Tips for traveling to Italy with a senior

If you are not interested in a structured tour, maybe check out "Europe Through The Back Door" or other guide books such as "Lonely Planet" for some ideas.

There will always be crowds, but probably not as much during the time of year you wish to visit compared to heightened "tourist/travel seasons." Many make a pilgrimage to Italy/Rome for Easter. But since the holiday is not until April 5, 2015, you may not encounter the huge crowds as it nears (depending when in March you are going) especially at the Vatican and other Holy places. There are food choices in Italy that can work with your Dad's dietary needs.

Check out some links. Jot down some ideas.

http://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-italy/
http://www.viator.com/Italy/d57-ttd
http://www.destination360.com/europe/italy/attractions

Check out RS guided and unguided tours as well as other tour companies to Italy to get suggestions about historical sites and gardens to visit, 'best' times to see, etc.

Gluten free won't help a diabetic. But there are lots of other foods besides pasta served in restaurants. However, you may want to investigate getting a place with cooking facilities, or at least with a fridge to store foods.

Going in March will definitely reduce the worst of the crowds, but you have to accept that very popular places like the Vatican will still have crowds. If you don't mind getting up early, one tour recommended here is the Pristine Sistine with Walks of Italy - it starts at 7:30 in the morning, so you beat the crowds. There are also evening tours that are less crowded.

You may prefer to stay out of major cities and rent a car. This would optimize your opportunities for seeing natural beauty and reduce your contact with crowds.

I was just in Sicily in April and May of 2014. I wrote a very lengthy trip report (link below) and it may give you some ideas. I understand that Sicily is probably not what you had in mind for this trip, but it could certainly work well for your goals. You'll note that two of the places we stayed had cooking facilities, and the agriturismo would be perfect for seeing natural beauty (right from your window, as well as all over the area). You would, of course, move around less than we did: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina

Your father should check his glucose levels regularly (probably already does this), the increase in exercise/activity may in some cases help reduce the required medication dosage - this happens to me by about the fifth day of travel. I have Type 2 diabetes and do very well traveling in Italy. I realize I am lucky that my glucose levels can be affected by exercise and food choices (harder to do at home than when I am traveling), and my suggestions may not work for your father, but here goes:

If your father can have pasta, but not a lot of it, he can order half-portions (mezzo porzione). The last meal of the day should be light on carbs. There are lots of options for courses: soups, salads, antipasti, ordering a secondo piatto (usually protein) instead of a primo piatto (usually pasta- or rice-based). If the craving for a slice of pizza can't be ignored, order a small piece al taglio (cut by weight) at a pizza-to-go storefront instead of a sit-down, whole pizza per person. For gelato, which I indulge in occasionally, I ask for the smallest size cup and ask the counterperson not to fill it completely ("non abbondante"). If it's still too much (2 ounces is okay for me once in awhile), I just have some of it and throw the rest away (discreetly).

Good news for your Dad: he won't have any trouble finding low-carb or carb-less meals in Italy. In the cities, I might suggest looking for Tavola Caldas; these are restaurants that are sort of like cafeterias, where you choose from offerings on display, and pay a cashier. This way, he'll be able to choose foods - like proteins, vegetables and soup - on sight.

A little about them (no this is not my website, promise!):

http://www.italiannotebook.com/local-interest/tavola-calda/

Seafood, meat entrees and veggies will be plentiful in other restaurants as well so no worries!

Rome: you mentioned the Vatican? If he doesn't like art, skip the museums and just go for the basilica. For history, he would, of course, enjoy the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine, and I'll suggest the Portico di Ottavia and Teatro Marcello area: there is signage to tell you what you're looking at:

http://www.turismoroma.it/quartieri/ghetto-circomassimo?lang=en

A walk on part of the Via Appia Antica is an excellent day out, with lots of history and attractions to see; catacombs; the ruins of a circus; crumbling tombs; the excavation of a Roman bath...

http://www.parcoappiaantica.it/en/

The Baths of Caracalla are interesting as well:

http://www.060608.it/en/cultura-e-svago/beni-culturali/beni-archeologici/terme-di-caracalla.html

There are some churches with fascinating historic value as they have Roman ruins in their basements. Take a look at San Nicola in Carcere and San Clemente, for starters:

http://www.060608.it/en/cultura-e-svago/luoghi-di-culto-di-interesse-storico-artistico/chiese-cattoliche/san-nicola-in-carcere.html

http://www.basilicasanclemente.com

You could also take an easy and inexpensive day trip to Ostia Antica - which rivals Pompei:

http://www.ostia-antica.org

There's just a TON of history in Rome so no worries there either! Many of these outdoor spaces - like the baths, Appia Antica, Portico di Ottavia, etc, may be busy but not nearly as overrun as the Vatican or some of the other Top 10 attractions so he'll be less bothered by crowds. The Colosseum is, of course, a big draw but a fair amount of tourists skip the Palatine and even the Forums.

