Italy

So I'm starting think about our 1 year anniversary trip and I'm pretty sure that we are going to go to Italy for 10 days. We plan on hitting Venice, Florence and Rome.

Anyone have any suggestions on hotels, sights, or Italy in general?

I lived in Florence for 6 months during my undergrad study abroad.

BEST TIME OF MY LIFEEEE!!

You don't need more than a day or, at most, 2 in Venice. Other than the gandola ride (very overpriced, but cute, and everyone does it) and piazza San Marco, there's nothing to do/see there.

Florence & Rome is where you should really spend your time.

In Florence, be sure to check out the follwoing...
-Duomo
-Galleria D'Academia
-Statue of David
-Uffizi Museum

Eat at...
-La Giostra
-Aqua al Due (order the blueberry steak--AMAZING!)

Stay at: THE SAVOY!!

In Rome, check out the following...(I am less familiar with Rome, as I've only been there 2x)

-Colloseum
-Vatican
-Spanish Steps
-Trevi Fountain
-Pantheon

HTH! FM me if you need more recs, I'd be happy to help! I loveeeee Italy SO MUCH!

My FBIL may be getting married there, so I can't wait to go back!!

Thanks so much!! Im planning to fly into Venice (and arrive early!), spend the day/night and take the train into Florence the next afternoon. Since we will be a bit jet lagged I think Venice is the best place to recuperate since it won't be that demaning.

I will def check out that hotel in Florence!

Our friends got married in Tuscany in 2009 so we did the Rome, Tuscany Florence combination. She researched all of the lodging but I have to say I was happy with her selections. We stayed in hotel san carlo in Rome. The hotel was very nice with breakfast included but the location was what I really loved. It was right by the spanish steps and not too far from a lot of the sites.

http://www.hotelsancarloroma.com/

Of course there are so many things to see in Rome (the colosseum which we missed because it closed, the Vatican, St. Peters basilica etc). Try to get down to Trastevere section over the bridge, piazza nueva, the trevi fountain, pantheon and the spanish steps. L' Eustachia is supposed to be the best espresso in Rome. And definitely hit up the Gelato!

If you're planning on stopping in Tuscany, we stayed in a villa on a vineyard, terra di nano. It was so beautiful. That's where they had the wedding so we were there for a few days. Giorgio and Christina are who runs it and I can't say enough nice things about them.

http://www.terredinano.com/

Florence we stayed at Hotel Kraft which was ok. I'm sure there are nicer ones we just picked it last minute (as in the night before leaving to head up there). If you like jewelry and shopping you have to hit ponte vechio. The David is also here in the museum (can't remember the name, sorry). Oh and La Giostra restaurant, is awesome. Its owned by a prince and the food was amazing. The Duomo is pretty cool to see here too.

I didn't make it to Venice so I can't offer any opinions there.

I would advise getting either a rick steve's or Frommers guide, they had a lot of good descriptions for sites.

You are going to love it. It was honestly my best vacation. So romantic and the food is just unbelievable everywhere you go. Hope this helps!

Looooooove Italy!

I studied in Rome for an entire year when I was in undergrad....and I would highly recommend staying in the historic center

This time around we are staying at the Hotel Campo de Fiori. It is right by an AMAZING restaurant Hostaria Costanza. Also nearby is the Hotel Tiziano.

Hit San Crispino and Giolitti for gelato, and Tazza d'oro and San Eustachio for cappuccino

Vatican, the forum, coliseum, Spanish steps are all great. If you can, try to get Vatican necropolis tickets. Also, if you head out of Rome for a day, I would go to Tivoli to the Villa Adriana and Villa d'este

Florence. This time around we are staying at the Hotel Orto de'Medici. It has amazing reviews

Definitely worth it to take a day trip to Siena. The Ufizi, Bobolink Gardens, climb the Duomo, la'Accademia, the Pitti Chapel, Santa Croce

Have a great trip!