Going back to Italy!!!

Posted by Katie (NY) on 02/10/18 04:13 PM

It wasn't even a thought that this October I'll be heading back to Italy, but apparently, I am going!!! A family friend's daughter lives in Florence. She is to scared to travel alone, so I volunteered to accompany her, poor me! lol. We are also going to be taking my 74 year old mother in law. I am figuring 10 days max, (total time in Italy, so not including losing a day in the overnight flight) as my father in law isn't to well & won't be coming. We will be flying into & out of Milan (as I believe it will be the cheapest option, we are splitting the cost for my mother in law). I know my mother in law would LOVE to see Rome. Her friend will most likely not accompany us to Rome. Walking will be a problem, my mother in law broke her back & ankle at one time, so long walking days are out. She is Catholic and will most likely just want to see those sites in Rome. How many days should I figure to see all those sights with a walking handicap, meaning one or two sites max per day?

Thank you all in advance. You were so helpful my last trip.

Katie

Posted by gerri

lexington, il

02/10/18 05:15 PM

4105 posts

Which sites besides St. Peter's and the Vatican?

Pre purchase skip the line tickets so you don't stand in lines.

To make it easier on her in the museum, they do have free wheelchairs available.

http://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/visita-i-musei/servizi-per-i-visitatori/accessibilita.html

Use taxis to connect sites, find a map with location of taxi stands the info both at Rome Termini might have one.

Posted by David

Huntsville, AL, USA

02/10/18 05:35 PM

8361 posts

First of all, if your party is going to Florence and end up in Rome, you really don't need to be flying thru Milan. Take a flight info a major European airport and a connecting flight info Florence. Cheapest is not necessarily the lowest airfares in the long run.
Rome is a city where you can walk yourself to death. So I would say stay in the most central place--close to The Pantheon. Many of the popular sites are relatively closeby. You may find the area a little expensive on accommodations, but you may need to pay the price when mobility is an issue.
We get around Rome by buses and the metro. And we have been staying in the neighborhood east of the Vatican. Museum a couple of blocks from a Metro statiion and 1/4 mile From St. Peters.
Maybe your friend can take a fast train from Fkorence to meet up with you and fly home from Rome FCO.

Posted by geovagriffith

02/10/18 06:11 PM

8460 posts

Katie,
Rome does have a subway system (watch out for pickpockets!) that may help you get around the city.
Still, you may have to use taxis some.

I would echo the poster that cautioned you to fly into Milan. Not sure how well you researched your air line prices. Do you use Kayak.com

You say long walking days are out. I presume your Mom can walk to some degree. Visiting the key sites in Rome, like St. Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, Colliseum and Forum will require some walking.

I have no idea if wheelchairs are available in some places, but doubt it. I haven't been to Rome in 25 years, but I don't remember seeing people in wheelchairs in St. Peter's. Perhaps someone on this blog knows the answer. You need to research that.

St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel are NOT to be missed. However, there are no seats in either.

The Pope used to come out on Wednesday to see the crowd at St. Peter's square. Not sure if he still does that?

Posted by Katie OP

02/10/18 06:21 PM

120 posts

I unfortunately missed Emirates 2 for $799 direct flight from JFK to Milan. What a bummer! Thank you for all your thoughts & suggestions!

Posted by Jay

Chicago

02/10/18 10:24 PM

2124 posts

Katie--

Not sure you've missed out on anything. You're still 9 months out, so if you start monitoring now--I suggest Google & Kayak--you can find pretty much what you want at a reasonable price. Round trip in & out of Milan is not the only way, and it doesn't benefit you logistically at all.

I would do this. Start looking at round trip in & out of Rome, and also an open jaw into Florence, out of Rome. This would be with the understanding in that scenario that your friend may have to eventually take the Freccia train down to Rome herself to meet up with you & mom-in-law, which is 90 minutes. But if her daughter sees her off at Florence SMN station, and you meet her at Roma Termini station, that should not be a problem. I think if/when you see either drop in that $800 range or less, start thinking about firing away, although prices may never get down there. But out of NYC, you stand a good chance of it.

Your friend staying in Florence probably requires you spending more time in Florence than I would, but 6 nights Florence, 4 nights Rome would be pretty good. Before securing lodging, you had better ask your mother-in-law her top requests for visits. If it's Vatican-based, best to stay on that side of the Tiber.

Enjoy your planning!