Rick Steves' Italy Audio Tours Podcast
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Twelve new Rick Steves Italy Audio Tours for Rome, Florence and Venice are being released Jan. 21 thru March 11 (one per week). Each tour includes a PDF companion map. Subscribe to get them all! Presented by American Airlines. You'll find related travel information for these destinations at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Colosseum
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
Colossal gladiator arena.
When we think of ancient Rome, we think of Caesars, gladiators, lions and Christians, thumbs-up, thumbs-down....and of the Colosseum, Rome's most enduring monument. As we tour the Colosseum inside and out, we'll stand where the emperors did, and catch the view from the nose-bleed seats. We'll talk about how this massive structure was built, and explore some of the Colosseum's surrounding. We'll also get a peek backstage at the gladiator games, where trained warriors squared off "mano y mano" in a battle to the death. Allow about an hour to see the Colosseum and experience the grandeur that was Rome. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: There are often long lines to buy tickets to the Colosseum, so consult my guidebook about how to maximize your sightseeing time. The Colosseum's cost of €12 is part of a combo-ticket that also includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. It's also covered by the Roma Pass. Hours: The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill are all open daily 8:30 until one hour before sunset: April–Sept until 19:15, Oct until 18:30, off-season closes as early as 16:30; last entry one hour before closing. Tel. 06-3996-7700. The Colosseo Metro stop on line B is just across the street from the monument.
Avoid ticket-buying lines by buying your combo-ticket at the less-crowded Palatine Hill entrance on Via di San Gregorio (facing the Forum, with Colosseum at your back, go left down the street). Or buy and print your combo-ticket online (€1.50 booking fee, www.ticketclic.it, same-day only). Or buy a Roma Sightseeing Pass (€23) at the "tabacchi" shop in the Colosseo Metro station, at the entrance to Palatine Hill, or at the entrance to the Roman Forum. Around the Colosseum, be on guard for pickpockets and the goofy gladiators who pose for pictures, then aggressively demand money. Tiny, crowded WCs are inside; the better, bigger, and cleaner WC is behind the Colosseum (facing ticket entrance, go right; WC is under stairway).
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Colosseum
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 26, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Colosseum Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Roman Forum
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, Jan 25, 2010
Ruins of ancient "downtown."
"Friends, Romans, Travelers, lend me your earbuds." For a thousand years, Rome ruled the known world, and the political, religious, and social center of this vast empire was a 5-acre patch of land known as the Forum. This guided walk takes you through what was once "downtown Rome," with the city's most important temples, triumphal arches, and halls of justice. On this hour-long walk we'll resurrect the rubble of the Forum, recreating the ancient world of Vestal Virgins, passionate orators, conquering generals, and sleazy emperors. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The €12 combo-ticket includes the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. It's also covered by the €23 Roma Sightseeing Pass. Hours: The Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill are all open daily 8:30 until one hour before sunset: April–Sept until 19:15, Oct until 18:30, off-season closes as early as 16:30; last entry one hour before closing. Info office tel. 06-3996-7700. The closest Metro stop is Colosseo. The Forum has entrances on Via dei Fori Imperiali and at the Palatine Hill ticket office on Via di San Gregorio. From either entrance, it's a walk of several hundred yards to the Arch of Titus, where our tour begins. There's a Tourist Information near the Via dei Fori Imperiali entrance (near Basilica Aemilia). There are WC's at the entrances and another near the Temple of the Vesta. Wear sturdy shoes and carry a water bottle to refill it at the Forum's public drinking fountains.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Roman Forum
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, Jan 25, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Roman Forum Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: St. Peter's
Author: Rick Steves
Sun, Jan 24, 2010
Domed center of Catholicism.
