A Romantic Tour of Rome and Florence
08/21/2007 11:08 a.m.
At the end of May, my wife and I went on our one-year anniversary trip to Italy, a trip filled with pasta, mozzarella, veal, gelato, sightseeing, cafe americano and lots of red wine!
We started in Rome for three days and nights, and stayed at Hotel Mascagni, which was recommended to us by Kelly, our travel agent. Mascagni is in an odd location, among all the government buildings, so it's not exactly a fun, bustling area. The hotel itself is moderately affordable, quaint and clean, although it did have some air conditiong problems, not great during a heat wave. It is a 10-minute walk away from Trevi Fountain, which we went to on our first day there, very close to the shopping area of Via Veneto, and a subway ride away from the Ancient Rome sites like the Forum and the Colliseum.
During our first full day, we went to Vatican City with the help of a tour guide, who helped us understand Michelangelo's process of painting the ceiling of the Sisteen Chapel. We went in the afternoon, which seemed like the right choice. Make sure when you go to the Vatican, that you look up the times and days that it's open.
On the second full day, we toured the Forum and the Colliseum, both incredible works of architecture and each well-preserved. But they are tourist traps, and when you go, you need to be prepared for long lines. We met some nice people on the line from Australia, though, who gave us restaurant recommendations for Florence (our next stop in Italy). We signed up for a guided tour of the Colliseum (with the Forum tour included for "Free"). The only benefit we gained from the tour guide was her ability to get us past the long line of non-guided tourists and into the site itself. But her tour itself was sub-par. Her colleague's tour of the forum was fantastic, though.
After our tour of ancient Rome, we visited the Jewish Ghetto, and had lunch at a restaurant that served the best fried artichokes we'd ever had. This is a specialty dish in the Jewish Ghetto, so don't miss it if you like artichokes and fried food.
The following morning, we took a train up to Florence, a city rich in culture and history. We settled into Hotel Albani that afternoon and took a walk over to the Academia, where we had made an advance reservation to see Michelangelo's sculpture of David. There was nothing else of interest to see at Academia, but the statue of David is such an incredible work of art and attention to detail that it was worth the price of admission.
That evening, we went to a restaurant that we will remember forever. La Giostra, while not the restaurant where the locals go, was a culinary experience for the ages, especially for people who love the food of Tuscany, the region in which Florence lies. We shared a vegetable carpaccio, full of zucchini, squash, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil, that melted in our mouths. And then I had a fresh pappardelle pasta with a plentiful amount of a braised wild boar bolognese that I did not want to stop eating. My wife had a ravioli filled with brie and artichoke that was also delicious. We also shared a steak tagliata, a florentine hangar steak topped with arugula salad and parmigiano reggiano. And all of this food was topped off with a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino, a fine wine of Tuscany.
The following day, we ate lunch at a restaurant called Trattoria Mario, in San Lorenzo square. I could not believe that I was eating a Veal Chop with fries and drinking a glass of house wine at Noon. And we were sharing a table with a father and son from the area, giving us an experience of locals. We would not have found this restaurant without our Australian friends from the Colliseum tour.
Later that day, we climbed a windy staircase to the top of the Duomo, a cathedral with a famed dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. At the top of the Duomo, when you get outside, you can get a breathtaking view of Florence and the villages of Tuscany. Standing up there was a triumphant moment for me, who is notoriously terrified of heights. To reward me for my braver, my wife bought me some delicious gelato.
