Client experiences

Rome  >  Tempo libero

We did the tour by boat of the Borromean Islands. Isola Madre was excellent for the gardens which we were interested to discover had been advised by the RHS in Britain. The second island had a good choice of fish based restaurants and the third was Isola Bella with the wonderful palace. One evening we had a violent storm with thunder and lightning which we watched from the balcony of Villa la Camana. Truly natures son et Lumiere. The backcloth of the mountains and lake were briefly illuminated by the storm as it swept around the lake and between the mountains. A truly wondrous experience. We also drove up the coast towards Locarno and explored Cannobio with its network of old streets, Sunday market and the quay. Also we drove a circular tour to Lake Orta most of which - apart fron the bit through Omegna - was beautiful and the township of Orta itself is well worth the walk down the hill from the car park.
Osteria degli amici in Stresa - good standard Italian menu. Fairly priced wine and efficient service. Restaurant of The Hotel Fiorentino, Stresa. Huge portions of starters - Bresaola and Anitpasti - which we were allowed to take away what we could not eat for a picnic lunch the next day! Also simply grilled but delicious trout with herbs. Oggi Pasta at Cannobio. Up one of the streets from the quay but well worth seeking out. Excellent Saltimbocca and Escalope Milanese. Wee priced local wines.

Position in the lakes with a range of passes and cols. Towns and villages equally accessible.Best perhaps to have your own car. Range of varied things to do, both sporting and cultural. Helpful people. Good range of restaurants of all budgets and a range of shops selling quality goods at fair prices. Something for everyone.

Stresa  >  Tempo libero

We stayed in a B&B easy walking distance of 'the top tourist sights' (assuming you are fit and able) Felt like the 'real' Rome Lots of very affordable bars and restaurants. Coliseum and Roman Forum really created a step back in time feeling.The guided tour around the Roman Forum was very informative and very well led. St Peters Basillica Castel Sant Angelo isn't often on the main to do list but it's worth it for the views back across the city . Would recommed two nice restaurants both located in Trastevere and recommended by our host - Taverna de Mercanti - great open grill chicken or lamb / wood burning pizza oven. Very rustic old taverna building. Just off Via di San Michele. Also Ristorante le Mani in Pasta - Via dei Genovesi, 37. Just fantastic food and superb atmosphere. Small doorway easily missed. You would not notice it if you were not looking for it.

Rome  >  Tempo libero

We decided to try our luck with a Bed and Breakfast in Rome city centre. I found a nice place a stones throw from the Vatican. It was a nice 2 bedroom apartment (great for two couples) with a kitchen and bath. We visited the Vatican, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. Of course we visited during the typical tourist season so all of these places were fairly crowded, but I didn't find it any different than a theme park. The Pantheon seemed oddly placed right in the middle of a residential area, but I guess that's to be expected when things grow up around you. Trevi Fountain was amazing. so many features, you can spend an hour just looking at it from different angles.
At the Pizzale di Ponte Milvio we ate at a restaurant called Antica Trattoria Pallotta. The Gnocchi Imperial was fantastic! The gnocchi was very light and fluffy. The only downside was the calamari was overcooked, but it wasn't enough to knock this dish out as the best thing I ate in all of Europe!

1) Tons of history to see, the Sistine Chapel was very eye opening and breath taking view. Unfortunately you couldn't take any of your own pictures. 2) The food really is pretty good and extremely varied 3) With a map of the city you can get around pretty easily with the bus system and the people were very pleasant!

Venice  >  Tempo libero

All the major roman spots very interesting, but the following stand out - The Vatican Museums, The Pantheon, The Piazza Navone, Museum Capitolini.The sites were all tremendously impressive, and well maintained. We spent some time in the Sistine Chapel admiring the wealth of decoration and the skills of the artists, not least Michael Angelo .
Local Restaurants in Trastevere within walking distance of our accommodation. L'Antica Roma-Via Alberto Mario, Mfkmo Osteria Mangiafuoco-Via Alessandro Poerio We had good local food, freshly prepared, flavorsome, and good value for money. Menus were comprehensive and the wine not overpriced. Good friendly service.
We tried to speak in Italian, but with limited language, we had to ask for information in English, but we found the local people very helpful, and willing to laugh with us about our terrible pronunciation! On our final train journey to the Airport we could not find a machine ti validate our ticket, but the ticket inspector just smiled, nodded, and all was well !
It was to celebrate my 70th birthday and I could not have wished for a better place to be. Each day was full of new and interesting sights to see, fabulous architecture from the past that still informs and impresses today To be able to visit so many historic sites within walking distance of each other.

Rome  >  Tempo libero