Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

Ha! No, I think the point is that Italians in other parts of Italy like to joke that Valle d'Aosta is not like the rest of Italy - in part because of the huge Provençal influence on the food and the number of French speakers. It really feels like France or Switzerland - in the same way that Bolzano feels quite German. It is a unique characteristic of these regions. So, absolutely not odd.

It’s weird that you keep saying it’s Provençal though! French influence yes, but not Provençal!

Not really. Their dialect is actually called Franco-Provençal, because the people inhabited the region originally were...from...Provence. Their food has a lot of red wine, meat, and potato combinations that you do not find in the rest of Italy, but, wait for it, do find in Provence.

Sure. You might be thinking “Occitan”, but let’s drop this. My point is that “Italy” is very much also a vast Alpine landscape with heavy linguistic influence from many, many other European countries. That’s just classic Italy for you Again, it’s far from an all-Mediterranean entity, unless that’s all you picture. And as far as Italians commenting that VdA is not really Italy… well… I wonder where all these Italians you are referring to come from. Good day!

Your WASP bona fides are well-noted. ;P

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

Ha! No, I think the point is that Italians in other parts of Italy like to joke that Valle d'Aosta is not like the rest of Italy - in part because of the huge Provençal influence on the food and the number of French speakers. It really feels like France or Switzerland - in the same way that Bolzano feels quite German. It is a unique characteristic of these regions. So, absolutely not odd.

It’s weird that you keep saying it’s Provençal though! French influence yes, but not Provençal!

Not really. Their dialect is actually called Franco-Provençal, because the people inhabited the region originally were...from...Provence. Their food has a lot of red wine, meat, and potato combinations that you do not find in the rest of Italy, but, wait for it, do find in Provence.

Sure. You might be thinking “Occitan”, but let’s drop this. My point is that “Italy” is very much also a vast Alpine landscape with heavy linguistic influence from many, many other European countries. That’s just classic Italy for you Again, it’s far from an all-Mediterranean entity, unless that’s all you picture. And as far as Italians commenting that VdA is not really Italy… well… I wonder where all these Italians you are referring to come from. Good day!

Anonymous wrote:I would not spend for than 2 days or so in Rome which involves seeing Colleseum for one. If you must spend 3. It's a city like any other. The exception is if you must see Vatican.

I'd do day trips from Rome to Ponza/Venice/orvieto and if you could do a 2-3 night I'd go down to Naples for with Pompeii or Hereceleum not both - you really don't need.

If you had any extra time I'd see Ischia.

I've been around the world and most but cities are the same. Good food, lots of people and of course museums and landmarks. I have only a few cuties that I can spend more time in and it's cause they offer such diversity, like Paris, maybe NYC, Tokyo, HK. Otherwise you spend 3 days there and it's all good. Mainly to eat For me, Rome is that brief visit of a city.

Disagree. My kids enjoyed seeing both Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii is iconic, large, and shows how regular people lived. Herculaneum is extremely well preserved and gives a much better view into the wealthy. Both are amazing sites easily visited as part of the same day trip.

Take a cooking class! My kids loved making pasta from scratch in Florence - it's hands-on and they actually eat what they make. Plus it's a nice break from sightseeing. There's also gelato-making workshops if your teens have a sweet tooth.

In Rome, the Gladiator School was a huge hit with my nephew (13). They dress up, learn about gladiator history, and practice with (safe) weapons. Cheesy? Maybe, but the kids go nuts for it.

You can even try something like Hidden Gems of Rome Tour In a antique FIAT 500 from https://gowithguide.com/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

Ha! No, I think the point is that Italians in other parts of Italy like to joke that Valle d'Aosta is not like the rest of Italy - in part because of the huge Provençal influence on the food and the number of French speakers. It really feels like France or Switzerland - in the same way that Bolzano feels quite German. It is a unique characteristic of these regions. So, absolutely not odd.

It’s weird that you keep saying it’s Provençal though! French influence yes, but not Provençal!

Not really. Their dialect is actually called Franco-Provençal, because the people inhabited the region originally were...from...Provence. Their food has a lot of red wine, meat, and potato combinations that you do not find in the rest of Italy, but, wait for it, do find in Provence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

Ha! No, I think the point is that Italians in other parts of Italy like to joke that Valle d'Aosta is not like the rest of Italy - in part because of the huge Provençal influence on the food and the number of French speakers. It really feels like France or Switzerland - in the same way that Bolzano feels quite German. It is a unique characteristic of these regions. So, absolutely not odd.

