Viva italia - need free time advice

[abd vacation]

going on Viva italia trip soon. have searched the forums already. Looking for advice on our free time. We Have 2 days in rome before the tour starts - 1st day is Veusvius/Pompeii and 2nd day looks like Gladiator School, Appian Way-Catacombs in AM and Borghese Gallery in PM (not sure on Borghese yet).

It is me, my wife and our 2 sons (10 and 12). The day ABD goes to the Vatican, the description is limited to Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel and it is just the morning and lunch with free time in the afternoon. I am thinking to spend more time at the Vatican but becasue of the crowds it seems like tours are a better way to go. However, it is not clear exactly what we will cover on the ABD tour (like will we see St Peter's?). Hoping somone who has been on the this trip knows what is covered and has suggestions for incremental stuff to do on our free time that day? I am thinking of booking a separate tour in/around the vatican in the afternoon.

Any thoughts on Florence or Venice Free time appreciated also.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[abdgeek]

I did the ABD Med Cruise add-on in 2011 and when we did the Vatican, we saw the Basilica and followed the crush of people through the museums to the Sistene Chapel. We then spent some time standing in St. Peter's Square and they pointed the papal residence out to us and some people mailed postcards from the post office. I've already booked Viva Italia for 2014 and I'm excited about having a more detailed and private visit to the Vatican and Basilica, with more time to actually go through the museum.

 

[abdgeek]

OOps. I forgot to mention about Florence and Venice. Florence is really known for shopping: gold, leather, and pashmina, etc. If you have time, you can do the Uffizi Gallery. Venice has the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Burano, Murano, Rialto Bridge, etc. There's so much to do you just have to decide what type of activity you want to do.

 

[RSM]

Hi ABD Vacation--if you have some free time at the Vatican, climbing the stairs to the top of St. Peters gives you some different and great views. An elevator will take you to the roof, then you can takego to the cupola. Not sure if you will have time during the ABD portion, but if you make it before the ABD it is pretty cool.

I think your boys will have alot of fun at Gladiator Training school. We did it last year when we were in Rome after the Amalfi Coast/Florence ABD, and our 10 y/o son really enjoyed it. In the sticky there is a trip report with photos if you want to check it out.

 

[mapsd]

Our kids were similar ages when we did Viva Italia last year. We conceded that we wouldn't subject them to many more museums over what we visited with the group.
-I'd rec. hitting Pompeii 1st & decide if you want to climb Vesuvius if you have time (not a lot to see other than to say you did it).
-How do you plan to get to Pompeii? It's very easy by train from the ABD hotel & my kids found it to be a fun adventure as well. I can give you directions.
-In Rome, we had a good time visiting Castel Sant'Angelo. The spooky Capuchin Crypt is right next to the hotel & can be seen in less than an hour.
-We loved climbing the domes. I'd suggest climbing the dome in Florence. Much less waiting in line and the dome itself is nearly identical to St Peter's.
-Florence: Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, & Baptistery.
-Venice: Just get yourself lost & wander the streets. ABD doesn't spend enough time @ St Mark's, so go back to see it & Doge's Palace. Your kids will love messing with the pigeons in St Mark's square.

 

[abd vacation]

thanks for the ideas. I think in Florence I will take boys to climb the dome and let Mom shop and then meet up with her. Venice - Doge's palace/hanging out in St Mark's square sounds good.

Do you remember what the Vatican day was like - was St Peters covered?

 

[sayhello]

thanks for the ideas. I think in Florence I will take boys to climb the dome and let Mom shop and then meet up with her. Venice - Doge's palace/hanging out in St Mark's square sounds good.

Do you remember what the Vatican day was like - was St Peters covered?

Since you said you're going soon, I'm going to assume you mean 2013? I'm asking, since the itinerary has changed some for 2014.

For 2013, St. Peter's is not officially a part of the itinerary, but I know that a lot of times the Guides try to include it if they have time. But you do not get that much time there. I had enough time to get some great shots of the Pieta and take a quick look around, but that was it. I didn't see much of the interior since I was focused on the Pieta (which was AMAZING!).

For 2014, they've made the day look like the soon to be defunct Signature trip, and the Vatican is done at night, so that the morning now includes St. Peter's.

