This itinerary provides highlights of "The Big 3" in Italy - connecting to each city utilizing the wonderful Italian railway. 

It is a 12-day itinerary and provides tour recommendations, hotel recommendations as we well as some great restaurants and bars to check-out. Also included, a day trip out to Cinque Terre.

This itinerary is based on a trip we did back in October of 2019 with friends of ours. Some updates have been added based on client trips I have booked to Italy since then, and include some of their recommendations.

Please enjoy!

Cinque Terre, SP, Italy

Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Italy

Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy

Italy - The Big 3
Rome, Florence, Venice

After living in Florence for three months, it is easy to say that it is our favorite in Europe (we might be biased). Getting lost of the history, architecture, and culture that this city offers is something we could do forever. In this guide, we’ll be sharing our favorite spots, activities, and hidden gems throughout Florence, and we will do our best to keep this guide as concise and valuable as possible. Enjoy and happy travels!

Tuscany, Italy

The Ultimate Insider Guide to Florence

Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Italy guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information. 

I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands.

Use my Klook promo: ACKUGARTE for 10% off for new users and 3% off for returning users.

Lake Como, Italy

Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

Italy Ultimate Guide Map +275 Places

Spending some time in beautiful Florence? This is a complete list that provides you with a handful of options: accommodation, tourist attractions, shops, bars and restaurants - you’ll need no other guide, I promise! 
So…have a bite and a drink alongside Arno river and take home the most impressive bespoke souvenirs. The city is walkable and it blends art and history and romantic vibes all together and pretty soon you’ll find yourself in love. 💓

Must do - trips to picturesque towns located nearby:
• San Gimignano: 1h away
• Siena: 1h10 away
• Volterra: 1h20 away

Highlights:
⚜️ Il Giglio - giglio bottonato, is mainly known from the crest of the city of Florence. In the Florentine fleurs-de-lis, the stamens are always posed between the petals. This is also the emblem of the city and you shall see it depicted all over. 
🍨 Gelato “crema fiorentina” - is the specific flavor of Florence, made with a simple combination of egg yolks, milk, and sugar. It is often flavored with chestnut honey, while another common addition includes crumbled amaretti cookies or almond liqueur. It is a neutral ice cream flavor with delicate pale-yellow color.
🍧 Affogato - a delightful and simple Italian dessert or beverage that combines two beloved elements: espresso and gelato or ice cream. The word "affogato" in Italian means "drowned," and that perfectly describes the preparation of this delicious treat. The basic affogato recipe involves pouring a hot, freshly brewed espresso over a scoop of cold gelato or ice cream. The hot espresso contrasts with the cold and creamy gelato, resulting in a harmonious and satisfying flavour combination.
🥩 Bistecca alla fiorentina -  Italian steak made of young steer (vitellone) or heifer (scottona) that, combined with the specific preparation, makes it one of the most popular dishes of Tuscan cuisine.
🍷 "Buchette del vino" - or wine windows, are a peculiar feature of Florence. They are foot-high, dome-shaped holes in the thick, stone palazzi of the Renaissance city that six centuries ago were used to sell wine in a fiasco (glass bottle) without having to open a shop and avoid paying taxes. These wine windows also posed a useful anti-contagion way to sell wine during the epidemic of 1630-1633. At that time, the bubonic plague hit Florence hard, killing 12% of the city's population.

Florence - the ultimate guide to a romantic escapade 🌸

From visiting the beautiful city of Florence multiple times and doing extensive research I have compiled together an extensive list of the best places to eat and drink in Florence.

I have included over 10 great spots to eat, including the best places for gelato, and 6 places to enjoy a drink for the evening.

Florence, SC, USA

Your guide to where to eat, drink and sleep in Florence

Baci's picks for restaurant recommendations and how to choose/rely on suggestions.

Florence, Italy

When It's All About The Food In Florence

Trip outline through Italy including route, hotels, activities, restaurants, and best places to see for Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Day trip to Capri 

Solo Trip to Italy

Florence

I spent hours upon hours researching for the best restaurants to eat at, so you don't have to! Save yourself the hours of scrolling and searching with my detailed guide! In the summer (July 2023) I visited Italy for a month with my intentions set with eating all the foods I have ever dreamed about in Italy. From hand rolled fresh pesto gnocchi to saffron risotto with lamb and gelato you'll think about for days. Actually, all these foods I am convinced you will think about for the rest of your life!
I looked for the hidden local treasures and of course the costly fancy eats while visiting these two cities. When purchasing this guide I will give you exact locations, costs, reservations, recommendations, distances from main attractions, and honest reviews of places I had tried and did not care for! Alot of TikTok's and reels on social media make many of the well know restaurants and quick eats in Italy seem that they are worth every penny ... some are not, and I learned the hard way! Let me help you save money and budget your way through Italy while still eating like royalty along the way!
(13 spots in Rome, 10 spots in Florence)
I will add 7 bonus spots in other cities throughout Italy as well because they were just that good and I can't hide that from people! :)))

A foodies guide to Rome and Florence

Florence for Foodies

Experience the city of the Renaissance and arguably the best food in Italy. 

Ultimate Guide To Florence 

⭐️ We’re making travel to Italy effortless with exclusive access to our specially curated Maps! With over 250+ locations, you’ll have all our top tips, hidden gems, and recommendations at your fingertips for an unforgettable adventure.

Our Italy Map features incredible spots from our recent road trip, plus additional must-see destinations we can’t wait to visit, including:

- Florence, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Positano, Venice, Milan, Alberobello, Matera, Polignano a Mare, and San Marino
- Must-visit landmarks, scenic viewpoints, charming towns, and breathtaking coastal spots
- Our favorite cafes, local eateries, and top-notch restaurants

Whether it’s places we’ve personally explored or ones we’re dreaming of visiting, this map has everything you need for an unforgettable Italian journey!

We would love to see your experiences in these places so feel free to tag us - @travelcroats

Positano, SA, Italy

Matera, Province of Matera, Italy

San Marino

Naples, Italy

Polignano a Mare, Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy

Alberobello, Metropolitan City of Bari, Italy

Ultimate Italy Map +250 Places

Osteria Pastella

Must go. Osteria Pastella is rated one of the best in Florence for a reason. This option can become a little pricey, but the food is to die for. Home of the best pasta, Osteria Pastella will have you dreaming of their truffle cheese-wheel pasta, cooking right in front of you. Plus, Osteria Pastella allowed you to hand-pick your Florentine steak, and it was cooked to perfection. If you're dying to try this novelty steak, Osteria Pastella is the place to do it. Reservations are needed. 

Order the flamed tagliatelle with truffle. They bring out a huge cheese wheel and prepare it right in front of you!

$$ Homestyle pastas with rich sauces, regional truffles & Tuscan wines at a casual, family-run osteria.

A delicious restaurant, specializing in pasta (they make it in a cheese wheel in front of you!)

Specialising in fresh pasta.  Get the tagliatelle in the grana padano cheese wheel! 

Family-run. Homestyle Pastas. Reservations required.

Osteria Pastella

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