Italy

Our Italy vacation in month of May was a vibrant and unique experience, filled with amazing architecture and old-world charm. It was hard to pick the best city, with Rome's historic grandeur, Venice's romantic canals, Florence's artistic treasures, and the beauty of Tuscany. Pisa's iconic Leaning Tower, the stunning Amalfi Coast, and the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre added to the magic. The breathtaking Dolomites were the cherry on top.

We made amazing memories with family, especially with my toddlers who hiked and climbed the church towers and domes, adding a sense of adventure to our journey.

The food was exceptional everywhere, featuring items like tiramisu, pistachio cannoli, maritozzi, biscotti, Venetian butter cookies and so on. We enjoyed varied flavors of gelato every single day in Italy. Kids posed for pictures screaming "GELATO". Kids equally loved  their spaghetti, pasta, pizza, and fresh pesto. My most favorite item that got me going was cappuccino. I never loved coffee that much before. It was available everywhere.

Italy is renowned for its rich and diverse selection of alcoholic beverages, each with its own unique flavor and history. Wine, of course, is Italy’s most famous export, with regions like Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto producing world-class reds such as Chianti, Barolo, and Amarone, as well as sparkling Prosecco from the Veneto and Franciacorta from Lombardy. Aperol and Campari are popular bitter liqueurs often mixed with soda to create refreshing pre-dinner drinks, while Limoncello, a lemon-infused liqueur, is a beloved digestif from the Amalfi coast. For those seeking a stronger spirit, Grappa, made by distilling the pomace left after winemaking, offers a bold and aromatic experience. Additionally, Italy’s beer scene is growing, with craft breweries emerging alongside traditional favorites like Peroni and Moretti. Each of these drinks offers a taste of Italy's varied landscape and cultural heritage, making the country a true paradise for lovers of fine beverages.

This trip was more than I imagined with stunning piazza and historic marvel in every corner. We travelled like locals there, soaked in all the varied beauty this unique country offers. It's impossible to cover all the important cities in Italy, but we tried our best in 18 days. We will definitely go back once kids are older.

Suggested Italy Itinerary

The places of interest in the cities are in the order of my preference. The information about the places have been taken from various online sources. All the pictures used here are all authentic taken by us.

ROME & VATICAN CITY (4-5 days)

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Vatican museums are the collection of museums at one place in Vatican city. It's not humanly possible to see all the museums in a day, so pick and choose based on your interest.
• Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill: A normal ticket includes the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (valid for 24 hours) and you can visit all three in one day. It doesn't include a visit to the Colosseum's underground tunnels. For that, you'll have to book a guided tour.
• Pantheon: Built in 120AD as a Roman (pagan) temple for all gods, it was transformed into a church in 609 AD. Still, everyone calls it the Pantheon, which means “honor all Gods” in Greek. 
• Capitoline Museums: It holds Rome's symbol, the bronze Capitoline She-wolf. According to lore, the wolf nursed the half-wolf, half-god founders of the city, twins Romulus and Remus. Its namesake museum contains busts of Roman emperors, statues – including a famous one of Marcus Aurelius – and paintings by Caravaggio and Battista, among others. It also offers spectacular views of the Roman Forum
• Monument to Victor Emmanuel II and piazza Venezia: Its close to Capitoline museums, and have amazing views of Roman Forum as well.
• Trevi Fountain: This is Rome’s largest and most-famous fountain. Prepare for major crowds
• Piazza Navona: I’m pretty sure this square is just popular because it’s so beautiful! Lots of cafes line the edges of the piazza, which also has two impressive fountains, and a church in between them.
• Galleria Borghese: A favorite among travelers to Rome, the Galleria Borghese is half-villa/half-museum, and it has some resplendent gardens, too. Originally commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese in the 17th century to shelter his massive art collection, it's now considered one of the premier art galleries in the city. The villa's extravagant rooms, spread across two floors, are filled with famous works, including Canova's Venus Victrix, Bernini's sculptures David and Apollo and Daphne, and Caravaggio's "Boy with a Basket of Fruit" and "David with the Head of Goliath," among other masterpieces.
• Piazza del Popolo: This is yet another Roman square where you can take in phenomenal architecture and magnificent sculpture. The square dates back to the mid-1500s and is the historic center of Rome. In fact, three major roads intersect here: Via di Ripetta, Via del Corso and Via del Babuino. One of the main draws of the square is the Flaminio Obelisk, which stands in the piazza's center. Egyptians built it around 1300 B.C. and Roman emperor Augustus transported it to Rome following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra.
• Trastevere: My husband's favorite relaxing corner of Rome. Located southeast of Vatican City, this neighborhood is home to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, as well as numerous restaurants and neighborhood shops close to river Tiber.
• Scalina Spagna: Otherwise known as the Spanish Steps, this beautiful staircase gets busy at night as a popular hang-out spot. It has popular big stores. 
• Appian Way: The Ancient Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) has a history that dates back to 312 B.C. and includes the site of Spartacus' execution (in 71 B.C.), the tomb of Caecilia Metella, and many a Roman military march. The historic places may close in the evening so again research before heading there. Get more info from travel guides or sites on important places to check here. We went in the evening and places were closed. We just enjoyed our taxi ride there.

