Maria & Rocco
Things To Do/Places to see in Italy
FLORENCE (1.5 hours from Livorno)
This is our favorite metropolitan city in Italy that's rich in culture and history. Visit the Academia to see Michelangelo's David, Florence Duomo Complex, Uffizi Gallery to walk by the worlds famous artwork, Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti Palace, Basilica of Santa Croce, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Medici Chapel, or the beautiful Borghese Gardens. Also, great pizza at Gusta Pizza !
Day Trip to PISA (15 Minutes from Livorno) & LUCCA (30 minutes from Pisa)
• Discover the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli • Explore the charming city of Lucca and its picturesque streets • Admire the 16th-century walls of Lucca and the Church of San Michele • Learn about the history of the two cities from your local guide (Use www.GetYourGuide.com) • Enjoy the convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off in Florence if staying there
TUSCANY 1-3 Days (Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti)
NOTE: YOU CAN DO THIS TOUR IN A DAY WITHOUT Dario Cecchini OR Fontodi Winery throughout a GetYourGuide.com Day trip OR ADD THEM AND ENJOY A LONGER VISIT TO TUSCANY AND SIENA. HIGHLIGHTS: • Discover the enchanting Field of Miracles in Pisa, with its iconic Leaning Tower & The Baptistry • Explore San Gimignano “the Manhattan of the Middle Ages", listed as UNESCO site • Traverse the Chianti countryside, with hilltop hamlets and captivating views • Visit the Butcher in Chianti, famous Dario Cecchini and his meat restaurant Solociccia ‘il Menu del Maccellaio’ and consists of six meat courses, local vegetables ands wine • Close is Fontodi Winery for tasting and a tour, a leading Chianti producer in the Tuscany region. • Discover Siena's charm, an art-filled hilltop town steeped in tradition through Siena's medieval streets & squares
CINQUE TERRE, on the Mediterranean (an hour and half from Livorno)
Perched high above the sea, the Cinque Terre National Park, Unesco World Heritage Site, is a Mediterranean jewel. Located north of Tuscany and south of Genoa on the rugged Ligurian coast known as the Italian Riviera, the five fishing villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare offer a relaxed alternative to busy metropolitan cities. With steep, terraced slopes overlooking pebble beaches and the sea, the Cinque Terre is a paradise for hikers, sun worshipers and those looking for miles of unspoiled natural beauty. We took a 5 hour boat tour up the coast starting at La Spezia, and hired a husband and wife team Nicola and Maria—Loved them! HELLOCINQUETERRE BOAT TOUR MANAROLA +39 392 884 8964 https://www.hellocinqueterre.com GetYourGuide.com also has a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre and Pisa, But I recommend staying 2 days (one day exploring via boat)
MILAN & Northern Italy (About 4 hours from Livorno)
Fly direct into MILAN to do Northern Italy. You can stay in Milan for an overnight. Suggestions for MILAN (ONE DAY/NIGHT): NOTE: YOU CAN DO THIS ALL IN A DAY AND NIGHT) #1. Milano Duomo and terraces (pre buy tickets for the terraces tour) #2. Da Vinci's Last Supper & Best of Milan Tour (pre buy tickets for the tour) #3. La Scala, Opera If you don’t go to an opera (check schedule) still go see the magnificent opera house) #4. Shopping in the Galleria, next to Duomo See below for NORTHERN LAKES ITINERARY
Northern Italy LAKE COMO, LAKE GARDA, VERONA, VENICE (about 2 hours from Milan)
Northern Italy tor a relaxing vacation MILAN to LAKE COMO LAKE COMO 2 DAYS Small boutique hotels/Lake Views BUT for splurge, Grand Hotel Tremezzo!, south of Menaggio. LAKE COMO EXPERIENCES—5 hr boat info@lakecomoexperiences.com • lakecomoexperiences.com • Villa del Balbianello—Termezzia • Villa Oleandra (George Clooney’s Villa) • Villa Fontanelle (formerly Villa Versace)—Moltrasio • Villa d’Este-Cernobbio Tour Villa • Villa Erba--Cernobbio MENAGGIO VARENNA BELLAGIO: Villa Melzi d’Eril is So beautiful. Lunch at Ristorante Alle Darlene di Lopin, Pergola Room LAKE GARDA (2 DAYS) Stay at GRAND HOTEL FASANO room with a view of the lake 2-hour boat tour Punta San Vigilio & Sirmione BORGHETTA (1 DAY) Spectacular VERONA (1-2 DAYS) • Lamberti Tower • Juliet’s House • Verona Arena/concerts • Verona Cathedral VENICE (2 DAYS) • Take a Gondola around the Grand Canal. • Walk around to shop • Doges Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access Tour--MUST • Murano: Glass Factory
ROME 1st time to Italy? Rome, Florence & Venice the 3 major cities (3 hours via train from Livorno)
ROME (2-3 Days) If it's your first time in Rome, I strongly suggest you do guided tours here. When you first arrive, drop bags off and walk on your own to: • Trevi Fountain and toss a coin in and make a wish (great gelato across the way), • Piazza Novona, • Pantheon, • Spanish Steps (great shopping) • The Vatican St. Peter’s Cathedral –About 2-2/12 hours (LOVED going to mass there if you find yourself there on a Sunday), • Vatican Museum, • Sistine Chapel (the lines are super long so purchase a tour guide that skips the lines) • Walk by Castel Sant’Angelo • Colosseum, • Roman Forum & • Palatine Hill guided tour: 2-1/2 – 3 hours • Borghese Gallery is beautiful if you wanted to go in the afternoon
AMALFI COAST (about 4 hours from Rome)
For a getaway from city life, the Amalfi Coast offers stunning shores and sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea. From Rome, stop by Naples and Pompeii en route to the Amalfi Coast For an unforgettable Italian experience, explore the Amalfi Coast, a region rich with history, stunning views, and charming coastal towns. Steep walking so wear your sneakers. • Begin in Sorrento, known for its scenic cliffs, lemon groves, and bustling piazzas. • Take a boat to Capri which offers luxury boutiques, captivating seaside views, and enchanting sites like the famous Blue Grotto, where sunlight creates a magical blue glow in the water. • Back along the coast, Positano offers a vibrant maze of colorful cliffside houses, chic boutiques, and pebble beaches perfect for relaxing. • In Amalfi, visit the iconic cathedral and explore the winding streets filled with local artisans. • Head up to Ravello for breathtaking terrace gardens and some of the best views along the coast. Villa Ruffalo is a MUST
Sicily
Sicily is like stepping back in time 200 years.. Fly RyanAir from Rome into Palermo (West Coast) Fly RyanAir from Rome into Catania (East Coast) (West Coast) • Palermo • Castellammare del Golfo (where my Grandpa and Grandma DiLorenzo are from) It is such a beautiful seaside town • Tripani (Central northern Coast) Cefalu (a beautiful beach town) (East Coast) Sicily (RyanAir into Catania) • Ortigia (boat tour around island - grotto) • Siracusa • Modica • Ragusa • Noto • Taormina is a MUST • Casa Mola • Messina Sicily is great for boating excursions and cooking classes
Sardinia for Italian Beach Vacation
Sardinia is known for its stunning rocky coastline and sublime beaches. We haven't been here yet but Maria says it's a beautiful island for a beach vacation.