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Tickets

Posted by (Fairfield, CA, USA) on

My question is in regards to tickets. Please be patient, forgive me for so many questions. We are a family traveling with my husband on business. We will begin in Barcelona, Spain move on to Sorrento, Italy and our final stop Florence, Italy.

In Sorrento we would like to hire a driver to tour Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi. Would this type of tour take all day or half day? Can anyone recommend a driver? Are there any stops you would recommend along the way? We would also like to tour Pompeii. Is it better to hire a guide for Pompeii or is this a self tour?

In Florence we would like to take a Tuscan Cooking Class and perhaps take in a Florence concert. How would I find what types of concerts are available? Has anyone taken a Tuscan Cooking Class or pizza making class?

While in Florence we would like to take a day trip to Rome and hit the big sights, Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Sistine Chapel. Any suggestions other than Rome for a day trip?

We have many interest; nature, culture, food, history, fun. How do I find tickets for these tours/adventures? Is it better to buy tickets before I leave home or wait until I am in Italy? How do I know if I am paying too much?

Posted by
663 posts

You might want to spend a night or 2 in Rome, as it really doesn't work well as a day trip. The Sistine chapel is seen after you first tour the Vatican museums, which you'd need at least 2 hours for, and then a stop at St. Peter's basilica after that is certainly worthwhile. The trevi fountain is especially magical at nighttime.

As for buying ticket in advance, it depends on what you want to do. A Puccini concert in Lucca would be an easy thing to do as a day trip from Florence. It's essential to get advance reservations for some museums in Florence and Rome, such as the Borghese gallery in Rome and the accademia and Uffizi gallery in Florence. A good guide book will give you the info you need to do all this.

An easy day trip from Florence would be either Siena or Pisa.

Posted by
6898 posts

As you travel from Sorrento to Florence, you will not avoid Rome. If you are on the train, you will either stop there or change trains there. Why not stay there a couple of days to see Rome. For what you are describing, you won't be able to do it in a day. No need to backtrack on the high-speed train from Florence at 90Euro for the round trip.

For Tuscan cooking, I don't think you can beat Scoula di Arte Cordon Bleu in Florence. You have teaching chefs Gabriella Mari and Christina Blasi. http://cordonbleu-it.com/ They have a very robust multiple-day cooking school but they also have numerous 3 hour classes. http://gyazo.com/2937ce50122a27f8587f5625dba2d7c8 We have taken a cooking class at this school. I believe that Accidental Tourist may also have a Tuscan cooking class.

As a very nice alternative, you can go up to Colle val d'Elsa which is about an hour or so into the Tuscan hills and take a cooking class from Judy Witts at www.divinacocina.com.

Posted by
32405 posts

Savannah,

I agree with the others that spending a night or two in Rome would really be the best idea, especially as you'll have to pass through there on the way to Florence. Visiting the sights you mentioned could be difficult as a day trip.

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