After exploring Matera, Sorrento, and spending a day along the stunning Amalfi Coast, we traded the seaside views for city streets as we made our way to Rome - the grand finale of our Italian adventure. We got to Rome in the evening, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn near the airport, and we were a bit hungry, so we decided to have something to eat in the hotel. Since I have been eating pasta like it’s nobody’s business, I opted for pizza without cheese. I felt awkward asking for pizza without any cheese, but the waiter didn’t flinch, he said no problem and it made me so happy to eat pizza in Italy. My mom and I split the pizza which had tomato sauce, mushrooms, black olives, zucchini and eggplant. It hit the spot. We retired to bed shortly after dinner because the next morning was going to be a busy one.

Day 1 in Rome we visited the Vatican. Christopher and I had a timed slot for 11:00am. We walked through every artifact, every sculpture, every detail of the Vatican, which led us into the breathtaking artwork of the Sistine Chapel. Standing underneath the ceiling where Michaelangelo painted one of the most famous pictures in the world, was astounding. I have to say, that was my fourth time witnessing the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica but every time is like the first time. If you plan on visiting, be forewarned that you can take photos and videos of everything leading up to the Sistine Chapel. As you try to soak up every minute of Michaelangelo’s masterpiece, there are people everywhere yelling at the public to stop taking photographs and moving you along. It’s not as romantic as you would imagine.

After admiring the beauty of Michaelangelo’s work, we made our way to St. Peter’s Basilica. Considered the holiest sites in the Catholic Church, St. Peters is huge; the dome ceilings, the artwork, the sculptures, and even just the architecture of the church itself is a site to see. After a long educational day, we missed our window of opportunity to have a meal in the city of Rome. Something you should know if you ever travel to Rome and probably most places in Italy, you either eat at 1:00pm or 7:00pm. A lot of restaurants close in the middle of the day and don’t reopen until 7:00pm. So, we had dinner again in the hotel, and I had a simple pasta dish with tomato sauce.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Day 2 in Rome, we actually hopped an early morning train to Venice. This day was our longest day. Rome to Venice by train is about 4 hours. We got on a 6:30am train and made it to Venice around 10:30am. It was bit chilly and misty out when we first got there, but we dressed accordingly. We walked straight to St. Mark’s square. They have a beautiful church there, St. Mark’s Basilica, filled with more artwork both inside and outside. We then took a gondola ride through the calming waters of Venice. This moment was something I had on my bucket list forever. It was a moment I wanted to encapsulate for the rest of my life. Venice became one of my favorite places. An entire city floating on water is something you have to see to believe. Every corner is straight out of a postcard.

Gondola ride in Venice

We spent the day leisurely shopping, sightseeing and then having lunch at a spot called Ristorante Al 56 Zerootto. I had a black squid ink linguini, which was my favorite meal of the entire trip. The weather warmed up, and the sun came out and it turned into a beautiful day which called for some much-needed gelato. We walked into a cafe that had vegan gelato which made my entire life. Is there anything more fabulous than eating chocolate flavored gelato and strolling through the streets of Venice? No, nothing.

Vegan gelato from Gelateria Artigiana in Venice

I was so worried before heading into this trip that I would be criticized for asking for vegan or dairy free foods, but in all honesty, Italy accommodated my dietary needs better than America. Every ice cream shop had a vegan flavor, every restaurant had gluten free bread, pasta, or pizza. I never wanted to go home.

After some more sightseeing and shopping, we waited for our train at a nearby cafe and had a nice aperol spritz. We were back to Rome around 10:30pm.

Day 3 in Rome we opted for a lighter day of traveling, so we did the Colosseum which also was a timed entry and the Roman Forum. It was just Christopher and I while my parents opted to just walk around Rome and see the different churches nearby. The Colosseum has always been my favorite landmark in Rome. The history alone in that place is insane. Walking the same aisles and areas where gladiators once fought lions and tigers is pretty eerie. It’s remarkable how much still stands til this day. It’s iconic picturesque architecture is spectacular, no wonder it is now considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

After the Colosseum we made our way across to the Roman Forum which is the ruins of Rome. All cobblestone streets, tall ceilings, and more sculptures and artwork. It was fun to witness all these tourist sites as an adult where you can truly appreciate their value. It had been 16 years since my last visit to Italy, and in my early twenties I didn’t really give these sites much thought, aside from the Colosseum. The Roman Forum is so interesting because it’s basically an outdoor museum. You’re walking along these cobblestone roads witnessing these prehistoric buildings that aren’t fully erected anymore and tons of artifacts. The Forum was the center of day to day life in Rome, where they held public speeches, elections, and criminal trials.

