| Black Travels.com An Original Guide to Exploring the World for the Adventurous Black Traveler |
| A Journey Through Venice & Florence by F. Parker |
In the past year and a half my wife and I have been to Italy twice. (We're old folks who make
it a priority to grow old gracefully!) We have visited Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice. Both
trips were great. We did not have any issues related to race. My wife and I anticipated some
potential problems in Venice, since I had heard that they had some real issues with Black Folks.
In Venice we stayed within walking distance of the train station on the Lista di spagna. The
hotel staff was very professional but reserved. The room was basic, but well maintained. It
included TV, & air conditioning and a breakfast with a good selection of foods to get you
started. The price, about 135 euros, was fine for our double.
it a priority to grow old gracefully!) We have visited Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice. Both
trips were great. We did not have any issues related to race. My wife and I anticipated some
potential problems in Venice, since I had heard that they had some real issues with Black Folks.
In Venice we stayed within walking distance of the train station on the Lista di spagna. The
hotel staff was very professional but reserved. The room was basic, but well maintained. It
included TV, & air conditioning and a breakfast with a good selection of foods to get you
started. The price, about 135 euros, was fine for our double.
The hotel is fairly large and sits right on a canal. Unfortunately, there is traffic on the canal even during the night. In fact all of the
canals can be quite noisy, and when the city is hot or flooded, very smelly too.
Travelers to Italy should be aware that they should verify the exchange rate and the service fee anytime they change money. Last
summer in Florence we saw some exchange fees as high as 20%. That's way too high! Also, if you arrive and depart from your
destination by train, staying near the station eliminates the need for the very expensive water taxis. Unlike in the U.S., in many
European cities staying near the train station does not mean staying in a dump. Of course Rome seems to be an exception to this
rule. The area around Terminni Station is rather sorry!
In Florence we stayed at the Botticelli Hotel, which was priced about the same as the hotel in Venice. The staff was very helpful
and friendly to us. I made the reservation the morning we left Rome, and although the hotel is managed by a large hotel group,
they accepted my reservation by phone even without a credit card number. Like Venice, the rooms were basic, but clean. Room
rate includes air conditioning, TV, a substantial breakfast and free internet access adjacent to the lobby. The staff even helped us
plan our museum visits by making reservations for us, thereby eliminating long entry waits. There was no charge for this service.
They also helped us organize or sight-seeing tour of Florence, to minimize our running in circles. They even encouraged us to
practice our Italian phrases on them. It was a great stay!
On both of our two trips to Italy, we probably met more people who wanted to talk to us in restaurants, hotels etc. Often it is hard
to find locals who wanted to chat with us.
One thing that I did notice, is that there are many more Africans and North Africans in Europe, including Italy than ever before. I
saw more people of color in the Milan Airport than I saw in all of Italy back in the 60's-70 when I was in the service. Most of the
Black folks that you see are street vendors and often do not speak or look at American Blacks. There were a few Black vendors
in Florence who approached us to buy their wares, but in most other places, they didn't even try to make eye contact.
canals can be quite noisy, and when the city is hot or flooded, very smelly too.
Travelers to Italy should be aware that they should verify the exchange rate and the service fee anytime they change money. Last
summer in Florence we saw some exchange fees as high as 20%. That's way too high! Also, if you arrive and depart from your
destination by train, staying near the station eliminates the need for the very expensive water taxis. Unlike in the U.S., in many
European cities staying near the train station does not mean staying in a dump. Of course Rome seems to be an exception to this
rule. The area around Terminni Station is rather sorry!
In Florence we stayed at the Botticelli Hotel, which was priced about the same as the hotel in Venice. The staff was very helpful
and friendly to us. I made the reservation the morning we left Rome, and although the hotel is managed by a large hotel group,
they accepted my reservation by phone even without a credit card number. Like Venice, the rooms were basic, but clean. Room
rate includes air conditioning, TV, a substantial breakfast and free internet access adjacent to the lobby. The staff even helped us
plan our museum visits by making reservations for us, thereby eliminating long entry waits. There was no charge for this service.
They also helped us organize or sight-seeing tour of Florence, to minimize our running in circles. They even encouraged us to
practice our Italian phrases on them. It was a great stay!
On both of our two trips to Italy, we probably met more people who wanted to talk to us in restaurants, hotels etc. Often it is hard
to find locals who wanted to chat with us.
One thing that I did notice, is that there are many more Africans and North Africans in Europe, including Italy than ever before. I
saw more people of color in the Milan Airport than I saw in all of Italy back in the 60's-70 when I was in the service. Most of the
Black folks that you see are street vendors and often do not speak or look at American Blacks. There were a few Black vendors
in Florence who approached us to buy their wares, but in most other places, they didn't even try to make eye contact.
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