St. Peter's is the greatest church in Christendom. Built on the memory and grave of the first pope, St. Peter, this is where the grandeur of ancient Rome became the grandeur of Christianity. On this 90-minute walk, we'll see the cavernous interior; the spacious square, the places where Peter was crucified and buried; and Michelangelo's Pieta. We'll peek at where the pope lives, and talk about the Vatican today. St. Peter's is the living symbol of global Catholicism, all under the watchful presence of Michelangelo's magnificent dome. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: There's a strict dress code to get into St. Peter's (basically, no shorts or bare shoulders), and long security lines can be a problem, so consult my guidebook to plan your visit. The church is free to enter, and is open daily April–Sept 7:00–19:00, Oct–March 7:00–18:00, closed Wed mornings during papal audiences. St. Peter's Square is always open. Confirm hours and Mass times at www.saintpetersbasilica.org or tel tel. 06-6988-1662. The TI on the left (south) side of the square is excellent (Mon–Sat 8:30–18:30, closed Sun).
To climb the Dome (or cupola) costs €7 to take an elevator partway up to the roof, then climb 323 steps to the top of the dome. The Dome is open daily April–Sept 8:00–17:00, Oct–March 8:00–16:00. Allow one hour for the round-trip to the top of the dome. The entry is just outside the basilica on the north side of St. Peter's.
Closest Metro stop is Ottaviano, a 10-minute walk away. The #40 express bus (to Castel Sant'Angelo) and the crowded bus #64 (to just outside the Square on the south side) are convenient. A taxi from Termini train station is about €10. WCs are to the right and left of the church, near baggage storage past the security checkpoint, and on the roof. Drinking fountains and a post office are in the square. Free bag check is mandatory for bags larger than a purse or daypack. Photos are generally allowed. Avoid crowds by visiting early morning or late afternoon. At 17:00, the church is fairly empty, sunbeams can work their magic, and the late-afternoon Mass fills the place with spiritual music.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: St. Peter's
Author: Rick Steves
Sun, Jan 24, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: St. Peter's Basilica Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Sistine Chapel
Author: Rick Steves
Sat, Jan 23, 2010
Michelangelo's frescoes.
The Sistine Chapel is the personal chapel of the pope and the place where new popes are elected. But its claim to fame is its paint job: colorful frescoes by Michelangelo, depicting the entire Christian history from the Creation to the Last Judgment. We'll start with Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling, painted in his younger days. We'll end with the work he completed nearly three decades later on the altar wall — the Last Judgment. These works are huge, and we'll talk about the monumental task of plastering and painting they entailed. On this 30-minute visit, we'll stand under dramatic episodes from the Bible, including one of the most iconic images of Western art — the touching fingers of the Creation of Man. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The Sistine Chapel is part of a visit to the sprawling Vatican Museum, which has erratic hours (observing Christian holidays), a dress code (basically no shorts or bare shoulders), and can have very long lines to get in. Get my guidebook and plan ahead, and check the latest information at www.vatican.va or tel. 06-6988-3860 or 06-6988-1662.
Normal hours are Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00, last entry at 16:00. The cost is €14, except on the last Sun of each month when it's free. Avoid lines with an online reservation at http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va, €4 booking fee. The always-crowded museum is most crowded mornings, Sat-Mon, rainy days, and any day before or after a holiday closure. The nearest Metro stops are Cipro and Ottaviano. Taxis are reasonable (hop in and say, "moo-ZAY-ee vah-tee-KAH-nee"). No photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel. Elsewhere in the museum, photos without a flash are permitted.
The Sistine Chapel is located at the far end of the museum. Signs everywhere direct you to it. Either sightsee your way to the Sistine, or go directly there while you're still fresh. The rest of the Vatican Museum is a virtual catalog of world history, featuring Egyptian mummies, Greek statues, Roman sarcophagi, Raphael frescoes, and the magnificent palace they're housed in.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Sistine Chapel
Author: Rick Steves
Sat, Jan 23, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Sistine Chapel Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Pantheon
Author: Rick Steves
Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Ancient domed temple.
