Rome Italy: A Walk Around the Block

Our block is Rome.

Today's Rome itinerary wandering for one day in Rome.

We walked from our apartment in Piazza Farnese through the open-air market at Campo de' Fiori, past Via del Governo Vecchio, with the young fashion designers, and past Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, down the Corso to Piazza del Popolo, where we had an appointment, naturally at a caffé in Rome.

Done with our business we zig zagged back to our apartment.

First to Via dei Condotti, with stops at the stores with the most beautiful handbags, shoes, expensive silk ties, etc..

Then to Campo Marzio, passing bakeries, and the luscious caffés at the Piazza Lucina.

Then to the right past the Church of the Portuese, on Via dei Coronari, neighborhood of the antique dealers, then to Via dei Bianchi Vecchi, a crossover to Via Giuia, celebrating its 500th anniversary, and we arrived at our apartment a neighbor of the Michelangelo arch.

What's your favorite block?.

Italy Travel - Florence Shopping in Oltrarno

If the glove fits, buy it in Oltrarno

Things seem to be a little less expensive in Oltrarno, the other side of the Arno.

For example, gloves are 19€ to 35€ in Oltrarno. In Florence center, they are 30€ to 70€. Same is true of luggage, shoes, and clothing.

Shops are smaller, some designer-owned, but the things are just as beautiful.

Italy Travel - Como: It's not just a pit stop on Lake Como

Most tourists come and go through Como on the their way to other destinations on Lake Como. But we think Como itself is worth a day or so. The architecture is beautiful, there are museums and obviously theatre (Turandot was being performed while we were in Como), high fashion without the high price tags, lively caffés and wine bars at night, and chefs very willing to prepare dishes you want for items not on the menu.

Traveller's Tip Repeat -- in early October, a cashmere sweater is a necessity when the brisk wind blows off the lake.