Category: Great Italian Adventure 2022

Our final morning in Italy started differently — not with a monument or museum, but with a bike ride through the Roman countryside. The route followed the Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), one of the oldest and most important roads of the Roman Empire. Uneven stones and scattered ruins reminded us that this was once…

We started the morning early to beat the crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica, arriving just as the sun lit up the massive dome. Even from outside, the scale is humbling — the columns of Bernini’s square stretching wide like open arms. Inside, every inch tells a story of devotion and ambition, from Michelangelo’s Pietà to…

Our last morning in Naples began with a Rick Steves walking tour through the city’s historic center. His narration guided us past narrow alleys lined with laundry, open-air markets, and churches that seemed to appear on every corner. Naples is loud and layered — ancient Greek ruins underfoot, Baroque façades above, and scooters weaving through…

Naples greeted us like a burst of energy — scooters zipping past, the aroma of espresso and fresh pizza in the air, and the chaos of a city that refuses to be tamed. It was a sharp contrast to the elegance of Florence, but one that felt deeply Italian in its own way: raw, passionate,…

Morning sunlight spilled over Florence’s terracotta rooftops, the air already carrying the scent of espresso and warm bread. The city has a pulse all its own — part museum, part masterpiece — where even a short walk feels like moving through centuries of genius. Florence was the heart of the Renaissance, and it’s easy to…

Our final morning in Venice began with the distant toll of church bells echoing through the mist. The canals were calm, the air cool, and the sound of footsteps on stone seemed to replace the bustle of boats that would soon fill the waterways. We left our luggage at the station lockers near Santa Lucia,…

The lagoon was hushed that morning as we boarded Line 12 from Fondamente Nove, bundled against the cool November air. Venice had a misty glow — the kind of soft light that makes the canals look like silver glass. Our ferry sliced across the lagoon toward Burano, the most colorful island in Italy and our…

Leaving Milan behind, we boarded a late-morning train bound for Verona, watching the Lombardy countryside unfold outside our window — clusters of vineyards, small villages, and church spires catching the November light. Verona felt like a breath of calm after the pace of Milan: intimate, elegant, and full of stories. Our first stop was the…

Our first full day in Milan began with excitement — and cappuccinos. After breakfast near the Sheraton Diana Majestic, we joined the morning bustle of Italy’s fashion capital. Elegant Milanese locals zipped by on scooters, businesspeople balanced espresso cups at bar counters, and even the pigeons in the piazza seemed to strut with confidence. But…

At the Città Alta, cobblestone lanes wound through cafés, markets, and medieval towers. We stored our luggage near the station and spent the morning wandering narrow streets lined with artisan shops before grabbing our first Italian espresso (and the kids’ first gelato, of course). From its ancient Venetian walls to its panoramic views of the…