Italy Highlights & Travel Guide

Ciao amiche mie!

In today’s post, I’m going to give you the low down on all of my favorite spots from our most recent Italy trip. We went to four different cities/towns while there [Florence, Venice, Montefalco & Rome] so we saw & ate QUITE a lot, lol. It would be a bit too much to share everything we did in each destination, plus I wouldn’t necessarily recommend everything we did, so instead I’m going to share with you my highlights – aka my recommendations & must-do’s. To see this all in action, you can check out my Italy vlogs here & here!

So first things first…I need to gush about Florence for a second. I may be a tad biased (because I studied abroad there for a semester in college) but I think it is the best city in Italy. It’s a decent size, but also super quaint, and the whole city is built on either side of a river [The Arno] – it’s just so charming & there is nothing else like it. That being said, if you are going to Italy, spend some time here!! Often people will just pass through Florence aka Firenze for one day, and then spend multiple nights in larger cities like Rome or Milan. Don’t make this mistake! Trust me, you will wish you had more time in this magical city! We actually spent the most nights here out of any other place we visited.

Okay, onto the highlights! I will go through food, or should I say cibo, spots first (always my priority lol) and then onto things to do & see.

1. F L O R E N C E 

All’antico Vinaio 

Want the best sandwich (panino) of your life? You need to go here. If it were up to me, I would have had one of these everyday! It’s a teeny whole-in-the-wall panini shop (although now there are multiple little hole-in-the-walls on the same street, they have expanded since I lived there 5 years ago) and they serve their panini on the freshest, most delectable ciabatta bread. Guys, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Like I said, it’s really small, and there is usually a line – but be ready to order when you get inside! They all speak English, but they like to get people in & out fast (it kind of gives me Seinfield soup nazi vibes, lol, but they are way nicer!) Also, make sure to bring euros, I believe they only take cash.

Gusta Pizza

Best. Pizza. Everrrrr. You absolutely cannot miss this place! It’s classic Neopolitan pizza – thin inner crust, but with a fluffy outer crust, and it is so freakin good. I used to go here allll the time when I was living there because I just couldn’t stop! For sure my favorite pizza I’ve ever had, and I have yet to find anything that comes close here in the US. They have a few different pizzas to choose from – my fav hands down is the Gusta pizza – they are kind of big but I always get my own. This place is also small, but don’t worry they always magically find a place for you to sit. When you walk in, you’ll order at the counter, they’ll give you a number, and then wait as one of the employees will find a table for you. Do not miss this one!

Il Profeta

My favorite restaurant in Firenze, hands down. It’s small, doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it is run by a very sweet family and the food is SO GOOD. You guys, you have to order their signature dish – the Bonita del Profeta – trust. me. It’s very large, log-shaped pasta (it def has a name but I can’t remember) drenched in their secret sauce. They can’t tell you what’s in it..it’s a family secret! Our server was even saying he’s not aloud back in the kitchen when they are making it. Crazy! Also, fun fact, John Travolta loves this place, always orders the bonita, and licks the plate clean. And when you try it…you’ll want to do the same. Make sure to budget for this meal as it is on the pricier side – 33 euro for the signature dish. Add in wine, antipiasti (apps), and dolci (dessert – all the praise hands emoji for their tiramisu) and it can definitely get expensive, just a heads up!

Il Latini

We actually did not go here on this most recent trip, but I did go here while studying abroad and it’s definitely worth recommending. It is classic family style Italian, Chianti on the table, where the food just keeps coming and coming. If you are looking for that type of experience, this place is it! Make sure to bring a serious appetite, you’ll be in for antipasti, pasta, and meat dishes at the very least.

La Antica Trattoria

This place has great reviews, good food, and you can tell it’s definitely popular among students studying abroad. The food is good, you can get classic Italian dishes, but the best part is it’s much more affordable. If you’re looking for a dinner out & don’t want to spend a whole lot (I’m talking around 12-15 euro for a big plate of pasta) then this is your place.

