Suggestions for Italy

Nick Zentena · Mar 4, 2007

No Digital said:
Another ghost village, very near to Genoa, is Pentema; LF highly recomended.

Is there a national list of ghost towns? Or at least Latina,Frosinone and near by provinces?

No Digital · Mar 4, 2007

Ghost towns list

Nick Zentena said:
Is there a national list of ghost towns? Or at least Latina,Frosinone and near by provinces?

Really I don't know...
I call these villages "ghost" because there are no more inhabitants.
Or better: Bussana Vecchia now is full of artists, but not officialy... In Pentema there are no more than 7/8 persons

http://www.comune.torriglia.ge.it/pentema.asp
http://spazioinwind.libero.it/paolore/foto/pentema.html (sorry, only italian...)

for Bussana

http://bussanavecchia.free.fr/
http://www.bussana.com/index_en.htm

Near Bussana there are a lot af medioeval villages: in one of them, Dolceacqua, there is a photographer that have fantastic slide-multivisions in 3D... need to see

Edwardv · Mar 5, 2007

I have several photographs that my best friend Tom Hill took at the Dolomites. So the Dolomites would be my first choice to see and photograph before all other mountains.

"Driving in Italy is for the strong hearted."

polaski · Mar 20, 2007

Small towns and back roads are the best.

Lived in Italy for 2.5 years back in '70-'71, been back many times. Most recently in the Cimino area NW of Rome. My advice is stick to small towns. Wander around. Spend a planned amount of time with smaller equipment.

Did I mention small towns. That's where the really good sights are, be they in mountains, seashore, whatever. Do Web research as to where open markets are held and on which days. Your Web research will also show you which sights are overdone in photography.

Hoist a glass of vino rosso for me. Or two.

Donald Miller · Mar 20, 2007

Thanks everyone for your opinions, shared experiences, and guidance. You have made the prospects for an enjoyable photographic experience much brighter.

Ole · Apr 20, 2007

Ole said:
Not only Nebbiolo (Barolo, Barbaresco) and Moscato and Barbera and Dolcetto, but it just happens that the hotel we've booked is in the area of the Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato. Which I've never heard about before, and that is always an exellent reason for tasting.

We've discovered there is a small botanical garden half way up the Monte Baldo, so since my wife has a keen interest in gardening, and especially alpine plants, the Verona area is getting more and more likely

and Amarone and Recioto and Recioto di Soave...

Well, I'm back again as you may have discovered.

Asti is a great little town, and as highly recommended as most of the rest of Italy. The little village on the outskirts was also great - one hotel, twenty houses, and a top restaurant.

Then after a few days we travelled on to Genova. We'd found a small hotel in a 16th century building, it was quite something to wake up to a frescoed ceiling! Genova is also an interesting city, especially the "old town" with the numerous palaces!

We finished the trip with opera and dinner in Milano - but don't expect any pictures from that!

Curt · Apr 20, 2007

Anyone mention Venice and the surrounding areas?

Renato Tonelli · Apr 29, 2007

If you're still there June through August, look me up. I will be in Tuscany (Pontremoli).

P C Headland · May 5, 2007

Ole said:
...

Then after a few days we travelled on to Genova. We'd found a small hotel in a 16th century building, it was quite something to wake up to a frescoed ceiling! Genova is also an interesting city, especially the "old town" with the numerous palaces!

...

Genova is a city of many hidden treasures, and the surrounding areas are quite stunning too. It is even better now that they have begun cleaning and restoring the centro storico.

No Digital · May 5, 2007

oh well, all these good comments about my city...
I think I'll have to pay you a coffee next time you'll have a trip to Genoa!
And... what about an APUG world meeting here?

George Papantoniou · May 30, 2007

I have to resurrect this old thread, because I found some interesting info on driving in Greek streets... (see my comment on the 5th page of this thread).

http://www.athensguide.com/driving/greek-driving-rules.htm

What's really scary is that most of it is true...

Nick Zentena · Jun 22, 2007

Could the Italians comment on the state of film,paper and chemical suppliers? B&W and colour.

NikoSperi · Jun 22, 2007

www.fotomatica.it

Nick Zentena · Jun 22, 2007

Thanks Niko. All the sheet film is metric. Does anybody stock imperial sizes? Shipping seems reasonable. Which province is TV? Treviso?

Ole · Jun 22, 2007

Nick Zentena said:
Thanks Niko. All the sheet film is metric. Does anybody stock imperial sizes? Shipping seems reasonable. Which province is TV? Treviso?

"10x12" is 4x5", and "20x25" is 8x10". The "metric" sizes are 9x12 and 18x24. The "13x18", unfortunately, could be either. And as some of us have discovered they're not interchangeable.

Nick Zentena · Jun 22, 2007

so 10x12 isn't 4x6? Okay that makes life easier -) It's just the 5x7 that's an issue then. They've only got 13x18 listed.

MartinB · Jul 27, 2007

first trip to italy - advice

I am resurrecting an old thread and after reading all good advice here, have a few questions. I am not asking about photographic locations since each person has different favourite subject matter but I tend to favour landscape/small towns and street. (mountains we have here)

My wife and I are flying into Venice Oct 4 and leaving from Milan Oct 17. This is mainly vacation so I have limited time to fuss taking pictures but my wife understands the need to take some photos.

I am taking Mamiya 6 with 50/75/150, Contax G1 with 21/45/90, and DSLR with one lens and will leave tripod due to weight restrictions. One flight has 5Kg max for carry-on so with film it will be tight for weight since the cameras listed are 4.5 Kg. My wife has agreed to carry some film but if I can find more in Italy I will not have to carry as much from Canada. I am taking both 35mm and MF so I have a backup system in case one fails. If I had to cut weight I would leave the G1 at home.