If your imagination is fried from trying to reconstruct ancient buildings out of today's rubble, visit the Pantheon, Rome's best-preserved monument. This domed temple, more than any other building, gives us a feel for the magnificence and grandeur of Rome at its peak. Engineers still admire how the Romans built such a mathematically precise structure without computers, fossil fuel-run machinery, or electricity. On this half-hour visit, we'll marvel at the magnificent dome, learn how it was built, see where Romans paid homage to their pagan gods, and visit the tombs of some famous people buried here. Finally, we'll stand under the Pantheon's solemn dome and gain a new appreciation for the enlightenment of these ancient people. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: Admission is free. The Pantheon is open Mon–Sat 8:30–19:30, Sun 9:00–18:00, holidays 9:00–13:00, closed for Mass Sat at 17:00 and Sun at 10:30. To reach the Pantheon neighborhood, you can walk (20 minutes from Capitol Hill or 5 minutes from Piazza Navona), or take a taxi or bus (e.g. #64 and #40) to the square called Largo Argentina located a few blocks south of the Pantheon. Photos allowed, even with flash. The nearest WCs are at neighborhood cafes, including downstairs in the McDonald's on the Pantheon's square.
The Pantheon neighborhood is well worth exploring, with historic churches, restaurants, Piazza Navona, and not far from the Trevi Fountain. The area is especially atmospheric at night.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Pantheon
Author: Rick Steves
Fri, Jan 22, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Pantheon Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Trastevere
Author: Rick Steves
Thu, Jan 21, 2010
"Back Door" neighborhood.
This colorful neighborhood across the river from downtown is the place to immerse yourself in the crustier side of Rome. On this half-mile walk through Trastevere, you'll stroll from the Tiber to the Church of Santa Maria discovering a secret, hidden city of heroic young martyrs, lovers kissing on Vespas, party-loving Renaissance bankers, and feisty "Trasteverini" — old-timers who pride themselves on never setting foot on the opposite bank of the Tiber River. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: This walk can work well at any time of day. Mornings are cool and relatively quiet. Note that many churches are closed at midday and Villa Farnesina closes as early as 13:00 (and as late as 16:00). Strolling through Trastevere at dusk is especially atmospheric. Church of Saint Cecilia: Free, daily 9:30–12:30 and 16:00–18:30; crypt-€2.50; loft with frescoes-€2.50, Mon–Fri 10:15–12:15, Sat–Sun 11:15–12:15, ask the nuns to open the door. Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere: Free, daily 7:00–21:00. Villa Farnesina: €5; April–June and mid-Sept–Oct Mon–Sat 9:00–16:00, closed Sun; July–mid-Sept and Nov–March Mon–Sat 9:00–13:00, closed Sun.
Excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Trastevere
Author: Rick Steves
Thu, Jan 21, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Trastevere Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Jewish Ghetto
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Synagogue and street life.
For centuries, Rome's Jewish ghetto has been the site of both relentless persecution and the undying pride and solidarity of a tight-knit community. Though most of the old ghetto has been torn down, you can still find a few reminders of the Roman Jews' storied past and lively present. Starting at the north end of Ponte Fabricio, this tour takes about two hours and covers the following sites: Synagogue and Jewish Museum; Santa Maria della PietĂ ; Largo 16 Ottobre 1943; Portico d'Ottavia; and Via del Portico d'Ottavia. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: Synagogue and Jewish Museum: €7.50 ticket includes both; June–Sept Sun–Thu 10:00–19:00, Fri 10:00–16:00, closed Sat; Oct–May Sun–Thu 10:00–17:00, Fri 9:00–14:00, closed Sat; last entrance 45 min before closing; on Lungotevere dei Cenci, tel. 06-6840-0661, www.museoebraico.roma.it. Modest dress is required. If you're not there for a prayer service, the only way to visit the synagogue is with an hourly tour (included in admission, English tours usually at :15 past the hour, 30 min, check schedule at ticket counter).
Excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Jewish Ghetto
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Jewish Ghetto Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: Ostia Antica
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 19, 2010
Ruins of ancient port town.
For an exciting day trip, pop down to the Roman port of Ostia Antica. Founded in the fourth century B.C., Ostia served as a naval base and key administrative and warehousing center for Rome. Eventually abandoned and buried in mud, Ostia is similar to Pompeii but in some ways more interesting. Because Ostia was a working port town, it shows a more complete and gritty look at Roman life than wealthier Pompeii. On this two-hour tour, you'll see the warehouses, apartment flats, mansions, shopping arcades, and baths that served a once-thriving port of 60,000 people. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: Cost: €6.50 for the site and museum. Hours: Tue–Sun April–Oct 8:30–19:00, Nov–Feb 8:30–16:00, March 8:30–18:00, last entry one hour before closing, closed Mon. The museum closes from 13:30 to 14:15 for lunch.
Excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Ostia Antica
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 19, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Ostia Antica Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Renaissance Walk
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, Jan 18, 2010
From the Duomo to the Arno.
As the home of the Renaissance and birthplace of the modern, urban lifestyle, Florence is Europe's cultural capital. This 90-minute walk through the heart of Renaissance Florence starts at the soaring church dome that symbolizes the proud Renaissance spirit. We'll also see the bronze doors that opened the Renaissance, and walk the same narrow streets as Michelangelo and the Medicis. As we walk from the Duomo to the Arno River — about a mile altogether — we'll see the Florence of yesterday, but also the vibrant, trendy city that is Florence today. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The bulk of this walk's sights are enjoyable any time of day, whether the sight is open or not. But if you choose to go inside, be aware that many of Florence's sights have erratic opening hours, some others require a reservation, and still others have long lines where reservations are strongly recommended. The Duomo (Cathedral) is free, open Mon–Wed and Fri 10:00–17:00, Thu 10:00–15:30, Sat 10:00–16:45 except first Sat of the month 10:00–15:30, Sun 13:30–16:45. Climbing the Dome costs €8, open Mon–Fri 8:30–19:00, Sat 8:30–17:40, last entry 40 min before closing, closed Sun. The Campanile (Giotto's Tower) costs €6, open daily 8:30–19:30, last entry 40 min before closing. The Baptistery interior costs €4, open Mon–Sat 12:15–19:00 except first Sat of month 8:30–14:00, Sun 8:30–14:00, last entry 30 min before closing. The famous bronze doors are on the outside so they're always "open" (viewable) and free. Orsanmichele Church is free, open Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00, closed Mon. The niche sculptures are always viewable from the outside. WCs are in cafés along the walk. In churches and other sights along this walk, photos without a flash are generally OK.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Renaissance Walk
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, Jan 18, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Florence: Renaissance Walk Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Florence 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Accademia/David
Author: Rick Steves
Sun, Jan 17, 2010
Michelangelo's giant-slayer.
Michelangelo's David is the symbol of the Renaissance, and one of Europe's great thrills is actually seeing it in the flesh. Seventeen feet high, gleaming white, and exalted by a halo-like dome over his head, David rarely disappoints, even for those with high expectations. And the Accademia doesn't stop there. On this one-hour tour, we'll see Michelangelo's most famous work as well as a number of other Michelangelo statues. We'll also get a look at statues by lesser sculptors, a few paintings, and some early musical instruments. And we'll linger at Michelangelo's unfinished statues called the Prisoners, that give insight into the sculpting process of this troubled genius. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: Remember that the Accademia often has long lines to get in, so consider reserving by phone (39-055-294-883), online (at www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/Uffizi), through your hotelier, or at booking locations in Florence (including the Accademia itself). During the off-season (Oct–March) on weekdays after 16:00, you can often get in with no reservation and no lines. The Accademia costs €6.50 (plus €4 fee for recommended reservation). Hours: Tue–Sun 8:15–18:50, last entry 30 min before closing, closed Mon. The museum is most crowded on Sun, Tue, and right when it opens. It's at Via Ricasoli 60, a 15-minute walk from the train station or a 10-minute walk northeast of the Duomo. Tel. 055-238-8609 or 055-294-883, www.polomuseale.firenze.it. No photos or videos are allowed.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Accademia/David
Author: Rick Steves
Sun, Jan 17, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Florence: Accademia and Michelangelo's David Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Florence 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Uffizi Gallery
Author: Rick Steves
Sat, Jan 16, 2010
Top Renaissance paintings.
