Places we visited: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Cinque Terre, Venice

Length of stay: 19 days

High point: First glimpse of the Colosseum, inexpensive wine, seeing the Pope,
exploring Spello (a small Umbrian hill town), Michelangelo's "David", our balcony in
Corniglia, meeting Lady Gaeta

Low Point: Florence's crowds over Easter weekend, when gypsies tried to break into
our studio in Rome

Local food/flavor: Wine, pizza, pasta, espresso, gelato...(you get the idea)!

Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

Unique Sights: The Pope's procession from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill on Good
Friday, watching and hearing the restaurant kitchen staff celebrate AS Roma's goal
against Manchester United.

Purchases: None

Things we did:
  • Rome
  • Saw the major sights including the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Via Sacre, St.
    Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, Borghese Park,
    and the Pantheon
  • Explored various neighborhoods including Campo de Fiori, Monti,
    Trevestere

  • Florence
  • Saw the major sights including the Duomo, Michelangelo's "David", the
    Arno River, and Pontevecchio Bridge

  • Tuscany and Umbria
  • Explored the hill towns of Spello, Bevagna, and Cortona
  • Biked from Greve to Lemole in Chianti

  • Cinque Terre
  • Hiked to each of the five villages
  • Sampled the local specialty, marinated sardines
  • Waded in the Ligurian Sea

  • Venice
  • Floated the Grand Canal
  • Visited the Murano glass factories
  • Stayed in the home of a Venetian couple
Chianti Countryside
Italy Overview