We are planning on renting a car once we leave Venice (Oct 8) at Treviso airport (great price on rental via Ryanair) and driving the rest of the time, dropping car in Milan-Bergamo airport Oct 17. Train would be nice but would limit us to major cities or lots of time lost on travel and the rental car is pickup/drop off at the airport. The next stop after Venice is a pension/agroturismo somewhere in the Sienna/Montepulciano area and stay for 4-5 days to explore Tuscany. Finally, we are thinking of Bussana as suggested earlier in this thread by No Digital for 3-4 days, with the last day a quick dash to Milan for the plane.

Questions:

Does this itinerary sound OK or is it too ambitious and are we trying to cover too much distance? I know everyone is different but does this allow enough time to slow down a little for photos while seeing some of the vacation type things to see? We don't have the need to see everything or even the "must-see" locations and prefer to experience some out of the way spots too.

With my limits on carrying film, does anyone know where in Venice or vicinity I can pick up 120 and 35mm b&w negative film? I checked out the fotomatica website - I don't think we are in a hotel long enough to have it shipped there. I also would not mind picking up a small Rodinal and some fixer to process a few rolls as a safety insurance so some rolls are safe for flying (i.e. if I am over the 5 Kg carryon, I could be forced into sending it checked baggage=Xray damage)

BTW - will be Oct 1-3 in Dublin too

thanks in advance,
Martin

Nick Zentena · Jul 27, 2007

MartinB said:
One flight has 5Kg max for carry-on so with film it will be tight for weight since the cameras listed are 4.5 Kg.

Do they allow a camera bag in addition? Some airlines do. Oct you should be wearing a coat. Pick one with lots of pockets and fill them. Pants with lots of pockets?

Donald Miller · Jul 28, 2007

Check with Unionfotomarket in Milan. They have other locations in Italy...just not sure where they are located.

Prospero · Jul 28, 2007

I was recently in Venice and it was possible to get 120 B&W (Ilford) quite easily, although film fridges were unheard of and you had to beware of out of date film. There is a shop north of the main post office (near the Rialto Bridge) and I saw another one just west of Piazza San Marco. But I brought most of my 35mm and 120 Velvia in with me and the suggestion to carry it in a coat with lots of pockets is a good one. I looked like the Michelin Man but one must suffer for art.

In Tuscany, check out the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia. You will be putting your tripod feet in the holes made by a lot of famous photographers (and me as well!).

Don't forget to purchase an "International Driving Licence". The police can give apparently you a hard time if you don't have one.

Have fun!

Stan160 · Jul 28, 2007

If you are going to visit Florence on the way from Venice to Siena/Montepulciano, there is a shop in the Duomo square, on the north side, which sells a wide variety of Ilford, Kodak, and Fuji films. I was after 35mm, but they had 120 and sheet film if I remember correctly.

Ian

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 28, 2007

Also down a street that leads to the Bargello, there is a high-end camera store that I remember having Leicas, Hasselblads, and Rolleis in the window. Wish I could be more specific in my description of the location, but it's been a decade...

Donald Miller · Jul 28, 2007

Quote: "Don't forget to purchase an "International Driving Licence". The police can give apparently you a hard time if you don't have one."

Good point. I was stopped by the Caribinieri at a roadside stop and asked for mine.

roteague · Jul 28, 2007

Stan160 said:
If you are going to visit Florence on the way from Venice to Siena/Montepulciano, there is a shop in the Duomo square, on the north side, which sells a wide variety of Ilford, Kodak, and Fuji films. I was after 35mm, but they had 120 and sheet film if I remember correctly.

Ian

Color & B&W? Or B&W only? It makes a difference. I wouldn't want to waste my time going to a shop to by Velvia in sheet film, only to find they only have FP4.

ongarine · Jul 29, 2007

Martin wrote:
"Does this itinerary sound OK or is it too ambitious and are we trying to cover too much distance? I know everyone is different but does this allow enough time to slow down a little for photos while seeing some of the vacation type things to see? We don't have the need to see everything or even the "must-see" locations and prefer to experience some out of the way spots too."
The itinerary is a little bit dispersive because you have so little time to visit with calm the three places you have selected. In Italy landscape and places in it, as little towns, churches and interesting spots, are every 20-30 Km., so you don't have to travell for 500 Km. to see somenthing interesting.
If you really want to experience some out of the way spots you have to consider that around Venice you have many things to see: islands in the Laguna, interesting spots in the Venetian countryside, some little towns on the way to Tuscany depending which way you will pick, so you could stay in Venice and Venetian your 13 days with great satisfaction.
The same I could say for Tuscany and Liguria (Bussana region).
But you have already booked your hotels and everything related so perhaps my reply is quite not usefull or out of time.
October is one of the best months to visit Italy and the light will be fantastic.
For your BW films Fotomatica is the best choice for prices and variety, try to have a quick shipping to your hotel with Italian Post two days before you will leave from Canada.
Remember that in Venice everything costs more......
For colours films Unionfotomarket is the best for assortment and reliability.
Take note that in Italy professional materials (120 too) is available only in few specialized shops or photo professional chain as Unionfotomarket.
A note for photographers of today Italy:
have a look of Piero Donzelli work made in the 50/60 of places not well know, could be interesting.
Pietro Donzelli Edizioni Contrasto 2006

Suggestions for Italy

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Ole

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Ole

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Nick Zentena

MartinB

Nick Zentena

Donald Miller

Prospero

Stan160

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roteague

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Suggestions for Italy

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