ITALY (2006, 2009, 2011, 2013): Senses Overload!
Trieste– Gateway to the Balkans. Not your stereotypical Italian city. Actually felt like an Italian version of Vienna. I loved the coffee culture. Cool square that opens out to the sea.
Venice– Loved it! Everything I thought it would be. Just a magical city. Yes there were crowds by the Piazza San Marco & the Realto Bridge, but it was so easy to escape them just by walking around the atmospheric back alleys (where the best food can be found incidentally). Lido was airy and laid back. Burano was a different colorful world than Venice, which provided a nice contrast of life in the Veneto. Murano was like a miniature quiet version of Venice with glassblowers. The Giudecca is a quiet side of Venice with local flavor (Cicchetti) and a great view of the main part if the city. Also, the vaporetti are the way to travel.
Verona– The city of Romeo & Juliet lives up to the romance. The wonderfully intact Roman arena and scattered ruins lend the city imperial grandeur, while the beautiful squares and modern life give the city a vibrancy. If you have money to spend (I didn’t), Verona may be the place to be.
Rome– The Eternal City was not as chaotic as I feared. Despite the ancient ruins, it really is a Renaissance heavy city. For a city renowned for its religious buildings I did not feel its soul. Wear a hat, the sun is hot there!
Florence– Beautiful city. Great place to buy quality leather goods for reasonable prices. David’s eyes were amazing, the focus really, despite his physique. Climb the Duomo’s Dome.
Siena– The best kept secret in Italy! Beautiful Tuscan city with the best square in Italy and not too touristy. Great base to explore Tuscan wine regions.
Montalcino– Little walled city in the heart of wine country. Lovely little town if you have money. Plenty of high end stores that sell wine or jewelry.
Bologna– Attractive city that is very down-to-earth. Lots of students. The Porticos make walking in the heat very pleasant. Nice old town, but not a lot of sights. Great pizza.
Ravenna– Pleasant city but the ancient Byzantine mosaics are AMAZING! A nice compliment to the ruins of Rome. They are so bright and a nice break from Renaissance Italy.
Ferrara– Pleasant wealthy city near Bologna that is off the tourist radar despite an interesting castle and moat right in the heart of the city.
VATICAN CITY (2011): What you expect from the heart of the worldwide Catholic Church. Filled with amazing Renaissance art, tourists and lines. Climbing the Dome of St. Peter’s can be scary if you are claustrophobic. The Sistine Chapel was brilliant, even if you have seen it in pictures. Don’t skip the less touristed Raphael Rooms.
SAN MARINO (2011): Smallest & oldest republic in the world surrounded by Italy.
San Marino– Small mountaintop capital of the republic. Looks like an old fortress. Great vistas of the surrounding countryside from the castle towers. Feels a little like a medieval open air shopping mall though.