Conquering Central Italy in Seven Days: Can It Be Done?
The decision to visit Italy was a pivotal one for us for many reasons. Not only was this our first venture into Europe; it was also our first major international trip and one to a country where we didn’t even speak the language! At that time, we were not particularly savvy with regards to travel planning. We simply picked a Groupon travel deal to Italy that worked with our schedule and let them do the hard work for us. Having a fully planned out trip with the flight, rental car, and hotels all booked with a loose itinerary of where we would go plus ideas of what we could do was revolutionary. This gave us valuable insight on how to approach traveling in general and how to use the tools available to us to finally begin exploring the world the way we wanted to!
We took an overnight flight arriving to Milan around mid-morning which was perfect as we were able to sleep on the plane and were not jet-lagged when we landed. Sleeping through the flight helped with adjusting to the six-hour time difference and we were rested and ready to immediately start our sightseeing once we cleared the Italian airport.
We proceeded to pick up our rental car which was a manual transmission, we didn’t want to pay extra for automatic even though only one of the two of us could drive a manual car, and were presented with an adorable Peugeot with its driver side mirror taped to the body of the car. After a way-too-long debate where the rental agent insisted that no one absolutely NEEDED a driver side mirror we were finally able to convince them that we Americans, lacking the enviable driving skills of our Italian counterparts, definitely needed a car that met minimum road safety requirements if they wanted to prevent maiming of their fellow citizens.
Having secured a car we nervously took off from the airport and headed into the city where we made our most grievous blunder of this trip: not exploring Milan! Unfortunately, we left the airport in a rush and headed to our first destination without a thought to all that we were about to miss in Italy’s most fashionable city. We wrongly assumed that we would have time to experience the city on our way home which, yes you guessed it! Never happened. Of course all this lamenting is in hindsight and primarily for your benefit so that you don’t repeat our mistake, but we barely noticed this missed opportunity at the time as we were excited just to be in Italy and to get to Parma!
See our full itinerary HERE!
Parma
As you’ve probably already guessed Parma is home to two culinary masterpieces: the famed Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and the mouthwatering Prosciutto di Parma. If you’re thinking that leaving the fashion capital of the the country and rushing to the countryside for ham and cheese is a little crazy then you are probably not in the right mindset to visit Italy just yet!
Truthfully though we didn’t partake of any of these delicacies since the first thing we did was search out the local pizzeria. We bought prosciutto to bring home which was immediately confiscated by customs on returning to the USA so we strongly suggest you indulge while there and don’t waste your money on duty-free pork.
As we were spending only one night in the city, we sought out the town square right after lunch and explored the city by foot which is recommended. There are many zones around the downtown area that have strict vehicle restrictions to reduce traffic and pollution and the enforcers are not shy about levying fines if you lack the appropriate authorization to drive in those zones.
We found Parma to be a charming combination of old world architecture and verdant countryside. A visit to the Parma cathedral, the open air markets, and to Fidenza Village with its eye–catching upscale boutiques are a must! Even though we only spent one day in the city, we could easily appreciate how walking through the cobblestone streets lined with open–air cafes and colorfully clad buildings, while taking in the gentle notes of ever-present music in the air could easily enchant a visitor and secure Parma a spot on the must do list!
Montecatini Terme & Alto
Before booking this trip we knew little to nothing about Montecatini Terme or Montecatini Alto and are more than a little ashamed to admit that we didn’t do any research before our arrival. In fact, we would go as far as to say that we were a little disappointed that this would be our home base for the majority of the remainder of our stay in Italy rather than one of the more famous cities like Florence or Venice. We quickly learned how foolish we were for even thinking this!
Leaving Parma, we continued our scenic road trip to arrive approximately two hours later to a town that was the perfect embodiment of a Tuscan paradise. Recognized as the biggest spa town in Italy, Montecatini Terme is a vacation hotspot for tourists in-the-know and locals. The thermal waters of this town are known for their wellness and medicinal benefits and can be experienced through the numerous architecturally captivating spas. We were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves surrounded by mostly Italian families on holiday and were especially pleased to become so quickly immersed in the Italian way of life. By this we mean eating breakfast at almost noon, taking naps in the middle of the day, and hanging out in the town square sampling gelato until midnight!
If you’re a little more high energy and relaxation isn’t the only thing on the agenda then taking the 10-minute funicular ride from Montecatini Terme to Alto is a must. You can also drive or walk up the hill to Montecatini Alto, however doing that would mean missing out on a leisurely ride with breathtaking views of the lands of the Valdinievole (misty valley). We spent a day leisurely admiring the medieval churches, towers and dwellings and sampling some of the freshest and finest food that we’d ever had to date. We highly recommend that you do not follow in our footsteps as one day is not enough time to uncover the many secrets of this city. If you’ve got the time to spare then spend a week in these two cities where you can unwind and easily escape the crowds and we bet that you won’t have any regrets!
