Where We Stayed:

Since this was the tail end of a busy trip, we decided to stay put in Vernazza, also considered one of the most beautiful cities in all of Italy. We rented La Casa dell’Eroico Vino, an airbnb where we could relax with a gorgeous view of the beach and main square, perfect for people watching. The airbnb was awesome! My only complaint was the lack of AC in the sweltering summer heat, but it’s common to not have AC in Italy, especially in the more authentic places. Many people opt for day trips to Cinque Terre so the trains were extremely busy at times! We definitely felt like sardines on the train at one point, but it was worth the overnight stay as the early mornings and late evenings were less crowded and more enjoyable. 

What We Wore:

Because Cinque Terre is a hiking and beachy town, the less clothes the better, especially in the summer months. We spent most days in our bathing suits and cotton or athletic clothes to stay as cool as possible. Check out my post on my poolside essentials which includes some of the swimsuits I packed!

Where We Ate: 

We had an incredible breakfast experience at Il Pirata Delle Cinque Terre. We had delicious coffee, eggs and bacon, but the star of the show is their famous cannolis and pistachio pastries. Cinque Terre has the benefit of beautiful views and the location of Ristorante La Torre was amazing! We enjoyed their pasta with pesto and prawns. Their selection of desserts were delicious but the views made the dinner a memorable experience. For a casual meal, we loved the pizza at Nusesa Pizzeria Cocktail Bar and for an added bonus all the waiters were incredibly gorgeous!  

What We Did:

Cinque Terre is most known for its hiking. The summer months can be brutally hot so I recommend an early or late evening hike, and taking advantage of the beach during the day. It’s also fun to pop into the various shops and markets to sample the fresh fruit and gelato, and hunt for unique souvenirs, accessories and clothing. You can also book boat tours at Cinque Terre which I would have loved to do! There’s always next time!  

As you plan your unforgettable adventure in Cinque Terre, don’t forget to explore my other Italy guides on Rome’s timeless beauty and Florence & Tuscany’s enchanting landscapes. 

Buon viaggio!

XO, 
Ana B

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Where We Stayed:

In Tuscany, we stayed in two different areas. The first was the countryside for my client Katharine’s wedding at Pescaia Resort. I will be sharing more about this venue and wedding soon but it was an absolute picturesque villa. This area does require the use of a rental car as Taxis are hard to come by. You can also schedule car service through the resort, but because it is remote, a rental car is a better option for exploring the area further.

After the beautiful wedding festivities, we took another train to Florence – truly one of my favorite cities in Italy. It is smaller than Rome and feels old worldly with buildings dating back to the sixth and seventh centuries. We had a beautiful stay at Hotel Lungarno with an epic location along the Arno River and a short distance from Ponte Vecchio. During a previous stay, we booked the historic Hotel Brunelleschi and had an enjoyable experience.  

What We Wore: 

Tuscany has so many places for photo ops. It’s definitely worth bringing some cute but comfortable outfits for your photos. Check out my Italy Packing List here! You can find my pink dress at Salome in Rome.

Where We Ate: 

We had incredible meals at Pescaia Resort during the wedding festivities, including the most delicious pastries and truffle pasta. In Florence, we made reservations in advance at our absolutely favorite gnocchi restaurant, Osteria Santo Spirito. Another notable mention goes to Trattoria ZaZa for their cool ambiance and famous Florentine steak, a must try! I recommend making reservations in advance to avoid long wait times.

What We Did:  

Florence is a very walkable city with all the major sites in close proximity. While it’s easy to just walk around and experience the city, we took a street food tour through Get Your Guide to try the local fair and learn more about the city. My favorite picturesque spots to visit, shop and spend a little more time are the Piazza Della Signoria, a famous square where you will find a replica of the David and the fountain of Neptune, Il Duomo, the third largest cathedral in the world, and Ponte Vecchio, a bridge dating back to the Middle Ages that now has little shops selling all kinds of jewelry, art and trinkets.

Where We Shopped:

Florence has some of the best shopping to offer. You can find all the luxury name brand stores off the small streets near Piazza Della Signoria. However Florence offers an Outlet Mall just a short drive away offering all the name brands at discounted prices. 

You can find my purple dress here and sandals here – A perfect vacation fit that’s cute and comfortable for walking the city. Check out my recent Travel Guide to Rome for more! 

XO,
Ana B.

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Where We Stayed:

We had a lovely stay at St Regis Rome, a luxury hotel in a central location to shops and sights. The St. Regis has gorgeously appointed rooms and a delicious breakfast buffet every morning. The staff at the St. Regis we’re so helpful and kind. I especially loved seeing all the ladies wearing unique skirts that represented the hotel in different ways. For a second option that’s more affordable, I recommend Le Meridien. It’s a nice and clean hotel walking distance to all the major attractions with a cute rooftop bar.

What We Wore: 

Since our trip was during the hottest months, I opted for breezy dresses and linen pants or shorts with a cute pair of white sneakers or sandals. Check out my Italy Packing List and Summer Wardrobe Staples posts.

Where We Ate: 

We had the most epic cacio e pepe, carbonara and bolognese at Osteria Da Fortunata. It was so good we ended up going twice! There’s typically a line of people waiting, but it moves quickly and is so worth the wait! We stopped by Giolitti twice for the most delicious gelato you’ve ever had! They top every gelato with a small scoop of delicious cream! The pistachio was my favorite. For the more popular restaurants, I recommend calling to make a reservation and checking on the dress code in advance. 

