We are incredibly excited that we will tour Italy for 10 days, with three nights in each of Italy's three most amazing cities: Roma - the "eternal city", Firenza - the city that gave birth to the Renaissance, and magical Venizia - built on 120 little islands.
I've been to Italy five or six times, and have been to each of these cities twice. David has never been to Europe, so this will be a huge and spectacular culture shock for him. To me, visiting Italy is a necessity of spirit, a crucial step in completing one's cultural education, a life-changing, eye-opening experience that should not be missed. I'm so excited to be able to share this country with him - it has always been magical to me. And it is so romantic there - even though I've never been there with a sweetheart. David is the first man I've ever wanted to share it with…
Italy is a country where the past is written everywhere. The print of man is there, part of our life, all of us. Thousands of visitors travel here each year seeking the treasures of this small peninsula. The very richness here is not money, but culture, art, and a true sense of life, things that the Italians have in great abundance.
The world would be much poorer without Italy. Imagine a book of art without the masterpieces in sculpture, architecture and painting by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Raffaello. Think about music without Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi or Puccini. And what about the navigators, Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci - and the inventors and scientists like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei.
We'll start our vacation in Rome by exploring the ruins of this ancient city. The Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon … amazing sights to see.
We'll continue our vacation in the art-filled city of Florence. Florence is home to many great works including the Statue of David (not nearly as cute as my David) and Madonna and Child. We'll tour the many museums, and spend time in the famous Duomo.
We'll end our Italian getaway in the canal city of Venice. And we arrive on my birthday!!! What a way to celebrate - We'll wander the many bridges and walkways, and explore the Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, and I hope my sweetheart takes me on a romantic birthday Gondola ride….
Weather
Italy has what is classified as a warm temperate continental climate. It consists of hot, dry summers and cool, damp winters. March weather is notoriously capricious: Italians say "Marzo è pazzarello" - March is crazy. It is still chilly, and often windy and rainy too. The days are getting longer, however, and March 21 officially marks the start of spring. During the last weekend of the month, the clocks go forward, giving more daylight for sightseeing.
There begin to be more tourists, particularly if Easter falls early.
In March:
- Rome - average high temp is 60 degrees and the average low is 42.
- Florence - average high temp is 59 degrees and the average low is 41.
- Venice - average high temp is 54 degrees and the average low is 39.
Departing - 3/22/2007
Returning - 4/1/2007
This link will take you to some great maps:
http://www.big-italy-map.co.uk
Rome is in Lazio;
Florence is in Toscana; and
Venice is in the Veneto region.
Here is an interesting website about traveling in Italia:
Go Porta
Getting to the airport in Boston:
Mu aunt Meme is driving us to Logan Express in Framingham. We'll have to leave Northampton at about 1 p.m. to get there for our 6:40 flight.
Logan Express - Framingham - 1-800-23-LOGAN
Located off Mass pike Exit 13, between Route 9 and Route 30 on the Shoppers' World Mall property.
shuttle RT $20 each
Travel time to airport is approximately 30-45 minutes; allow extra time during rush hours
Logan Express
FLIGHT ITINERARY:
Leaving March 22, 2007
Depart Boston 6:40 pm
Air France Flight 337
Arrive Paris at 6:20 am
Depart Paris at 8:50 am
Air France Flight 1404
Arrive Rome Fiumicino at 10:55 am
Rome Airport to Hotel Orlanda (20 miles) transfer: we are pre-booked through the travel company. FCO arrival transfer AF1404 CDG 1055AM.
Return April 01, 2007
To go to Marco Polo Airport:
Transport to Venice airport
Alilaguna from Piazza San Marco to Airport: 12 € ( www.alilaguna.it).
or
ACTV (www.actv.it) SpA offer you a fast connection service from Venice Airport to the principal place in Veneto, and employs buses with air conditioning and spacious luggage van.
or
ATVO airport bus (www.atvo.it). Every day fast connection, linea 35 (5:50, 6:50, 7:50 a.m.) to M.Polo Airport from Venice (Piazzale Roma - departures from bay D2). The single ticket price (luggage included) is 3,00 euro.
We'll need to leave our hotel at about 11 a.m.
Depart Venice 3:10 pm
Air France Flight 1727
Arrive Paris at 5:00 pm
Depart Paris at 7:35 pm
Air France Flight 322
Arrive Boston at 9:00 pm
Meme will pick us up at Logan Express at about 9:30 p.m.