Alas! We had too little time to bask in the peacefulness of the hillside towns. We learned on arrival that Montecatini Terme was centrally located within the Tuscan region allowing easy access to Luca, Pisa, Florence, and host of other towns so off we went!
Florence
We decided to take the train to Florence as we did not want to worry about parking in the city when we arrived. We did not have the option to buy our train tickets ahead of time, but we were able to obtain a local train schedule from our hotel concierge and bought our tickets at the train station itself. The ticket machines offered English selection tools, however there were a lot of instructions in Italian that were not translated making the process a little nerve-wracking. But we persevered and ultimately were able to obtain tickets with really only minimal hassle. You should be aware that not all the train stations in the region are manned so there may not be ticketing agents to speak with in case of difficulties, however the locals were more than willing to help when we needed it. Fortunately some modernization to the process means that you likely won’t have to deal with any of this as there is now an online ticketing system where you can purchase your fare ahead of time and avoid this particular stressor (click here to purchase tickets).
A round trip ticket to Florence cost us $12 per person but prices do vary so booking ahead will help to secure a seat and will also help with staying within a budget (if this is a consideration). Make sure to select Firenze Santa Maria Novella (aka Firenze SMN) as your destination as this station is central to many of the main tourist attractions!
We departed the Florence train station without a clear destination in mind but this wasn’t a problem as there were was so much to see and do. We oooed and aaahed at every statue and ornate building, of which there were many, for about an hour before we grabbed lunch at a street–side café. We then proceeded to the Accademia Gallery (aka Galleria dell’Accademia) suspecting that there would be a line. Of course the line was HUGE when we arrived and it took almost two hours to make it to the ticketing booth, but it was worth it! A walk through the museum to take in the original statue of David along with the numerous incomparable works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and many other artists left us feeling exalted to say the least. Consider bringing an umbrella with you for sun protection as standing outside for two hours in direct sunlight can be torturous in the summer.
Continuing our tour of Florence, we next made our way to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to see the famous Duomo which is still the largest brick dome in the world. Entrance into the cathedral itself was free, however a close up look at the dome, or the bell tower, or a climb to the top of the dome required the purchase of an entrance ticket. Additionally, there was and still is a very strict dress code that required that all clothing be below the knee and that chest and shoulders be covered at all times. If you happen to forget this, there are vendors at the entrance of the church selling scarves however at $10 per scarf you may want to just come prepared with your own.
After taking in the splendor of the cathedral we continued meandering through the streets of Florence admiring the architecture until we came upon Ponte Vecchio which literally translates to Old Bridge. Crossing the Arno River this bridge was the first arch bridge that was built in the west. It initially housed numerous vendors selling all manner of goods however it is now known as the “gold bridge” as it is primarily occupied by jewelers. Ponte Vecchio is truly a jewelry-lover’s paradise. With access to designer pieces yet to hit mainstream jewelry stores at affordable prices you can easily walk away with the find of a lifetime. It helps to know that these stores do not have websites and the only way to shop is to visit in person. But honestly, what else would you be doing in Tuscany to keep you from visiting a city as fabulous as Florence in person?
Lucca and Pisa
Having found out that a short half-an-hour drive would get us to the renowned city of Lucca from Montecatini Terme, we took off on what would turn out to be one of our most memorable days in Italy. Known as the city of a hundred churches due to the number of religious buildings in the city, Lucca’s true claim to fame is the still-standing and impressive medieval walls that surround the historic center of the city. To wander through the cobble stone streets taking in the many towers and churches or to walk along the walls themselves is to find yourself transported back in time to an era that may be past, but that still endures and that continues to shape our present.
Another quick drive, no more than thirty minutes, took us from Luca to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. Being a main tourist destination, Pisa was a little more difficult to navigate due to the traffic. Parking was also sparse, but we were able to park in a paid lot that was within reasonable walking distance to the Piazza dei Miracoli or the Square of Miracles. Be sure to search online for parking lots located close to the Square before heading to Pisa to avoid having to drive around in search of parking. While the Leaning Tower is undoubtedly the main attraction don’t forget to check out the Baptistry located in front of the tower which is a marvel in its own right. The line to enter the tower extended out of the Piazza dei Miracoli and into the city of Pisa so we decided to forego this and opted to lunch in the shadow of the tower instead. There was no need for a ticket to get close to the tower and the baptistry hence we spent the better part of an hour gaping and taking all manner of goofy pictures.
