ROME or VENICE for a weekend break??

[noonar]

which would you recommend for a 40th birthday surprise romantic weekend away?

any tips re where to stay/ what to do would be greatly aprrecited. am trying to help a relative surprise their dw but we are both a bit clueless!

tia x

I had a friend that stayed there. Her boyfriend proposed in St Marks square.

I second the peggy guggenheim museum. It is very close to the San Barnaba area, which I loved as it's beautiful, but less touristy.

If they do end up going to Venice then I recommend getting up hideously early and being in St Mark's Square at day break. We did this and were the only people there. It was just lovely.
We wandered around for a bit then found a bar selling coffee to the early workers and then were first in the queue for entry to St Marks. By the time we got in the church the square was very busy. By the time we got out of the church the queues were hideous.

If they go to Rome then look on trip advisor as to how to book the Vatican tour with the Vatican itself. You pay a tiny bit more, but bypass all the queues and have a lovely guide. We took our 14 month old DD there and carried her around the Vatican in a backpack. All the guards were just lovely and even let me sit on their sofas and breastfeed her - all without them batting an eyelid.

Oh I love both places.

Oh am so jelous.

Rome, Rome, Rome! I love it! I took my mum for her 50th and would love to take my DH.

We stayed in Hotel Genio which was lovely.

I have been to Venice as well but personally preferred Rome!

I was in Venice in beginning of June last year and St Marks Square was flooded! But have been there two other times (May and August)and it wasn't, so you may want to warn them to take a pair of wellies to wade across!!(there was no other way, we were completely surrounded by water!). That said, Venice will be lovely, whenever, but especially in February cos it's Carnival time isn't it?? That would obviously make it extremely busy and possibly more expensive, so it may be worth checking - but if they still fancy it (I would!) it should be unforgettable.

More to do in Rome - Venice is lovely but very small and good food is hard to come by. Agree with others re. Travastvere - very cool.

Can I throw Florence into the mix though? My fave Italian city - so gorgeous.

Venice is perfect for a shorter stay. Stunningly beautiful and not too crowded out of season. Getting a water taxi from the airport is as essential if only there for a weekend. No other airport journey will ever come close.
If you want inside information about anything to do with a stay in Venice then the charming Luicia and Diego at the www.veniceitalianschool.com will be able to help.

As well as running the most gorgeous italian lessons around their kitchen table, they can organise gondola trips, wine tasting and cooking classes and offer advise about lesser known sights to see. They also know about lovely places to stay and can get you local rates rather than tourist rates. smile

I went o Venice if Feb - it was very cold. But fantastic and not too overcrowed (if you avoid Carnival week) Rome also great but I prefer Venice for get aroundableness