Viva Italia!
Ah, Italy! What can I say? This trip was truly amazing and unforgettable, a definite bucket-list destination for our family. We chose to book our adventure with Adventures by Disney (ABD), a decision that made the entire experience seamless and luxurious.
Our seven-night, eight-day Italian journey began the moment we landed. A friendly driver met us at the airport and whisked us away to our first stop: Rome.
Rome: Ancient Wonders and Papal Blessings
We checked into the Gran Melia in Rome, a truly lovely hotel. From the moment you step inside, the staff makes you feel welcome, taking your bags and guiding you to reception. They even offer you a seat while they handle check-in. Since we arrived around 11 AM, our room wasn’t quite ready, but they assured us they’d prioritize it. While we waited, we enjoyed a welcome drink at their restaurant and met our ABD guides for a quick overview of the exciting days ahead. After a delicious lunch at the hotel, our room was ready. It was perfect timing for a much-needed nap after our lengthy redeye flight!
Our two days in Rome were packed with iconic sights. We explored the majestic Colosseum, the awe-inspiring Vatican City (including the Vatican Museum, St. Peter’s Square, and St. Peter’s Basilica), the impressive Pantheon, the bustling Spanish Steps, the breathtaking Sistine Chapel, and the enchanting Trevi Fountain. We also enjoyed a walking tour, discovering hidden gems like ancient walls and captivating statues.
One of the major highlights was seeing Pope Leo XIV. He blessed the crowd, and we were incredibly fortunate to hear him speak in English, which we learned is quite uncommon! While we aren’t Catholic, it was fascinating to witness, especially given that he’s the first American Pope. The absolute highlight for us, though, was our early morning private tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel; an experience we’ll never forget.
Tuscany: Incredible Vistas and Culinary Delights
Leaving Rome, we journeyed to the picturesque region of Tuscany. Our route included a memorable stop in Orvieto, a charming town perched atop a large hill, encircled by ancient stone walls. The town’s magnificent Duomo, or main church, was a sight to behold from the outside, with its immense height appearing almost like a painting against the blue sky.
Lunch at Martinelli in Orvieto was a true treat. Beyond the delicious food, we indulged in a balsamic vinegar tasting. I’ll admit, I am not typically a fan of balsamic vinegar, but the Italian varieties were absolutely incredible! We sampled aged vinegars: 8, 12, 25, and even 66 years old. Much like fine wine, the older the vinegar, the more exquisite the taste (with a corresponding jump in price!). We also sampled three of their wines, the Orvieto Classico, the SorAngelo Rosso Black Label, and the Soranna Silver Label, alongside a delightful spread of charcuterie and pasta. It was a truly fun and delicious experience. This was made even better as the children got to do an olive oil tasting with our guides.
Tuscany itself was breathtaking. The rolling countryside is a tapestry of olive trees, grapevines, and elegant cypress trees, dotted with charming farms and wineries. Our accommodation, Borgo di Cortefreda, was a quaint and lovely hotel with incredibly friendly staff. While not as luxurious as the Gran Melia (or our third hotel, which we’ll get to later!), it was perfectly situated in the serene countryside. The kids especially loved having ample space to run around and play. One evening, they even organized an impromptu soccer game in the yard near the pool, with a truly breathtaking view as their backdrop.
A highlight of our Tuscan stay was a visit to Fattoria Poggio Alloro near San Gimignano. This working farm produces nearly every Italian delight imaginable! We took a fantastic pasta-making class, learning to craft various shapes like spaghetti, linguini, fettuccini, ravioli, bowtie pasta, and even tortellini. We also toured their winery and enjoyed samples with lunch. We even met their Chianina cows, which help fertilize the crops, a testament to their commitment that everything on the farm is either made there or locally sourced. The warmth and friendliness of the farm’s staff were infectious. We savored lunch while being serenaded by a four-person band who even got us up and dancing! It was an absolute blast.
