Yummiest Trip: Italy
- LoAroundTheGlobo
- Sep 10, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 3
Spring Break 2018
We had 10 days to cover a lot of ground. It was spring break for my brother and I, and my family's itinerary was packed. We flew "into" Venice, then took the train out towards the peninsula where we stayed in an adorable Renaissance-style hotel near the water. We spent the first day of our vacation walking the narrow "streets" (really they're alleyways since there's no vehicles on the peninsula -- only foot and water traffic). It rained the whole day long, but this added a romantic flare to an already charming city. This was my second time in Venice, but first time with my family, and I was able to navigate us around the main plazas, cathedrals, and marketplaces areas.
We enjoyed traditional Italian cuisine and wine and, by later that evening, started to hear buzz about the city flooding. Apparently, Venice floods twice a year (obviously the canals are integral to its infrastructure, but this is when the water rises and actually floods restaurants, stores, and plazas), and we happened to be there during one of them. We thought the locals were joking at first until restaurant owners and storekeepers started to place elevated walkways and ramps in the streets. It was absolutely hysterical though, when my family, including my Mom and my Grandma had to trudge through knee-deep water just to get back to our hotel later that evening. When my brother and I ventured out to the bar later that night, we had to climb in through a bar window to avoid a particularly-flooded block.
We then took the train to Florence, which was a beautiful ride through Tuscany, picturesque with its rolling hills and sun-kissed vineyards. We enjoyed another rainy day in Florence as we walked around, visiting the beautiful bridges by the river and the world-famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. We did a little shopping and a lot of eating, and really got to soak in the quaintness of Florence for all its art, culture, and gentility.
After Florence, we headed an hour west to Pisa to visit the Leaning Tower. Pisa is a quirky little place. We made our way over to the main plaza, home of the Leaning Tower, but also enjoyed the cathedrals and museums that sit right beside it. The main street that cuts by the Leaning Tower involves hundreds of tourists looking like they're banishing invisible ghosts, and it's almost a better sight than the famous building itself!
From Pisa, we took a train southbound towards Rome. This was my second time in Rome, but I was able to see even more of the touristy gems the city has to offer this time around. We enjoyed a tour of the Coliseum and the surrounding ruins, we made our wishes at the Trevi Fountain, and we reveled in the grandeur of the Spanish Steps.
We also spent a day touring the Vatican City. This was something I wasn't able to do my first time in Rome, and I can tell you it's one of the most fascinating places. The galleries, the Sistine Chapel, the museums, and the Braccio Nuovo Cathedral are some of the most intricately beautiful and "royal" sights I've ever experienced. Rome and the Vatican City both are petri dishes of culture, absolutely dripping in history and majesty, and being able to experience all of this with my family was really exciting for me. I will say, however, there's a certain facade that even the most ignorant of tourists can perceive when touring the Vatican -- a sense that all that glitters isn't gold.
From Rome/Vatican City, we headed towards the Napoli Coast, narrowly catching our train. By narrowly, I mean all four of us got separated, and once we all made it onto the train, we prayed that the others did too -- especially Grandma, but for anyone who knows my Grandma, they know she held her own in the bustling crowd, and found herself a comfy seat once inside (lol)!
We took a bus tour around the Napoli Coast, which included seeing Sorrento, Amalfi, and Ravello. These little towns are just oozing with romance and charm -- cobblestone streets, colorful roofs, and century-old homes built into the cliff-sides. All the locals greet you with a smile and free sample of gelato, and there are happy cats and dogs roaming about the streets.
Our bus tour included a special boat ride through the caves of Napoli. In the darkness and the quiet, we could hear the waves of the Mediterranean crashing into the cliffs and see the sunshine barely peaking through the cracks. Our boat guide even entertained us with some opera, which actually sounded pretty good with the echo of the cave. Regardless, whether by talent or humor, we enjoyed the cave-dwelling a cappella. By the end of our Napoli Coast tour, our main guide had taken a liking to our family, and could tell we were just enjoying the ride, so he demanded to take pictures with us and even asked to meet us out later!
Another day, we took a tour of Pompeii and its nemesis, Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that covered the city in burning ash and deadly soot many centuries ago. This was a really cool day, as we were able to explore the cobblestone streets of the once-thriving metropolis, filled with royals, commoners, and warriors alike. We perused the residential areas, the theaters, the stadiums, and the marketplaces, all of which are frozen in time.
We spent our final night on the Napoli Coast again enjoying the delicious pasta, fresh seafood, and local wines of Italy. It was an incredible trip for all of us -- we were able to see and do so much in such a short amount of time, and we were able to experience all of the sights, moments, meals, and new friends together as a family. We flew out of Naples and headed home to the States, but this was a trip I'll never forget, and one I'm actually salivating about as I type this. Buon Appetito!
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To Do or Not To Do?
Absolutely. This was a really cool trip, and thanks to the EuroRail, it was actually very manageable to traverse a lot of the country on limited time. I think Venice, Rome, and Naples-area are must-sees for everyone, and I highly recommend Florence, Pisa, and Vatican City if time permits. Italy is a very romantic and fairytale-like place, so I'm sure it's a beautiful country to travel around with a loved one, but I for one, enjoyed experiencing it with my family, as we learned all about the history and modern-day importance of the world-famous landmarks. Definitely pack your appetite, walking shoes, and patience (for public transportation, lines, tours, etc.) before heading to Italy and enjoy your time soaking up one of the world's oldest, most gorgeous places!
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