Italy

Italy is one of the most popular destinations in the world. It’s also one of my favorite destinations in Europe because of its rich history, culture, delicious food and gelato.

I remember how excited I was at the prospect of going to Italy for the first time. Our first trip was entirely dedicated to visiting Rome and I couldn’t wait to see the Colosseum and all the ruins. We spent our days wandering around the ancient city and loved every minute of it.

Colosseum of Rome, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!
Colosseum of Rome, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!

We were staying on the outskirts of Rome because we had secured our hotel with points. Even though the hotel offered a free shuttle we wasted precious time commuting to the city center. In 8 days, we had time to visit most of Rome’s highlights. It was a wonderful experience and we threw our coin into the Trevi Fountain in the hopes of returning to Rome one day.

It worked! A few years later we found ourselves once again in the Eternal City. We were on a Mediterranean cruise and our time in Rome was much too brief. How do you choose between the Colosseum or St. Peter’s Basilica,  or your favorite gelateria? The gelato won!

Trevi Fountain, Rome
Trevi Fountain, Rome

Since we were near the Trevi Fountain we tossed our coin over our left shoulder with our right hand into the fountain. Once again, the legend came through!

Florence, Italy
Florence-Italy

A few years ago, we used the train to get from Milan to Venice, then on to Florence, finally returning to Rome. We organized our itinerary ourselves and found the train service efficient and affordable. It was a wonderful experience, and we wouldn’t hesitate to use it again. Of course, before leaving we made it a point to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain!

Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco, Venice

It worked! We recently spent a couple of days in Rome before sailing away on another Mediterranean cruise. Along the way we stopped in Livorno, Naples and Messina before continuing on to Athens, Greece.

Messina, Sicily
Messina, Sicily

We also loved our trip to Northern Italy. We rented a car and visited the Italian Lake District and explored a selection of smaller towns rich in history. To top it off we also spent a few days in Turin. The whole area was beautiful and we could see the Alps almost everywhere we went.

Bergamo, Italy
Bergamo, Italy

Even though we have been fortunate enough to have had the chance to visit Italy multiple times, there’s still so much to see. We would love to see more of Sicily and of course return to Rome for another gelato!

Related Posts:

Italian Cruise Ports:

Mediterranean Cruise: Rome to Athens

Europe

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