Julie and I took a great trip to Italy recently. We visited Rome, Florence and Sorrento. Here are a few notes from our trip and itinerary.
Here was our general itinerary.
Day 1
Fly Chicago to Rome overnight
Day 2
Arrive to Roma Termini station, then hotel
Walk to Trevi Fountain
Lunch at Vos
Go to pantheon
Gelato
Pasta e Vino Osteria – Trastevere
Walk around Trastevere.
Live music
Walk around Tiber river street fair
Limoncoco stand
Day 3
Breakfast of maritozzo
Walk to Spanish steps, via de corso and Piazza de Poppolo
Da Vinci museum
Scooter
Pizza
Coliseum tour
Roman forum. Palatine hill
Go to Parione neighborhood
Dinner at Ponte and Parione
Fridigidarium for gelato
Day 4
Visit Vatican museum and Sistine chapel
Pizza
Train to Florence
Walk around Florence. Duomo. Ponte vecchio at Sunset
Dinner at Acqua Al 2
Day 5
La Menagerie for breakfast
Uffitzi museum
All’Antico Vinaio sandwich
Gelateria dei Neri
Visit Boboli gardens
Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Dinner at Trattoria 13 Gobbi
Day 6
Pasta making class at Pasta Experience
Antico Noe panini lunch
Wine tour and Olive oil tasting at Tenuta Torciano and one more in chianti area
Walked around Santa croce neighborhood
Tiramisu at Cafe Gilli
Day 7
Accademia gallery to see the David
Walk around Florence leather stores
Lunch at little stops in central market
Train to Sorrento
Walked around town
Lemon ice overlooking water
Dinner at Inn Bufalito
Day 8
Visit local markets
Walk to Marina Grande
Pizza at Frankie’s pizza bar
Gargiulo olive oil factory tour and tasting
Dinner at Fuoro
Day 9
Amalfi coast boat tour day
Stop at Amalfi
Stop at Positano
Day 10
Relaxing at hotel
Walk to town for lunch at Garden de Gennaro
Walk to dinner at Tavern Allegra
Day 11
Train from Sorrento to Rome
Walked around hours of Rome
Dinner at Tonarello (https://g.page/tonnarelloroma?share)
Day 12
Flight back to Chicago
Our Favorites
Best Pasta: Cacio e Pepe at Pasta e Vino Osteria or Tonarello in Trastevere, Rome
Best Pizza: Frankie’s pizza bar in Sorrento
Best Neighborhood: Trastevere, Rome
Best Tourist Site: Coliseum
Best Gelato: Frigidarium in Rome in the Parione neighborhood
Best Sunsets: Florence, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo
Best Dessert: Nutella Bombolone at Florence Central Market
Runner Up Desserts: Gelato, Chocolate Salami (which is chocolate, not salami)
Transportation notes
We got around Italy mostly by train, which works well. The trains were running very regularly and for a number of the cities it is pretty easy to get to.
When we landed in the Rome airport Fiumicino we took a train to Roma Termini station which was right near our hotel and pretty easy to do.
From Rome to Florence we took a train and that was also pretty easy. We took a train from Rome to Sorrento, but to do that, we did Rome to Naples, which was on one of the fast trains. Then we took a local train (Circumvesuviana) to Sorrento, and that was very delayed, packed, and hot. On the way back we were looking for something a little easier and there was the Campania Express train which was supposed to be faster and have air conditioning. That train was also equally or more delayed, even though it was supposed to be the tourist train with fewer stops, and we missed our connecting train.
We booked through the Omio app for trains, which was pretty helpful. However, sometimes we booked in advance, which with all of the delays was mixed. It seems it would be better to book almost on the spot, or anticipate delays on a number of the trains and especially any local trains.
For getting around Rome, we mostly walked, but Rome was still a lot bigger and some times we took taxis. In some places we were able to more easily get a taxi, or from the hotel. But at the more packed areas, including near the Coliseum, it was very hard to get a taxi. There was also the FreeNow app, which was an Uber-like app but that worked directly to taxis. In some of the general areas it was fine, but in the tourist areas, we had a lot of trouble getting a taxi.