Fall in Italy - Rome, Florence, Venice and Amalfi Coast

Over the years, my bucket list has grown tremendously, but one country always remained at the top..ITALY! So I was over the moon when my best friend extended the invite for us to join their honeymoon/anniversary trip. 9 days of wine, pasta, gelato, cheese and pizza? Yes please!

Day 1 - 2: We kicked our trip off in Rome! After landing, we checked into a lovely boutique hotel in the Monti District, Princeps Boutique Hotel. It’s located in one of the oldest palaces in Rome. It’s centrally located to all of the major sites - Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and many more. Since we were celebrating our 3 year anniversary, we were greeted with a nice bottle of Prosecco. Perfect start to any trip, right?

Since we only had two days in Rome, we jumped right into exploring. In hindsight, I wish that we added an extra day to take our time and sightsee without feeling rushed. We toured the Colosseum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica - all absolutely amazing experiences. Crowded? Yes, but definitely worth seeing. I would highly advise anyone to book a tour to see these sites. It allows for faster entry and the tour guides are so knowledgeable.

My favorite tour of all was a pasta making class that we took on our last night. The food was delicious! Do you see this beautiful bowl of Cacio e Pepe? I think I finished it in 5 minutes tops and don’t you dare judge.

Day 3 - 6: After walking 50,000+ steps in Rome, we were excited to relax on the coast. We took the train from Rome to Naples and then a private transport directly to Positano. The drive to Positano was an adventure. Beautiful views everywhere you turned, but hair pinning turns that would have even the best drivers on edge.

We checked into a gorgeous B&B right in the middle of town. It was such a charming place with the most amazing staff! They were so attentive to all of our needs. Each morning they served the best breakfast that we ate in all of Italy. I can still taste the stuffed croissants.

Positano is a lovely town, crowded and slightly touristy but still very romantic. We dined at Chez Black, Da Vincenzo, Le Tre Sorelle, and a few others. My favorite of all was La Tagliata! This restaurant is definitely a treat. The menu is preset, all of the vegetables are organic, wine is unlimited and the views are breathtaking.

Positano was our relaxing part of the trip. We just took it slow. Spent some time shopping, relaxing on the beach and just enjoying each others company.

On our last day, we took a boat over to Capri for the day and toured the island. If you’re interested, I would highly recommend booking with Capasecca Yacht Group.

Day 6- 8: After 4 days on the coast, we headed over to Florence. The next stop on our tour. Florence has always been on “must see” list and it did not disappoint! It’s something about the vibe of the city, it’s so romantic and enchanting. I instantly fell in love.

We decided to do an AirBnb here that was an adorable studio apartment. The host were very sweet & provided us with a ton of amazing recommendations! Email me if you are headed there and would like to find out more.

The highlight for me was a day trip to Tuscany. We visited 3 wineries where we sampled some of the best olive oil and red wine I’ve ever tasted! What a dream.

Day 8- 9: Our last stop was Venice. We checked into the Rosa Salva Hotel, a 10- 15 minute walk from Piazza San Marco & Rialto Bridge. It was a quaint boutique hotel located on a quiet side street. Lovely staff, modern rooms and a buffet breakfast that’s included.

Is Venice a tourist trap? Of course! But it’s one of those places you have to see at least once in your life. I mean the entire city actually is on water. We took a gondola ride down the canals, and stuffed our faces with more gelato than I care to talk about. Overall, our time in Italy was truly one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. If you’d like to know more, or would like to discuss planning your own Italian vacation, send me a message at briana@loveleisuretravel.com. I look forward to hearing from you.