What We Did:  

Since we stayed in Rome for three days, I scheduled a three hour e-bike tour through Get Your Guide. I typically like to schedule a tour the day after arriving in the city so that we quickly get acquainted with the main attractions and can return to them at our leisure. We loved that our bike tour took us through some of the lesser known attractions such as the Aventine Keyhole and Orange Garden aka Giardino degli Aranci. My family loves to bike or scooter so we prefer these over walking tours. In a previous visit to Rome, we did a walking food tour of Rome and Colosseum walking tour, which is always fun to experience at least once! 

Where We Shopped: 

Italy in general is a shopping mecca and Rome does not disappoint. My favorite is spending a day at Via Del Corso and popping in at all the shops. There you can find all the luxury stores that are popular, but a few local favorites include Salomè, a women’s boutique, and Paul Taylor and Dan John for men’s clothing.

You can find my outfit set here and my sandals here, both from Mod&Soul! Let me know if you have any Rome favorites you’d like to share, I learn so much from our readers. Check out my recent travel Guide to Tuscany and Florence for more! 

XO,
Ana B.

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We took a flight to Frankfurt then to Naples, Italy where we booked a car service in advance through Guemar Travel. The first leg of our trip started in Ravello, for my bride’s gorgeous wedding overlooking the Amalfi Coast. I’ll be sharing more about her wedding later this week! (I can link to that blog post next week after we post the highlight BP)

RAVELLO & AMALFI COAST, ITALY

Where to Stay: 

Hotel Graal 

We stayed at Hotel Graal, which had an epic view of the Amalfi Coast. Our room had a nice sized balcony where we ate breakfast many mornings. (Breakfast is included). The staff were kind and helpful, the pool and restaurant were enjoyable, and you just couldn’t beat the view! Hotel Graal had a perfect walking location to the town square with lots of lovely shops and restaurants and taxi/bus service wherever you wanted to go.

Palazzo Avino

Pre-wedding events took place at Palazzo Avino, a beautiful luxury hotel in Ravello! If you are looking for a luxury experience and a gorgeous hotel, this is the perfect place! 

Villa Cimbrone

Lauren’s dreamy wedding took place at Villa Cimbrone, a beautiful historic and prestigious hotel. You can tour the grounds during the day or book a stay for the ultimate luxury experience.

What to do:  

•Visit the Duomo, an 11th century cathedral built in Baroque and Romanesque styles. Go to view stunning architecture and see the church’s museum.

•Take cooking classes at Vila Maria! This classes are hands on and can be as short as a single day class or go the length of your stay. Learn to create a full Italian meal or immerse your self in the pizza experience!

•Go shopping at Pascal Ceramiche d’Arte for 100% locally made ceramic pieces, celebrating a hundred-years-old tradition of ceramic making.

•Relax in Piazza Vescado, a picturesque town square where you can grab a bite to eat and do some shopping with gorgeous mountain views.

Where to Eat: 

An authentic Italian restaurant called Trattoria da Cumpa Cosimo. Mama Netta is the famous cook who makes the meals. We had a delicious appetizer featuring various meats, cheeses and fruits and a sample tasting of five different pastas. Delicious italian wine and a homemade tiramisu.  Do not miss! 

Getting around:

Taxi Service:

Once in Ravello, we used Michele Taxi Service for day trips down to Almafi. We really enjoyed this family run taxi service and used it several times! Amalfi is about twenty minutes away from Ravello. You can also take a very cheap bus near Hotel Graal if you want to save money which takes you all over Amalfi and the surrounding area.

ROME, ITALY

The day after the wedding, we took Michele taxi service to Naples and then the fast train from Naples to Rome. Tip: Download the trainline app for easy booking. We booked the Italo fast train and the ride to Rome lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes.

Where to Stay: 

Stay at Liberty Boutique Hotel – Via Palestro, 64, Rome, RM, 185 Italy

We enjoyed our stay at this modern hotel. There were lots of restaurants and bars within walking distance and it was a short car ride away from most historic sites. We used Uber and scooters to get around.

To do:

– Rome Street Food Tour booked through Get Your Guides – Eat some of the best Italian street food while walking off the carbs!

–Colosseum Tour – we did the three hour tour which included a private underground tour.

–Shopping in Via Del Corso near Spanish Steps – Via del Corso, 165-155, Roma RM, Italy – Amazing shopping, restaurants, and street performers near the famous Spanish Steps. 

Where to Eat

There are so many restaurants in Rome that it is so easy to find a trattoria that will satisfy your craving. But my favorite had to be Il Chianti, a Tuscan wine bar blocks from the Trevi Fountain. Delicious pasta topped with all the shaved truffles.

Naples, Italy

Unfortunately we were only in Naples for a night but it was enough time for Pablo to get a famous pizza Napolitana from L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. This famous pizza place was featured in Eat, Pray, Love where Julia Roberts enjoyed a slice!

We stayed the night at the Hotel San Pietro, a gorgeous hotel located in the historic city center. The roof top garden and bar was the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast!

It’s always so hard to come back home after being somewhere so amazing, but I can’t wait for my next trip!

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