After making our way through the ruins, we were sure to not make the same mistake as last time and opted for lunch at a restaurant called Angelino Ai Fori Dal 1947, before they closed. I had pizza without cheese- with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and sausage. Again, the waiter didn’t ask questions or think I was weird for ordering pizza without cheese. Extremely accommodating for every food sensitivity. I even ordered a cappuccino after lunch, I thought my father was going to die of embarrassment, but they made it with almond milk. Who would’ve thought an Italian pizzeria in the middle of Rome would have almond milk in the kitchen for any reason.

My cheese-less pizza at Angelino Ai Fori Dal 1947

Day 4 in Rome we had another packed day adventure, this time to Florence. We hopped on an early morning train, which was only about 90 minutes, to Florence. Our first stop was a timed entry into the Uffizi, to see all of Davinci, Botticelli, Michaelangelo and Rafael’s work. It’s interesting how each city we visited had similar sculptures and pieces of artwork but they were all different in their own way. I can barely draw stick figures, it still blows my mind that these artists had nothing, just their hands and their imagination and crafted these remarkable perfectly formed sculptures and paintings.

The Baptism of Christ by Leonardo da Vinci

We then took a horse and carriage ride through Florence and then walked our way to Ristorante Toto’s for lunch. I had tagliatelle pasta dish with a meat sauce. We also all tried an appetizer of eggplant parmigiana, it was superb. Christopher had a steak dish, which is what Florence is known for. He said it was out of this world.

After lunch, we did some shopping. Florence has this large street that no one drives down, that is filled with leather goods, silk, and fine jewlery. After, we toured The Galleria dell'Accademia which houses the infamous Michaelangelo statue of David, the perfect man. We only waited on line a short while to witness this sculpture. It was a lot bigger in person. Still mind blown at the craftsmanship and the perfect attention to detail that Michaelangelo possessed at that time. After a busy day, we then headed back to our train.

Rome day 5, our last full day in Italy. We headed out to Rome to see the Spanish steps, which Christopher and I climbed to the top of, and then saw the Trevi Fountain, which sadly was being worked on for the 2025 Jubilee. He attempted to throw a coin in, but I don’t think it made it past the construction. We did some more walking and shopping by picking up some last minute souvenirs before heading back to the hotel to pack up and begin our journey home for the next day.

Sometimes when you are in the hustle and bustle of the moment it’s hard to take a step back and truly appreciate everything right in front of you. I tried so hard to soak up every minute of our trip as I know it may be years if at all if I ever make it back to this beautiful country. As I boarded the plane home, I carried more than souvenirs in my bag- I carried all our wonderful memories that I will cherish forever. Italy didn’t just offer beauty around every corner; it offered a feeling. A reminder to slow down, to connect, to savor every single bite and moment, and to live with more intention.

The streets of Florence

I’ll always be grateful for my parents for inviting Christopher and I on this once in a lifetime adventure. What made this trip truly unforgettable was experiencing it all with my husband and my parents. From wandering through historic streets and soaking in the breathtaking views, to indulging in the most delicious meals I’ve ever tasted, every moment felt like a dream. We laughed until we cried, shopped until our feet ached, and stood in awe before beauty that words can’t fully capture. These are the moments I’ll carry with me forever-the kind that reminds you what matters most. Italy gave us more than just memories; it gave us time together, pure joy and a little bit of magic.

Traveling through this beautiful country with Christopher and my parents made it more than a trip- it became a chapter in the story of my life that I’ll never stop rereading.

Grazie Italia. You gave me more than I ever could have imagined.

Until we meet again.

Roman Holiday Part 3

lisa

Roman Holiday Part 3

Roman Holiday Part 2

lisa