Travel Answers

In the early 1930's, my mothers brother was a Catholic priest stationed at the Vatican. When he returned to the United States, he brought back with him a marble and alabaster statue of (we believe - Mary Magdeline at the well, though we have always referred to it as Martha at the well). The statue sits on a marble pedestal with an alabaster globe that sits on a column above the statue. When fully assembled, the statue, pedestal and column with the globe is about 8 feet tall. The statue itself is about 3 feet tall and it depicts a woman carrying a small vase which is attached to her left arm by a cord, standing next to a carving that looks like the head of a man that is sending forth the water that is supposed to be the well. We believe the piece is hand carved and that it was made in Italy. About 25 years ago my brother was in Rome and he saw a smaller version of this same statue at one of the Vatican gift shops. We are trying to find out who made the statue and if they are still in business, as well as what the real title / name of the statue is. The attached picture is of the statue without the pedestal and only a short piece of the column that the globe sits on. If anyone can halp me identify the maker of this statue and the name of the statue I would greatly apprecite it. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me with this search.

Now we realised that the best way to discover an Italian region is through food. Cooking, tasting and relaxing. Could you please recommend a company that provides such 1-day programs? Meanwhile I found only week-tours. Or may be you can recommend some sights producing local specialities that can be visited. I'm interested in Abruzzo or Apulia region. Thank you in advance.

have read many horror stories online of car hire in Sicily and so wanted to choose more reputable brands such as Avis or Hertz. However we need a 6 seater and the only operators to offer those at Palermo Airport are Thrifty or Maggiore both of whom have some awful reviews - anyone out there recently hired with Thrifty or Maggiore at Palermo airport - what was your experience?
Many thanks

I just returned from Venice, Italy where I had purchased an adorable Gondolier Tshirt for my 2year old grandson. When I got home, the shirt was too small! I want to purchase another one for him but I cannot find an online website that sells these shirts. These are the blue & white striped shirts with gold embroidered "Venezia Italia" on them. Does anyone know where I can purchase a todddler size 2-4 online? Any assistance/recommendations would be appreciated! Thank you!

Hi,

My wife and I are travelling to Sorrento at the end of July 2013, we would like to do a couple of days out by our own by train to both Rome and Pompeii.

How easy is this?

.Thanks

Darren.

Hi! We are a family of four who will travel from Perugia to the Amalfi Coast, but we plan to quickly visit Naples and Pompei. We will be travelling by car at this point. Any recommendations on where to stay? In Naples, closeby?? In large cities, I prefer taking public transportation, so a hotel or apartment close to bus or metro stops would be interesting for us. Thanks!

hello
after 7 days we are a goup of hikers from Denmark, who do final stop in Neive.
but 2 of us have decided to travel further on to Nice.
any suggest about how to get away from Neive?
Rene& Anne

Hi, Is there any direct bus or train from Milan Malpensa airport to Turin?

Where is Mass said and at what times in Bolzano July 6th?

Traveling to Tuscany in September. Taking ferry to Elba for two or three nights. Don't want to rent a car. Does anybody know of a hotel or rental apartment near the ferry?
Thanks!

Hello travel gurus,
I will be in Italy May 22-June 25. I want to use the train some of the time. Taking into account that it will be busy and some of my destinations are popular...Is it worth my time and money I purchase Eurorail (which is First Class)from the states or purschase 2nd class when in Italy. My girlfriend and I are in our 30's-40's and have no physical limitations.
Thank very much.

My wife and I will be in Florence in early September and would like to travel to Ortisei where we swill pend a week. What is a suggested or preferred mode of travel to Ortisei (Bus or train?) from Florence and what would be the routing? Thank you for your help.

Hello everyone,

We have long been renting cars for our Italian holidays, and every time wondered at how the speed limits seem to not really be followed by anyone.

I have, countless times, been in areas with a posted speed limit of, say, 50 kph, and I was literally the only one driving at that speed, while all other cars were overtaking us (often also honks/light-flashes/gestures). Many times, those 50kph areas were straight portions of clearly out-of-town and non-residential roads, and I would have felt it 100% safe&reasonable to accelerate to at least 70kph. However, I have already received a speeding ticket from one of those holidays, and would rather not take my chances.

I am just wondering which one of these scenarios most likely explains the fact that almost no-one else on the road has the same "fear" as me:
1) Italian drivers have speed camera detectors and thus only follow the limit when they "need to"
2) They just prefer to get there faster even if it means paying regular speeding tickets, and/or know that most "Controllo elettronico della velocita" signs are bluffs
3) They actually do get speeding tickets, but ignore them, presumably with little legal consequence (some Italian friends have suggested this)

Any informed suggestions as to what might be going on are appreciated, thanks in advance :)

Is it easier and quicker to reach Bellagio via train to Como and bus to Bellagio, how often and how late do the buses run? Or go to Milano Centrale change for Varenna and then the ferry. Arriving at 6 o'clock on a Friday evening and going by the timetables we wont be reaching Bellagio till about 10 o'clock.

