If you'd like to say "thanks" try grazie! instead of gracias ;)

Eric from GallieraT lives there i think.

There's a "cool" ice bar near the roman forum in Rome

spent 10 days there a year ago. loved it.
Florence was my favorite city by far.

For food, ask the locals where to eat. And try to stay away from the tourist restaurants. I had some of the most amazing food while I was in Italy and all of the best food was the ones away from anything tourist.

NickThreadbird said:For food, ask the locals where to eat. And try to stay away from the tourist restaurants. I had some of the most amazing food while I was in Italy and all of the best food was the ones away from anything tourist.

Agreed. The best restaurants are off in some side street that the guidebooks don't mention.

I don't know what color you are, but they got some serious racial issues over there. Had to deal with these quite a lot, scumbags. Might be good to keep in mind. If you're white, you're good to go.

Italy is full of american tourists in summer. Been in Florence a couple years ago and that kind of surprised me. So you'll feel a bit like home... If you want to see the real italian life I will suggest to check out some smaller villages nearby.

One small tip: many cocktail bars serve free food on the evening if you order some drinks.

sick, good advise so far...thanks guys!

Craig Robson said:Eric from GallieraT lives there i think.

I certainly do, although in Milan.

NickThreadbird said:spent 10 days there a year ago. loved it.
Florence was my favorite city by far.

For food, ask the locals where to eat. And try to stay away from the tourist restaurants. I had some of the most amazing food while I was in Italy and all of the best food was the ones away from anything tourist.

Best advice I could give is to use the Tripadvisor app for your restaurants, but to really experience the true Italian food change the language option into Italian, Italians are the harshest critics of their food, its literally life to them. Americans/Brits will generally rave about the 'touristy' restaurants believing the pasta and pomodoro or pizza to be the best they have ever had, only to be ripped off and pay three times the price for a pizza which was made early in the morning.

One of my favourite restaurants in Florence http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1068024-Reviews-Il_Fagioli-Florence_Tuscany.html but be prepared to queue, have the spezzatino.

For an amazing aperitivo and fantastic wine http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d896746-Reviews-Enoteca_Pitti_Gola_e_Cantina-Florence_Tuscany.html

and here too http://www.ristoranteangels.it/

In Venice once again the trip advisor app is invaluable and saves you money on the super expensive tourist traps, cocktails to ask for during aperitivo our are the 'Spritz' http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2011/12/Top-Places-to-Take-a-Spritz-in-Venice but just don't have it in the main square otherwise you will get absolutely stung!

In Venice make sure you visit the Islands Murano and Burano, truly special.

Unfortunately Rome I have only been once and it rained all weekend and all I did was stay in a wine bar and sample all the wines, hence the foggy memory!

Enjoy!

GALLERIA-T said:

Craig Robson said:Eric from GallieraT lives there i think.

I certainly do, although in Milan.

NickThreadbird said:spent 10 days there a year ago. loved it.
Florence was my favorite city by far.

For food, ask the locals where to eat. And try to stay away from the tourist restaurants. I had some of the most amazing food while I was in Italy and all of the best food was the ones away from anything tourist.

Best advice I could give is to use the Tripadvisor app for your restaurants, but to really experience the true Italian food change the language option into Italian, Italians are the harshest critics of their food, its literally life to them. Americans/Brits will generally rave about the 'touristy' restaurants believing the pasta and pomodoro or pizza to be the best they have ever had, only to be ripped off and pay three times the price for a pizza which was made early in the morning.

One of my favourite restaurants in Florence http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1068024-Reviews-Il_Fagioli-Florence_Tuscany.html but be prepared to queue, have the spezzatino.

For an amazing aperitivo and fantastic wine http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d896746-Reviews-Enoteca_Pitti_Gola_e_Cantina-Florence_Tuscany.html

and here too http://www.ristoranteangels.it/

In Venice once again the trip advisor app is invaluable and saves you money on the super expensive tourist traps, cocktails to ask for during aperitivo our are the 'Spritz' http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2011/12/Top-Places-to-Take-a-Spritz-in-Venice but just don't have it in the main square otherwise you will get absolutely stung!

In Venice make sure you visit the Islands Murano and Burano, truly special.

Unfortunately Rome I have only been once and it rained all weekend and all I did was stay in a wine bar and sample all the wines, hence the foggy memory!

Enjoy!

epic! thanks a lot dude!

GALLERIA-T said:
In Venice make sure you visit the Islands Murano and Burano, truly special.

Agreed, the islands around Venice are a fantastic place to visit. You can get a day ticket for the public transport and hop from island to island as you please.

If you're into museums and stuff, you can see a couple of billion $ worth of art in Venice alone. As for food, I remember a nice Jewish restaurant somewhere in the vicinity of the old Ghetto area (this is not it:)

I miss Italy