Il Gelateria de Neri

This is my favorite gelato place hands down!! I used to go here all. the. time. when I was studying abroad. In fact, it was literally right around the corner from my apartment. Dangerous? Yes. Fantastic? Also yes. Any of the flavors are good, but the cookies and cream is my absolute fav! I always like getting 2-3 flavors to try in a cup so I can taste the most possible flavors! Also pro tip when it comes to gelato – how it’s stored/presented is a huge indicator of the quality. When your in the super touristy areas, you’ll see lots of gelato places with huge mounds of gelato that you can see from the window. This is usually not great gelato – as it can be sitting there for days and isn’t super fresh. Look for the places that have small, metal canisters that are enclosed with lids or that don’t have mountains of gelato sticking up. If you’re gonna do it, do it right!

Piazzale Michelangelo

This is probably my favorite spot in Florence, and has the most expansive, breathtaking views of the city. Most people know about this, it’s certainly not a secret, and thank God! It is absolutely way too beautiful to miss, especially if you can get up there for sunset. It is a bit of a walk, from city center, and also a bit of a steep climb (on driveways & sidewalks) so maybe don’t wear your least comfortable pair of shoes. Make sure to bring a bottle (or 3) of prosecco or wine so you can toast at the top! And if you want to do it the tried and true Becca way, enjoy an All’antico Vinaio panino while you journey up there 😉

La Galleria della’Accademia

The Accademia is home to the iconic David. The David was sculpted by the famous genius Michelangelo, and it really is such an amazing piece of art! He carved it completely free hand, as he did with all of his sculptures, which was not only unheard of but completely nuts to do at the time. Also you will probably notice the David looks unproportionate – but that is because he was originally created to be up on a very high pedestal, so he would look perfectly proportionate from way down below. Just goes to show how incredibly smart & talented Michelangelo was! This is definitely a must see, especially if you are not a huge art buff like myself (which is a really shame, because Florence is overflowing with incredible art & has the most masterpieces in the world!) because you can see a famous piece, but also get in and out lol. If you are really into art history, you for sure have to spend some time in the Uffizi Gallery – I would recommend setting up a tour in advance, there is a lot to see!

The Leather Market

Often when people visit Italia, and Florence specifically, they want to purchase some leather goods. The Leather Market is a great place to do this – tons of vendors set up each day, you can walk through, and you can also barter with them on pricing. It’s also just a great place to visit & stroll through in the afternoon if you want to see more of the city. I would also recommend Massimo’s – it’s a bit off the beaten path from the Leather Market, and is actually a store front, but Massimo is incredibly nice & welcoming to customers. I bought my leather jacket here back when I was studying abroad, and it is still in great condition.

Ponte Vecchio

This is the old bridge right in the center of the city that crosses over the Arno. Ponte Vecchio quite literally means “old bridge,” and this is the one that has little shops built onto it, and is definitely iconic Florence. There is also a walkway built into the top of the bridge – more like a secret hallway actually – that the Medici family used back in the day to go between the Palazzo Pitti (their palace/home) and the Palazzo Vecchio (town hall) without having to step foot in the streets! There isn’t necessarily a whole lot to do here, other than shop for gold jewelry & cross over it, but it is definitely something you have to see up close & personal while strolling through the city center!

Il Duomo

Last but not least, I cannot leave out the Duomo! This is the giant, incredibly ornate, gorgeous church in the center of the city – and is definitely the biggest icon of the city. You can spend a half hour just walking around it and admiring the architecture & detail – it’s insane! You can also climb to the top of the duomo – but it’s not something I would really recommend unless you have tons of time to spend in Firenze. There is usually a long line, it costs money, there are a ton of stars, and you have to walk through tight spaces, so def stay away if you get claustrophobic! The views from Piazzale Michelangelo are honestly better in my opinion. But if you have lots of time to spend in this city – climb away!

2. V E N I C E 

Venice is absolutely gorgeous and I think should be a must on everyone’s Italy wish list. There really is nothing else like it – an entire city built on water – it’s just breathtaking! Also…it’s sinking lol (and vey apparent when you are actually there!!) so you might want make this higher priority on the bucket list. Note: when it comes to eating in Venice, it can be a little tough. It seems like every restaurant has someone standing out front trying to lure you in & pictures of the menu/food on display (not necessarily an indicator it’s not a good restaurant, but usually these are more touristy places that know people won’t be coming back, so it could be a sign the food is not going to be excellent) which I really tried to avoid. We didn’t have a whole lot of time in Italy – I wanted every meal to be delectable!! I did have two restaurants we liked and would recommend though.

