John & Rhonda's Adventure in Italy Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days

Hi! John & Rhonda here, so happy to share what we've been able to see and do on our 10-day Rick Steve's trip to Venice, Florence and Rome in early October 2023. We intended to go to Italy in 2020 but as Covid changed plans for many of us, we rolled into 2023 with great intentions for an even better "redo." To backtrack a bit, I learned about Rick Steve from watching his travel adventures on PBS as a little girl - wishing that someday I might be able to see some of those places he shared with us, drinking in that sense of adventure. And, as an adult... I'm so hopeful that this is just the beginning. Traveling to Italy has been on my bucket list for a very long time, sure... the pasta and beauty draws me in but learning about, then seeing the curio of Italy's rich history connects me to the past in a way I couldn't have felt before. Just to think that we stayed in a hotel that was built in the year 1288 (how many times has each door been twisted open and by whom?), learned about how drinking water was filtered and gathered in the cisterns, and understood where to park my horse in case I needed to (wine-sharing windows near the horse rings) and seeing firsthand the last symbol on the corridor wall a gladiator saw before entering the arena. Sometimes it really is the little things. Our travel goal each day while on tour: be present, fill our bellies, make friends and use all our senses to enjoy. Our tour guide, Lisa, was THE BEST. She didn't skip a beat on planning, sharing, laughing, keeping us on our toes and all done with an unbreakable amount of patience and charm. So grateful for every bit of this experience and in awe of what we got to do. Come see!

Venice

Venice has a charm all its own and visiting in early October gave us the perfect weather with low crowds, that allowed us easy meandering around the whimsical streets. My husbands logical brain was nearly fried in Venice when he realized there weren't many "squared corners" for USA-type street navigation. And, in Venice there is water, water everywhere with bridges and canals to slow down your pace (loved that) and immerse yourself - cafes on every street serve cappuccino and cocktails set right next to each other. It gives you the feeling you never have to leave. Venice celebrated its 1,600 year anniversary in the year 2021. Our hotel was built in the year 1288 and set near the historic Fish Market that we could see from our room (spacious and beautiful). The open-air produce and fish shops are buttoned up by early afternoon before the heat settles in and a wall placard from long ago explains acceptable measurements of fish to sell at that market. Late one night our group was serenaded on our Gondola ride and the echo of the guitar and singing around the close-knit buildings was lovely. On another night, a few of us grabbed tickets to ride the vaporetto (water bus) and took a trip around the island but weren't quite sure where to get off the boat - made the adventure even more adventurous and we met so many new travelers on that vaporetto ride!!

Florence

Coming from a car-less Venice, Florence has a small amount of vehicle traffic complete with some of the smallest cars I've ever seen buzzing past, Vespa's wait for their owners return parked in lines. People looking fashionable and not hurried. Renaissance ambiance is evident everywhere with pockets of modern touches. Curved streets, bars on windows before glass was used, cobblestone and a quantity of round brackets embedded in old stone and brick walls to park your horse. It was truly fascinating how Florence has medieval structures architecturally melded with their few-century-later builds. Old meets new is a theme in Italy. We saw the marvel of Michelangelo's 'David' sculpture but the unfinished marble carvings lining the walk up to it interested me more. The printing press flourished in Florence, bringing enhanced typography and communication - craftsmen of all backgrounds continue to make all sorts of things to enjoy. I brought back a lovely little leather cross-body purse purchased at the open-air leather market set under the ancient trusses. Wandering here takes on a new meaning when you see the sign indicating "tanks cannot travel on this road." Makes you pause and know that Europe has a rich history with stories of more brave moments than we will know about. Florence is a beautiful crossroads to discover more about fellow humans and the story of artists, rulers, communication, war, and see the human spirit flourish in their mastery of many different crafts.

Tenuta Le Velette Winery in Orvieto - Villa Felici

We were hosted by Tenuta le Velette Winery as a very welcomed stop on our way from Florence to Rome. The vineyard (both for grapes and olives) is nestled in the beautiful countryside of Orvieto Umbria, the 7th-generation of family runs it and shared their story. After sitting in the shaded backyard that overlooks the vineyard while listening about its history (sweet family dog saying Hello, too) we were then taken inside the main 1,000 year-old building, built by Etruscan's, and led to their open hearth kitchen where we learned about life long ago. The kitchen has a small door leading to the sprawling underground wine cellar - arched openings house wine from over the years. We were encouraged to see the beautiful family chapel very near the house and take in the vast view from the backyard. Such beauty and hard-earned knowledge to share - learning proper wine and appetizer pairings while in the family dining room was a very special treat.

Rome

Rome has a scale all of its own. Everything is grandiose and was once covered in white marble. I can imagine it glistening and majestic in its prime even after the marble was recycled for various uses over the years - the framework of what was is still a marvel and the patina speaks of experience and wonder. The scale of doors, churches, columns, art, buildings and amazing food just didn't stop. It's a lot to take in, everything moving a bit faster than Florence and Venice. The adept transit systems moved us all from cafe to our next discovery point. Loved walking past restaurants tucked in small spaces lined with archaic brick, windows revealing chefs working on the days fresh pasta. The hustle and bustle of Rome is mesmerizing, everything working so fast together in its own ballet of efficiency. When you are face-to-face with the Colosseum, housing its own sense of wonder, I found myself grateful for different kinds of games now. Seeing the last icon on the wall lining the corridor that a gladiator would take stopped me. Learning history and seeing history are quite different. Ancient Rome remains are what is now offered as a reminder to learn from and sits shoulder-to-shoulder with the Rome that exists now. And it's spectacular.