Hi all!
Hoping this knowledgeable community can weigh in on my first trip to Italy.
Travelers consist of myself, my husband, our 6 year old son + my parents (who are quite possibly the most in shape people I have ever known and we have 0 concerns about walking/long days, etc).
My parents have been to Italy twice before, but this will be a first for myself / husband / son.
My husband has a real interest in history / architecture…..and I am fairly certain this will be our only trip to Italy so trying to make the most of the time we have.
We have some “must see” locations, which I have included in my planning. I am more of the “go with the flow” “happy just to explore and eat” type of person, so nothing needed for me. My parents have done all these items already, so very little will be new to them and they are just happy to be included and share this experience.
I've done LOTS of research regarding places to eat and I do have a nice hefty list that I won't bore anyone else with - but if you have any food suggestions near the areas we'll be I'd love to hear them. Something to note - aside from the main museums I DO NOT want any touristy food locations so I had a specific list of places that I wanted to go to - don't want Instagram places, etc.
I've also done LOTS of research on methods of transportation - we'll primarily be taking the train. I have confirmed all trains for all of our stops, but research isn't as good as experience....so any input / tips / worries about these locations from a train perspective?
Our itinerary is:
Land in Rome Friday morning 4/2/27
Hotel / Relax / Eat / Explore / Dinner
Saturday 4/3/27
Coliseum Family Tour Ancient Rome Amazing Scavenger Hunt
Lunch
Rome Underground & Crypts Kid Friendly Tour
Dinner
Sunday 4/4/27
Photoshoot near Coliseum (hiring a local photographer for 1 hour)
Explore Monti
Dinner
Monday 4/5/27
Family Tour & Divine Race Treasure Hunt (Vatican & Sistine Chapel & St Peters Bascilla)
Lunch
Park Break for my son – Villa Borghese
Dinner
Tuesday 4/6/27
Train to Florence (day trip - plan on leaving around 8am and returning around 6pm)
Duomo & Accademia
Dinner
Wednesday 4/7/27
Leave Rome around 10am and take train to Naples
Hotel check in / lunch / explore
Park Break for my son – Villa Comunale
Dinner
Thursday 4/8/27
Pompeii Small Group tour w/ archaeologist
Lunch
Napoli Scotterranea (Naples Underground Tour)
Dinner
Friday 4/9/27
Anacapri Chairlift
Lunch
Capri Essential Boat Tour
Dinner
Saturday 4/10/27
Day trip to Sorrento
Sorrento Lemon Grove Experience
Lunch
Park Break for my son – Parco Giochi Don Luigi Verde
Dinner
Sunday 4/11/27
Train from Naples to Pizzo
Hotel/Relax
Park Break for my son – Mamba Playground or Villa Comunale
Explore
Dinner
Monday 4/12/27
Castello Murat
Chiesetta di Piedigrotta
Lunch
Marina Di Pizzo
Dinner
Tuesday 4/13/27
Train from Pizzo to Sicily (Caltanissetta – which is where my husbands family is from)
Hotel
Park Break for my son – Giardino della Legalita
Local restaurants / bakeries exploring
Wednesday 4/14/27
Caltan
Cathedral of Santa Maria La Nova
Castillo di Pietrarossa
Local cafes and bakeries
Leave around 4pm to head to Palermo via train
Hotel
Park Break for my son – Foro Italico
Street food & Ballaro Market
Thursday 4/15/27
Palermo Cathedral
Ballaro Market
Park Break for my son – il Parco della Salute / Parco Uditore
Street Food
Mercado del Capp
Mondello Area
Dinner
Friday 4/16/27
Bus from Palermo to Catania
Hotel
Park Break for my son – Villa Bellini / Lungomare Picanelle
La Pescheria fish market
Eating / Exploring / Dinner
Saturday 4/17/27
Return flight home out of Catania airport
Thank you for taking the time to read my novel! :)