Shannon

i am travelling to italy in july, backpacking around for three weeks, heading to spain for a couple of days. any advice....?

Hollz

My advice, from information I've read on TPunk and a bit of personal experience, is that you'd want to check out Cinque Terre for a few days. Naples is a little dirty, so if you're headed in that direction for Pompeii or Capri, you might want to stay in Sorrento instead. I hear it's pretty nice.

I stopped for a bit at a little medieval village called San Giamano- it was pretty cool and you only need a few hours there.

If you go to Venice try to stay overnight there and not just do a day trip. When I went there I wandered around, didn't really have time to check out the other islands, followed my friends around, and had time for a gondola ride. What I really wanted to do was check out what it's like after all the ferries leave, and drink some wine at a neat spot and meet some cool people. -Which is exactly what I'm going to do in a few months!

You'll need at least 3 days in Rome, and if you want to check out a bit of Romea & Juliet stuff you can go to Verona. We also went to a smaller "colloseum" there, and it wasn't that crowded at all.

iomaggio

You'd definitely have to fight through the crowds, but I think seeing The Pieta (sp?) in Vatican City is a must. I stared at it for at least half an hour, and would have stared longer if the people I was with didn't want to go. It's quite possibly the most moving work of art I've ever seen.

Jen05

I wouldn't have changed a thing about my time in Italy, except for maybe spending one more day in Cinque Terre, and one less day in Rome. Rome is amazing for sightseeing, and had wonderful gelati! Cinque Terre is amazing. Can't say enough good things! Florence is another favorite, and I'd recommend climbing up the Duomo and going on the pub crawl if you're into that. Venice is spectacular (ohh, that's an adjective I haven't used before!), and it's so much fun to walk around in.

Echeverry

Bella Napoles!

__________________
Tell me where you're @ and I shall tell you where 2 dance Emmanuel. E. Echeverry/DJ_VeeeNoM.

marc873

If you are near Napoli, you must take a ferry from "Molo Beverello" docks to the island of Ischia. Pass up Procida and Capri, and go to Ischia. It is know as the green island, and is Volcanic. Thermal springs etc. I would suggest going to the city of Forio on Ischia. The ferry will take you there or to Porto Ischia where you can catch a bus to Forio. Just a GREAT quaint mediteranian Italian island. If you do go and want more info, email me @ marc873@carolina.rr.com.
Marc873

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

xtremefx

i could speak to a few italian friends if ya want,for like advice XD

__________________
link soon to be added...


...


¬_¬

marc873

Definatley make your way to Nice when in France. Doesn't get any better for the south of France. In Italy, the Almafi coast is truly amazing and beautiful. Venice is always a treat, and if in the south, check out the craziness of Napoli. If you don't mind a city with more people and craziness than you can almost handle, Napoli is great. Only for 2 days though. While in Napoli, catch a ferry out of Porto Beverello, to Capri or Ischia. Both are amazing. Capri has the Blue Grotto, and Ischia is still volcanic with thermal springs etc...

__________________
When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....

epicballa

Florence is absolutely amazing if you're into history, art and architecture. It can be done in 2 or 3 days though.

And Venice, I was skeptical about going there because I heard it's basically like Disney World with the amount of tourists. And while it is during the day, early in the morning and late at night it's a breathtaking place to be.

I really enjoyed Rome as well. So much to do, so much to see.

__________________
http://www.facebook.com/Matthew.Lobacz

tumblezweedz

Ditto on spending the night in Venice, it is an incredible experience. A city without cars...very strange and wonderful. And the light early in the morning, before all the crowds come...ahhhhh.

Also, Naples is chaotic and dirty and really, really neat. Check out two of the most fascinating sculptures I've ever seen, the "Veiled Christ" and "Enlightenment" (I think) in the Chapel of San Severo - a weird mix of Catholic and Masonic symbolism but the sculptures are mind boggling. Take your time.

The Vatican Museums are incredible, and exhausting. Overwhelming.

LostFarmboy

Pompeii is awsome, you MUST go there!!

Rome, you can't go to Italy and not go to Rome.

Cinque Terre is great, but i am worried it is quickly becoming THE place to go so there may be a few toursists wandering around. Still, i highly recommend it, it's beautiful.

Venice - it's a must see.

Drop in on Pisa if you can, it's an easy day trip.

Florence seemed nice, didn't stay there long though.

Naples has some very bloody nice Pizza.

__________________
My adventures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickt0909/

Echeverry

Napoles is hands down the Shit! oh oh La Familia is the shit!

__________________
Tell me where you're @ and I shall tell you where 2 dance Emmanuel. E. Echeverry/DJ_VeeeNoM.

ali85

Cinque Terre is a must, i was there just a week ago and it was great. Sure there are tourists but there are way more tourists else where. I thought there were way more in Venice. Due to the fact the Cinque Terre region (which consists of 5 different little villages) is a National Park, the villages are not going to going to become some commercial tourist trap over night, the Itialian people want it stay how it is, so it is going to keep the little-town charm for a long while. Lastly, if you go there the hiking the trail is really worth it, its tough but its pretty rewarding.

Peaceout,

Ali