Jruble

Good Morning, My company has organized a company trip to Italy in November with our itinerary mostly in Florence and Rome. I'm going a week early so I can fill up more SD cards.
My questions are:
1- (flying into Rome) - What are must photograph places for potentially rainy November. Venice? Tuscany? Amalfi Coast?
2 - what would be a good travel lens for my Nikon 7100? I have a Tokina 10-20mm and a Tamron 70-200 (which I really don't want to carry around).
Any other helpful travel tips are appreciated.
Thank you,
Joy

RolandDieter

Venice, Tuscany and Amalfi coast ar all too good to miss. Tuscany countryside would require the most time, so if you don't have much concentrate on the other two. Also keep in mind that Amalfi and Venice are the furthest from Rome and Florence, so getting to them will also add time. Thinking more about it, if you are in Florence anyway (a fabulous city that needs more than one day), you will be surrounded by the Tuscan countryside ... maybe concentrate on that. The good news -- going in November you will miss the hordes of travelers. This means you may be able to get into the museums in Florence. But add Venice, maybe skip Amalfi. Amalfi is one of my favorite places on the planet, but, if you haven't been to them you should do Venice and Florence/Tuscany. Sorry for my rambling and some inconsistencies, but I don't have the time right now to edit it back.

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Just be careful about the money exchange my sister-in-law got cheated when she exchanged American $ for liras. You could carry one of the many types of smaller lenses such as the 28-105. You can decide what you want to shoot when you get there such as in the "forum." The spaghetti and meatballs make a nice meal! Good luck!

Jakebrake Loc: Broomfield, Colorado

Hi Joy;

I can't give you any information on Italy as I still have it on my bucket list. However if it were me, I would acquire/buy/rent or borrow something like the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD lens to pair with your very capable Nikon D7100. Enjoy your fabulous trip and post some images when you return.

Cheers;
Michael

Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois

They don't have Liras anymore in Italy, they have Euros. Go to any ATM machine and get your Euros. Stores and Restaurants have all their prices listed with tax included, so you won't get cheated.

Largobob

You will be visiting some of the most spectacular sights in the world....with some of the most generous and gracious people on Earth...with some of the very best food, wine, cheese, breads, etc. available anywhere. Been there many times and would return in a heartbeat.

Your major problem will be your time constraints. I would pick a region and do it thoroughly.....rather than to try to cover everything. Also remember to take advantage of tours offered from your hotel lobby; don't be afraid use trains and other public transportation (get a Eurail pass); hire local guides; buy postcards; ask the 'natives' for advice (they will be amazingly friendly and cooperative). Just have fun.

Most of your photo ops will likely be closer/wide angle.....rather than further away. I guess your 10-20mm.....and if you could, get (borrow or rent) a good 24-70mm f2.8. I'm thinking that range will be most useful for cities, interiors, buildings, statues, landscapes, etc. Be aware of pickpockets and those who may want your expensive camera gear. These are often 'gypsies' who make their living stealing from tourists.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

When I went last year I took to lenses with me my Sigma 18-250 and my Nikon 40mm macro. The Sigma I used 95% of the time. I was there the end of March and the beginning of April. There were already crowds in both Rome (3 days and Florence 9 days). We took side day trips to Venus and Pisa. We went by train. Have a great time.

rcarol

That must have been quite a while ago since Italy has been on Euros for more than several years.

nhastings Loc: Telluride, CO

If I could only go to visit one country the rest of my life (fortunately that is not the case) it would be Italy and I have been there many times. My suggestion would be to not try and see everything in one trip but spend your time getting to know Rome and Florence, including the surrounding Tuscany region. The Amalfi Coast should be a week all by itself. I could easily spend two weeks alone in Venice taking pictures. You won't have the summer crowds, which is good but the weather could be iffy. Who cares? Enjoy the wine, the food and the people. Good luck and don't concentrate all your energy looking for that perfect image, you will miss out on the real treat, which is the overall cultural experience.

rcarol

Pisa is not too far from Florence and worth seeing. While you're in the region you may want to spend some time at Assisi.

Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

We have been to the coast, Venice. I used to have a Nikon 7100. I had the 18-105 on it at the time. It’s not really Reach you want for this adventure. So perhaps the Tamaron 18-400 would suit your purpose. Best of both worlds & it won’t break the bank.
One thing I can say is don’t eat in the tourist traps along the canal. The foods bad & way over priced. We found a nice cafe just past the Doges Palace on a side street. It was so good. Also took the Secrect behind the scenes tour at the Palace. It was really interesting.
Take the valepos-water taxies out to the other islands. We took one out to the cemetery island. So pretty & quiet.
Loved walking in Venice at night. The tourist are gone for the day.
Look into Viatours Venice or for any other city they give you a good idea what to see.
They have a lot of skip the lines entrance tickets. We’ve used them all over the world. You really need skip the line in Rome.
Have a great time.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Wide Angle lens and/or a wide to medium tele should be all you need, use ATM's for exchanging money and cc for paying, and by all means have a steak in Florence, Tuscan Style. Florence is absolutely fabulous. Also don't pass up on many of the villages within Tuscany such as Montepulciano and Cortona, there are some beautiful scenes to be had.

julian.gang

I was in Italy in 1983, the fountains in Rome are a must! Other than that either coast will fill up you cards. Oh, almost forgot Capri!...Julian

repleo Loc: Boston

Joy,

The Amalfi Coast is amazingly beautiful and the weather should still be pleasant in November. However, I didn’t find it especially photogenic. Except for in the towns like Positano or Sorrento, the views are out across open water with not much chance for anything in the foreground. The views are literally breathtaking, but it is something to be experienced rather than photographed. You need to be crazy to drive it and the buses won’t stop to let you catch the best parts. If you do go, don’t miss Ravello up in the hills above Amalfi.

You could spend an amazing week or two (or more) touring around Tuscany centered on Florence or Sienna. If time permits, shoot up to Venice for an overnight stay instead of Amalfi. Alitalia flies FCO to VCE for less than $60. I think if you can only see one city in Europe it should be Venice because it is so unique and it won’t be there forever. Take the ferry ride around the entire lagoon to Burano - it is a photographers dream come true. I am taking my third visit to Venice in October.

I think the Cinque Terra is a much more photogenic destination than Amalfi and you don’t need a car to get around. The weather might be a bit iffy in November but it is easily accessible from Florence. You could do it as a spur of the moment thing if the weather is good. I think there is coach service that will take you there and back from Florence.

A lot depends on how you intend to travel around. Italian roads are good and well signposted. Italian drivers are not as aggressive as made out to be. If you can drive at home you can drive in Italy, but get a small car.

If you do drive, I would suggest taking a leisurely route to Florence from Rome via Civita di Bagnoreggio, Orvieto, Montepulciano, Pienza, The Colli Sinesi countryside, Sienna, San Gimignano to Florence. That will take you through the best of Tuscany. Figure two or three days for that with an overnight stay in Orvietto and Sienna. If you are taking trains you may have to settle for just Orvieto and Sienna.

Personally, I find Rome exhausting, but if this is your first time you will of course want to ‘see the sights’. I have skirted around the City on my last couple of trips. I would much prefer to wander around the lesser known hill towns in Tuscany or Umbria.

Camera wise – I always make the mistake of bringing too much gear. I end up only using my 18-105 F4 on my Sony A6000. It covers 95% of my shots. I expect it will be same story on my next trip. The 10-20mm would be good for interiors and narrow streets if it is reasonably fast.

Beware of using cellular data. I rang up $600 in a week using the maps on my phone. Won't make that mistake again.

Have fun and post pics when you get back.

RolandDieter

A wonderful place to stay in Venice is the Moresco Hotel. Very nice, attractive, clean and very, very reasonably priced (yes, reasonably priced in Venice!), on a canal, and about as close to the train station and parking lot as you can get (short walk, cross one canal bridge, another very short walk and you are there). Very nice people running it. Close enough to all the places you will want to see.