Yes, we were children . . . & we went camping on our "honeymoon."
And now our children are out on their own.
So, we think we would like to experience a luxurious vacation - in a location rich in beauty, history and architecture.
Any suggestions? Thanks!
We are big fans of cruising and there are many good cruises around Europe.
Time of year? Venice, Florence and Tuscany, and Rome tick all those boxes almost any time of the year, but I wouldn't recommend the Dolomites in winter or Amalfi Coast in the heat of summer.
How long ? Budget?
You want to just camp in one place or see several cities/locations?
Venice, Florence, Tuscany, Rome, . . . all are rich in beauty, history, and architecture, and you can certainly find luxurious lodgings in any one of them, as well as luxurious restaurants.
Le Sireneuse in Positano . . . .
A luxury villa in Sicily or Puglia ....
Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!
Beauty, history and architecture describes just about every city I have stayed in Italy, and I’ve stayed in 30. Are you thinking the Big 3 - Venice, Florence, Rome? Or would you like a location with water, a smaller city, a countryside location in Tuscany or Umbria?
Watching some YouTube videos are a good way to narrow down what might appeal to you.
I don’t spend at the luxury level, but a great resource is to go to Booking.com and filter on the price you would like to spend, plus a level “8+” on reviews. Only people who have stayed in the hotel, etc. receive a link to leave a review, so there’s no fake reviews, such as what are in TripAdvisor. It is fun to stay in some refurbished palazzos which sometimes come with some atmospheric quirks, but many are gorgeous and a nice choice for a special anniversary.
I think Florence and Venice describes your wish list perfectly. Congratulations, our 35th anniversary is upcoming as well. Our kids are on their own and the luxury has started for us too.
For a luxury experience I think of a spa or resort in a beautiful seaside or lakeside location, not a big city. Places like Lago di Garda, Bellagio on Lago di Como, or maybe Puglia. Lots of history there, especially in Lecce, the Baroque city nicknamed the “Florence of the South”. And beautiful seaside towns like Monopoli and Polignano al Mare.
You can see photos in travel blogs such as this:
https://www.asmallworld.com/explorer/articles/the-most-beautiful-places-to-visit-in-puglia
Puglia is known not just for the coast but for the beautiful inland area, dotted with special inns known as masserie. some of them are simple farmstays, but others are 5-star resorts offering a luxury experience, such as this one:
https://www.masseriasandomenico.com/en/
To reach Puglia, you can fly into Bari or Brindisi, or fly into Rome, spend a little time there, and take the train directly to Bari. The coastal towns I mentioned above, as well as Lecce, can be reached by train. But for the interior (Val d’Itria) and masserie it is best to have a car.
Stay at Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio on Lake Como, a luxurious experience for your 35th anniversary.
Congratulations on your 35th Anniversary!
Italy is a perfect place to celebrate a wedding anniversary. My wife and I practice what we preach and will be spending our 40th Anniversary this June on the RS Village Italy Tour. We have been to Italy many times and find the people wonderful, the sites & history incredible, and the cuisine beyond delicious. For celebrating love, Italy is your place ( in our “humble” opinion ). You mentioned looking for a location rich in beauty, history, and architecture. The Jeopardy question to this answer is: What is The Italian Renaissance? You would have a wonderful celebration in Italy.
Best wishes,
Mark & Sandee
Have a few dinners at Michelin 3-Star restaurants.
THANK YOU ALL!!!
We have done Rome, Venice, Florence with our kids and had a great time..
guess we are looking for that special little Inn or boutique hotel that says quiet luxury (though not with a George Clooney price tag!). We will be looking at the coast suggestions and Lake district - we love to stroll through little towns and be a "local" for awhile! We plan on 14-18 days.
Thank you again for all your kind congrats! We have never gone wrong with our Forum Friends!
Yours sounds like a lovely story. Why not go to the capital of love: Verona? The city in northern Italy will forever be associated with Romeo & Juliet.
A visit wouldn't just be for the association. It's a wonderfully medieval town rich in atmosphere. It doesn't have "knockout" sites, per se, but I loved the open-air market, Roman colosseum (where operas and other arts performances are staged) and small museums.
And I learned something interesting there during my 1994 visit. There is a museum called Juliet's House covering the medieval history of Verona. It's housed in an authentic palace whose aristocratic owners were named Capello, according to what I learned. In the Shakespearean play, Juliet's family name is Capulet.
Is there authentic history of star-crossed lovers buried in history? Or did the Verona tourist board invent this story to entice visits?
Either way, Verona is worth a visit.
