Italy Pt. 3: Rome and Vatican City

Blog 3: Rome and Vatican City

The next stop on our adventure was Rome and Vatican City. There is so much to see in Rome that you need at least four days to see the minimum amount of things. When in Rome you should be very cautious about your purses or wallets because it is a heavy tourist area and pick-pocketers are everywhere. It is best to not carry a purse if you do not have to. The hotels here are unlike others in Italy, they are much more grand. We stayed at Regina Hotel Baglioni. This hotel was amazing and came with many great amenities as well as the staff was very pleasant.

http://www.baglionihotels.com/category/regina-hotel-baglioni-rome/

I had a limited time in Rome so to see the most we could we did a Golf Cart Tour of Rome. This tour was a private tour for my family and it gave us the history and tour of Rome in half a day. This tour is best for people who are pressed for time while in Rome. I do think that Rome is a city where you should spend more time because there is so much to learn here.

http://www.golf-cart-tour-rome.com

The Vatican is always very busy and filled with tourists. For the best experience I would recommend that you get a private tour guide. A private tour allows you to be able to ask more questions, hear the history better and have a better overall experience. Before going to the Vatican remember you are going into a holy place and to dress appropriately, meaning no shorts or tank tops, be respectful. Most churches in Europe do not allow people in if their knees are not covered, so be mindful before going to a holy place.

http://www.toursofthevatican.com/classicvaticantour.htm

Once inside the Vatican you will be in awe of how gorgeous the artwork and architecture truly is. You learn and hear about it but it is nothing like seeing them in person. While at the Vatican you may even run into Cardinals walking around. The Vatican is very large so be prepared for a lot of walking but also the crowds.

Italy Pt. 2 – Naples and The Amalfi Coast

Naples is a large industrial city on the coast of Italy; which is also known for its great pizza. The Amalfi Coast is South of Naples and is known for its beaches and beautiful landscapes. We used Naples as a home base to go to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. We stayed at Hotel Excelsior. Naples has high-end hotels as well as cheaper more budget friendly options. From the hotel Pompeii is about thirty-five minutes driving, but you should allow extra time for traffic.

http://www.hotelexcelsiornapoli.com

Pompeii is an ancient Roman city that was buried in twenty feet of ash from the volcano, Mount Vesuvius that erupted in 79 AD. There are many different tour options you could pick from. We hired a private tour guide to walk us through the ancient city but there are also group tours, and self guided tours.

When going to Pompeii keep in mind that this city was built thousands of years ago and to wear appropriate walking shoes. The sidewalks and roadways are very uneven and make it easy to fall. The tour does include a lot of walking so be prepared for that before signing up for the tour.

Pompeii is very interesting but at the say time very sad because of the amount of death and destruction that occurred when Mount Vesuvius erupted. There are sections that show casts of bodies that were found when excavating the site. There is a lot to learn about this ancient city when you visit Pompeii but to learn more there are more Pompeii artifacts at the Naples National Archaeological Museum.

http://cir.campania.beniculturali.it/museoarcheologiconazionale/

When getting around Italy you should know when you are getting yourself into. It can be extremely challenging and frustrating at times. For this leg of the trip we hired a car service to drive us to and from the Amalfi Coast because of there being limited parking in Amalfi as well as the drive is about one and a half hours driving.

There are many small towns on the Amalfi coast but we went and explored Positano, and Amalfi. It is really nice to drive the coast because you get to see many more towns that way and it is also very beautiful. Positano is a small beach town; it is also a tourist destination because of the beaches. There are good hotels here as well and the gelato is amazing.

The town of Amalfi is larger the Positano but still relatively small. Amalfi is also known for its beaches; if the weather is warm enough I suggest you try out the beaches while here. Amalfi also has some very gorgeous churches for you to explore. There are many side streets to explore that offer great shopping and restaurants. I recommend finding a restaurant off the beaten path in heavy tourist areas. My experience is that the smaller and off the main road it is the better the food is.

Italy pt. 1- Lake Como and Venice

Lake Como and Venice, Italy

Italy is an amazing place to explore. I vacationed here with my family this past summer. The next four blog posts will cover Italy including places to stay, food, and tourist attractions. The trip began in Lake Como, Italy where we stayed in a small hotel owned by an Italian family, called Hotel Royal. While the hotel is not directly on the water, it was peaceful and serene. We chose a place off the beaten path so that we could recuperate after the long flight.

There is a ferry at the lake that will take you across the lake to the other towns.The first town we explored was Varenna, which had countless restaurants and hotels. Varenna is a small town and you can walk the entire town in about 30 minutes.

On the second day we explored Bellagio, which is more of a tourist destination than the other towns. The lake is gorgeous and offers great sightseeing for those who appreciate a mountain view. The lake itself is a tourist attraction, when the weather is warmer boat rentals and swimming would be a fun way to spend the afternoon.

From Lake Como we then traveled to Venice, Italy. I spent my 20^th birthday while in Venice and it was an amazing experience. Venice is unlike any other place you could ever visit. The fact that the entire city is on water is an amazing architectural feet of its own. The hotel we stayed at was Luna Hotel Baglioni, which was an amazing hotel that was perfect for our time here. This hotel is only 0.1 miles from St. Mark’s Square. While it is a bit pricey, so is everywhere else in Venice; the hotel was really a great place to stay. While walking through the streets of Venice we found a small café directly on the Grand Canal. This restaurant, Algiubagiò Restaurant, had the most amazing pasta as well as views.

We signed up for a walking tour of Venice called Venice in a Day. While this tour was fast paced it was very informative. The tour came with fast and easy access into the tourist attractions of Venice like its many churches. When on this tour you get to cut the normal long lines and get into the destinations quicker. While in Venice you should tour the Murano Glass factory. The factory is really cool, engaging and good for all ages. There are others areas like near the Rialto Bridge that are very populated with tourists and a traveler should be mindful with purses when traveling in a heavy tourist area.  Venice is very safe but a traveler should always be cautious when in a foreign country.

About Me

I am a junior at a North Carolina University, studying Electronic Media with a minor in Marketing. I have moved all over the place but was born in Germany. I love to travel and this blog is about the places I have experienced and what to do in these locations.