutely awful. It took us almost 2 hours to find parking and driving around the scooters was like being in a swarm of bugs. My wife and I are from NYC so we drive very defensively amid all the taxi cabs but Florence was a nightmare!

Luci and Ellen wrote:

The bed & breakfast we stayed at was owned by Danny & Franco, called Dei Mori. Be sure to look at their photo page -- it really is that beautiful! There's no smoking in the place, but they do have a balcony on which you may smoke. Both men and women are welcome (straights, too ... but since they're gay, they're absolutely lovely to GLB folk). Fabulous location that's central to all of the Good Stuff to See (and eat) in Florence. They'll even help you with your luggage up the steps (a big plus!). If you e-mail Danny, tell him Luci & Ellen sent you!

Oh, and a non-Dei Mori comment: buy the book _Cheap Eats in Italy_ -- it was well worth the cover price because it led us to excellent restaurants in Florence, Venice, & Rome. Not all "cheap" but certainly all good values, and not the usual tourist fare.

For those without web access, contact Dei Mori: Via Dante Alighieri 12, 50122 Firenze I t a l y Tel/Fax +39.55.211438 deimori@bnb.it

Portofino

Judith wrote:

Portofino (boutiques, cafes), San Fruttuoso (really expensive restaurants and bays in a tiny fishing hamlet - we took the cheap ferry and our own food and had a lovely day there), and the market town of Camogli. Santa Margherita Ligure was great cos it had lots of local pasta, vegie, cheese shops etc and a great square here you could sit and watch people. It's on the railway line heading north from Pisa to Genova - you get off at Rapallo and catch a 3 minute bus from there.

Rome

I wrote:

I haven't lived in Rome but I've traveled there recently. I found a real cheap hotel that caters to backpackers and the like. Nothing fancy by any means but clean and cheap and English speaking employees. There's also a grocery store right downstairs. Basically, it's pretty expensive in Rome but deals can be found. I bought from the grocery store and ate in a lot. As far as eating, there are plenty of non-meat dishes and veggies though I don't think they really cater to the vegetarian eater like we do in the US. You shouldn't have a problem finding meatless dishes. Below is the info for the hotel:

Hotel Il Castello

Via Vittorio Amedeo Il, 9

00185 Roma

Tel - 06-77-20-40-36

Fax - 06-70-49-00-68

Where it is and how to get there. BTW, if anyone stays there it looks pretty grim from the outside but it's clean and safe on the inside. I met some very nice people there.

From Fiumicino, take a direct train to central station Termini

From Termini, take the subway, Line A, to Manzoni (two stops)

Take exit San Quintino to get back on street level

Walk up street San Quintini and Hotel Il Castello is located on the first street on the left.

Please be forewarned, if you want to be spoiled, this is NOT the place for you. :-)

© 1999 colleen_c@mindspring.com


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