Headed to Italy next week - Recommendations?
05-19-16, 03:11 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 183
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Headed to Italy next week - Recommendations?
Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome. Any good shops or events out there that anyone can recommend? Items to look out for that aren't available in the US?
05-19-16, 03:50 PM
#2
Friendship is Magic
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,984
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 304 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26389 Post(s)
Liked 10,365 Times
in
7,197 Posts
.
...the food is very good. Eat a lot.
...the food is very good. Eat a lot.
__________________
05-19-16, 06:26 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southern Maryland
Posts: 1,447
Bikes: A few
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 289 Post(s)
Liked 195 Times
in
102 Posts
Buy every vintage bike you see. Put them on a container ship, and when you get back, sell them to us at ridiculously low prices.
05-19-16, 07:17 PM
#6
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,779
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3583 Post(s)
Liked 3,395 Times
in
1,929 Posts
05-19-16, 07:43 PM
#8
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,844
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2297 Post(s)
Liked 2,047 Times
in
1,253 Posts
Check the tide schedules before going into Venice. Seriously.
Buy a very nice Barolo and savour it.
Buy a very nice Barolo and savour it.
05-19-16, 08:02 PM
#9
Abuse Magnet
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,869
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 174 Times
in
88 Posts
Try bottarga.
05-19-16, 09:31 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 927
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 206 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
46 Posts
A few things that I would recommend:
1. If you are going to visit any of the museums (Vatican, Uffizi) try to get tickets ahead of your visit or spend the money on a guided tour that will get you in quickly. The lines can be long, and Italy is a place where you really don't want to waste time in lines. The Colloseum in Rome is pretty special.
2. In Florence, take the time to climb the steos to the top of the Duomo. The architecture is amazing, the climb is absolutely bizarre, and the views are fabulous. It might be one of the most memorable outings of the trip.
3. In Cinque Terra, be sure to take pictures of the small things as well as the stunning landscape scenes. Some of the rock formations by the water are really cool and unique.
4. Make sure your camera batteries are charged. Take a mini-tripod and use the timer for interior shots (no flash) - keeping your hands off the camera will remove unnecessary movement.
5. Gelato! Wine! Pasta!
Have fun!
1. If you are going to visit any of the museums (Vatican, Uffizi) try to get tickets ahead of your visit or spend the money on a guided tour that will get you in quickly. The lines can be long, and Italy is a place where you really don't want to waste time in lines. The Colloseum in Rome is pretty special.
2. In Florence, take the time to climb the steos to the top of the Duomo. The architecture is amazing, the climb is absolutely bizarre, and the views are fabulous. It might be one of the most memorable outings of the trip.
3. In Cinque Terra, be sure to take pictures of the small things as well as the stunning landscape scenes. Some of the rock formations by the water are really cool and unique.
4. Make sure your camera batteries are charged. Take a mini-tripod and use the timer for interior shots (no flash) - keeping your hands off the camera will remove unnecessary movement.
5. Gelato! Wine! Pasta!
Have fun!
__________________
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
Some days, it's not even worth gnawing through the restraints.
05-19-16, 09:57 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,533
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 929 Post(s)
Liked 1,289 Times
in
486 Posts
1. Get away from the city centers. The cities are great, but try to take some time to drive (or better yet ride) in the countryside. You might want to check out the Eroica routes in Tuscany and take a drive to Gaiole.
2. "Be" an italian. Just relax, sit at a cafe, drink some chianti, absorb the culture. This is much more important and enjoyable than rushing from sight to sight.
3. Learn a little italian. Use it. Locals will appreciate your attempt even if you mangle their language. You will have a much better time if you try to engage rather than not.
4. If you want to see museums and galleries, call them ahead of time and make reservations. Most of the museums have english-speaking receptionists. This means that you will walk completely past the huge lines of tourists waiting for hours to get in, saving you hours of tedious standing in line. This also works for may places in France.
2. "Be" an italian. Just relax, sit at a cafe, drink some chianti, absorb the culture. This is much more important and enjoyable than rushing from sight to sight.
3. Learn a little italian. Use it. Locals will appreciate your attempt even if you mangle their language. You will have a much better time if you try to engage rather than not.
4. If you want to see museums and galleries, call them ahead of time and make reservations. Most of the museums have english-speaking receptionists. This means that you will walk completely past the huge lines of tourists waiting for hours to get in, saving you hours of tedious standing in line. This also works for may places in France.
05-20-16, 05:46 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,777
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1676 Post(s)
Liked 3,084 Times
in
911 Posts
The small hilltop towns of the Chiana or Elsa valleys south of Florence. Crostini and a glass of vino rosso or a coffee in the afternoon, it doesn't get better than that!
05-20-16, 05:53 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,499
Bikes: '88 Bianchi, '94ish Trek
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1085 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times
in
58 Posts
Go see the David and in the National Gallery in Florence. Buy the tickets ahead of time. I unfortunately did not climb the Duomo (ran out of time), but this was one of the most breathtaking examples of human artistry I saw on my trip. And I agree about the house wine mentioned above. It's a cut above already.
__________________
"The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
"The mystery of life isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience."
05-20-16, 07:28 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 183
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thank you everybody. I was thinking about suggestions more along the cycling lines, but all comments are greatly appreciated!
05-20-16, 08:21 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 1,883
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 263 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
8 Posts
Google "trip italy site:https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/"
Some interesting reading but nothing very helpful - mostly that nice vintage are few and far between and not cheap.
Some interesting reading but nothing very helpful - mostly that nice vintage are few and far between and not cheap.
05-20-16, 09:05 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18352 Post(s)
Liked 4,502 Times
in
3,346 Posts
The Palio di Siena was fun. Not cycling though.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena
Did you put Pisa on your list. I always liked the town. Yeah, quite a few tourists, but it is quite a bit smaller of a city than others.
Milano?
Perhaps you could try to tour some bike factories.
Are you taking a bicycle? Acquiring a bicycle? How much time?
I was in Parma a lot, and enjoyed riding around the Po valley, and into the nearby foothills.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena
Did you put Pisa on your list. I always liked the town. Yeah, quite a few tourists, but it is quite a bit smaller of a city than others.
Milano?
Perhaps you could try to tour some bike factories.
Are you taking a bicycle? Acquiring a bicycle? How much time?
I was in Parma a lot, and enjoyed riding around the Po valley, and into the nearby foothills.
05-20-16, 09:09 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STP
Posts: 14,491
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 255 Times
in
142 Posts
Hang around Volterra and the surrounding hill cities.
Stay as long as you can afford to and then add three more days.
Good for their economy and great for your relationship.
Trust me.
FWIW I see more cool bikes in the Twin Cities on the weekend than two weeks in Italy.
Stay as long as you can afford to and then add three more days.
Good for their economy and great for your relationship.
Trust me.
FWIW I see more cool bikes in the Twin Cities on the weekend than two weeks in Italy.
