Milan

Milan is a top place to visit for history, shopping and fashion — home of Ravazzolo, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, and Versace.

The monumental arch of Vittorio Emanuele II as the entrance to the famous Galleria.

Naples

Great art found in the Sansevero Chapel, Naples

Disillusion by Francesco Queirolo

Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino

Modesty by Antonio Corradini

Sicily

As noted in Fred Plotkin's book Italy for the Gourmet Traveler he found the best gelato in all of Italy in the town of Noto.

In Syracuse, try Caseificio Borderi (Via Emanuele de Benedictis 6 Mercato di Ortigia) for delicious sandwiches.

Tourist Information

Information on travel and emergency care in Florence.

Tourist doctor
Instituto Prosperius, Viale F.lli Rosselli, 62 Firenzi
+39 338 8941809
Medical assistance 24hr and home visits

Laundromat
Self-service laundry 8:00-22:00
3 Sant’Egidio, Florence
Take coins - bill changer does not work

To get from the airport to central Florence, take Tram #2 from the airport to Unita station (the final stop) for €1.50. That stop is about a 5 min walk from the Duomo. (A taxi would be about €25)

Amalfi Coast, Pompeii & Capri

Stay in Sorrento as a home base, a nice safe town which is better than staying in Naples. There are lots of tours available through Get Your Guide of the Amalfi coast, Pompeii and Capri. You also just take a ferry from Sorrento to Capri and tour on your own. 

Take the Sita municipal bus line from Sorrento to Amalfi coast. According to a Rick Steves guest the bus tickets can be bought at convenience/tobacco stores. There is also a ferry that takes about 40 minutes - use the Omio website or app to book.

You can buy bus tickets at kiosks or at convenience stores.

From an Amalfi forum: "As you get out of the Sorrento train station, after you go down the stairs, there’s a kiosk from where you can also buy SITA bus tickets. You’ll need the AC4 (€ 2.90) for Sorrento-Amalfi and AC1 (€ 1.30) for Amalfi-Maiori. The bus station is another 20-30 meters distance from there.  The SITA bus company publishes a list of all the places you can purchase tickets from: www.sitasudtrasporti.it/agenzie (select ‘Campania’ if prompted to choose a region). You can also further filter out the list by entering the Comune (city/town)."

Probably best to hire a guided tour of Pompeii.

Visit the Saint Michael church on Capri for is huge mosaic floor tile.

Pastum is a bit farther from the Sorrento area - check for buses.

Venice

Venice is one of the premier destinations in the world but is also known for a lot of mediocre restaurants, especially in the touristy areas. But there are a few exceptional gems and most are hidden in out of the way side alleys.

Good family run restaurant away from the tourist crowds (recommended by person on Vienna wine tour in 2025): Restaurante al Covo, Campiello de la Pescaria, 3968.

Among the best is Ostaria Alle Testiere. A very small restaurant with a small staff. Head chef Bruno Gavangnin changes the menu every day! He goes to the market in the morning to select the freshest ingredients with which to create that day's menu. (Reservation are accepted only online via DishCult and requires a Prenota Ora account. Also only reservations of 2 or more people are accepted.)

There is a great video from the BBC series Remarkable Places to Eat hosted by chef Fred Sirieix.

But one of the most touristy places (right on St. Mark's Square) is also one of the best places to eat. Caffè Florian has been serving great coffee and desserts since 1720. Their pastries are considered to be among the best in Europe. You will pay a ridiculously high price, but as a special treat you will relish the atmosphere of the old world elegant service and the million dollar view. 

Food & Drink

Look at Fred Plotkin's Italy for the Gourmet Traveler as heard on Rick Steve's podcast.

The best ice cream in the world is found in Noto, Sicily.