Antico Trattoria

This is actually the oldest restaurant in Venice (dates back to the 1500s!) and has a pretty cool, antique vibe inside. The food was delicious, and they also had some delicious, interesting seafood dishes (cuttlefish in squid ink, anyone?) They also had an extensive wine list. On the pricier side as far as restaurants go, but would definitely recommend.

Birraria le Corte

This place is a pretty casual pizza & beer restaurant. If you’re looking for something a little more chill (and not a full out, fancy dinner, which can get old when you do it every night lol) this is a great place to go. They had TONS of pizza options, craft beer, it’s affordable, and I loved the ambiance of this place. It was way off the beaten path, and there were also a ton of locals in there (or at least, Italians) which is always a good sign.

Piazza San Marco

This is the main square in the city – it is huge and gorgeous! It’s surrounded on most sides with incredibly old, beautiful buildings. Make sure to set aside time to wander through this piazza – check out St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s clocktower (so cool!!) the Doge’s Palace, and the expansive water views!

Rialto Bridge

This is the iconic bridge in Venice, right over the Grand Canal, and the views of the water & Venetian buildings are beautiful!! Definitely make sure you make time to check out this area of Venice.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi

This place is actually a high end department store, but even if you’re not into designer shopping, this place is still a must! The architecture of the building itself is extremely cool – it was actually one of the main trading centers back in the 13th century, so it’s worth checking out. BUT – the main reason you want to go here is because of the rooftop views! If you head all the way up to the top of the building, you can go out on the roof and get incredible 360° views of Venice! They only allow 30 people up at a time, so there could be a little bit of a line, but you can go and get a ticket to come back at a specified time if you want.

Gondola Ride

Nothing says classic Venice quite like a gondola ride. The boats are exquisite, and being able to float through the channels and view Venice from the water is a really cool experience! It comes at a cost, though. It will usually run you around 80-90 euro for a 15-30 minute ride. But if you mainly just want to do it for the photo op (or should I say gram) I have a shameless hack for you that I did while studying abroad, lol! On the Grand Canal, there are smaller gondolas that basically act as taxis that will bring you from one side of the canal to the other, and get this – it only costs 2 euro! It’s only like a 30 second ride, but that’s just enough time to snap a couple pics, and no one will ever know! 😉

Murano

Murano is a tiny island right off the huge group of islands that makes the ‘mainland’ of Venice. If you’re looking for something to do other than stroll around Venice & take in those sights, this could be a good option. Murano is where the famous Murano glass art comes from, and they have a small glass factory right on the island. It’s a quick trip – only about 15 min by water taxi & literally the only thing to do there is to go to the glass factory – so it doesn’t take up too much time. You can actually watch the glass blowers in action at the factory – and it’s SO cool. We got to watch one of them make a little horse out of literally a blob of molten glass in like 2 minutes (I showed it in the vlog) it was incredible!!

3. M O N T E F A L C O 

Montefalco is a teeny little town on a hill in Tuscany, and is not typically a tourist destination. However, if you want to spend a night or two in a sleep little Italian town and get the true experience, this is a great option. There isn’t a whole lot to do, so just a night or two is plenty, but the views are incredible! Montefalco is actually referred to the “balcony of Umbria” because it has the best views of those iconic rolling hills of Italy! Seriously breathtaking. Also, it’s one of the major wine producing spots in Italy (you’ve gotta try their Sagrantino) so that ain’t bad either! As far as what we did…we pretty much drank, ate, and soaked in the views – there aren’t really any ‘attractions’ per se here!

Montioni

This is one of the Montefalco wineries, and if you are a wine fan (I mean who isn’t??) you have GOT to go here! We did a light lunch/wine tasting and it was phenomenal. We got try 4 of their wines, their olive oil (we brought home bottles of both!) and the lunch was so good. It was advertised as a ‘light lunch’ but there was so much food!! W certainly weren’t complaining though 😉 The owner also took us personally on a tour of his vineyards (both grapevines & olive trees, so beautiful) and also down into the wine cellar as well. I couldn’t recommend this place enough! And fun fact – the owner said they are starting a new project to have luxury accommodations right on the property – should be ready in about 3 years – and I so badly want to go back now!!

