A Week in Italy

Day One: Venice

Gondola Ride ($80 flat rate for a gondola up to five people until 7pm, then $100) - Beware of high tide. Due to the city sinking, during high tide gondolas can’t travel up the small side canals and will only stay in the Grand Canal - We visited in October, when we could get a gondola at 6pm for the day rate, but still see the night lights of the city!

Visit St. Mark’s Basilica

Shopping along the many side streets (Italian Murano glass especially)

Take pictures along the many quaint bridges and canals

Visit the Rialto Bridge

Venice lodging (Well-priced and very nice hotel with free breakfast): https://www.expedia.com/Venice-Hotels-Palazzo-Guardi.h1040663.Hotel-Information?chkin=2023-11-24&chkout=2023-11-25&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1696316320195&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwZWRpYS5jb20vSG90ZWwtU2VhcmNo&useRewards=false&rm1=a5&regionId=3687&destination=Venice%2C+Veneto%2C+Italy&destType=MARKET&neighborhoodId=6049646&selected=1040663&latLong=45.434031%2C12.338332&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=207&top_cur=USD&mctc=5&mdpcid=US.META.TRIVAGO.HOTELSCORESEARCH.HOTEL&mdpdtl=HTL.1040663.Venice.los%3D1.losb%3D1.ttt%3D52.tttb%3D41.trv_bm%3D-1.pg%3D6.defdate%3D0.guests%3D5.guestsb%3D3.cpa%3D0.device%3D-1.a2a%3D00.wl%3D0.MOD%3D0&userIntent=&selectedRoomType=200441051&selectedRatePlan=202629581&searchId=35c2ac10-3e51-46b0-a68e-1a1b6d0b7fe2

Day Two: Florence & Pisa

Train to Florence (Eurail/Interrail; reserve seats ahead of time)

Morning in Florence:

Visit the Duomo

Enter the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David, amongst other sculptures by Michelangelo (pay online, or wait in line to pay at the gallery for a slight discount)

Train to Pisa for the afternoon (about an hour train ride)

Walk or taxi to the Leaning Tower (one mile)

Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa (buy tickets ahead of time)

Explore the Cathedral beside the Leaning Tower

Train back to Florence

Florence lodging (well-priced and spacious Airbnb apartment for five): https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27452426?check_in=2023-10-25&check_out=2023-10-27&guests=1&adults=5&s=67&unique_share_id=7b673a4c-a6d9-49a4-9eaf-1eb8cf6dd9d4

Day Three: Cinque Terre

Train to La Spezia Centrale from Florence (Use a Eurail pass or buy a Cinque Terre train card)

Train to Monterosso

Walk along the beach

Walk down to see Spiaggia el Gigante

Train or hike to Vernazza

Walk out to the jetty for a picturesque view

Try the focaccia!

Go inside the Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia

Train or hike to Corniglia (train also includes hiking up a steep cliff with a switchback trail)

Try the fresh lemon and orange juices

Alberto Gelateria has local honey-flavored gelato and it is SO good!

Train to Riomaggiore

Enjoy the tile-filled tunnel to the town

Walk through the city, past the marina, to the overlook looking back on the colorful town

Try cannoli!

Try the fresh seafood!

Train or hike to Manarola

Watch the sunset from the overlook (be sure to go to the overlook past the town on the cliff walk beside it)

Train back to La Spezia Centrale and then to Florence

Day Four: Rome

Train to Roma Termini

Get 48 hour Metro pass

Metro to Barberini

Walk to the Trevi Fountain

Walk to and enter the Pantheon (buy tickets online)

Walk to Spanish Steps 

Metro station from Spagna to lodging

Rome lodging (very nice and secure campground/cabins with restaurant, laundry, and a pool all for a very good price; must take a train slightly outside Rome): https://roma.huopenair.com/

Day Five: Rome

Train into Rome

Metro to San Giovanni

Explore the Lateran Palace (the original Vatican City)

Metro to Colosseo

Explore Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill (takes a good few hours; bring water and snacks

)Metro to Cipro

Explore Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Sistine Chapel (buy tickets online ahead of time)

Metro and train back to lodging

Day Six: Naples & Procida

Train to Napoli Centrale

Train to Pozzuoli Solfatara (about 40 minutes)

Take a ferry to the volcanic island Procida (book ahead of time; very cheap with MedMar)

Explore the colorful streets of the island

Take advantage of the fresh lemons that the island is known for

Walk to the overlook at Marina Corricella

Take the ferry back to Pozzuoli

Train back to Naples

Since Naples is the birthplace of pizza, try original pizza recipes at authentic restaurants (we waited about 45 minutes at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and we weren’t disappointed)

Naples Lodging: I wouldn’t recommend the lodging we used while in Naples. The immediate neighborhoods around Napoli Centrale can seem sketchy, especially at night.

Day Seven: Pompeii

Train to Pompeii

Buy tickets at Pompeii if you want to use a reduced rate, or buy them online ahead of time if not

Explore the Pompeii ruins (bring water and snacks; there are water fountains inside Pompeii to refill water bottles)