            

Trevi Fountain

  

FLORENCE, TUSCANY, PISA & ITALIAN RIVIERA (4-5 days)

• Pisa: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. There are couple of places to cover in that square. It's roughly 1.5 hrs train ride away from Florence. Kids are not allowed to go up the tower. 
• Cinque Terra: It's roughly 2.5 hrs train ride away from Florence. The five villages of the Cinque Terre sit on the Italian Riviera. The tall, narrow houses are all brightly painted and seem stacked vertically on the steep and stony shoreline. Either pick a guided tour from one of the villages or from La Spezia train station, with varied level of hiking and boat transport.
• Gulf of Poets & Portovenere: Another alternative to Cinque Terra is a boat tour of the Gulf of Poets, Tino and Tinetto, including stops for swimming and snorkeling and a stop at the picturesque Portovenere. Portovenere was stunning with its church and rocky shoreline. The guided tour starts from La Spezia train station as well.
• Tuscany: Wine tasting tour with lunch in Chianti region or any other Tuscan wine region is a must. We went to Agricola Poggio ai Laghi. They had amazing atmosphere with some of the best wines. It was included in our guided tour with the below Tuscan gems.
• San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni: See these Tuscan gems on a day trip from Florence. Stop first in the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano before seeing the intact walls of Monteriggioni. Top off your trip in Siena to explore its historic city center with a stop at the beautiful Duomo. You can skip Monteriggioni as its smaller version of San Gimignano only in case it's not fitting in your schedule.
• The Duomo: There are various ticket options to cover this Florence Cathedral such as main floor of the cathedral, the Dome, Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Santa Reparata, Opera del Duomo Museum and the Duomo Terraces. It was surreal experience to see these attractions. Take 1-2 days to cover all. There are roughly 400 steps to climb the Dome, and another 400 steps to climb bell tower. I am so proud of my 4 year old son who did both of these on two consecutive days.
•  Accademia Gallery: Check out this gallery to see Michelangelo's original 'David' statue up close, Rape of the Sabines by Jean de Boulogne, Coronation of the Virgin by Jacopo Di Cione, Slaves by Michelangelo, Tree of Life by Pacino di Buonaguida. It can be covered in 2 hours too. Its not a very big place.
• Uffizi Gallery & Ponte Vecchio: See masterpieces by Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Giotto, and spend as much time as you like gazing at Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” here. Also, it has amazing cafe with Florence view from the top. Ponte Vecchio is a bridge with very lively atmosphere. Gallery will have the views of the bridge as well.
• Giardino Bardini: It is a pergola-covered stairwell leading up to the Belvedere panoramic terrace. 
• Piazzale Michelangelo: The stunning viewpoint in all of Florence, I recommend trying to time your visit with sunset.
• Piazza della Repubblica: One of the main squares in Florence.

            

Duomo view from top of bell tower

POMPEII, MT. VESUVIUS & AMALFI COAST (4-5 days)