How many days are you looking to go for on your trip?

In Venice, for instance, you can escape the crowds by walking the opposite direction of the signs that point to Rialto and San Marco and just get lost. In Rome and other large cities, taxis can be pretty affordable and let you skip some metro stairs, crowds, or standing time at a bus stop.

A good natured disagreement with the previous poster who said to skip the Vatican Museum because Dad likes history, not so much art. My first trip to the Museum, I was shocked at the amount of pre-Christian artifacts there. I would not skip it. Lots of History, and my husband who is not an "art guy" loved the Map Room!

Possibly either you or your Father would want to have a brief discussion with a medical professional concerning traveling internationally on long haul flights, jet lag, etc. Just to see if a medical professional has any recommendations.
Vatican - has history but not natural beauty.
Florence - has history, natural beauty (the hills and river), and art.
Just some suggestions.

You don't mention when in March you're going. Next year, Holy Week starts on March 29. Unless you specifically want to be in Rome for those liturgies, I'd suggest being out of Rome before the weekend of the 29th.

A few suggestions from my experiences traveling with elderly or handicapped people: the canes that have a collapsible seat on them can be really helpful, even for someone who doesn't normally use a cane. It gives the person a place to sit and rest while waiting in lines or listening to a guide. Also, wheelchair or trolley transfers in airports can be really helpful, even if the senior is not enthralled with the idea, and they should be arranged before hand. What sounds like a reasonable transfer in an airport can become pretty challenging if the plane is late or the gate is changed… and I usually tried to be prepared, assuming those things would happen. And related to this, I scheduled planes and trains with as few transfers as possible, even if the timing was less convenient. Finally, I budgeted to use taxis to get around cities, rather than public transit or long walks. The taxis in Italy are not too expensive.

"Type I diabetes is moderately correlated with celiac disease, a type of allergy to gluten."

A perfect example of why one should not consult websites like ehow for facts. Celiac disease is NOT an allergy. It is an inherited disorder in which gluten causes an auto-immune response which destroys cells in the digestive tract, leading to digestive problems and malabsorption of nutrients. Very different from an allergic response, which includes things like rash, stuffy nose, etc. all the way up to anaphylactic shock.

But why are we even talking about gluten when the problem is diabetes?

I will just say that I must avoid pasta, pizza, etc. but still eat very well in Italy. I order a salad or grilled veggies for the antipasto course and then choose a meat or fish dish from the Secondi. My husband orders antipasto and then chooses a pasta dish frommthe Primi Piatti. We both end up very happy.

Italy is so full of historic sites you could go just about anywhere and find them, from Roman ruins and ancient cities like Pompeii to renaissance sites like Florence. Why don't you have your father pick some interests and focus on those? March would be a good time to visit Venice, which has a fascinating history, by the way. Rome and Naples, possibly Sicily, would offer more in the way of ancient history.

You say your father has always wanted to go to Italy -- so what does he want to do/see ? He can still probably do/see that -- may need to take a few more rest stops, or walk a little slower, or skip the climb-to-the-top sights in favor of view-from-the-bottom. Or maybe not.

At 70, I note where benches are in museums and use them as needed, then keep touring.
Good advice to check with his doctor about travel/dietary restrictions -- you may find it less restrictive than you fear.

Thanks everyone--this is very helpful. To answer some of your questions--we're looking at going in early March, probably around the 8th. And we're looking at going for probably 7-9 days. Dad really wants to see the Roman ruins and really wants to see Rome. As I said, I went to Italy 15 years ago (I was young and pretty much just ate pizza because I was a dumb college kid) and was not there for very long. But I remember Rome being chaotic so I'm worried that my Dad will be a bit overwhelmed. I've been pushing Venice on him because it's so much more relaxing without the cars. But that's the limit to my Italian travels and my Dad doesn't know much about the region at all (for example, I asked him what he wanted to see in Italy and he responded with "the Greek Isles"...he isn't dumb, he just thought that it would only be about an hour or two from Italy and easily manageable in a week).

