Italian Adventures

Calling Italy home means that many of our adventures have taken place in Italy. With every trip that we take, we learn a little more about what to do and a LOT more about what not to do.

Fun in Florence

Oh Florence, Italy, how I love thee! Florence is, in my opinion, the most underrated city in Italy. Florence is the sort of place that you could go a thousand times and still be amazed.

Our experience in Florence was by far the most fulfilling travel experience thus far. Florence is filled with such beautiful culture. We also had the easiest time finding our way around Florence.

Finding a nice hotel that is within walking distance of the major attractions for a good price can be very difficult wherever you are. In Florence we stayed in ‘Il Terrazzino sulla Cattedrale’. This hotel was an extremely good price and was looking directly at the Duomo. I find that booking hotels on Booking.com is typically the best price.

So we get to Florence and find our hotel. We spent the first few hours in Florence simply roaming around. The main square was just a few minutes away from our hotel. We found some of the most beautiful architecture and statues simple in the square, accessible to anyone in the city.

Our first tour was in the Uffizi gallery. This museum was absolutely amazing. It is still one of the most wonderful museums we have been to yet. The Uffizi is enormous! It would take weeks to truly appreciate every piece of art in the museum.

Not only are there numerous artworks in each room, but they are all so intricate. This museum is, of course, the home to ‘The Birth of Venus’. I have always thought this painting was interesting, so seeing it in person was magnificent.

After we made our way through the Uffizi, we wandered down the streets. We went in and out of stores and slowly made our way to the Accademia.

The Accademia’s claim to fame is, of course, David. After spending hours getting lost in the Uffizi, the Accademia was certainly underwhelming. I don’t say this to take away from the Accademia or David. The sculpture of David was amazing. The museum itself was very small compared to the Uffizi. One can easily do them both in one day, as we did. I would recommend doing the opposite and beginning at the Accademia. You want to spend as long as possible in the Uffizi.

On our second day in Florence, we explored the Duomo. Wow! The Florence Duomo is completely awe-inspiring. Words cannot describe how large the Duomo is. If I felt small standing in the Colosseum in Rome, I felt minuscule standing beside the Florentine Duomo. The architecture is incredible.

We chose to climb to the top of the church dome and the bell tower in the same day. I highly recommend climbing both, as they offer such beautiful views. However, I also highly recommend NOT climbing them both in the same day. The Duomo has 463 steps, then of course, you have to get back down. There is no elevator, so the only way to see the view from the top and truly admire the artwork at the top of the church, is to make the climb. There are multiple stopping points along the way. The walkway is very small and in most places only wide enough for one person. The bell tower that is beside the Duomo has 414 steps, that once again you will have to come down from. Unfortunately there is no hotel at the top so you can rest on the seats at the top for as long as you like, but you will need to make your way to the bottom eventually. Thankfully, the walk down is much easier than the walk up. The downward slope makes the walk go by much faster. Before we began our descent from the bell tower, I truly felt like I would not make it. I got back up and powered through.

Was I exhausted? Incredibly! Did I regret making the walk? Not even a little! If we had not climbed BOTH the Duomo and the Bell Tower, I would have wished I had. If you visit Florence in the summer, you should be sure to dress in layers. You will be turned away from the church if your shoulders or knees are showing! I knew it would be hot so I wore capri pants that stopped just under my knees and a tank top with a cool flowing top over it. I spent much of the day in only a tank top, especially during the climbs. It is very important to have the top layer though if you intend to enter a church.

When you’re traveling, it is so easy to get caught up in the must-see’s. I urge you not to schedule every moment of your time. Be sure that there is some time set aside to explore and see what you can find. Some of my favorite moments have been those that weren’t planned. In Florence when we crossed the Arno River, we had no plans but we simply walked. We actually found a beautiful fountain that we were able to sit in front of and feel the water splatters for awhile, which felt glorious after walking in the heat.

Florence was beautiful! I truly hope we find our way back to this city again. There is so much art, architecture, and culture to experience here. Take your time and breathe in the Florentine air.

Rome, Italy

On every trip that Josh and I have taken, we have learned something new to improve our future travels. During our trip to Rome, we (mostly me) learned possibly the most valuable lesson yet.

ALWAYS WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES.

I plead with you to learn from my mistakes. I know what you’re thinking, wearing comfortable shoes is so obvious! I thought I found the perfect shoes to wear in Rome, cute and comfortable. I was severely mistaken. I urge you to break your shoes in long before your trip.

Visiting the Colosseum is an awe-inspiring humbling experience. When you stand inside this monument, you cannot help but feel extremely small. There is so much history wrapped up in this one monument. Standing in the Colosseum is a feeling that cannot be described. You realize just how small you are, as you hear about all of the years that have passed by this monument and all of the blood shed within these walls.

When in Rome… be sure to book skip the line tickets. It is so worth the additional price to not have to wait in line for the entirety of the day. We learned another valuable lesson on our trip in Rome: be sure to double check the pickup location for your tours and tickets. Many tickets need to be picked up in person from a separate location.

‘Parco del Colle Oppio’ or Oppian Hill is a park located beside the Colosseum with free entry. I firmly believe this is one of the best kept secrets of Rome. This park looks directly at the Colosseum, offering a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the view for as long as you desire. Exploring Rome involves a lot of walking, so take full advantage of any opportunities to simply sit and enjoy your surroundings.

The Altar of the Fatherland is yet another well kept secret of Rome. This Roman Monument is on Capitoline Hill making it just a short walk from the Colosseum. The Vittoriano, as it is also known, is a beautiful museum. Entry into the main part of the building is free, making it an excellent addition to any trip to Rome. The architecture of this building is amazing. You can take a crystal elevator to the top of the monument for only 7 euros to see what I believe is arguably the best view of Rome. Once on the top, you can stay as long as you like and see all over Rome. If you think this monument is beautiful from the outside, the view from the top is breathtaking.

All in all, Rome is a beautiful city. I saw so many amazing sights that I never imagined seeing in reality. I fully expected Rome to be amazing. I imagined it would be my favorite city in Italy, but it is far from that. As amazing and historical as Rome is, it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the beauty and wonders of Italy.