I was in Italy with my husband and 25 yo daughter 8/31-9/14. I’m not creative like some are with trip reports but I thought I would offer a few details worth mentioning. This was our 4th trip to Italy since 2015.
1 night Pisa (wonderful hotel Prato dei Miracoli Residenza d-Epoca) where we had a birds-eye view of the leaning tower while still laying in bed) 2-room suite that made it so easy to have our daughter there.
6 nights Florence, 3rd time here, and this visit we added on a few different things such as Medici Chapel (takes your breath away) and Pitti Palace (overwhelming as there is so very much there). Favorite meal was the porchetta sandwiches at Da Nerbone at Mercato Centrale and best gelato of trip is Gelateria dei Neri. We rented a car from Hertz for one day and traveled to Siena to see the cathedral – my dream to see the uncovered floors and it was a major highlight for me. I don’t think there is a more beautiful cathedral anywhere. Then we drove on to Monteriggioni to see the tiny walled town (1 hour max stop) and then on to San Gimignano. Yes, it is touristy but stunning with all of its towers. One of the best meals of the trip was in this town at Osteria Baccano. Excellent service and wine and I thoroughly enjoyed my Spezzatino di Cinghiale (boar stew with sauteed spinach).
3 nights Bologna. Loved the “real town feel” of this city. So much to do here but for some reason none of it feels touristy. Walked around the university, toured the Anatomical Theater, climbed the clocktower and went into the city art museum. Took a Cesarine cooking class in a private apartment with a fabulous chef. Ate a spectacular meal at Sfoglia Rina (I had spinach pasta filled with yellow pepper puree and topped with more peppers, walnuts and stracciatella cheese).
4 nights Stresa (on Lake Maggiore). We took the ferry to 2 of the Borromean Islands and toured the villa and gardens on Isola Bella. Ate a fantastic meal at Il Faro e la Luna. We didn’t have a reservation but the owner let us in to the full dining room. I ordered eggplant parmigiana and they told me it would be a few extra minutes but they would make it from scratch for me as they had none already made. It was scrumptious. Such friendly staff. We were going to take the scenic train to Locarno and the ferry back but we got into the relaxed groove of being on a lake and ended up just hanging out at the end of our trip. We were in Stresa on 9/11 and they did a memorial on the lake honoring the victims. The mayor, firemen, police and Red Cross volunteers all participated. It was so touching.
This was our 4th trip to Italy and I think I’ve finally learned that a future visit needs to be NOT summer. The first 3 cities were exquisitely hot and sunny. Lots of tourists (like me I know), especially in Florence. I love Italy with it’s art, architecture, trains and lovely people.