Have you always wanted to live your Lizzie McGuire Movie fantasy in Rome? Or is Under the Tuscan Sun more your vibe? Luckily for me, I was able to make both of these happen on my trip to Italy.
I come from proud Italian roots, and I often thought about visiting the place my family always talks about. Take myself to Italy!? On my own!? It just didn’t feel possible. Sure, I knew some Italian, mostly whatever my Nonna or Nonno (grandmother and grandfather) would say around the house. But would that be enough? That, plus what I always thought would be a hefty price tag, and every other detail to think about felt overwhelming.
After some research, I stumbled upon Under30Experiences' Italy trip. From hiking along the Marmore Falls, taking an authentic pasta-making class in the Tuscan countryside, cycling around Lucca, and everything else in between, this trip was calling my name. After reading their glowing reviews and carefully curated itinerary, I was sold!
Now to Get Ready for My Trip to Italy
If you know me, you know I like to be prepared. I started brushing up on my Italian with daily Duolingo lessons, and I followed social media influencers who shared helpful tips and tricks you should know when traveling to Italy. I looked into typical weather and recommended clothing I should bring.
Travel Pro Tip: If you don’t want to make it obvious that you’re a tourist, avoid athleisure and ballcaps while exploring main city centers like Rome and Florence.
Let me guess… you’re scouring the web, trying to compare trips and itineraries, costs and reviews, and struggling to decide. I’ve been there! Let me recap my trip of a lifetime, and once you’re done reading this, I think I’ll help you make up your mind. Let’s go!
Italy FAQ: How many days are enough for an Italy trip?
You never have enough time, in my opinion! But as most of us don’t have an unlimited budget to spend a summer galavanting the Amalfi Coast or rediscovering ourselves in Naples, my seven-day itinerary was just enough for a fantastic vacation!
Day 1 and 2: Rome and Tuscany
We started in Rome, where we met each other at our accommodations. Our first stop? A food tour through the intimate alleyways of Trastevere. We ate together, trying various foods like authentic fried artichokes (a Jewish-Roman staple), suppli, pork paninos, and gelato. We finished the night off by saying “salute!” at a local bar over some limoncello.
The next day, we made our way to the Tuscan countryside, more specifically, the region of Umbria. Before checking into our farm-stay or agriturismo, we hiked alongside the Marmore Falls. The beautiful views and various walking paths were the perfect activity, as we ended our evening with wine and a delicious multi-course meal freshly made by our hosts at Il Poggio dei Pettirossi.
Day 3 and 4: Umbria and Perugia
After catching the sunrise, we grabbed breakfast and a cappuccino before heading down the hill to Bevagna. We toured la cartiera medievale (medieval paper mill), a 13th-century paper-making museum, and then we had some time to explore. I opted for an espresso in the piazza, watching the locals socialize over their morning newspaper, which reminded me of my Nonno (I may have teared up a bit!). For lunch, we walked to a local winery, La Fonte Azienda Agricola, where we tasted their delicious wines among the vines! To keep the good vibes going, I enjoyed an Aperol Spritz after a dip in the pool before learning to make tagliatelle pasta for dinner.
As I said farewell to our hosts, we were off to the capital of the Umbria region – Perugia. As a child, my Nonna always had these special Baci chocolates, wrapped in silver and blue foil, out around special occasions. I was thrilled to learn that Perugia is the home of Baci Perugina, the chocolate factory that makes famous Baci chocolates. You best believe I grabbed a box (or two) to bring home! From there, we made our way to the city center of Florence.
Once we checked into our hotel and had a chance to freshen up, we went back out, grabbed some wine, paninos (sandwiches), and took in the beautiful sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo – one of the best views of the city, in my opinion. And no, don’t worry… I didn’t forget to get myself a gelato nightcap!
Day 5 and 6: Tour of Florence and Lucca
For our last full day in Florence, I made sure to use my time to the fullest. We started off with a group walking tour through the city center, learning all about the architecture, the Medici family, and why there are three versions of the sculpture of David. You can find the original, Michelangelo’s David, in the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. During our tour, we saw one of the copies in Piazza della Signoria, just opposite the Palazzo Vecchio.
After a quick espresso stop and wine window visit at Babae, I made my way to Papini Leather for a little treat-myself moment (genuine Italian leather purse AND supporting a family business? Yes, please!). From there, I knew I had to check out the Uffizi Galleries right around the corner. Luckily, I found the line for same-day tickets and spent a few hours browsing the countless busts, statues, paintings, and exhibits. A couple of my personal favorites were ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli and ‘Medusa’ by Caravaggio.
Evening approached, and it was time for dinner! Our group got back together and ventured to Mercato Centrale. I polished off a Margherita pizza, along with a delicious glass of red wine (probably Sangiovese). On our walk back to our hotel, we decided tonight was the night for some tiramisu, which didn’t disappoint! A few friends and I decided that the night wasn’t quite over, so we grabbed a balcony drink with a beautiful view of the Duomo.
For our final full day as a group, we set out on a day trip to Lucca, a city known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls surrounding the historic city center and cobblestone streets. Fun fact: Lucca is known for its iconic music festival, attracting acts like Ed Sheeran and Lenny Kravitz! As we walked around town, we grabbed some food and wine to go, hopped on our rental bikes, and went for a leisurely ride along the outskirts of town. We enjoyed our food by the water, skipping rocks while enjoying the views and incredible weather. We then made our way back to Florence, where we had our farewell dinner, complete with red wine, Florentine steak, and panna cotta.
Day 7: Farewell in Florence, one final night in Rome (for me!)
Even though I said ciao to my U30 tripmates, I still had one more night in Italy. Since I didn’t have much time in Rome, I planned to head back for a day full of exploring and walking! Breakfast came and went as I packed up and got ready for the train. Thankfully, my Trip Leader, Andreas, helped me book it.
Travel Pro Tip: Book your train tickets at least a few weeks in advance. Prices increase the closer you get to your departure time.
As soon as I got familiar with my AirBnB, I was back out and ready to take on the Eternal City! I walked and walked, passing through the Roman Forum, waving at the Monumenta a Vittorio Emanuele II, marveling at the Castel Sant’Angelo, and taking selfies in Vatican City. Fun fact: Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, measuring in at 0.44 square km (0.17 square miles)!
As the evening approached, I joined a bike tour and saw the Roman sights by night, and even a few for a second time, like the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Trevi Foundation, among others.
Once that wrapped, I couldn’t end my time in Italy without a hearty plate of pasta all’amatriciana. So that’s exactly what I did. As I sat there, reflecting on the past week, I was thankful. I was happy. I was proud that I finally made my dream a reality.
Now, it’s time for you to take that leap. If you’ve ever thought about booking that trip you’ve been dreaming of, do it. There’s so much in this world to see and experience. Check out U30’s Italy itinerary and see for yourself. This is so much more than just a "vacation". Trust me… you won’t regret it!
