Italy - good and reasonably priced hotels

[zac's mum]

Has anyone travelled to Rome recently? Any interesting places in the vicinity of Rome other than the standard ones? We are visiting Rome in Nov for 2 weeks. We've been there a few times over the years, and seen the main tourist sights (Vatican, Forum, Colosseum, etc), so looking for other things to see. We're already planning to visit Pompeii and Ostia Antica for a dose of ruins. We're not diners or shoppers.

Can consider taking high-speed rail to Florence & Venice:
https://strictlyrome.com/how-to-get-fro ... to-venice/

[slmkhoo]

Can consider taking high-speed rail to Florence & Venice:
https://strictlyrome.com/how-to-get-fro ... to-venice/

Been there before on previous visits to Italy. Now too old to want to rush around so much! I find that my endurance in sightseeing has greatly reduced over the years. As a student, we could do several places a day, for days on end, walking for hours each day. Now, one place a day seems about right, with a day in between to rest!

[floppy]

Been there before on previous visits to Italy. Now too old to want to rush around so much! I find that my endurance in sightseeing has greatly reduced over the years. As a student, we could do several places a day, for days on end, walking for hours each day. Now, one place a day seems about right, with a day in between to rest!

I am never for the idea of doing several places at once. Yes, it’s great for checking the boxes / 打卡 on social media but it’s really a terrible way of travel. I don’t think it’s about endurance but rather, what you want to get out of it.

[floppy]

Has anyone travelled to Rome recently? Any interesting places in the vicinity of Rome other than the standard ones? We are visiting Rome in Nov for 2 weeks. We've been there a few times over the years, and seen the main tourist sights (Vatican, Forum, Colosseum, etc), so looking for other things to see. We're already planning to visit Pompeii and Ostia Antica for a dose of ruins. We're not diners or shoppers.

Unusual and interesting? Try the Catacombs.

If you prefer something less morbid, visit the Ninfa Garden and the nearby town of Sermoneta.

Alternatively, if you want to do something really different, you can try walking part of the Via Francigena or Via Francigena nel Sud from Rome. Could be COVID induced, but pilgrimage trails seem to be really popular these days. Many people I know (religious or not) is on the Camino de Santiago these days. Via_Francigena will be off the beaten track.

[zac's mum]

Agreed. If u have already done the touristy places, and the ruins, and the villages, maybe consider somewhere for the scenery (just relax and enjoy a leisurely cuppa or take in view on the journey there) - or vineyard or historical castles or a local festival if timing suits.

[slmkhoo]

I am never for the idea of doing several places at once. Yes, it’s great for checking the boxes / 打卡 on social media but it’s really a terrible way of travel. I don’t think it’s about endurance but rather, what you want to get out of it.

I was once young and eager (and more energetic)! At that time, with limited time and money, we tried to cram a lot into a few days. We change as we age.

And thanks for the suggestions. Catacombs is on my "possible" list, and I'll have a look at the others.

[slmkhoo]

Agreed. If u have already done the touristy places, and the ruins, and the villages, maybe consider somewhere for the scenery (just relax and enjoy a leisurely cuppa or take in view on the journey there) - or vineyard or historical castles or a local festival if timing suits.

Yes, planning to have leisurely days in between the more energetic sightseeing.

[ChiefKiasu]

I am never for the idea of doing several places at once. Yes, it’s great for checking the boxes / 打卡 on social media but it’s really a terrible way of travel. I don’t think it’s about endurance but rather, what you want to get out of it.

Ah yes. My idea of a holiday is a holiday. Just sitting around the beach, doing nothing.
After a couple of hours, I get bored out of my mind and want to go back home again

[floppy]

Ah yes. My idea of a holiday is a holiday. Just sitting around the beach, doing nothing.
After a couple of hours, I get bored out of my mind and want to go back home again

While I do know of a lot of people whose idea of a 'beach' holiday is spending an entire week lazing around the pool / beach, have a good dinner and spa the evening away, I feel there's a need to strike a balance somewhere.

Don't have to rush to several places at once, but can (and should) include a couple of sights or interesting things to do.

[zeit.]

I was once young and eager (and more energetic)! At that time, with limited time and money, we tried to cram a lot into a few days. We change as we age.

And thanks for the suggestions. Catacombs is on my "possible" list, and I'll have a look at the others.

I'm the opposite of you now. When I was an overseas student, I would spend longer hours scrutinizing and admiring those artefacts because there was no internet for me to read up more afterwards. Everything had to be researched in the library or via Let's Go Europe, Lonely Planet travel guidebooks.

So I really treasured the minutes spent in every heritage site, palace, castle or museum. Moreover, Kodak films were very expensive and development of photos in Europe cost a lot too for students. Hence, I would spend more time trying to etch those precious images on my memory!

But now, I have become the touch&go tourist, i.e. 打卡族. I now hop from place to place very fast and will get my serotonins, dopamines, endorphins, and oxytocins within minutes after glancing quickly through the exhibits and snapping A LOT of hp photos and videos (if permitted) of the detailed explanation printed on signage boards for my post-trip reference. They are hi-res so I can zoom into the details to look at the artwork.

I took some hi-res photos (albeit secretly cos everyone was snapping away and no curator was scolding us) inside Sistine Chapel which has a lot of frescoes on the high ceiling painted by Michelangelo. I can zero in on the intricate paint details of the Hand of God in the comfort of my living room.

As my photos are all geo-tagged and time-stamped, I am not worried that I'd mix up those site names now. They are stored chronologically inside my cam or hp, so I can always Google when I return to Singapore.

Many museums now have websites and digital photos of some exhibits, so if I need to know more, I will read up before going to the museum to save time lingering in there. My recent trip to Europe saw me moving from site to site like a speed demon, so I covered a lot of places. I told me DC don't worry you can always come back with your friends when you're old enough to make your own money as these ancient artefacts won't run away because I saw them 30 years ago when I was your age, and they are still the same!

I spent more time drinking coffee in cafes, dining, queueing to enter boutiques and on the road.