He is actually in excellent physical shape. Once he was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes, he started walking a lot so he wouldn't have to rely on medication. But he does have to limit carbs which also means that many fruits and some vegetables (corn is a problem) must be limited as well. Meats, fish, dairy, fats and oils, and most vegetables are fine. And he can probably have occasional indulgences because we will be walking quite a lot. And while walking won't be a problem, I don't think he would do well with a ton of stairs.

I was considering Cinque Terre. Any thoughts on how doable a Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre trip would be in 7-9 days without pushing my dad too much?

Some assorted thoughts for you,
(1) 70 is the new 50, especially for someone who walks a lot!
(2) In March, I expect that everywhere in Italy will be a lot less crowded, also a lot cooler, than it is in the summer, or even in spring and fall. If you were in Italy during the summer years ago when you were a student, this time will be quite different. You will also have a wide range of centrally-located hotels and inns, at much lower prices than they get during the high seasons, especially if you book them a few months in advance. If stairs are a concern, be sure you are assured that each lodging has an elevator or no need for climbing many stairs.
(3) Just what does 7 to 9 days mean, related to travel days, etc.? On this site, most people count the nights. Every time you re-locate from one hotel and city to another hotel and city, it consumes a lot of time and energy, given all the pieces of getting from one hotel room to the next. Three nights means two full days in a place, plus a little piece of a day or two. Some people end up moving around so much that they spend more time and energy moving than enjoying where they are. If you are staying 6 nights, then two main stops is probably enough. With 8 or 9 nights, you might add a third. Certainly you could have a great time in Rome and Venice, both are full of unique things to see and do!
(4) That said, personally I think that it would be a shame not to get to know one or two ancient small towns, at least as day trips, even if not overnight. Very different from the bigger cities. From Rome, Orvieto is just a 70-minute direct train ride away, to the north, a lovely, ancient, all-stone hill town, with lots of choices of things to see and do. I would encourage staying through dinner as the quiet time in the evening is magical. From Venice, taking the 45-minute or so vaporetto out to the island of Burano also offers a unique and colorful small town experience, very flat territory in Burano.
(5) Finally, I have not been to Cinque Terre during March, but many travelers on this site have commented that the area basically closes down from November into April, with most inns and restaurants closed, boats not running, and bad weather often leaving visitors with nothing to do. Don't go there in March. If you have the time and want to add a third major stop I would certainly suggest Florence, a magnificent city even if you skip most of the inside art, and it is right in between Rome and Venice, meaning relatively short travel times.
By the way, The Rick Steves Italy Book gives great descriptions and tips for all these places. Hope you and Pops share a truly wonderful trip together!
Larry

I try to avoid lots of carbs, just because. I had an excellent chicken breast with mushrooms one night when my friends were having pasta. but twice I stupidly hoped that fried meant sautéed (a side of veggies) and got something battered and deep fat fried. (second time was fish) so, of course, ask follow up questions of your wait staff. and I also agree that a cane with seat might eventually come in handy.....I noticed on day 4 of our trip that my fifty sumpin friend in exceelnt shape kept sitting on top of my roller bag as we waited for train transfers.....

Yes, I quoted the "moderately" correlated. If you re-read my post you will see that my issue is with the end of the statement, where it says celiac disease is an allergy. It is not an allergy, so ehow is not credible on that point.

I am so glad your diabetic friend did well on a gluten-free diet. But gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains. It has nothing to do with carbs. A gluten-free diet may include rice, corn, potatoes, and other carbs which, as far as I understand) must be limited or carefully controlled for diabetics. So a simple gluten-free diet will not meet the dietary restrictions for most diabetics. But I am sure mw's father can figure out what he should eat when he gets to Italy. The point I and others are trying to make is that Italian food is so much more than pizza and pasta. I don't touch those and I love Italian food--even cook it at home.

As for the travel part, I would skip Cinque Terre. It is not a good destination in early March. Besides, 9 days is barely enough for Rome ( with a daytrip to Ostia Antica or Hadrian's villa) and Venice. I like the idea of a stop in Orvieto which is right on the way and really nice.

OK, so I'll do a good-natured backpedal on the Vatican Museums a bit but clarify my vote to skip them based on not just his lack of interest in art but a dislike of crowds as well. March will be much better than peak season, though.

No, I wouldn't do the Cinque Terre in March, and that one would be a bit of a challenge anyway if he has trouble with stairs. I like the idea of Orvietto too.

" I don't think he would do well with a ton of stairs. I was considering Cinque Terre."
Hmmmm...lots of stairs in Cinque Terre, very few flat areas.