WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY: VIDEOS AND RECOMMENDATION BY COUNTRY – Italy

Here are the videos by country from my three-month trip around the world. Enjoy the highlights and recommendations! Stay tuned for a new country each week.

This week’s Country: ITALY! (North-Central)

Italy Day 1 (RTW#32/33): Milan Cathedral, Sempione Park, and Athens Recap: Milan, Italy

Summary

Athens for a Day Recap
Milan for the Day
Recommendation: DaVinci’s Last Supper Painting Closed on Mondays

Italy Day 2 (RTW#34): Lake Como, Italy and Lugano, Switzerland

Summary

Day in Lake Como and Lugano, Switzerland
Recommendation: Check out the view from the Lighthouse
Recommendation: Take a quick train to Lugano from Lake Como (about 40 min away)

Italy Day 3 (RTW#35): Cinque Terra Winds in October: Manarola, Italy

Summary:

Windy Day in Manarola (Late October- Off Season)

Italy Day 4 (RTW#36): What is Cinque Terre? Come trek with me through the 5 cities.

Summary:

Summary of the Hike through Cinque Terre’s five towns: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
Recommendation: Hike the cities “Backwards” starting at Monterosso al Mare and ending in Riomaggiore for the best views as you approach each city
Recommendation: You roll the dice a little when you enter off season with wind/rain, but I caught a great day in October and the trail was not crowded
Recommendation: There is a train that runs from each city in Cinque Terre if you can’t or don’t want to do the full hike, but want to see each city
Recommendation: Buy a day pass that covers the hike and trains
Wine/Cheese Lounge Recommendation: Sunset at A Pie De Ma

Italy day 5 (RTW#37): The Best Bolognese in Bologna, Italy: Trattoria della Santa

Summary:

VISIT BOLOGNA!! A wonderful underrated city!
Best Bolognese (Ever) Recommendation: Trattoria della Santa

Italy day 6 (RTW#38): Abandoned in Firenze, Duomo, Piazza de Michelangelo: Florence, Italy

Summary:

Getting into Florence/A Day in Florence
I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE WITH THE TOURIST HOTEL DUOMO (Abandoned with no hotel in Florence after booking a room and paying in advance. I communicated to them about my arrival via email and even made a friend on the train to call and speak to them in Italian, but they still left me abandoned. To add insult to injury, they charged me a cancellation fee after giving my room to someone else).
BED AND BREAKFAST SAVIORS: SOGGIORNO BURCHI, Took me in after being left hotel-less and treated me like family and made me feel right at home.
View of Florence Recommendation: Piazza de Michelangelo: Sunset, Church Bells, and Monks Chanting

Italy Day 7 (RTW#39): Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy

Summary:

Recommendation: Boboli Gardens
Recommendation: Giotto’s Campanile (Giotto’s Bell Tower) and Duomo – Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiore
Pizza Recommendation: Gusta Pizza
Dinner Recommendation: La Cucina Del Garga (One of the very best meals of my trip!!! Amazing food, wine, service and ambiance. They even let you channel your inner-artist and use markers all over your table cloth!)

Italy Day 8 (RTW#40): Wine Tasting in Tuscany, Italy. Tenuta Torciano Winery