A Long Awaited Reunion
For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of the far away land that my Nona (my mom's mother) was from - Florence, Italy. Finally, just 25 years later and just two short years after her passing, I was able to see the place she called home with my own eyes. I also got to meet family I had never met before, my cousin Sandra who lives in Florence. Meeting her was the cherry on top of my Rick Steves tour. I loved the structure that came with the tour to see all of the key sites, but enjoyed the free time to rest, eat and meet family I wasn't sure I ever would.
Wonders of Renaissance Florence
Day 4, our first day in Florence was a rush! We woke up and headed straight to the wonderful busses provided by Rick Steves and headed to Florence. Once in Florence, we had another wonderful local guide that gave us a Renaissance tour of the city's historic center, another Rick Steves perk! Seeing the magnificent Brunelleschi's magnificent cathedral dome was truly incredible along with Ghiberti's Baptistery doors. I ate the BEST pasta I have ever had in my life in Florence, that I was literally in tears after my meal.
PRO TIP: If you have time, climb the inside of Brunelleschi's dome for beautiful views of Florence, and climb Giotto's Bell Tower for beautiful views of the dome!
PRO TIP: If you have time, climb the inside of Brunelleschi's dome for beautiful views of Florence, and climb Giotto's Bell Tower for beautiful views of the dome!
Backstreets of Florence
Day 5 in Florence showcased another reason to pick a Rick Steves tour, the amazing local guides that showed our small group around the backstreets, giving us the chance to see small neighborhoods and shops that you would likely never see with a larger tour group or on your own. All of that walking really made us hungry, time for a cooking class!
Try these recipes at home!
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Renaissance Art
Day 6 on our tour, we got to see the beautiful Uffizi - home to works by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more! With Rick Steves, the tickets are all taken care of and you don't have to worry about waiting in a super long lines. We headed straight into the Accademia Gallery to marvel at Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece, David.
Of course, throughout the day there was lunch, drinks and gelato!
A dream between Florence and Rome: Umbria
Leaving Florence was heartbreaking, but the journey to Rome was one I will never forget. An afternoon in Umbria for a wine tasting lunch at a family run winery was truly a dream. This was one of my favorite memories of the entire trip, something that only would have been possible with Rick Steves' connections to the local community. We got to hear all about the local wine and olive oil they make, and had the opportunity to eat fresh and amazing small bites. I liked the olive oil so much, I bought two containers and paid to check my bag and ship them back home!
PRO TIP: Bring an extra bag in your suitcase that can be pulled out for brining extra items home, like olive oil or wine!
PRO TIP: Bring an extra bag in your suitcase that can be pulled out for brining extra items home, like olive oil or wine!
... and with full stomachs, we are off to Rome!