Italy is a 'Must Go'

Hands and arms gesturing equate to the quintessential Italian. Extremely stylish and well turned out; every thing is done with panache. Most North Americans and Brits would feel bland in the presence of Italians.

The Italians are very easygoing (but not laid back like the Dutch) and it's obvious that they enjoy company—very gregarious indeed.

Special Moments

Sitting outside a gelateria in Rome on the corner of Via delle Vergini and Via delle Muratti eating cherry and melon gelato and there's a man playing an accordion!

Driving

Driving in Italy can be stressful and expensive.

Stressful because the Italians are very aggressive drivers. They will pass you even when there is a car in the approaching lane—a 2-lane highway is a four-lane highway to them. This behaviour is not only common but considered appropriate—for that reason most Italians (and you) hug the right side of the road. Like elsewhere in Europe, excessive speed is the norm—keep in the right lanes if you are not willing to speed. Generally the major toll roads are in excellent shape; however, the smaller roads (where speeding is NOT allowed) can be challenging on both car and driver.

Expensive because most of the good roads are toll roads. Italy's secondary roads are small and in poor shape—if you want to get somewhere quickly then you have to take a toll road.

Ancona

Ancona is a major port on the Adriatic—most destinations for Greece. This is where you can get some good fares if you want to drive over to Greece. We found that many car rental companies would not permit their cars to go to Greece (if Greece is a must-see then make sure you specifically ask where the car can be driven).

The sun is very bright—as my wife said, 'It's so bright that I keep looking for my sunglasses, only to find that I am already wearing them. These are the same shades that are too dark, most of the time, at home.'

We thought it would be a great place to camp so investigated a few campsites. We determined that these campsites were overly expensive and the amenities were not up to a reasonable standard (probably due to overuse).

Assisi

Assisi is a beautiful town and has a deep religious history. Unfortunately it has turned into a massive tourist trap. Rome is very close to Assisi so unless you are on a religious tour do a quick stop and head off to camp in Rome.

Florence

Situated by the river Arno, Florence has many things to offer. Historical sites abound such as: the Duomo Museum and the Uffizi Gallery (a great museum/art gallery, well worth the cost and time).

The river Arno is slow and has visible pollutants; not very appetizing to say the least.

Rome

In my list of  favorite cities Rome ranks number two. It is a city that is so rich in history, fabulous ruins, and exquisite shopping—Italians really do excel in fashion.

Like Paris, there is a tremendous amount of attractions in Rome. Anywhere you walk you'll happen upon some historical relic, site, or great work of art. Some of the more notable are: Colosseum, Pantheon, Baths of Carcalla, Michaelangelo's Moses in San Petro in Vincoli Church, Fontana di Trevi, Fontana del Pantheon.

Before travelling to Rome we had heard of all the gypsy children, general harassement, and pickpockets. Perhaps we were lucky but we found none of those—but security was exceptionally tight with helicopters flying overhead and armed police at every major attraction.

The Vatican

The mecca of Roman Catholics, the Vatican is nestled in the heart of Roma. It is an easy walk and of course everyone, Christian or not, should take the time to experience its architecture and art. Walking in St. Peter's Basilica is an unforgettable experience with its immense ceilings, fluid marble columns, medieval lighting (yes it does have electricity but it is not well lighted), and truly great art. We did go to the top of the Dome. You can take the elevator or walk. We took the walk (cheaper and more entertaining). Its 320 ancient steps (one can see the wear marks on the stone of all the millions who have walked there before) and very tight. Thank God there were little (very) rest stops at the small windows—it is definitely a strenuous activity. The walk is well worth it as you get incredible views from the top.

Venice

Venice is a very interesting city with its canal streets, plazas, and colorful history. Make sure you visit the Gallerie dell'Accademia, as it houses Venice's most important art collections from the 14th to 18th centuries.

Venice was one of the few major European cities where we drove the car to the downtown core. We thought we would get lost or have no parking and discovered, to our joy and amazement, that it was easy to get to and with very reasonable parking rates. Cross at San Giulian bridge (see map below) and it funnels directly to the parking.

Some Italian Campsites

Here are some Italian campsites.