Places we visited:
Pompeii
Naples
Capri
Amalfi Coast
Ischia
Sicily
Naples
Florence >Cinque Terre, Sienna, Chiante
Milan >Lake Como
Venice >Burano, Murano
Highlights of the Trip:
-The FOOD! >the sweetest tomatoes, freshest herbs and ingredients used in ancient family recipes, make the dishes exquisite here. Sicily, Capri and Naples were at the top on our list for best food of Italy...think Napoli buffalo cheese pizza, Caprese salad and homemade ravioli, Sicilian pizza, gelato and cannoli
-The wine, which is all locally made and tasted so fresh (typically a bottle cost US$3-10)
-We were fortunate enough to see the Blue Grotto in Capri- which is a sea cave on the coast of the island that creates a unique blue reflection from the sunlight that illuminates the cavern. It's the king's old private pool and is only accessible through the old palace or under a shallow cave
-Hiking the Amalfi Coast to Positano beach/town
-Walking the streets in Napoli- wine bar on the streets, best pizza places in all of Italy (we waited 2 1/2 hrs to try one of the best pizza restaurants..it was amazing), lots of beautiful churches, street food and markets with traditional handmade crafts
-The history in Pompeii and Rome was just unbelievable- Vatican City and the Colosseum (we had an excellent guide who shared stories in a way like he was there)
-Scala dei Turchi beach in Sicily- unique white clay beach
-Natural hot springs and mud bath in Ischia
-Homemade 5 course dinner prepared by our Air bnb host (who's also a chef)- complete with homemade pesto (he has pinenut trees) and homemade limoncello (he has lemon trees) and all veggies and herbs picked from his garden! Couldn't have asked for a better 6 year wedding anniversary dinner!
-Wine tasting in Chiante -trying the winner of the year, Chiante Classico
-Taking a stroll around the most colorful place in the world- Burano!
-Beach hopping and wine tasting in Cinque De Terre
-Taking a peaceful retreat at a farm air bnb in Lake Como- incredible view!
-Gondola Ride in Venice
-Fresh lemon juice and limoncello in all the southern islands
-Bike ride around Luca village
-Traveling from city to city by train- so quick and convenient
-Dinner and an opera in Rome on our last night of the trip
-Staying in Air bnb's- we really lucked out with wonderful hosts who made us feel at home