In the Renaissance, Florentine artists rediscovered the beauty of the natural world. The Uffizi Gallery shows this beauty in all its three-dimensional, realistic glory, capturing the optimistic spirit of the Renaissance. The Uffizi is the best collection anywhere of Italian Renaissance painting. Medieval art had been symbolic, telling Bible stories. Realism didn't matter. But Renaissance people saw the beauty of God in nature and the human body. On this 2-hour tour, we'll see the evolution from stiff medieval altarpieces to realistic, three-dimensional, beautiful canvases. The highlights? Masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Titian. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The Uffizi is often very crowded, so consider booking an advanced reservation by telephone (39-055-294-883), online (www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/Uffizi), through your hotelier, or at booking locations in Florence (including the Uffizi itself). The Uffizi costs €6.50, but mandatory special exhibitions generally bump the price to €10. Reservations add another €4/ticket. Hours: Tue–Sun 8:15–18:50, last entry 30 min before closing, closed Mondays. The Uffizi is located on the Arno River between the Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio, a 15-minute walk from the train station. Tel. 055-238-8651, www.polomuseale.firenze.it. No photos allowed.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Uffizi Gallery
Author: Rick Steves
Sat, Jan 16, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Florence: Uffizi Gallery Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Florence 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: Grand Canal
Author: Rick Steves
Fri, Jan 15, 2010
A cruise down "main street."
Venice — a city built on an island and laced with canals — is best seen by boat. So take a nautical joyride, down the Grand Canal as it snakes through the heart of Venice, and see what makes this city so unique. On this 45-minute trip by public vaporetto — from the train station to St. Mark's Square — we'll pass by once-grand, now fading palaces from Venice's glory days. We'll sail under bridges, including the famous arch of the Rialto Bridge, and see churches with soaring domes and markets with stinky squid. We'll share the road with the everyday working boats that keep this island city going. Most of all, we'll get a first-hand, sea-level view of the greatest sight in all of Venice — the city itself. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: "Admission" to the Grand Canal costs €6.50 for a 60-minute vaporetto ticket. Before buying that ticket, consider whether a boat pass might be more economical. Some enjoy taking this tour twice, once in either direction, to get the most out of it. You'll enjoy the best light and the fewest crowds by riding late in the day. Sunset bathes the buildings in gold. After dark, chandeliers light up building interiors. "Rush hour" in the direction of this tour (heading toward San Marco) is morning, when local workers and tourists staying on the mainland commute into town. In the evening, the crowds head home and you'll find boats going toward San Marco relatively empty. Boats run every 10 minutes. When catching your boat, confirm that you're on a "San Marco via Rialto" boat (some boats finish at the Rialto Bridge). The front of the boat (in the open air) gives the best views for this tour.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Venice 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Grand Canal
Author: Rick Steves
Fri, Jan 15, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Venice: Grand Canal Cruise Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Venice 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: St. Mark's Square
Author: Rick Steves
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
Cafes, art, music, history.
Venice was once Europe's richest and most cosmopolitan city, and the center of it all was Piazza San Marco — St. Mark's Square. As middleman in trade between Europe and the exotic East, the wealthy Venetians taught the rest of Europe the good life. Venice was a vibrant city full of painted palaces, glittering canals, wine-women-and-song, and mobs of tourists from everywhere. Centuries later, Venice is all of these still, with the added charm of romantic decay. Allow about an hour for this audio tour, as we see the one-of-a-kind basilica, the palace of the doges, the shops, the music-filled cafes... and the magical piazza they enclose. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: San Marco — meaning both the square and the basilica — is located where the Grand Canal spills out into the lagoon. Vaporetto stops: San Marco or San Zaccaria. There are no admission fees to visit the square, though we'll walk by sights that do have opening hours and costs — the Basilica, the Clock Tower, the Doge's Palace, and (of course) the cafes. Handy public WCs (€1.50) are behind the Correr Museum and at Giardinetti Reali park.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Venice 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: St. Mark's Square
Author: Rick Steves
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Venice: St. Mark's Square Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Venice 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: St. Mark's Basilica
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 13, 2010
Majestic church, mosaics.
