Off to Italy soon!

In about 2 weeks I will be traveling to Naples, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast. This is an anniversary celebration, so I'd better be paying more attention to my lovely wife than to my camera!

Nonetheless, I would welcome advice on any top photo spots. I expect to try for a mix of landscapes, buildings, and people.

I read with interest the thoughts about gear for Andrea to take to Ireland. We will be handling our own luggage on trains, so must travel light. I will take my SL1 with a Tamron 17-50 mm f2.8 non VC; possibly also the Canon EF-S 10-18 mm if space permits.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Danny

Sounds like a great trip! I've never been to that part of Italy, but it is high on my wish-list.

I understand photography is not the focus of this trip, but can I suggest taking a small tripod? Even if it is a table-top size. Good for night shots or longer exposures, but perhaps more importantly, it would let you get a few self-portraits of you and your wife without having to ask a stranger. Have a good trip!

Stephen

That one is one of the best part of Italy!

http://www.tourspesaresi.it/uploads/...amalfitana.jpg

The lens that you choose are perfect - f2.8 should be enough!

Just a few reccomendation:

1) Pay attenction on public vehicles (for pickpocketing) because it's a turistic place, and pay attenction if you hang around in not crowded places for the same reason.

2) Explode eating Pizza. Naples is where pizza became famous, try it with "Friarielli" and the classic "Margherita" - look up to TripAdvisor for the best places. My last trip to Naples was 3 days. 3 days = 7 pizzas.

http://www.streetfood42.com/cibodist...poli-pizza.jpg

This is Pizza, and price is around 4-5€, max 6! More is just a tourist trap.

check out Rick Steves on the Amalfi Coast.
Been to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan
Never had a bad day in Italy

iND

Thanks to each of you. I won't be able to manage my usual travel tripod, but I had failed to consider a table-top tripod. Maybe it will find a way into my bag.

Andrea certainly proves there are great photos to be had!

We had seen Rick Steves' TV segments on Naples and on Amalfi many months ago while deciding on the destination, but good advice to review again.

Danny

Thanks again for the advice.

Pizza in Naples was excellent!

Still processing but will post a few shots when they are ready.

Must recommend views of Vesuvius from Via Nazario Sauro in Naples, views of the Bay from Villa Communale in Sorrento, and views in multiple directions from the belvedere of the Villa Rufolo in Ravello as great spots to enjoy and for photos.

This one is of Positano from Via Cristoforo Colombo just a little down hill from the bus stop.

https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7386/2...8be8053f_c.jpg
Positano by Danny Watson, on Flickr

Hey, i don't know if you are already back home but i want a feedback! :D

Hi, Jamsus!

Had a wonderful trip. I posted two pix in the picture of the week, but will post here also for convenience, along with a few others.

We had no trouble with pickpockets, but did see a plainclothes officer arresting one on the platform for the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii.

Pizza did not last long enough on the table to take a picture!

The Sl1 with the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC) was a perfect size and weight, and this combo performed well. I don't think a better camera would have improved anything, just a better photographer. Table-top tripod permitted the fireworks picture.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7396/2...a0729904_c.jpg
Vesuvius with fireworks 2 by Danny Watson, on Flickr
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7686/2...eae45de1_c.jpg
Bay from Sorrento by Danny Watson, on Flickr
https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7799/2...97e999b7_c.jpg
Festival Piazza Plebiscito, Naples by Danny Watson, on Flickr
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7426/2...e23aeb30_c.jpg
Bay of Salerno by Danny Watson, on Flickr

Thanks again for the advice,

Danny

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Minerve101

Hi, Jamsus!

Had a wonderful trip. I posted two pix in the picture of the week, but will post here also for convenience, along with a few others.

We had no trouble with pickpockets, but did see a plainclothes officer arresting one on the platform for the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii.

Pizza did not last long enough on the table to take a picture!

The Sl1 with the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC) was a perfect size and weight, and this combo performed well. I don't think a better camera would have improved anything, just a better photographer. Table-top tripod permitted the fireworks picture.

Danny

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Eheh happy about that!

The 100D is a really good travel camera :) probably will get one as backup body one day!

The pictures are very good and captured the essence of Naples bay

Since the topic is "off to Italy soon!", I think I can post here for my trip to Italy/France.
In less than two weeks we will be going to Italy/France. We are planning to travel by car and go camping or take hotels/bnb's.

Any tips or advice for the area's that we'd like to visit is appreciated.

We are thinking of the following places that we might want to visit:
- Stelvio Pass
- A few cities, Milano, Florence, Rome for example.
- The island Corsica. Have never been there, but it looks like a great place for us. Mountains to climb for me, good waters/beaches for the girl:p

So it's gonna be a little road trip with some longer stops. I'm looking at making some sort of route going from North to South over Corsica, boattrip to the mainland to Rome and then back-up Nord. If that makes sense. I don't think we will be going much more south than Rome.