San Gimignano and Greve in Chianti
Satisfied from the visit to Lucca and Pisa, we nevertheless found ourselves with a mostly free afternoon so we decided to visit the hillside town of San Gimignano in search of fine Italian leather. Our offline GPS led us to believe the drive would be 45 minutes long when in actuality the drive from Pisa to San Gimignano was actually 1.5 hours long. We aren’t complaining though because the drive through the Italian countryside was both peaceful and extraordinary with green hills as far as the eye could see.
Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is another example of gorgeous gothic architecture. We made it a point to see the triangular city square, the medieval towers, and the 12th century Duomo di San Gimignano. We eventually found our way to local shops where we did find beautifully crafted Italian leather pieces.
By the time we finished our sightseeing in San Gimignano the day was beginning to wane and we wanted dinner. A quick online search had us making a beeline for the town of Greve in Chianti in pursuit of food. Once again our offline GPS quoted us travel time of 30 minutes to the restaurant but we were prepared this time and were not shocked when we arrived 50 minutes later!
The drive took us through the iconic vineyards of Tuscany and deposited us at yet another quaint medieval town. We parked on a hillside and made our way to Il Vescovino where we proceeded to take a seat on the tree-shaded patio and to enjoy the the freshest ensalata caprese and a host of other delectable offerings while we gazed out across vineyards as far as the eye could see glowing beneath a magnificent sunset. We were surprised by our accidental discovery of what had to be one of the most idyllic Tuscan experiences of all time and found ourselves well fed, blissful and charmed to our toes!
Rome
With our time in Montecatini Terme coming to an end and with the feeling that we had accomplished all that we wanted to in the preceding days in Tuscany, we decided that we absolutely could not leave Italy without seeing Rome.
For this particular adventure we knew that we would need to leave Montecatini Terme early so that we would arrive with enough time to visit our top sites in Rome. Sightseeing Rome in one day is a difficult but not impossible goal. While we think it goes without saying that you’ll need several days to fully discover Rome we assure you that spending even a single day in this splendid city will leave you with a lifetime of memories.
We took the train from Montecatini Terme to Florence (Firenze SMN station) where we bought tickets on the high speed train to Rome. There are several options for trains between the Florence train station and the Rome train station (aka Roma Termini) so be sure to pick a trip duration that works best for the amount of time you have. The shorter, faster trips cost a little more but are worth it if you’re on a time crunch as we were. You should also know that some destinations do not have trains arriving 24 hours a day so you must be familiar with when the last return train to your destination will depart and make sure not to miss it as you may end up having to find alternative transportation back to your hotel.
We boarded the Frecciarossa, which turned out to be a very luxurious and quiet train, and arrived to Rome about 1.5 hours later. En route to Rome we decided that the best way to see the city in a short time would be by a hop-on-hop-off tour which we booked before our arrival to Rome.
Roma Termini station was huge and a little intimidating with its throngs of people and the mostly Italian signage but there were plenty of information booths and friendly customer service agents so navigating without knowing a lick of Italian was not much of a problem. We took advantage of the facilities before leaving the station and were surprised that we had to pay 1 euro for this privilege. It turns out that all public restrooms in Rome cost between 0.5 and 1 Euro per use so we strongly suggest that you carry some loose change with you in this particular city.
Our tour operator provided us with a map of the city identifying all the historical landmarks hence we used the time in the bumper-bumper traffic to plot our plan of attack for the day. The map also identified all the drop-off and pick up points and provided estimated times that we could expect the bus to arrive at the stops which was also extremely useful.
We quickly realized that we wouldn’t be able to see much if we depended on the bus to get us to all the destinations on the map as there didn’t appear to be a good way to circumnavigate the intense traffic. Ultimately, we decided that the best course of action would be to walk through the city and only rely on the bus for the more distant attractions. We chose the Colosseum as our first stop as it was most centrally located. If you decide to take our approach and walk through the city and you happen to be in Rome in the summer then make sure to bring lots of water and an umbrella for shade because temperatures close to 100 degrees and the relentless sunshine can become overwhelming. Make sure to also carry an over the shoulder bag or wear clothing with zippered pockets to secure your valuables as you never know when you’ll pass by someone with very sticky fingers.
Arriving to the Colosseum was surreal as it was simultaneously familiar and foreign! Sure, we’ve all seen the pictures and watched the movies and documentaries, but seeing the amphitheater surrounded by its own hustling and bustling city transformed our previously 2 dimensional perception to an awe-inspiring 4 dimensional experience. We were further fascinated to see that the structure was not exactly the same in appearance as we had expected as it was being rebuilt in certain parts to shore up its structural integrity.
