I have finalized my plans for our trip next month and want to make sure that there are no "must-sees" I am missing. We are in Tuscany for 6 days and plan on 2 days in Florence which includes reservations already made for the Uffizi and Accademia as well as Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. We are spending most of our second day there attending a cooking class but might have extra time in the late afternoon for something that you think should be included. We are also spending a day in Lucca and Pisa as well as time in Siena on another day.
As for Rome we are doing the vatican tour, the forum/colloseum tour and a walk to the pantheon, trevi fountain and spanish steps. thanks in advance for any can't miss advise.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Part of the challenge of going to Italy is accepting the fact there will always be "must-sees" that you're going to miss. You've planned a wonderful trip, so just go enjoy it. :-)
Posted by
OP
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
Thanks Michael we are looking forward to it, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something "around the corner" from someplace we are already going. Thanks again for your help.
Posted by
Collierville, Tennessee, USA
517 posts
I don't know how long you are in Rome, but if you have time the Borghese Gallery is wonderful.
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon, USA
959 posts
You are missing climbing the Duomo, and the Duomo Museum. I love the gallery of debunked reliquaries.
You are missing the Science Museum.
You are missing Fiesole, the Bargello, Michelangelo Plaza, Santa Croce, San Miniato al Monte, .....
Posted by
OP
Boston, MA, USA
262 posts
Thank you so much Francis I will see what we can fit in...truly appreciated
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon, USA
959 posts
Rome is a whole other challenge,
One place people don't usually include is San Giovanni in Laterano cause its a little out of the way. But its part of Vatican City and was were the popes use to be crowned. To become Pope, they have to sit in the Bishops Chair. Check Out the Sacred Stairs to observe true catholic ritual.
Don't miss Castel Sant'Angelo, the Capitol Hill Museum, on top of what was the most sacred Roman Temple; the Temple of Jupiter, or the Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis).
And if you want to see what a complete, though somewhat small, Roman Temple looked like, they have just restored one near Santa Maria Cosmedia and the Ponte Palatino called the Tempio di Vesta. This is a different Tempio di Vesta than the ruined one in the Forum. It is also called Temple of Ercole Vincitore. This structure, dating to the 2nd century BC, is believed to be the oldest surviving marble building in Rome.
More info here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Hercules_Victor
This was built as part of the Forum Boarium.
Oddly, this is entirely left out of Rick's Rome Guide Book.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
...and if you love, or even just like, frescoes, try to see the Brancacci Chapel at the very-plain-looking Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine (northwest of Pitti Palace on Piazza del Carmine; should show up on any map). I studied them, so it was a richer experience than usual, but they are truly masterpeices. You'll probably be the only ones there... :-(
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/brancacci_chapel.html
Never judge a church, or other building, by its facade...treasures lie behind those plain fronts. Snoop.
FWIW, the Casa Santo Nome di Gesu convent (on the same square) is a very well-known and popular place to stay. We really enjoyed our stay there 2 years ago...