We visited Italy for the first time in 2023 when we visited Venice for three days and Rome for two days. We enjoyed it so much that we returned in 2024 and visited Florence for four days, including a side trip to Cinque Terre, then moved to Venice for three days and Rome for four days. I absolutely love Italy and plan to visit there many times in the future.
Florence
Mercato Centrale in Florence is Fantastic!
Mercato Centrale in Florence is a wonderful place to visit when you are in Florence. There are a variety of fresh ingredients and specialty foods on the first floor and the second floor contains some amazing ready to eat foods as well as an excellent bar.
Managing Crowds and Expectations in Florence
Florence is an amazing city with art, architecture and artisans that are among the best in the world. The popularity of the city as a vacation destination makes it sometimes difficult to enjoy Florence the way that you would hope that you could.
A Sunrise Jog in Florence
I love running while traveling. I spend a ridiculous amount of my life running the same roads and bike paths near my house. Over and over again – and don’t even get me started on treadmills. Any time that I get an opportunity to run in different scenery, I will take it. Florence, Italy is…
Exploring the Duomo in Florence
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo, is an architectural marvel in Florence, towering over the city. Construction began in 1296, finishing in 1436, featuring a dome designed by Brunelleschi. While its exterior is ornate, the interior is more understated, emphasizing worship over decoration, vital to Florence’s community pride.
Venice
Venice at Night
Venice is well known for being a crowded tourist destination. But after dark, the day tourists go home and it empties a
Venice – A Masterpiece Centuries in the Making
Venice took a group of marshy islands and built them wealthy trading empire. Those islands became one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Venice, a Beautiful Labyrinth
Venice is a maddening place to try to find your way around, but getting lost in Venice is a magical experience.
Murano and The Glass Cathedral
Murano, the region in Venice world renowned for it’s glass production, is a wonderful day trip when you are in Venice. Visiting the beautiful Glass Cathedral when you are there and experiencing a glass blowing demonstration is a great way to compliment your day trip to Murano.
Sunrise Jog in Venice
Running in Venice can be tricky with the chaotic layout of the streets and bridges. However, there is one particular route that is both easy to navigate and is extremely beautiful.
Rome
Piazza Navona – Rome
A quick stop for a drink on a hot day in Rome meant stumbling into the beautiful Piazza Navona, which sits on the ruins of the Stadio di Domiziano.
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
It was hot and crowded, but a trip to the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums was a great experience.
A Wonderful Walk to Trevi Fountain
The plan for a walk to Trevi Fountain and back turned into a great experience visiting the amazing restaurants, shops and bars in the Old Rome neighborhood. It was a great day.
Cinque Terre
Exploring Vernazza: A Seaside Gem in Cinque Terre
Vernazza is one of the five towns that make up the UNESCO world heritage site called Cinque Terre. It is a small town that is perched over the Mediterranean Sea and features some lovely sites such as the Chiesa di Santa Margherita d’Antiochia and Doria Tower.
Newby to Expert Traveler 