Not surprisingly, the line to enter the Colosseum was VERY long. We bought tickets for a skip-the-line tour being offered right at the main entrance and, thankfully, were able to enter after 30 minutes in the scorching sun. The tour was loosely guided and we were able to branch off and explore to our hearts’ content.
There’s not much we can say by way of description of the Colosseum that hasn’t already been said by someone much more eloquent, however we will say that we felt a certain solemness as we explored and, in quiet moments, we felt as though we could almost hear echos of the excitement and fervor of those gathered in this arena all those centuries ago.
Our tour also included a guided walk through Ancient Rome which it just so happened was located right next door to the Colosseum. We slowly meandered through the ancient city taking in the grandeur of its architecture and appreciating its enduring lavishness that was still apparent even all these long years later. Needless to say, we were awed to be in a city that has had so much influence on our current way of life.
Difficult as it was to do we eventually left Ancient Rome and the Colosseum and made our way through the city on foot to the Pantheon. Our intention was to see the Pantheon then Vatican City then make our way back to the train station so we could catch our departure train. This meant that we would be missing out on several of the attractions around us but, thanks to our somewhat poor navigation skills at the time, what was supposed to be a one mile walk turned out to be longer and took us pass those same attractions we would’ve missed out on: the Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. We were so intent on our destination that we had no idea what we had stumbled across but we at least had the presence of mind to stop and admire these monuments. In fact, we didn’t have a name to put to the Trevi Fountain until several years later when we spotted a titled photo in our dentist’s office!
As you would expect there was another line to see the Pantheon but the wait was much shorter as there was no need to buy tickets to enter. In case you don’t know it already, the Pantheon is considered the most preserved building of Ancient Rome and was built to be a temple of all the Pagan gods of Rome. Graced with splendid sculptures, an intricately designed great room, and an enormous domed ceiling the Pantheon evinced the aura of a most holy place and this became even more evident as everyone, ourselves included, felt the need to speak in hushed and respectful tones as we made our way through the building.
One quick and perfectly timed lunch stop at a local Pizzeria later we were ready to make our way to Vatican City. We almost missed lunch since we forgot that most restaurants closed for a siesta in Rome so we suggest that you try to plan better than we did otherwise you could be left hungry! We hopped back on the tour bus to save time with a plan of getting as close to Vatican City as we could. This worked out well as it reduced our walking time from 40 minutes to 20 minutes. We crossed the Tiber river into Vatican City in the late afternoon just in time to watch the sun begin it’s descent behind St. Peter’s Basilica.
We had hoped that we might be able to enter the Basilica and to see the Sistine Chapel through another skip-the-line tour but this was not to be. With a line that was hundreds of people long wrapping around the Basilica and that was the longest that we had yet encountered we knew that our chances of getting in were not good.
Instead, we explored St. Peter’s Square with its 284 columns and it’s 140 sculpted Saints, admired the Obelisk in the Square and took way too many pictures. Our time in Vatican City was woefully short and we knew that we would one day return to pay better homage to this wondrous place but we were humbled to simply be there and were grateful to end our time in Rome in a place so sacred and so revered.
The Monza Circuit
While researching our return trip from Montecatini Terme to Milan we found that we would be passing by the city of Monza. Now, since one of the two of us is a racing game aficionado having put in countless hours into Gran Turismo and the likes it was inevitable that the following question would be asked: “Do you think the Monza racetrack is there!?” And of course it was! So once again we sacrificed a day in Milan for a day on the famous Autodromo Nazionale Monza where we traded shopping for drooling over exotic cars. The Monza Circuit is a historic race track that is reportedly the oldest in all of mainland Europe and is home to the Italian Grand Prix. Had we known of our proximity to the track a few days earlier we would’ve been able to schedule a drive on the track but as it was we were projected to arrive too late in the day to be able to drive the track. This didn’t stop us from enjoying the track and the cars though!
after a satisfying day on the racetrack and, being us, we couldn’t just check into our hotel and wait for our flight the next day. Instead, we set off for the town of Somma Lombardo for dinner at Il Castigo. Despite its name nothing about this restaurant was a punishment to be endured. Located within an old castle the restaurant oozed charm and elegance and had the most solicitous wait staff and the freshest seafood Cioppino we’ve ever had!
While we wouldn’t say that we truly conquered all of central Italy in 7 days we definitely boarded our flight home the next day fully sated and astounded at how much we accomplished in such a short time. We will always cherish this trip for being our first step toward learning who we truly wanted to be and for awakening our passion for travel.
Don’t forget to check out the gallery to see some of our most favorite pics from Italy!
And, make the most of your time in Italy by checking out the tours below!
