Italy - Getting Around

Rome rocks! You definitely have to go and see the Vatican, Colluseum, Forum, Pantheon and the Spanish Steps as well as that big fountain. Get to the Vatican early on one day as it will take you most of the day to go through St Peters and the Vatican galleries. Ladies, ensure you wear a long skirt/sarong or trousers as you won't be allowed in if you are wearing shorts or a mini skirt. It is massive. Often there are people (English speaking students) who are willing to give you a guided tour with explanations through St Peters for free! The statues as well as the architechure of St Peters will blow your mind while you will crack up at the strategically placed fig leaves on the statues of the males throughout the Vatican gallery corridors. When you have finished exploring St Peters Square head down to the Pantheon. I got the best cheeseburger I had in Italy at the McDonalds opposite the Pantheon. The next day get to the Colluseum early to get in line. Later in the day the lines are very long! The Colluseum is awesome and again you may be able to get a guide here, for free! Then you can go onto the Forum across the road. It has been quarried away over the hundreds of years since it lost favour as being the seat of Roman govt, but it is still impressive as your guide will tell you. Romans are crazy drivers, so watch out. Keep a sharp eye out for pickpockets and be very careful with cameras, money, passports, etc as well as your bag. Try not to be anywhere by yourself late at night or early in the morning as that is the best time for thieves to target you and more than one tourist has had a fatal swim in the Tigeres as a result. Public transport is a bit hit and miss (like the rest of the drivers), but the underground train system is good. Tourist buses are not allowed to enter the centre of Rome, so if you go on Bus About or Contiki etc it is likely you will be staying on the edge of Rome. Otherwise you will be paying extra taxi fares to get to your inner city hotel and back again to catch the bus.

if you choose to drive, remember that everything is fair game, including sidewalks and opposing lanes

Prato is awful!The people is absolutely nasty!I didn't like that place at all!

Radicofani is a comune in the Province of Siena in the italian region called Tuscany, located in the natural park of Valdorcia about 110 km southeast of Firenze and about 60 km southeast of Siena. The main landmark of Radicofani is its Rocca (Castle), of Carolingian origin and documented from 978. It was the castle of Ghino di Tacco ( was an outlaw in 13th Italy.) Occupying the highest point of a hill, at 896 m, it was restored after the conquest from the Gran Ducato di Toscana (1560-1567). It has two line of walls: the external one has pentagonal shape, while the inner one is triangular, with three ruined towers at each corner and a cassero ( donjon) which can be visited.

Driving in Palermo, or all of Sicily for that matter, isn't nearly as scary as the guidebooks describe it. Driving through the country is one of the best ways to see it, and you will naturally have to start in one of the larger cities like Palermo or Catania. If you grew up driving in a city(particularly Boston), you'll recognize the fast-paced, aggressive, driving style. However, instead of getting a horn or the finger when you manage to budge your way into a traffic jam, the Italians don't react at all. Think of it! No road rage! Just don't break quickly or slow down and you'll soon find yourself in the 'dance'.

The city is typical old commie style...big squares, cold feeling... But if you feel like having a gamble, it's the place to go! Just get over the border and wait for the little bus to pick you up (it comes every half hour and takes you for free to any of the casino's!)

If you stay in Viareggio in the summer, you should visit Lago de Puccini, where is Puccini-festival. It´s about 30-45minutes driving from Viareggio.

If with a group charter a bus. YOU WILL GET LOST! All the drives are very long. You will save by using a mass transit vehicle. Go to the bathroom at every stop you can! Check out the Eucharistic miracle it is a great glorification of Jesus' prescence. There was a buffet about a block or so north from there. IT is uber expensive! Find a little deli or cafe. DON'T FORGET GELATO!!!

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the names of areas around big streets and squares, when using public transport, because getting off at the right busstop can be one of the biggest hassles if you don't.

You can reach Capri from Sorrento by ferry. On the island itself it is best to walk around, but if you need to, you can get taxis for a reasonable price. To the famous Grotta Azurro you can only get by small rowing boats (mind your head at the entrance and take the least amount of carrying package with you!!!).