We will have spent two weeks in the Dolomites, and will need to travel from Cortina to Venice to fly back to the US. What is the most efficient, cost effective way to travel from Cortina to Venice?

Since my wife and I are going to end up in Rome (or at least the airport) at the close of a week-long cruise of southern Italy and Greece in Sept, we wondered it would be feasible to spend another week traveling on our own to Florence and Venice and one or two other spots by train or bus. However, we'd still have to contend with our luggage. So my question is whether there is a city in which one could stay the week and try to explore via day trips or whether it would be better to just join a short tour? I'm inclined to the latter for the sake of convenience but don't know what companies to consider. Budget is certainly a concern as well. We are newly retired, and this would be our first time and possibly only time to visit. Our thanks to anyone who can advise.

Hello. I have family in Ventiimiglia and family in Oppido Mamertina. I want to fly into Nice, France late June, to see my family in Ventimiglia. Then I want to go to from there to Reggio first week of July for la festa in Oppido Mamertina.

I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to get from Ventimiglia to Reggio. Flights are really expensive. I was thinking train but will probably lose an entire day and not sure if that will cost any less.

Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Come fare se si arriva in serata con i trasporti interni ?
Dunque arrivare a Napoli verso le ore 21 e andare con un autobus/treno fino a Melfi ? c'è un servizio di notte ? grazie

Arriving in Rome on 26 Dec. Are transport options limited /reduced at this time of the year.
My wife has mobility issues, but can walk short distances . I will will need to carry 2 suitcases and a portable wheel chair.
Can someone advise costs of taxi, bus and metro from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican Life Hotel, Via Giuseppe Ferrari 2, Vatican City? Bus numbers and metro stations would be appreciated.

Hi!
I will be landing to Olbia tomorrow at 21:45. It is a sunday and I noticed that there will be no busses at that time. Is there any other way for me to get to STG tomorrow that does not cost me a fortune? Btw, I do not have a diriving licence.. :/
Thanks in advance, pinar-

Staying at Hotel Albergo La Verna departing June 1 around 9am and need to get to Firenze Stazione (Florence) .
Can I get a taxis with reasonable fare from the hotel ? How much is it for two passengers with medium bags? Is there a contact phone no. to confirm?

thank you

What are the church hours to visit the Eurcharistic Miracle?  What is the travel time from Rome to Lanicanio?  Is the fastest way to get there and back to Rome by Train?  If I want to visit this church is there anything else I should know?  How about a phone number and an email address to get updated informaiton?  Thank you.

am looking for the name of a store where i purchased something last week. was on the main street where all the shops are. past church, another little plaza was enclosed on the right side. there were some inside shops. am looking for one in particular called i believe "abliagmento almalfi" Not sure about name. burgundy shopping bag. sells jeans, calvin klein clothes both for men and women. Hope you can help me out

I am trying to come to Courmayeur from Torino Porta Nuova Station. And we would like to go on the Funivia Monte Bianco at La Palud. Where should i stop by train and how can i reach the Funivia??

I've used all of these in the states but are they as reliable overseas? I'd like a small apartment for 3 in Rome next May

I am planning a trip from Verona to Perugia, but I don't have many days, so I decided to drop one of the cities above. Which is the least interesting? Thanks!

Hi, everyone!

We will spend a couple of days in Milan in laste June and then will head east to Verona and Padova, but intended to spend a few hours in Sirmione. I could rent a car or take the train (consider that we will have our backpacks with us at this time since we will be moving to a different city), but I am concerned with two possible problems associated with each option - lack of parking space or lack of lockers at the train station. Any suggestions or ideas?

Sorry for my ba english.
I would like to know if there are transport From Ustica To Stromboli or stromboli - Ustica ?
Because I will be in Palermo and I don't want to come back an return.
Thank

I am visiting Gubbio this summer and wish to travel from there to Urbino by bus. The latest edition of the Rough Guide seems to suggest that the is a daily bus? Does any know if this is so?

With thanks

Patrick Geraghty

Hello. We fly into Milan at the end of June & have 10 days before we plan to take the train to Switzerland for the Montreux jazz festival. We have no experience of Italy apart from previous visits to Venice & Rome. Could you please suggest a tour that would be possible by train and bus that would finish somewhere where we can take the train (or bus) to Switzerland. San Marino is a possibility on our 'wish list'! But mostly we would love to explore the countryside and less touristy villages and small towns if that is possible by public transport. Or would it be cheaper to hire a car? How easy would it be to travel and find reasonably priced accommodation spontaneously rather than booking in advance? Many thanks in advance.