Sayhello

 

[mapsd]

thanks for the ideas. I think in Florence I will take boys to climb the dome and let Mom shop and then meet up with her.

For leather, much better price/selection near the factories (near Santa Croce Basilica) instead of the stalls on tourist row. My wife still raves about her purse purchases.

Have coins ready for your kids to give to the street entertainers in Florence. They won't interact without a "donation."

Do you remember what the Vatican day was like - was St Peters covered?

St Peter's is included & we went straight over from the Sistene chapel.
You may be getting an after hours tour though, so the order may be different.
(being able to skip lines confirmed that ABD was worth the expense!)

When we were there, there was a line of thousands waiting in the hot sun to get in St Peter's, so going back just to climb the dome wouldn't be worth in IMO.

 

[mapsd]

I just finished reading Dan Brown's new book, Inferno.
Good read, but it goes into great detail to describe a lot of modern-day Florence & gives some really good historical references to a lot of the stuff that isn't on the ABD tour, but would be a good option for free time.

The story moves to Venice & does some of the same.

 

[abd vacation]

Yes - I am going on the old 2013 itinerary (the new itinerary does look better - oh well). As you mentioned the lines to get into St Peters if one decided to go back, that is why I am trying to figure out what is covered as we could hire another tour for that afternoon (the big bonus of course skipping lines) to cover whatever we don't get to with ABD. But I am glad to hear that you did at least a quick visit to St Peters.

 

[RSM]

In our experiences at St. Peter's the lines can vary depending on the day and time of day you go. The lines early morning (at opoening) and later in the afternoon (after about 4 pm or so) are not too bad. In between can be long lines especially on days where there are alot of cruise ships in port. If you wanted to climb the cupola I think there is a separate entrance from St. Peters. It is 7 euro to do it.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

On our down time in Rome we went to the Capuchin Museum/Crypt. I think the tickets were 7 Euros, and we really thought it was well worth the money. (Of course, if bones bother you, don't do this one.) We also went to the Jewish Quarter and the Campo de Fiori.

There wasn't a lot of down time in Florence (IMO), so we just did a long lunch and did some shopping. I know that some people in our group did the Uffizi, but almost all of them said that there wasn't enough time in the break to properly see the museum.

In Venice, I can't give many pointers. There was flooding from a high tide, so after we got back to the hotel I spent most of the time between things taking a shower and finding dry shoes. ;-)

You're going to enjoy the trip, though. There's nothing like Italy!

 

[WDWMaggie]

If you are going to be in the Pompei/Vesuvius area, I have an AMAZING private tour guide who will take you all around the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. I travel to this area fairly frequently and every time I'm here I do this tour. Let me know if you want the info.

 

[2minutes]

WDWMaggie - I would be interested in that tour guide info. We have allotted a full day prior to ABD Viva Italy to do Pompeii et al and I am looking for private tour guide recommendations! Very timely

 

[mapsd]

We had a great experience with Sorrento First Choice.
They get good reviews on Trip Advisior as well.

We did a private tour of the Amalfi Coast with them, but they do Pompeii as well.
I believe they give the option to be picked up in Rome if you like.

If you just have 1 day, visiting Pompeii will take pretty much the whole day.
Might be easier (and MUCH cheaper) to take the train there & hire a private guide at the ruins.

 

[CrazyZeus1]

We just got back from Bella Italia & spending 4 nights in Florence and we found a few favorite things to do in Florence

1) If you like chocolate, you have to visit Venchi (pronounced Ven-key)! It's some of our favorite chocolate ever & we visited three times It's a chocolate shop & a gelato shop. We never tried the gelato, but at night the line stretches out the door for gelato so it must be good!

2) Rub the Golden Boar's nose for good luck

3) Need a meal? We LOVED Gusto Leo. Restauraunt with Italian staples, relatively prompt service (sometimes Italian service speed is quite slower than what we're used to in the US!), the folks all speak English well & are so friendly, & the prices are good. It is near the Piazza della Signora (also a REALLY cool large square with statues, and often live orchestras playing!). If you ask, I would bet locals could direct you. It is on a street called Via del Proconsolo.

Enjoy your time!