Among Europe's churches, St. Mark's — with its onion domes, mosaics, and exotic treasures — is one of a kind. The thousand-year-old church dates from an era when Venice was almost as oriental as it was European. With its ties to Byzantium and Islam, St. Mark's feels like a remnant of a lost world. On this hour-long walk, we'll see the church, its mosaics, and its jeweled art, and we'll end with a great view over St. Mark's Square. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty-gritty: Entering the church is free, but there are three sights we'll visit inside: the Treasury (€3), Golden Altarpiece (€2.50), and San Marco Museum (€4). The church is open Mon–Sat 9:45–17:00 (until 16:30 Nov–March), Sun 14:00–17:00 (until 16:00 Nov–March). To enter the church, modest dress is strictly enforced (no shorts or bare shoulders). There's almost always a long line to get into St. Mark's. To deal with the relentless crowds, the church interior is roped off. You just have to shuffle through on a one-way system. Small purses and shoulder-slung bags may be allowed inside the church, but larger bags and backpacks are not. Check them for free at the nearby Ateneo San Basso, a former church located 30 yards to the left of the basilica, down narrow Calle San Basso. Those with a bag to check actually get to skip the line! Present your luggage claim tag to the basilica's gatekeeper, and you (and a partner) can scoot directly in, ahead of the line. Theft Alert: St. Mark's Basilica is the most dangerous place in Venice for pickpocketing — inside, it's always a crowded jostle. No photos allowed inside the church, but it is allowed on the balcony of the San Marco Museum, with great views overlooking the square.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Venice 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: St. Mark's Basilica
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 13, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Venice 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: Frari Church
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
Art treasures in situ.
Venice's church of the frari, or "brothers" of the Franciscan order, is filled with art that captures the Franciscan love of Man and Nature. This out-of-the-way church is one of Venice's most underappreciated sights. But for many travelers, the Frari offers the best art-appreciation experience in Venice, because so much of its great art is in situ — right where it was designed to be seen, rather than hanging in museums. On this one-hour tour, we'll see altarpieces by Venice's great painters highlighting the Virgin Mary in her various aspects — youthful, meditative, iconic, and fully human. We'll also see artists' tombs, a Donatello statue, and the spacious architecture of this church that celebrates the glory of God with art that celebrates the created world. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: The church costs €3. Hours: Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00, Sun 13:00–18:00 (closed Sun in Aug), last entry 15 minutes before closing, no visits during services. Modest dress is recommended. The church is located on the Campo dei Frari, near the San Tomà vaporetto and traghetto stops. Look for signs pointing you to the nearby Scuola Grande di San Rocco (which is also worth a visit). The church occasionally hosts evening concerts (look for fliers, check www.basilicadeifrari.it, or call the church at 041-272-8618). Photography is prohibited.
For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Venice 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Frari Church
Author: Rick Steves
Tue, Jan 12, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Venice: Frari Church Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Venice 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com
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Pompeii
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, 11 Jan, 2010
City buried by a volcano.
Stopped in its tracks by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in a.d. 79, Pompeii offers the best look anywhere at what life in Rome must have been like 2,000 years ago. An entire city of well-preserved ruins is yours to explore. Imagine the streets lined with stalls and jammed with customers from sunup to sundown, as chariots vied with shoppers for street space. On this three-hour tour, you'll start at the Porta Marina and continue along Pompeii's streets exploring typical homes and businesses; the Forum, basilica, public baths, brothels, ampitheater and more. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map.
Sightseeing nitty gritty: Cost: €11, or €20 combo-ticket includes Herculaneum (called Ercolano) and three lesser sites (valid 3 days).
Hours: Daily April–Oct 8:30–19:30, Nov–March 8:30–17:00 (last entry 90 min before closing).
Excerpted from Rick Steves' Rome 2010.
Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel.
Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.
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Map: Pompeii
Author: Rick Steves
Mon, Jan 11, 2010
PDF companion map.
This handy PDF map, a companion to Rick Steves' Rome: Pompeii Audio Tour, is excerpted from "Rick Steves' Rome 2010" © 2009 Avalon Travel Publishing, all rights reserved. For best results, travel with Rick's guidebook! Details are subject to change. You'll find a wealth of related information on this destination at www.ricksteves.com.
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