Places: Verona, Florence, Rome, Vatican
It was a cold dark evening in Finland, we were at home watching Letters to Juliet. And just like that, we decided, we have to do a trip to Verona! What culminated was a 10 day long trip across Milan, Verona, Florence, Rome, Vatican in Italy. And the best part, we did this entire road trip by train through TrenItalia, Italy’s national train operator!
Verona, Italy
Verona is truly a love letter from Europe to the rest of the world. Juliet’s balcony attracts travelers from all across the world and it’s colosseum still sits 15,000 for events! Every year around Easter Verona hosts Vinitaly, a wine expo for professionals and wine aficionados. But the best part is, part of it is open to locals and with a 20eu ticket, we enjoyed an array of wines from the valley!
Here is a slow, soulful day in Verona:
Along the bank of Adige River
Grab a coffee from Pasticceria Flego or Caffe Borsari in the morning. Take a walk along river Adige that winds gracefully around the city center, especially along Lungadige San Giorgio and Lungadige Campagnola. In the afternoon experience local cuisine in one of the osterias or enjoy food from any part of the world because Verona is a city of multi cuisines! Walk upto the Saint Pietro castle and watch the sunset from atop. In the evening, enjoy a musical in a Roman open air theatre! At night hit one of the many boutique bars in the city, our favorite The Soda Jerk!
Two things you cannot miss – a restaurant in Verona holds the title of “Best Tiramisu in the world”, and the city’s (vegan) gelato is a delight!
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Florence has an old money charm that you can feel in its frescoes, museums, narrow lanes, it’s people with their distinct sense of style from bohemian to razor sharp! It’s a city of artists, travelers, shoppers, coffee lovers and those who want to experience the famous florentine steak!
Away from the city center (which is an absolute must experience), every nook and corner has tiny home-style restaurants, with highly affordable local food, number of them Michelin recommended. The Boboli gardens is easy to miss, but it has the most stunning view of the city and duomo (church dome) at sunset.
A view of the Florence duomo from the Boboli Garden
Since coffee (espresso) and confectionery is their religion, there are a number of local bakeries that offer guided sessions on how to make their signature delicacies from scratch! It’s a couple of hours and euros worth spending for the culinary art lovers!
Pro tip: the best gelato I have tasted till date is in gelateria LaCarraia in Florence!
FYI: Florence is my favorite European city!
Colosseum, Rome
Rome dazzles you with its ancient monuments, the world famous Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. Yes they are crowded most of the year, and to get that picture perfect shot in front of Trevi you need to be there in the wee hours of the morning!
But there is also a hidden Rome which does not make the headlines much, but should. There is Monti, a bohemian neighborhood full of vintage stores, wine bars, and secret trattorias. The Orange Garden offers great views of the city at sunset.
The Vatican might be the world’s smallest country, but it holds enough wonder for a lifetime. There is not much I can say about the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, that has not been said yet. Here a local guided tour is a must to dip into the history of the place and queues are often serpentine, especially around the festivals. Visiting early morning makes most sense to be able to dedicate a day to this tiny city with an infinite spirit.
Florence, at dusk!
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