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Tuscany Lucca Florence Siena

G

glarson

Active Member
Hi-

I'm planning a summer trip with my wife and my mother to cooking school in Lucca, Tuscany for two weeks. The ladies have guaranteed me lots of time to shoot. The school should provide me with some neat opportunities as should the Lucca and the surrounding countryside. I will be taking my complete G2 set up (2 bodies, 16, 21, 28, 35, 45, 90, and vario...flash, and Gitzo tripod). I would appreciate any ideas for early morning photo hikes, coffee shops, cafes, etc. I'm taking lots of film. Any unique tips or local advice on travelling to Italy with a camera would also be appreciated -Greg "Al" Larson
 
Greg,
Rent a car and get out in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Florence is a must. Sienna for the Palio - even if you can't get tickets to see the races, there is so much going on it's worth the trip to see the Contrada preparing for the races - processions medaeval costumes etc. There are 2 races - one in July & one in August - search the web for dates.
Lucca is also a stop for a lot of big name stars who play in the open air in the town square. Santana are at Pistoia (nearby town) on 18th July.
It's a brilliant place, and it sounds like you'll get well fed - enjoy!
 
Hi Greg
Lucca is full of interesting places you can shoot from: the city walls, a couple of towers...
the downtown is beautiful and you can move easily on foot
As Andy already said, rent a car and move!
Tuscany is really full of interesting (and famous!) places to see...
Just to tell you some names: Pisa is about 1hr of car from Lucca (if I remember well), Pistoia is near, there are little towns on Alpi Apuane (as well as white marble mines), Viareggio if you want to spend a day on the sea, Florence & Siena (the two most famous places), San Giminiano (the town of the towers), for sure many others I do not recall now...
One big advice: as there are too many places to see, start reading and planning now!
Have a nice trip
Paolo
 
Greg,

Almost every street and small alley has good potential as the building in Italy are mostly old with very charming color. Make sure bring a lot of saturated color films stock. Perhaps you can shoot all color and convert some of them into B&W. I prefer streets and alley ways photography more than the usual tourist attraction.

However, the roof top shoot in Florence (go up to the hill), and sunset bridges shoot can be missed.

*** You cannot take pictures of Italian police. A friend of mine told me that she got arrested as she pretended she doesn't speak English. Many Italian police carries machine gun, kind of a cool subject. You hardly see any police carries gun in England.

Some personal tips if you have not been to Italy:

Keep your passport at the hotel safe and carry a money belt. As Steve Rick's tour books indicated, cash in Italy is more convenient that credit card in most places, not only in smaller towns and shops. It requires a passport to cash traveler's check. Change enough cash for a few days at a time save you a lot of time/effort looking for exchange place. Phone card is a must, there are different kind in each city. Make sure pile off the corner of the phone card before you use them.

Pack light, everything you need can be bought in Italy. If you cannot find any item there, you probably do not need it.

Tank tops and shorts are not welcome in many places. You cannot get into church or museum anyway.

The best art in Florence is the gelato. Don't ask for ketchup for fries. Don't ask for doggy bag. Don't snap your fingers to ask for the waiter. Slow service in Italy means good service. Dinner is the main event for the evening in Italy, eat as much as you can there. You can have the table entire evening if you like. Prime time for diner is after nine. For me, Rome has the best food, Milan is the second. Each region has their own specialties. talk to the locals. If you end up in the subway in Rome, carry you backpack in front. Validate all your bus/train tickets before you get on board. They get really pissed off if you don't and fine you big time. Validation meters are very where at the station.

Coffee is cheaper at the counter, mingle with the locals. price double at the table, triple at the side walk. Table wine is same price as bottle water most cases. For less than US$10, you can get a really nice bottle of local wine even in a fancy place.

Can you tell I love to eat?

When you come back, share your photos. I want to know how many lens(es) you actually need and which ones.

Have fun.

Albert
 
While I think ketchup on fries and doggy bags are typically North American, I can think of nowhere in the world where "snapping your fingers at the waiter" is a)appropriate, b) necessary or c) considered 'polite'.
Colin
 
Colin, I agree. However, it was sadly pointed out at Rick Steve's travaling book and TV shows in PBS as a friendly advise. I have seen a lot in old movies but never seen anyone doing that nowadays. I am sure it won't happen to any Contax users. :)
 
Hello I am italian and i live in Tuscany, (PRATO, near Florence).
In tuscany there are many famous cities but the bests are in order:

FLORENCE, SIENA, LUCCA, PRATO, PISTOIA. (for me SIENA is the top)

The food in Tuscany is good....you MUST eat:

RIBOLLITA, PAPPA AL POMODORO, BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA, COTOLETTE ALLA LIVORNESE, PEPOSO.
In Florence the best Ice Cream is produced from "Gelateria Vivoli" in the center near PALAZZO VECCHIO.

Good Restaurant in Florence are:

RISTORANTE "OSTERIA DEI BENCI"
RISTORANTE "ACQUA AL DUE"
RISTORANTE "COCO LEZZONE"
RISTORANTE "LATINI"
for the wine please...not take the Chianti..is good but is not the top in Tuscany (i'm Sommelier)

You ask FOR THE WINE "NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO", "BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO" OR "CARMIGNANO"...CHIANTI IS FOR AMERICAN/ENGLISH/JAPAN TOURISTS.
AND REMEMBER NOT BUY IN ITALY "SOCCER SHIRT" IF YOU WANT LIVE!!!!!
 
Thanks for all the advice. I have printed all of the postings and I will plan accordingly...and I would never snap my fingers at a waitron! I have also been advised not to be a rude, loud, impolite American! Good advice.
 
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