It’s weird that you keep saying it’s Provençal though! French influence yes, but not Provençal!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

Ha! No, I think the point is that Italians in other parts of Italy like to joke that Valle d'Aosta is not like the rest of Italy - in part because of the huge Provençal influence on the food and the number of French speakers. It really feels like France or Switzerland - in the same way that Bolzano feels quite German. It is a unique characteristic of these regions. So, absolutely not odd.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Hmm. Still odd. Not much Provençal influence in the region’s cuisine that I’ve ever experienced, but given all the autonomous regions in Italy and the country’s linguistic diversity, Valle d’Aosta very much feels like Italy. Unless one only considers “Italy” as being synonymous with “Mediterranean”.

if you are going to Rome, Assisi is about a 2 hour train ride away - that is in Umbria and built in the 13-1500s so has a very different look. I remember it being slower, friendlier, less expensive...
Rome is lovely - to me it is about the Vatican and walking around - picking a few sites to see, I didn't like Naples much, I remember excellent food and views in Sorento, Capri is pretty, Palermo has a blend of cultures, Venice is beautiful - worth a day if you can, for me, Florence was all about the art.

Murano glass ^
And Orvieto is amazing too!

It's 4 hrs Rome-Venice because we did it. Overnight in Venice but it's worth it.

Here's the thing about Venice - I would make it a point to go if you're in Rome, it's absolutely worth it and yes we have 2 teens.

I wish we did a 2-3 day trip but it was just an overnight stay.

But it's Venice! I also don't feel that it's a ton of stuff to see. The main point is to be there. Just sit and chill. Be on a gondola and water taxi. See the mutant glass. Eat some delicious food and take a personalized boat ride through the city. It's not about going to see a museum there, it's about the ambiance. And it may sound boring esp for teen boys except it's not. Venice is a really cool place, I can't explain it but it beats being in only Rome. If you never get to Italy again, Venice is the place to see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Not really odd, actually. It was once part of France - it’s semi-autonomous and bilingual. The food is heavily Franco-Provençal. There’s an Italian tv show set and the running gag is that it’s not really Italian culturally…

Anonymous wrote:Do you or your kids speak Italian? Do you feel comfortable driving in Italy? What is your tolerance for crowds in a jubilee year? Just got back from solo trip in Italy with younger kids and I still think the above questions is your starting point. As an Italian speaker with Italian speaking kids, I did a mix of local programming and museums and outdoor hikes/walking - but all in cities and towns with maximum one connection on the high-speed train - and avoided Rome. If you will drive in Italy (I will not), you could really drill down on a specific region with less over tourism, Umbria, Marche, or other areas in Tuscany (Pitigliano, for example). Valle d'Aosta doesn't feel particularly like Italy but is lovely.

What an odd thing to say.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not spend for than 2 days or so in Rome which involves seeing Colleseum for one. If you must spend 3. It's a city like any other. The exception is if you must see Vatican.

I'd do day trips from Rome to Ponza/Venice/orvieto and if you could do a 2-3 night I'd go down to Naples for with Pompeii or Hereceleum not both - you really don't need.

If you had any extra time I'd see Ischia.

I've been around the world and most but cities are the same. Good food, lots of people and of course museums and landmarks. I have only a few cuties that I can spend more time in and it's cause they offer such diversity, like Paris, maybe NYC, Tokyo, HK. Otherwise you spend 3 days there and it's all good. Mainly to eat For me, Rome is that brief visit of a city.

Venice is too far from Rome to do a day trip easily. The fastest train is over 3 hours.

Yes, it's actually a full 4 hours Rome-Venice.

Personally have issues with the bolded part of this take. I guess everyone has different priorities, but man Rome is special with its blend of ancient and modern. Have been there twice and could easily spend a week there again anytime.

Anonymous wrote:I would not spend for than 2 days or so in Rome which involves seeing Colleseum for one. If you must spend 3. It's a city like any other. The exception is if you must see Vatican.

I'd do day trips from Rome to Ponza/Venice/orvieto and if you could do a 2-3 night I'd go down to Naples for with Pompeii or Hereceleum not both - you really don't need.

If you had any extra time I'd see Ischia.

I've been around the world and most but cities are the same. Good food, lots of people and of course museums and landmarks. I have only a few cuties that I can spend more time in and it's cause they offer such diversity, like Paris, maybe NYC, Tokyo, HK. Otherwise you spend 3 days there and it's all good. Mainly to eat For me, Rome is that brief visit of a city.

Venice is too far from Rome to do a day trip easily. The fastest train is over 3 hours.