We will be spending 3 weeks in Italy, mostly in Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome. Many of those days we have a museum reservation (or a tour, e.g., Hadrian's Villa, Siena). I need to find something to do that is just relaxing during the middle of the day or an afternoon, so that we will not be exhausted and "jaded" from too much "sightseeing". I appreciate suggestions for just sitting in a park for 90 minutes, or something else that is not "touring" or "sightseeing".
Do hotels have swimming pools? I know that Rick Steves suggested bringing a swim suit. I will be in Cinque Terre for only one day, so do not plan on the beach there, and I think that when (if) I go to Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, it will be too cold to swim.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
After a busy morning, I like to return to my room for R&R. Some people call this siesta time.
Posted by
Rome
212 posts
I agree, especially in Rome. Rome is pure chaos....when are you coming? Some hotels have pools, a few that I like are the Exedra, The Radisson SAS (hotel not great, but pool fantastic), and the Hotel Villa Pamphili.
Posted by
Norfolk, USA
255 posts
Stop at an outside cafe for a glass of wine, relax and just "people watch".
Posted by
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
536 posts
Hi Elinda - In Florence my thoiught would be to sit a t a cafe near Ponte Vecchio with a drink in hand. In Rome - easy - A Gelato and sit down on The Spanish Steps and watch the people!!
Regarding La Cinque Terre - Is there no way that you can get at least two days to see the villages and perhaps walk a bit of the trail along the cliffs - Spectacular!!
Ciao, Greg
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon, USA
927 posts
Sometimes mid-day we'll stop in a church. The small ones are very peaceful and intimate. I'm not religious, but sometimes it is nice to light a votive candle, make a small offering, sit and think about how fortunate we are to be able to travel and to experience these beautiful and wondrous places.
Posted by
Orlando, Florida
676 posts
In London I went to a noon, well 1300, concert. You could bring food, but I'd just eaten so I brought a drink in, they offered tea/biscuit for a nominal price, and it was so nice and relaxing. I'm not a big classical music listener, but with live performers...
And sitting at a cafe with a drink/snack people watching is fun too...
Posted by
Madison, WI, USA
524 posts
If sitting at a beach on the Medditeranean is the #1 most relaxing thing, then cafe sitting with a glass of wine and people watching has to be #2.
In Rome, I esp enjoyed sitting at a cafe in front of the Pantheon and Piazza Novana. Spanish Steps are also good. You can usually get little half caraf's of wine. This may not be up your alley, but we spend an evening just strolling from Piazza Novana to the Spanish Steps and stopping at 4 or 5 cafes on the way for a glass of wine. By the end we were pretty well in the bag, had a great italian wine tour of sorts and we were very relaxed. When you are feet from beautiful fountains surrounded by people speaking gorgeous Italian with a glass of wine - its hard to be stressed.
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1003 posts
We love to people watch. Grab a cold drink and enjoy! I would agree with Greg re. trying to spend more than one day in the Cinque T. Have been here 3x in the last 7 years most recently 4 nights this past July. Have always been here in summer months and LOVE the energy of Vernazza. The evenings here are lovely and the boat ride to Portovenere is beautiful.