Rome
In a moment of inspiration – semi-fueled by the Mad Men episode where Don and Betty take a brief trip to Italy – I have booked an upcoming trip for a long weekend in Rome. My last trips to Italy have been in the northern part of the country, mostly Milan, and it has been years since I’ve spent any time in Rome for fun rather than work.Catching up on all there is to see in Rome, but not necessarily the most well-known touristy things, is on my to-do list in planning for the trip. A recent article in USA Today – “Five myths about Italy” – captured it well:"One of the reasons all roads lead to Rome is because most people want to see the Colosseum, St. Peter's and the Pantheon," says Elizabeth Minchilli, a resident of Rome and author of Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City."The same can be said for the Duomo in Florence or St. Mark's Square in Venice. I would never tell someone not to go see these monuments. Yes, they are touristy, but they are also some of the most amazing sites in the world."Minchilli does have some savvy advice for traveler to Italy, saying "you should plan your trip and visits accordingly to avoid feeling like a sardine. If you can plan your trip off season, November through March, this is the best time to avoid crowds."For those who can only visit in high season, she encourages visitors to "hire a tour guide, who can buy your tickets ahead of time and get you in the back doors. While things like taking a gondola ride may seem touristy, it's also one of the most amazing ways to see Venice, from the water. But even in this case, seek out a gondolier who will take you off into the lesser charted canals. Like most major tourist cities in Italy a few blocks can make the world of difference. "Indeed, this is also the advice of Italian expert Kathy McCabe, host of the new PBS series Dream of Italy and publisher of the Dream of Italy blog."You've dreamed of taking a gondola ride in Venice your entire life," she says. "Why not do it? Who cares if there are lots of other travelers doing the same thing? "That said, McCabe suggests that travelers "make time for experiences that put you in touch with locals. I recommend taking at least one cooking class and scheduling a meal in a local home through Home Food."For more on Italy and how to approach it as a traveler, check out:http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2015/06/23/italy/29114213
- Laura Flippin
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