Olevm

This was a small little restaurant located right off the main (and pretty small lol) square! They did not speak any English – it was the real, family owned, cooked with love Italian meal deal. And it was delicious!! We decided to do as the Italians do at this meal and order alll the courses – pasta & a meat dish included – and we were so stuffed haha but it was delicious! They also had lots of local wine which was awesome too. Loved this place!

L’Alchimista

This is one of the most popular restaurants in Montefalco – this place was packed with locals!! They had an amazing menu, and are known for their steak. I honestly can’t tell you the last time I ordered steak at a restaurant, but since that was what they were known for, you bet I was going to try it. And it was delicious!! And honestly kind of a nice break from all the pasta!

Fredrico II

This cafe/restaurant is located right in the main square, and we actually frequented here throughout or stay. We would usually just pop in for aperitivo (basically drinks & small snacks – whenever you order drinks in Italy, they automatically bring you little apps/bits of food and it’s freakin’ awesome). I did once order their hot chocolate (cioccolata caldo) and OH MY it was the best I’ve ever had. It was basically a mug of hot fudge, and it was fabulous!! They also have a restaurant on the other side with a full menu. We did stop in here for a pizza lunch on of the days, and it was pretty good!

Re Tartu

This was a tiny little restaurant we found while strolling and stopped in for a couple glasses of wine. They have this huge window in the back that has gorgeous views! We basically just hung out a table, ordered some bottles of wine, and took in the views. They also didn’t speak any English here, just a heads up!

4. R O M E 

I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of intimidated by Rome. I’ve never been a huge fan of big cities, they tend to overwhelm me! And also this was our last stop on our Italian adventure – we were honestly kind of tired by this point, and not feeling the most adventurous. So we didn’t do a whole lot of exploring outside the traditional touristy spots, so I don’t have a ton of unique recommendations on this one.

La Sandwicheria 

Okay this probably sounds like the most Americanized, touristy spot possible – and I guess it is lol, but here me out! This little places made GREAT little sandwiches (panini) that are perfect for a quick lunch on the go. We had a hard time finding places like this while we were over there..and would always end up eating a heavy, sit-down lunch which is just not always what you want to do in the middle of the day. This place was great! If you’re in need of a filling, yummy sandwich while exploring Rome, this is a great option.

Spanish Steps

This is definitely one of the (many) icons of Rome. It’s a giant, beautiful staircase in the city (there are actually 135 steps!) between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinita dei Monti. You’ve definitely got to see it for yourself, and it’s also a great spot for pictures!

Trevi Fountain

Another Roman classic, I am sure you have seen it in my pictures! It’s a giant, gorgeous fountain that definitely makes for a breathtaking photo backdrop! Also, make sure to toss a coin in and make a wish!

The Colosseum

Again, one of the gorgeous icons of Rome! You have absolutely got to see this bad boy in person, it really is SO cool!  It’s just incredible that it was built so long ago, and you can almost see & hear the ancient crowds cheering when you peer around these ruins. We did not actually tour the inside this time – but I did when I was abroad, and I would definitely recommend a tour of this place. The history of it all is just fascinating!

Vatican City / Saint Peter’s Basilica / Sistine Chapel

This is of course one area you don’t want to miss! Also iconic Rome, and there is so much here to see. Definitely check out St. Peter’s Basilica (the line can be long to get in, just a heads up) as well as the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo famously painted the ceiling of the chapel, and it is truly incredible! Also, if you are able to somehow get a tour of the catacombs – DO IT. I have never done this, but my parents were able to on a previous trip, and they said it was the absolute coolest thing they’d ever done. It’s basically like a tour of the underground city of Rome – how cool is that??

 

That does it for my Italy highlights! I hope this post is helpful to you guys! If you have an Italy trip coming up in the near future – first off, you are going to LOVE IT! And second off, let me know down below so I can be jealous!!

xx Becca