Any input and experience is appreciated.

Jan

I don't know Corsica, so can't comment about it. Over the years I have been a tourist for a few days in Florence twice, and in Rome and Milan three times. All were enjoyable.

Florence and Rome have more visual impact than Milan, unless you are interested in fashion.

If these cities are new to you, it is good to remember that the famous sights are famous for a reason. See them, by all means!


For a few suggestions that are not at the top of the list in guide books, I found Trastevere an interesting section of Rome.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8016/2...7c741c120b.jpgSanta Maria in Trastevere by Danny Watson, on Flickr


The Renaissance architecture is the main draw in Florence, but there are also some opportunities for photos from more open spaces.

https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8413/2...845e84c888.jpgFlorence green space from Boboli by Danny Watson, on Flickr


https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8308/2...d9643e73_c.jpgDella grazie bridge by Danny Watson, on Flickr

[These shots from 10 years ago were with a point-and shoot.]


Of course Andrea is a regular forum contributor who definitely knows Florence:)

You can't go wrong with any of the cities you mentioned. Have a great trip!

Thanks Danny! Really nice input.
I guess I only put Milan on the list because it's on route and I have been there for work last year, but had no time to check the citycentre. If Florence and Rome are better I'd rather focus on that area more. From your photos and googling the places I can't believe it would somehow not be great. It all looks amazing.

Here are a couple of shots from the very popular tourist sites in Rome.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8265/2...df00322f_c.jpgPantheon 2016 by Danny Watson, on Flickr

https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8406/2...345cfc17_c.jpgTrevi fountain 2016 by Danny Watson, on Flickr

No recent trip to Florence, alas.

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

Thanks Danny!

I'm really looking forward to it. As up till now we only have a plan for two days. Sunday we'll try to make most of the mileage by going to Switserland(8,5h drive). We'll stay the night there somewhere(probably around Brienz/Interlaken). Mondays we'll have to drive to Genua, Italy where we will take a nightboat to Corsica. The drive is still quite some distance, but we'll have plenty of time and we're going off the highroad and take some of the nicer roads through the Alps to test the brakes of our car(Grimselpas, Furkapas, Gotthardpas) then via Milan(not visiting) to Genua.
So we will arrive on Corsica Tuesday-morning with almost 3 weeks to kill. So we're gonna explore and enjoy Corsica as much as we can without any real plans and when we're done exploring Corsica(if there's still time:p) we'll travel to the area of Rome and Florence.

Anyway definitely excited to go and these photos make me more and more excited;)

Hey, i actually live in Florence (a little out of the town, exactly).

The city is actually really enjoyable and pretty easy to visit, you can walk around all the historical centre in one day.

The classic places to visit (and to take some pictures) are obviously the historical centre (Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio, San Frediano, Santo Spirito) and all the areas around. Then, for the sunset, try to go to Piazzale Michelangelo. The best landscape of Florence is from there.

I dont know if i will be there but let me know the exact days you will be in Florence.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7574/1...2088b4f2_z.jpgFlorence, Art by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8614/1...0f44fb1e_z.jpgFlorence, Art by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

Statues in Historical Centre

https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7583/1...b6570327_z.jpgFlorence, Ponte Vecchio by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

Ponte Vecchio

https://c6.staticflickr.com/1/483/19...638d2e35_z.jpgPalazzo Vecchio, Firenze by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

Palazzo Vecchio

https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7322/1...dc951dca_z.jpgDavid, Florence by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

Back of Piazzale Michelangelo

https://c4.staticflickr.com/1/498/19...d9494154_z.jpgEverlasting Sunset by Andrea Magnelli, su Flickr

Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

Thanks Andrea! It sure looks like a great place to visit. Since we don't have any solid plans I cannot tell you when we will be there(if we even get there).
If we'll get there it would be in the second half of out holidays so say 1-10 October?
I'll send you a PM for my contactdetails.

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Thanks Andrea! It sure looks like a great place to visit. Since we don't have any solid plans I cannot tell you when we will be there(if we even get there).
If we'll get there it would be in the second half of out holidays so say 1-10 October?
I'll send you a PM for my contactdetails.

Thanks!

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In those days i'll probably be a bit in trouble for work, but i'll let you know!

Thanks! So far we drove from Switzerland to Genova today. It was beautiful except for the part in Genova. Italians drive without rules haha ;)

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 5X met Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Thanks! So far we drove from Switzerland to Genova today. It was beautiful except for the part in Genova. Italians drive without rules haha ;)

Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 5X met Tapatalk

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Go to Naples and you will learn the true meaning of "driving with no rules"

http://cdn.everybodylovesitalian.com...li-400x200.jpg

I haven't properly been in Italy, but I do have one photo I took in Italy:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5679/2...f1d45c3a_b.jpgHarbour of Genova by Jan Paalman, on Flickr

Thanks for the great image. Would love to see pix from Corsica.