Best time for Rome/Italy?

[Loren Minnick #63825]

The good news: just picked up a 3-month contract with Nike.

Bad news: have to postpone 2 week Italy trip with wife and son (9) and D-30 scheduled for late March! (Yes, much to my wife's chagrin, it's a family member.)

Question: we've never been to Rome and want to see Vatican/churches/museums/etc. When should I reschedule to avoid huge lines?
September? October?

Any problems shooting with D-30 in the areas mentioned? Maybe I should just take the CP5000.
Thanks!!--Loren Minnick
Portland, Oregon

 

[Henry Howey]

Later is possibly better. As to photos, the Italians are disinclined to allow pictures inside anything. I assume this is in reaction to the very real damage that flash can do. One can shoot in the Louvre, but heaven help you if your flash goes off.

As to Rome (I go to Lombardy) you might check to see when big ceremonies auch as cononizations, etc, occur, itcould be tight;-)

BTW, my Italian colleague stays in one-stars run by the Catholic Church when in Rome. They don't have TV's, but they have 3-star accomadations at great prices;-)

 

[Loren Minnick #63825]

Yes, I assumed that a low profile and NO flash would be the way to go -- anywhere, actually.
I'll look into the lodgings you suggest.
Thanks.--Loren MinnickPortland, Oregon

 

[Doug Robinson]

Hi Loren,

Be sure to take along a small table top device/support. I used a tiny (could fit in a shirt pocket) three legged wonder to brace a G1 against a column to snap this inside St. Peters last July. I apologize for the many problems you can sight in this image. A better attempt rests at home (where I also spend way too much time in front of a screen!). Ciao, Doug

 

[John Mason]

We went in May and had a wonderful time. I had my D30 with me and did lots of panoramic shots. We had pickpocket attempts in the subway in the coleseum area - 3 people in my pockets at one time. They didn't get anything 'cause everything was in my fanny pack. It was pretty weird. Locals told us later that's an area to avoid.

Things to remember - some cathedrals do not allow wearing of shorts.

Many do not allow flash.

I found the D30 with 28-135 IS lens perfect for these situations.

Most fun thing to do - take the tours to the tops of the cathedrals - St Peters Basillica lets you do this - so does the Dumo in Florence - I'm sure others do as well.

I did not keep my camera out but had it in a lowepro orion all zipped up and strapped to me.

I used 2 microdrives and dumped to cdr each night and stored the laptop away from the cdr's

--John Mason - Lafayette, IN

 

[artie Schleifer]

My wife and I went late September/early october. Rome was still warm, in the 80's and the crowds were down from the summer vacationers. We had no problems getting in to see the various sites. Even the Vatican lines were short.

Artie

The good news: just picked up a 3-month contract with Nike.
Bad news: have to postpone 2 week Italy trip with wife and son (9)
and D-30 scheduled for late March! (Yes, much to my wife's chagrin,
it's a family member.)
Question: we've never been to Rome and want to see
Vatican/churches/museums/etc. When should I reschedule to avoid
huge lines?
September? October?
Any problems shooting with D-30 in the areas mentioned? Maybe I
should just take the CP5000.
Thanks!!
--
Loren Minnick
Portland, Oregon

 

[Steven R. Rochlin]

Loren,

Other have it all well covered. i would opt for September as the weather is great and the crowds are low. Go to Italy virtually every September BTW.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin
http://www.EnjoyTheMusic.com

 

[Marco]

Loren, if you want to avoid crowds visiting the caput mundi, go in mid August (hot weather though). If you want better light for shooting, and fresher air for visiting, I'd prefer mid September-first October.
Probably the best season is spring, but usually full of visitors.

Keep in mind that Rome not only is a wonderful city, but it has probably the best weather in Italy during ALL the year (ancient Romans weren't stupid...).

I live in Verona (Veneto region, north Italy, 70 miles from Venice), another 2000 years old city, but here the weather is completely different, colder in winter (often foggy) and more wet in summer.

Lastly Loren, if you want, e-mail me the date of your Italy trip, I'll be happy to give you my telephone number to help you for every need you could have in Italy (or for some food and wines...).

Ciao
Marco

Loren,

Other have it all well covered. i would opt for September as the
weather is great and the crowds are low. Go to Italy virtually
every September BTW.

Enjoy the Music,

Steven R. Rochlin
http://www.EnjoyTheMusic.com