Jin Travels to Italy
One of my favorite countries ... famous sights, good food, great shopping.
Venice . Canal Grande . Luxury Gondola
- Renting a private gondola is expensive: 90-110 euro, and much more if you have a singer on board.
- If you want a cheap gondola ride, go to Gondola Traghetto di San Tomà . Traghetto is used to cross the Grand Canal. It costs 2€ per person. There are 4-5 more such crossings. Google Maps: Gondola TomÃ
Pompeii . Parco Archeologico di Pompei
- To see everything, you will need at least 2 to 3 full days, as some villas are only open at certain times in the morning or afternoon.
- Don’t miss Villa dei Misteri with its beautiful red frescoes. PDF map: Pompei . Google Maps: Pompeii and Misteri
Florence . Ponte Vecchio
- Picturesque medieval bridge with jewellery shops over the Arno river.
- Under the roof is the hidden Corridoio Vasariano. It is a 750-meter-long corridor that the Medici family used to walk unnoticed from Palazzo Vecchio to Ponte Vecchio and on to Palazzo Pitti. Google Maps: Vecchio
Capri . Funicolare Stazione a Monte
- Take the funicular from the port. Great views of Capri and Marina Grande. There is a bus too. You won't be alone here! Google Maps: Funicolare
Rome . Piazza Navona . Fontana del Moro
- Have a coffee at one of the cafes and watch the people go by.
- This square is less crowded than Fontana di Trevi (see below). Google Maps: Navona
Pisa . Torre di Pisa
- You will see tourists doing funny things while taking photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Google Maps: Tower
Venice . Piazza & Basilica di San Marco
- Most of the pigeons are gone, but not the tourist crowds.
- The cafes around the square are very expensive, but if you stand at the counter inside Caffè Quadri, the price of a coffee is normal. Google Maps: San Marco
Salerno . Pizzeria Trianon da Ciro
- This is a proper pizza! Great staff and many local guests.
- Trianon also has a more famous pizzeria in Naples. Google Maps: Trianon Ciro
Rome . Fontana di Trevi
- Go very early to avoid the crowds. Bring a coin to throw over your left shoulder into the fountain, and you will hopefully return to Rome. See also: Pickpockets.
- It worked for me; I have been to Rome and the Trevi Fountain five times, so far. Google Maps: Fontana
Burano . Venice
- This colorful island can easily be reached by ferry from Venice. Many day trippers, but I can recommend staying overnight.
- The travel photo eBook Burano Venice Italy has 50+ photos, maps, info & GPS-links. Google Maps: Burano
Toscana . Podere Inferno
- This is near where the movie Gladiator was filmed with Russell Crowe in San Quirico d’Orcia.
- You will need a car to get here. Google Maps: Inferno and Gladiator View Point
Amalfi . Costiera Amalfitana
- At the pier near the beach. Renting a sun lounger with an umbrella is not cheap in Amalfi. Prices range from €50 to €80 depending on the row and season. Google Maps: Amalfitana
Positano . Via Cristoforo Colombo
- Probably the most picturesque town on the Amalfi Coast. This street has a nice view over Positano, and it's free to sit on the benches. Google Maps: Colombo
Stra . Veneto . Villa Pisani
- Txt. Google Maps: Pisani
Toscana . Chianti . Castello di Meleto
- A medieval castle converted into a hotel with excellent wine tasting. The green bench Panchina Gigante is huge; this is not an AI photo.
- If you don't have a car, take the local bus or a taxi from Siena. Google Maps: Castello & Gigante
