We came over on the ferry from Dubrovnik to Bari and went straight into Naples. We hadn't planned to stay there more than a day, but loved it so much, we ended up spending three days there. We stayed at this quirky hostel owned by super Italian Giovanni...he gave us a 30 minute run-down on what to do and where to go in the city, made the entire hostel dinner, and brought out his guitar and got everyone to sing songs at the top of our lungs (and one song, specifically, has been stuck in our heads ever since). We visited Pompeii, hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius, dodged scooters all over the city and in every alley, ate the best (and cheapest) pizza ever - it originated in Naples if you didn't already know, and got invited to a concert in the duomo performed by a German boys choir (one of the highlights!).
(at the top of windy Mt Vesuvius)
After Naples, we headed out to the Amalfi Coast. First, we stayed in Sorrento. Although it rained most of the time, it was so fun exploring and relaxing. Our last day there we had great weather so we tried to hike up to a little town on the top of the mountain looking over Sorrento that was recommended by a magazine in our hotel. It started out as a lovely hike...there was a tiny staircase winding up the mountain with stations of the cross at every switchback. They ended at this cute, tiny chapel at the top of the hill. After this, our instructions led us through olive and lemon groves, through vineyards, and then...nothing. The directions just instructed us to continue for 10 minutes (in no particular direction, although there were plenty to choose from) up to the final destination. So, we hiked straight up the mountain, for what we guessed was about 10 minutes, and ended up on the side of the highway with trucks and motorcycles screaming past us. We finally found a local walking along the highway and asked her if we were headed in the right direction and she told us that we had hiked two kilometers (uphill) past where we were trying to go. Awesome. We hiked back down and never did find the town we were looking for, but it was definitely a beautiful hike...tons of olive and lemon groves, vineyards, beautiful homes and amazing views, so it was still well worth it!
After a few days in Sorrento we made our way to Positano. Thanks to my dear friend Danielle, we stayed at the most amazing hotel! We had phenomenal ocean views from our terrace and had great weather the second day, which we spent soaking up the last of the summer sun on our huge deck. We ate amazing food, drank yummy wine and just relaxed Italian style. It was perfect.
(relaxing in Positano)
(at the Coluseum)
(at the Trevi Fountain)
(Siena's main square at night)
(laundry, shutters, and pretty colors)
(in the tower above Siena)
(at the top of windy Mt Vesuvius)
After Naples, we headed out to the Amalfi Coast. First, we stayed in Sorrento. Although it rained most of the time, it was so fun exploring and relaxing. Our last day there we had great weather so we tried to hike up to a little town on the top of the mountain looking over Sorrento that was recommended by a magazine in our hotel. It started out as a lovely hike...there was a tiny staircase winding up the mountain with stations of the cross at every switchback. They ended at this cute, tiny chapel at the top of the hill. After this, our instructions led us through olive and lemon groves, through vineyards, and then...nothing. The directions just instructed us to continue for 10 minutes (in no particular direction, although there were plenty to choose from) up to the final destination. So, we hiked straight up the mountain, for what we guessed was about 10 minutes, and ended up on the side of the highway with trucks and motorcycles screaming past us. We finally found a local walking along the highway and asked her if we were headed in the right direction and she told us that we had hiked two kilometers (uphill) past where we were trying to go. Awesome. We hiked back down and never did find the town we were looking for, but it was definitely a beautiful hike...tons of olive and lemon groves, vineyards, beautiful homes and amazing views, so it was still well worth it!
After a few days in Sorrento we made our way to Positano. Thanks to my dear friend Danielle, we stayed at the most amazing hotel! We had phenomenal ocean views from our terrace and had great weather the second day, which we spent soaking up the last of the summer sun on our huge deck. We ate amazing food, drank yummy wine and just relaxed Italian style. It was perfect.
(relaxing in Positano)
After a few days in Positano we made our way up to Rome. Neither of us had been there before and we both liked it much better than we had anticipated. We, of course, did all of the touristy stuff...saw the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, went to St Peter's Cathedral, the Colosseum, the Forum, the Palatine, visited the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, tossed coins into the Trevi Fountain, had appertivos in the piazzas; it was great.
(at the Coluseum)
(at the Trevi Fountain)
From Rome we headed into Siena. In Siena we "camped" which was more like staying in a cute, heated mobile home and was some of the best, cleanest and cheapest accommodation on all of our trip! Siena was so beautiful. Cute, winding cobblestone streets with, of course, Siena colored buildings everywhere, all surrounded by the beautiful Tuscan countryside. We stayed a few days and just took it easy...we ate yummy food, relaxed in the piazzas, and just slowed down for a couple of days.
(Siena's main square at night)
(laundry, shutters, and pretty colors)
(in the tower above Siena)
From Siena we went into Florence. We didn't have much time there but we still managed to see quite a lot. We just trekked it around town and saw the sites and got excited about all of the amazing architecture. It is so much fun to actually see (in person and not on a page of a book) the places, buildings and sites that you have studied! I have been to Florence before, but after studying many of these buildings in my classes, they come alive in such a new way...it was very cool. Nathan mentioned at the beginning of our Italy trip that his trip wouldn't be complete without finding some obscure restaurant that had checkered tablecloths, authentic Italian cooking, possibly run by the mafia...and on our last night in Florence, we found one! Checkered red and white tablecloths, meats hanging from the ceiling, Italian music blaring, family owned and run, AMAZING authentic Italian food...in fact, I think we may have had our BEST meal in all of Italy here. It was the perfect end to our Italy experience!
(the view above Florence)
(enjoying the last gelato!)
(the view above Florence)
(enjoying the last gelato!)
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