Tags: western europe, florence, rome, italy
Relevant Articles:
Italy Background and Facts
- 12/18/2007
Flag: Background: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance ... Read More
Puerto Del Carmen, The Hub Of Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Hal Licino - 08/27/2007
Your travel agent will tell you that there is no off season for the beaches of Lanzarote, the easternmost of the glorious Canary Island archipelago. Even in January when most of Europe is shrouded in chilly gray cloud, the average temperature of these sundrenched beaches off the Western Saharan coast ... Read More
Discover Magical, Mystical Dorset
Hal Licino - 08/26/2007
The South coast of England is renowned and justly famous. From the immortal white cliffs of Dover in Kent, to the historical beachside resorts of Brighton in Sussex and the great harbor of Portsmouth and the rustic Isle of Wight in Hampshire, they are names and places that most North ... Read More
Ulm, Germany - Birthplace of Genius
Hal Licino - 08/24/2007
Bundesautobahn 7 bisects Germany in virtually a straight line drawn north to south, and could be called the country's Main Street if it weren't for the BMWs passing you at well over 150 mph. To exercise such speed on this highway is a pity since you are going to miss ... Read More
Making The Most Of Your Cruise
Hal Licino - 08/22/2007
A cruise is a considerable investment in your recreation and thus you should be able to derive the maximum benefit. Seasoned cruisers have learned some valuable lessons that deserve to be passed on.• Check for a deal on an outside room, possibly with an external veranda. You will be able ... Read More
Honeymoon Getaways from Turkey to Okinawa Japan
Jeff James - 01/08/2008
Thinking about a honeymoon in Turkey, or perhaps a romantic honeymoon getaway in Japan? Check out these great reviews and then submit a trip request and we'll connect you with experts specializing in Turkish OR Japanese honeymoon getaways! 26. Grand Kemer Hotel, Antalya, Turkey - This property is much more than ... Read More
In the Footsteps of Don Quixote
Miki - 10/12/2007
Firstly, Tripologists, allow us to introduce ourselves! We are Miki, a French Painter, and Kevin, an English Rock musician, living in Albir near Alicante, Spain. We have the privilege of sharing with you here some of our many and varied travel experiences, warts and all, from around the world. We ... Read More
Uncorking It In Cork, Ireland
Hal Licino - 10/12/2007
By the standards of most of the cities in Europe, Cork is barely a village. However, travel agents can explain that this ancient Irish maritime port city cuts a swath across Europe when it comes to being a party town that gives even the world-renowned craic capital Dublin some very ... Read More
Property Hunting For Multi-Million Dollar Ruins In Chiantishire
Hal Licino - 10/12/2007
It may never be known whether this anecdote really occurred or if it is just an urban legend, however it is certainly not far from reality, and specialized travel agents can most likely confirm it: A few years ago one of the many wealthy British couples driving around the specific ... Read More
The Best Traditional And Avant Garde Restaurants In Inverness
Hal Licino - 10/12/2007
Scottish dining immediately brings to mind single malt toasts to Robert Burns over a steaming plate of haggis, yet that stereotype is quickly disappearing in light of the gourmet revolution which has taken over the country. Although his Glasgow restaurant was a bust, many experts attribute the impact of a ... Read More
Finding A Perfectly Ordered Urban Paradise At Munich's Arabellapark
Hal Licino - 10/12/2007
Travel agents can inform you that Munich has a well-deserved reputation for being a boisterous party town, and that is certainly true when you visit this Bavarian city during Oktoberfest when the beer flows freely and the streets ring with the celebratory toasts of "Ein Prosit!" However, there is another ... Read More
Travel Agent of the Day - Wednesday October 10th, 2007 - Rhonda R.
Michele H - 10/10/2007
Rhonda R. Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), Destination Specialist (DS) Rhonda joined the Tripology network back in April of 2007 and has already planned some great vacations for travelers she found through Tripology.com. How long have you been in the business? "7 Years" What inspired you to become a travel agent? "I ... Read More
Honeymoon In The Netherlands' Finest Five Star Palatial Hotel
Hal Licino - 10/04/2007
Travel agents can explain how The NH Barbizon Palace Amsterdam Hotel is an ultra luxurious five star establishment which meets every imaginable criteria for the perfect Amsterdam honeymoon hotel. The NH Barbizon Palace Amsterdam Hotel is centrally located just moments from the vibrant, bustling heart of the great city, within ... Read More
Strolling The Cobbles On Manchester's Coronation Street
Hal Licino - 10/04/2007
Coronation Street is a street in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Unlike most soap operas which deal with the intrigue of moneyed bon vivants, the inhabitants of Coronation Street are typical English working class people whose multigenerational antics have kept the English speaking world enthralled ... Read More
Be Pampered In London's Opulent Arabian Honeymoon Spa
Hal Licino - 10/04/2007
The Elemis Day Spa in the heart of Mayfair, London is offering an Exotic Steam Rasul pampering for a honeymoon couple, the first time that this historical Arabian health and vitality ritual has been offered in Europe. The Exotic Steam Rasul is truly the ultimate pampering experience for two people ... Read More
