This fall my husband, Keith, and I had the fortune of going to Italy and it was truly a trip I will never forget. I visited Italy with my parents when I was still in college and I remember thinking how special this place was. I drank so much Italian espresso that I barely slept. I ate my weight in gelato and pizza, and was awed by the amazing fashion that the beautiful Italian women wore. So when Keith asked where should our next vacation be, I suggested Italy. He was a little reluctant at first because he was a tropical-vacation-kind-of-guy, but ultimately, he gave in.

When in Rome…

The Colosseum 1, 00184 Rome, Italy

Rome was our first stop. We had three days to squeeze in all the major landmarks, so time was tight. As soon as we checked into our hotel, we headed to the Colosseum. I forgot how massive this place was and how fascinating it was to see something so historic in the middle of a bustling city. After taking a tour, we wanted to sit down somewhere to relax since we were still a little jet lagged from our flight. After searching the area, we found the perfect cafe…

☞ Visitor Tip: Book your tickets for the Colosseum online, and skip the lines. Wait time can be up to an hour.

SHOP THE LOOK

Top: Shein | Skirt: Forever 21 (old) similar here | Hat: Urban Outfitters (old), similar here | Bag: Aliexpress

La Biga Via Nicola Salvi 65, 00184 Rome, Italy

This cafe had a spectacular view of the Colosseum and after a long day, a good cappuccino and a tiramisu was just what we needed. As the sun set, I still couldn’t believe we were actually in Italy, and we still had another two days to explore…

Trevi Fountain 00187 Rome, Italy

The next day we headed to the Trevi fountain where we grabbed some much-needed gelato to cool us down from the 95 degree weather we were having that day. After exploring the area and doing some much needed shopping, we were famished and spotted a quaint little restaurant…

☞ Visitor Tip: Head over to the fountain early or late in the day. The area is flooded with tourists so taking a picture around the fountain is virtually impossible during peak times.

Ristorante La Scuderia Fontana Di Trevi, 00100 Rome, Italy

Despite the reviews we read on our phones as we stood in front of the restaurant, we took a chance on this place, and we were not disappointed. The food was spectacular, and to this day, probably some of the best four cheese gnocchi I ever ate.

Vatican City 00120 Vatican City, Italy

It was our last day and we had one more stop to make. After breakfast, we headed over to Vatican City where we explored St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel. It was well worth the wait and absolutely stunning to see. A truly priceless visit.

Our visit to Rome was amazing. The culture, food and people will be something I will never forget, but now it was time for our next destination…..Florence.

☞ Visitor Tip: Bare shoulders are not permitted in certain areas of the Vatican, so make sure you have a wrap or jacket to cover your shoulders, or they will not let you in.