While in Tuscany, we also explored Florence. This city is incredibly walkable, so after a short bus ride in, we embarked on another fantastic walking tour. We saw the magnificent Duomo, Florence’s stunning main church, an architectural marvel near Piazza Santa Croce, adorned with many statues. The ultimate highlight of the day was seeing David at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. Seeing this iconic statue in person, after only seeing it in pictures and movies, was truly awesome! Our tour group had reserved entry, which was a lifesaver. The line to enter was incredibly long, and honestly, I’m not sure the wait would have been worth it, especially with kids. The rest of the museum is not large, but it featured a nice exhibit on instruments, including pianos and violins.
Venice: Canals, Gondolas, and Grand Finales
We left Tuscany and boarded the Italo train for Venice. Upon arrival, we immediately headed for the gondolas. A ride through the canals was an absolute must do and is a favorite memory! We also toured the Murano Glass factory and visited the historic Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square.
Our Venice hotel was the Hilton Molino Stucky, situated on a small island overlooking the city. A complimentary water shuttle makes accessing Venice easy, and the hotel itself offers an unparalleled view. Plus, it has a rooftop pool with stunning panoramic city views! With plenty of restaurants nearby, it was a convenient and beautiful base for exploring. The gondola ride and simply seeing the canals were so much fun. We also loved taking a water taxi! It zipped across the water, making us feel like we were in a James Bond movie!
On our final night, ABD had one last surprise: dinner aboard the Jolly Roger, a pirate-themed ship that sailed around the area. We enjoyed dinner, danced to music, caught up with our new friends from the tour, and savored the final views of Venice. The kids absolutely loved this, and I have to admit, it was a truly fun way to end the trip!
Arrivederci, Italia!
Alas, our time in Venice and Italy came to an end, with one last (very early morning!) water taxi ride to the airport. Italy is a beautiful country, and I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and welcoming most of the people were. Adventures by Disney truly offers an amazing way to see the world, combining easy travel with luxury and exclusive opportunities. While not the cheapest way to see Italy, it was a wonderful adventure for us and one I would absolutely recommend.
A Few Takeaways to Consider:
- Prioritize Your Sights: Italy has so much to offer. Unless you have a lot of time, you won’t see it all. Prioritize what you want to experience and research how to access sites and secure tickets. Traveling with ABD meant we didn’t have to worry about itineraries, long lines, or ticket availability, allowing us to see most of the main sites effortlessly.
- Food for All: The food in Italy is incredible! Even with two children who have very different palates (one adventurous, one less so), there was always pizza or some type of pasta available. But we also got to try new foods, which is always fun!
- Dining Etiquette: Italians eat dinner late. If you dine around 6-7 PM, you’ll likely get a table, but for specific restaurants, make reservations. Remember to bring Euros for tipping; while credit cards are widely accepted for the meal itself, they often don’t have a space to add a tip, and cash is expected.
- Language: Most people we encountered spoke English, which made travel easier. Signs are usually in English as well.
- Currency: Italy uses the Euro, and American dollars are not accepted, so be prepared!
- Restroom Etiquette: While restrooms are readily available in restaurants, you’ll likely need to pay to use public restrooms when out walking around. Carry some small Euro coins for this purpose.
- Credit Cards: Make sure you bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. We had no issues with card acceptance throughout our entire trip.
- Accessibility: Italy is an old country and there are many historic sites. Unfortunately, many of these are not terribly accessible if you have limited mobility, particularly if you use a wheelchair. To access buildings, there are often at least a few steps (sometimes a lot of steps) and there are often narrow entryways.
- Gelato: Eat the gelato! Even if you’ve had gelato in the states, it is so much better in Italy. Our tour guide told us the secret to finding good gelato is to look for gelato that is covered and has small or no mounds. I’m not sure about the validity of this, but he always found us great gelato!
This trip was filled with so many great moments! The boys loved the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, pasta making in Tuscany, and the pirate ship dinner. Their favorite, of course, was the gelato (which we enjoyed plenty of throughout the trip)! For us, we also cherished the Sistine Chapel, the gondola ride, the farm in Tuscany, and most of all, sharing these incredible sites and memories as a family.
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