As we continue our group trip to Europe we moved on to Italy. Our group changed a bit as two couples returned home and three couples connected with us in Amalfi at the Anantara Covento di Amalfi Grand hotel. The Amalfi coast was a picturesque location to begin our Italian journey
Amalfi Coast
Our first excursion in Italy was a day trip by boat to the island of Capri. We sailed past beautiful coastline including Positano. Continuing on to circle the island and then explore a bit with a great pizza lunch. Capri was very busy during the day!! The following day our group explored a few of the towns along the coast. We enjoyed tasting Limoncello and had lunch where the locals eat - always the best!
Rome
In Rome we were able to visit some of the iconic places including the Vatican Museum, St. Peters Basilica, and the Colosseum. Our hotel was only a three minute walk from the Trevi Fountain. We only scratched the surface of the interesting places around Rome.
During our stay we travelled just outside of Rome to the Papal Summer residence. Situated on a hill-top the views in every direction were special. The gardens were very beautiful and peaceful. After the private tour of the gardens we had a cooking class where we made delicious pasta and Tirimisu with the help of a feisty and funny chef! The best pasta is clearly home-made!
Cooking Class
Tuscany
Next stop, Tuscany. We drove through the valleys and visited several old walled cities. Seemingly every town in Tuscany was built on top of a hill. Today that creates wonderful sights.
We stayed at the historic Castel Monastero in the tranquil Tuscan countryside.
Il Cellese
On the way to our final stop in Florence we visited a boutique winery with beautiful wines. It was a highlight on the trip as we enjoyed tasting Chiantis and Super-Tuscans accompanied by delicious food pairings. Our hosts were just as amazing as the wines. I think everyone enjoyed it as we collectively shipped over eight cases of wine back to the U.S.!
Florence
For most of the group our final destination was the artistic city of Florence. Beautiful art, architecture, and food are on every street! Add world-class shopping to the mix and it's a must see location. You can't help but feel the romance and the history of Florence when viewing works of art from Michelangelo and DaVinci among others.