Italy is a country that reminds you of its delicious, mouth watering pastas and pizzas….and of small trattorias just around the corner..which serves the authentic Italian food that you will be forever craving for.

However, Italy is so more than that, and this is why …

TIP: Attend a cooking class when in Italy for a lifetime experience.

Note: There are various places to visit in Italy owing to its diverse landscape. I have just included a few of them in my list below. 🙂

Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel

Vatican is an independent country under the jurisdiction of the Pope, located entirely within the city of Rome.

It is a good idea to book a guided tour of the Vatican since the area is huge and without a guided tour, you will be aimlessly wandering around without understanding the significance of the art around you. We booked the tour from the official website of Vatican:

https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do

There are multiple options to choose from based on your time and interest. We booked Admission tickets for a tour of Vatican and Sistine Chapel. It is best if you reach Vatican early in the morning before the crowds start pouring in the afternoon.

Rome

Rome is the pearl of Italy. It brings back memories of history textbooks that taught us about the gladiators and Colosseum and the ancient ruins that still remain.

After we finished exploring Vatican museums, we started our self-planned walking tour of Rome after lunch. Thanks to Google maps!

How to plan your own walking tour of Rome?

• Start with Spanish steps – This is till date the traditional meeting point of the Romans. The metro lines are well connected and you can easily get down at “Spagna” using Metro line A.
• Trevi Fountain – I felt it was huge compared to the pictures I have seen online. Also, super crowded. 😉 Flip a coin into the fountain, to guarantee your return to Rome. 🙂
• Walk to the Pantheon. If the queue is not long, you can even enter.
• Piazza Navona
• Piazza Venezia

You can cover the above locations at your leisure… depending on how much time you have. We had a very packed schedule, so we covered the above places on the first day.

The next day, early morning we went to Colosseum. It is better to book your tickets online. The entry ticket covers Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill. Ensure to keep 1 hour for each place.

• Colosseum : You can book tickets for Colosseum online at :

https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

Positano

A lovely Italian town on the Amalfi coast. Best if you can spend a day or two here. We just had one day to explore this pretty little town. It was too gorgeous to be true.
This is one of the most romantic places I have ever visited. The picturesque town with its grey sand beach, charming cafes overlooking the sea and the boutique shops: make it a lavish holiday destination in Italy. You can rent a boat for a luxurious day on the sea. Also, visiting Capri is a must if you are staying in Positano.
I explored Positano on a day trip from Rome. I took a direct train from Rome to Salerno. From Salerno, I took a ferry to Positano. This is a much relaxing way to reach Positano from Rome instead of taking the route from Sorrento.
TIP: You can also travel from Rome to Sorrento by train and then take a bus from Sorrento to Positano (You may not get a seat on the bus and the journey I heard is tiresome).
TIP: Timing the trip is very crucial if you plan a day trip to Positano since the ferry timings are not frequent.

Florence

Rich in history and culture, Florence is the cradle of Rennaisance.

Places to visit:

• Piazzale Michaelangelo – for a breathtaking panoramic view of Florence from across the Aron river. Visit early in the morning or during sunset.
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – Duomo. You can climb to the top of Duomo.
• Ponte Vecchio – Medieval stone-bridge on Arno river with jewellery shops
• Uffizi Gallery
• Palazzo Vecchio – holds a copy of Michelangelo’s David statue
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – Houses the original David statue
• Pitti Palace
• Galileo museum

Chianti

Take a trip from Florence to the Tuscan countryside and get lost in the beautiful vineyards on the rolling Tuscan hills. It’s a good idea to book a wine-tasting tour. They will arrange a half-day tour of the countryside. You can marvel at the Italian wine and olive oil at the small wineries run by locals from generations. Also, visit the underground chambers where the wines age in the oak barrels.

Cinque Terre

If you are planning to visit this place on your own, you can a train from Florence to Riomaggiore.
Cinque Terre means Five Villages. This place comprises of five picturesque towns by the Ligurian Sea – Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia and Monterosso.
There is a hiking trail connecting all the towns. If you are short on time, you can take the boat services.

Venice

Make sure to climb to the top of the St. Mark’s bell tower for an aerial view of the gorgeous city.
Also, do visit the islands of Burano, Murano, and Torcello to get your Instagram shots.

Milan

Fashion capital of Italy. 

• Milan Galleria – Very elegant and exquisite. A must-visit when in Milan.

• Milan Cathedral – Next to the Galleria. If time permits, do climb to the terrace for an exhilarating experience.

Official website – https://www.duomomilano.it/en/buy-tickets/

• If you have time for a day trip from Milan – Ensure to visit Lake Como.

Pisa

Visit the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa which is a bell tower leaning on one side, as the name suggests. The tower started to lean during construction as it was built on soft ground which could not support the weight of the bell tower.