• Pompeii: Pompeii was an ancient Roman city, famous now for coming to its demise after a tragic Vesuvius eruption. The city, along with nearby Herculaneum, was preserved under all the ash. It has since been excavated, which allows visitors to see slice of Roman civilization back in the day. Keep a whole day for the guided tour of this must see attraction.
• Mount Vesuvius: You can take half day tour to Mount Vesuvius volcano. They have tours from Pompeii train station as well. 
• Positano: It's a signature town of Amalfi, therefore its overfilled with tourists. Take a leisurely walk up the hilly terrain here and see vibrant shops and amazing colorful views.
• Capri: Take the blue grotto tour at any cost, but leave early from hotel to do so as there is lot of wait there. The island of Capri actually has two towns- Capri and Anacapri. Anacapri is less crowded than Capri, and it has more artisanal shops, rather than just high-end boutiques. I would recommend the chairlift ride of 12 minutes to Mount Solaro for a stunning view. This ride added thrill to our day. They save your luggage there as well for no cost. Also, take ride in unique sexy taxis in this island. Chill at one of the many beaches here.
• Sorrento: We stayed in an amazing cabin in this town. The views from every corner of this property were out of the world, be it from our cabin or from their restaurant. We relaxed in the pool and their private beach here. That relaxing day was definitely one of our best in the whole trip. In my opinion, their downtown was the best in Amalfi coast. They have lot of water activities in the area so please check them out based on your interest as well.
• Amalfi: Check out the beautiful Cathedral of St Andrew the Apostle in this vibrant town, hike "Path of the Gods" trail(not advisable for people with strollers), or relax on a beach
• Ravello: We happened to visit this most charming village in the Amalfi coast with narrow cobblestone roads and numerous lemon fields. We thoroughly enjoyed Gardens at Villa Rufolo with kids after uphill hike, that actually gave us the glimpse of this beautiful village filled with its many resorts and scenery around it. It was not crowded like other towns mentioned above.

      

Positano

VENICE (2-3 days)

• Venice is famous for its bridges, especially Accademia Bridge and Rialto Bridge.
• Traverse the Grand canal on gondola. Kids loved it, I found it extremely overpriced. I enjoyed Venice more in water taxis. We bought the two day pass for it.
• Take a day to visit vibrant towns Burano and Murano, don't forget to try their famous Venetian butter cookies in Burano. I have never seen town like Burano, it was vibrant with colorful small houses, restaurants and shops lined by the canal. Don't miss Burano. They are accessible by water taxis.
• Piazza San Marco: Basilica San Marco,  the Campanile (the bell tower), the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs are in the same vicinity. Venice looks beautiful from each and every corner, and especially from the top of the bell tower.

       

Venice

 

DOLOMITES (3-7 days)

• The Three Peaks Nature Park: Do the hike for out of the world experience of the three peaks, this is a UNESCO heritage site. Drive to Auronzo hut at 2,320 m above sea level to start the hike. Time to get around is about 3 hours.
• Mt. Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri, Grande Guerra: Catch a cable car to Mount Lagazuoi, at 9,026 feet, where Italian soldiers dug tunnels up through the mountain to attack Austrian soldiers occupying the summit. You can descend through the winding tunnel, then continue on to Cinque Torri (“Five Towers”), with its incredible views of the largest remaining glacier in the Dolomites. The open-air museum Grande Guerra is a reminder of what this region experienced during WWI. 
• Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park – Lake Braies: I am so proud of my 4 year old son who hiked with us around this breathtakingly beautiful lake even after falling down at the beginning of the hike. 
• Toblacher See: We had a breakfast at the cafe right next to this stunning lake.

        

Three Peaks

    

 Suggested Additional Places To Explore

• Sardinia
• Lake Como
• Lake Garda
• Pugalia
• Matera
• Milan
• Dolomites hiking spots, especially Lake Soparis

Suggested Activities To Try

• Pasta making class in Amalfi
• Opera in Florence
• Saturnia hot springs in Tuscany
• Roman baths

Tips

• Can't stress enough to book your tickets for popular attractions including museums as early as possible. Italian museums are very popular.
• Same goes for train tickets for traveling between cities
• The streets are uneven, with slopes, stairs and cobble streets, so not advisable for strollers. Or plan longer breaks in between. 
• Italy has amazing public transport and we used buses in Rome, Florence, Amalfi. We used the water taxi in Venice which was very convenient
• Find hotels near train stations if you are using Italian intra train service as there is no uber/lyft in Italy. They have taxi service.
• You would need the convertor for your charger if traveling from US.
• Heads up- Smoking is very common in there
• We did not find any issue of pick-pocketing, just keep an eye on your stuff and you will be okay. We even got our backpack back from Venice water taxi that we left behind.
• Definitely add Dolomites to your trip, plan Dolomites in detail beforehand as it's huge and have not much extensive online material. You need to rent car in Dolomites for sure.