My Italian Experience

I was able to take my first trip to Italy in May of 2022. I was there for about a week and visited five different cities: Civita, Lubriano, Orvieto, Florence, and Rome. Some are more popular than others, but all were absolutely incredible! I traveled through https://casaericatravel.com and https://www.theartgaragejax.com/artretreats, who are both incredible at their job and even more incredible women. So here are my highlights of an unforgettable trip, hopefully they are able to steer you in the right direction during yours!

Lubriano:

This is where I stayed during my trip. It is a quiet village that makes you feel like you're literally on the set of Beauty and the Beast! The local Italian gardens architecture surrounds you with a sense of familiarity and tranquility. There is also a cute bar/cafe that most people stroll to for a morning cappuccino or an evening cognac (or vice versa depending on what trip you’re looking for:)).

Civita di Bagnoregio:

This was a perfect day trip activity. We walked a bridge up to the falling city (nicknamed due to the eroding hillside) and explored all it had to offer. We shopped in local markets, purchased jewelry and paintings, admired the old houses, and even looked for the place Harry Styles bought as a vacation home (we found it). Before making the trip back down, we stopped for charcuterie and wine in one of the outdoor restaurants.

Orvieto:

In my opinion, the Duomo Di Orvieto is even more spectacular than the Florence Duomo. It is absolutely stunning with such history (and drama) surrounding its origin. All of the artwork, outside and inside, has a significance and tells a story. Each brush stroke has a purpose, each sculpture a symbol. Orvieto also has occasional markets in the streets which are filled with fruits, clothes, jewelry, flowers, and more. Here, I found a gorgeous Italian leather jacket for a great price! But the best location in this town is hands down I’ Officina Del Gelato. BEST. TARTS. EVER. I did a happy dance in the street after my first bite… not exaggerating.

Florence:

We took a day trip to Florence and it was nothing short of amazing. For me personally, a day trip was perfect because I prefer the quaint and quiet of nature over the hustle and bustle of the city. The two main buildings we explored were the Uffizi and the Accademia. 

The Uffizi has multitudes of art from all time periods, each floor centered on a different era. My personal favorite was the Renaissance collection. The Accademia was my favorite, not to downplay the Uffizi, the Accademia was just that incredible. The pieces there really spoke to me, one of the most fascinating being a sculpture titled, “Rape of the Sabine Women”; it was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. This is also where The David is found, which speaks for itself. 

Imbetween museums we ate at Il’ Bottegone, right outside the Florence Duomo. It had such a classy atmosphere. To relax before our train ride back, we went to View On Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar. This the coolest hidden location and the best spot to admire the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is on the floor of a hotel, has amazing drinks, and a breathtaking view.

Rome:

I could not fly out of Rome without seeing all of the iconic destinations that are so closeby! So we stayed our last night at Hotel Terminal Rome: the perfect hotel that’s affordable and near the airport. To ensure we saw everything, we booked a personal driving tour for the evening. All of the locations are still, if not more, beautiful at night! Our driver spoke english and played english audio files while we drove that talked about the history and significance of each destination, which I LOVED. My favorite stops were the Spanish Steps, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum (where I sobbed hysterically at its beauty).

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More photos from this destination can be found in the “Travel gallery” tab