Travel to Italy will always be popular. There is so much richness there. So much history and art to be found there. Between the history, art, cuisine, wines, and beautiful towns it is easy to see why Italy is popular and will remain popular for a long time to come. You don't always have to take a guided or escorted tour to get the most out of Italy. We found ourselves with 10 days in the fall to do as we pleased in Italy and we wanted to cram in as many sights as we could. What did we do? We designed our own custom itinerary, of course. We wanted to be able to indulge in what we wanted and escape into little alleyways and basically see as much as we could. Here is our experience exploring Italy in the fall.
Como, Italy: Our first stop was in Como, Italy. This beautiful city is located on Lake Como and is easily accessed by train. We had the wonderful privilege of staying very close to the old town where it is mostly pedestrian-only. We loved walking around the cobblestone streets and little alleyways. To get a better idea of the area, we took the ferry to Bellagio. Besides finding a very beautiful town, we found the best gelato. For the rest of the trip, we were comparing all the other gelatos to the ones in Bellagio. You can find some really great views of Lake Como from Bellagio as well. To learn more about our experience exploring Como in the fall, read our blog.
Venice, Italy: We arrived by train into Venice and no matter how many pictures you see, nothing will prepare you for your first look at Venice. We actually took a walking tour in Venice because we wanted to learn more. This is really a great idea. We learned how the city was built and why, we learned about what life was like for the early citizens of Venice, and we learned the issues faced by Venice and what is being done. Truly a breathtaking city, you simply have to spend a couple of days here to wander, take a gondola ride, and a water bus. This is a wonderful place to indulge and enjoy the food and exotic spices that are here. Plan to escape the world and explore. To learn more about our experience exploring Venice in the fall, read our blog.
Florence, Italy: Florence might be known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, but it is also the gateway to Tuscany. Be sure to spend some time exploring the beauty of the architecture and the museums in Florence. They are important and you always walk away learning something. We were there in the fall and yes, we got rained on, but that was half the fun. Florence is beautiful no matter when you see it but the crowds are smaller during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. We took a Vespa tour into Tuscany and loved driving around the rolling hills of Tuscany. We only got a taste of it and we will have to go back and truly indulge in everything Tuscany has to offer. To read more about our experience exploring Florence in the fall, read our blog.
Cinque Terre: We visited Cinque Terre as a day trip out of Florence. If you are not aware of Cinque Terre, it is actually 5 little villages that cling to the mountains before they plunge into the Mediterranean. There used to be a walkway that connected all five of these villages; however, they suffered a landslide a few years ago and part of the walkway was swept away. We didn’t have that much time so we took the train. The only disappointing part of the experience is the train, by nature of the landscape, spends all of its time in tunnels. I would have been magnificent to be able to see the views but the towns were enough and so gorgeous. Another option that we took was the ferry. It more than made up for the lack of views from the train. By taking the ferry from the last town back to the first, you get to see them all again but this time from the water. Be sure to take some time to explore Cinque Terre when in Italy. To read more about our experience exploring Cinque Terre in the fall, read our blog.
Rome: Rome was not built in a day and it definitely takes more than a day to see all that Rome has to offer. Unlike some of the other cities we visited where points of interest were near each other or in a designated old town, Rome is spread out and it takes time to take it all in. On top of it being spread out, there are so many must-see items places in Rome that you really need to spend some time here. We took two walking tours in one day to maximize our time in Rome and it still wasn’t enough to get it all in. With the new laws just passed in Italy about busses in the city center, walking tours are your best option. I personally feel that you miss more when taking a bus tour than you gain. Many of the attractions are only accessible by walking anyway. To read more about our experience in Rome in the fall, read our blog.
When you are ready to plan your perfect trip to Italy, contact us, your premiere Boise Travel Agency and Italy experts. We can help you design your perfect trip or help you find the perfect tour to meet your travel needs to Italy.
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