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Italy Trip - Cinque Terre, Siena and Rome
Posted on 5/5/17 at 3:59 pm
Posted on 5/5/17 at 3:59 pm
Returned this week from my Italy honeymoon trip and thought I'd share with everyone. Thanks for all the posters on here who have given insight into Italy, it helped when planning the trip. Besides the beautiful views, food and wine the best part were the people. All sincerely nice and helpful to use in our time over there.
We did 4 days in the Cinque Terre area, 5 in Siena, and 3 in Rome. We flew out of MSY > LGA > CDG > GOA. Once in Genoa we took a bus to the train station. ItaliaRail is pretty simple and inexpesive to use. A few recommendations when using it: double check the train transfers you have to do to get to your destination, double check platform number for your train departure, and be sure to scan your ticket in one of their machines before boarding. We took the train from Genoa to La Spezia and then a taxi to the town of Portovenere on the tip of the bay. The town is very small and quaint and has amazing views from the old basilica to the castle that over looks the town.
Hotel
drinks on the hotel balcony bar each afternoon
Cemetery on the hillside by castle
From Portovenere there is a boat transfer that took us from there to the 5 cities depending on weather and sea conditions. The one day that weather prohibited the boat we took the train from Le Spezia to the 5 cities, just not as cool but effective.
We decided to do the hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. Notes on this hike: its very gorgeous and some of the best views I've ever seen. It is pretty strenuous and very steep hills and steps with no railings. Its roughly 2.5 miles one way. Plan on bringing lots of water and hiking clothes and shoes.
Montorosso
Vernazza
Riomaggiore
Some highlights of the food and wine in the Cinque Terre area
Being a port town the area is heavy on seafood. The area is known for having some of the best pesto in the world, can't say I've had better
Squid gnocchi at this restaurant, to me the best restaurant in the area
We did 4 days in the Cinque Terre area, 5 in Siena, and 3 in Rome. We flew out of MSY > LGA > CDG > GOA. Once in Genoa we took a bus to the train station. ItaliaRail is pretty simple and inexpesive to use. A few recommendations when using it: double check the train transfers you have to do to get to your destination, double check platform number for your train departure, and be sure to scan your ticket in one of their machines before boarding. We took the train from Genoa to La Spezia and then a taxi to the town of Portovenere on the tip of the bay. The town is very small and quaint and has amazing views from the old basilica to the castle that over looks the town.
Hotel
drinks on the hotel balcony bar each afternoon
Cemetery on the hillside by castle
From Portovenere there is a boat transfer that took us from there to the 5 cities depending on weather and sea conditions. The one day that weather prohibited the boat we took the train from Le Spezia to the 5 cities, just not as cool but effective.
We decided to do the hike from Monterosso to Vernazza. Notes on this hike: its very gorgeous and some of the best views I've ever seen. It is pretty strenuous and very steep hills and steps with no railings. Its roughly 2.5 miles one way. Plan on bringing lots of water and hiking clothes and shoes.
Montorosso
Vernazza
Riomaggiore
Some highlights of the food and wine in the Cinque Terre area
Being a port town the area is heavy on seafood. The area is known for having some of the best pesto in the world, can't say I've had better
Squid gnocchi at this restaurant, to me the best restaurant in the area
1
Posted on 5/5/17 at 4:05 pm to illinitiger
From La Spezia we took the train again to Siena where we stayed for the next part of the trip. I highly recommend this town, while slightly crowded during the day in the evening the crowds are gone and walking around is very relaxing and mood is quiet and laid back. We did a day trip to Florence which I found nice but very touristy and crowded. If you are looking for the more small town feel with small quaint restaurants and coffee shops I'd recommend Siena and then travel from there on day trips.
The town square Siena
View from hotel balcony
Florence for part of the day, though we didn't stay long.
Food and wine highlights from Siena, Florance and 2 wineries we went on in the Montalcino area. The Brunello di Montalcino is everything people say it is..some of the best wine in the world.
Free grappa and amaretto after dinner with strawberry tiramisu
[/img]
The town square Siena
View from hotel balcony
Florence for part of the day, though we didn't stay long.
Food and wine highlights from Siena, Florance and 2 wineries we went on in the Montalcino area. The Brunello di Montalcino is everything people say it is..some of the best wine in the world.
Free grappa and amaretto after dinner with strawberry tiramisu
[/img] Posted on 5/5/17 at 4:16 pm to illinitiger
And for the final days we went to Rome. Rome is great don't get me wrong but after having a more laid back atmosphere in the first 2 cities Rome to me was a hectic pass and very crowded. I enjoyed the sights and of course the food and many many pizzas, I would have just done our trip reverse order. Rome first then up to the northern part of Italy.
the Spanish steps
Pantheon
Vatican
the Forum
and of course all the pizza
the Spanish steps
Pantheon
Vatican
the Forum
and of course all the pizza
Posted on 5/5/17 at 4:39 pm to illinitiger
Fantastic! Like you suggested you should've done, I did Rome first, then Venice, Florence, and lastly Cinque Terre. I loved Rome due to being a history buff. We stayed in Vernazza and did the complete hike of all 5 towns. We finished the hike in Monterosso by cliff jumping. It was such a cool trip. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
Posted on 5/5/17 at 4:43 pm to illinitiger
Top notch review!!!! Will add to sticky when I get home....
Posted on 5/5/17 at 9:00 pm to illinitiger
This post was edited on 11/8/20 at 2:36 pm
Posted on 5/6/17 at 6:24 am to illinitiger
Posted on 5/6/17 at 7:58 am to illinitiger
Were you wearing a sir saint hat in florence by chance?
Posted on 5/6/17 at 8:04 am to CHEEEEESE
I wasn't. Were you there around the same time?
Posted on 5/6/17 at 8:24 am to illinitiger
Great review sir
Posted on 5/6/17 at 9:10 am to illinitiger
Great review, love the photos! The food looks amazing except for that steak. 
Posted on 5/6/17 at 8:08 pm to illinitiger
Yeah I just got back from a 10 day trip of Rome, florence and Venice. Saw a guy one day in Santa Maria novella wearing a saints hat. Gave him a who dat but I don't think he heard me
Posted on 7/27/22 at 5:10 pm to illinitiger
Visited Cinque Terre in April as it was a bucket list item. But, I have to tell you as much as I was impressed with it, truly amazing. I was very surprised by the small church located in Portovenere. We were surprised by it and it was an awesome couple of hours while awaiting the water taxi to Cinque Terre
Posted on 7/27/22 at 5:56 pm to illinitiger
Dang y’all ran the train on some food n drink. Looks like a blast . Can’t wait to check out Italy.
*^just realized this was a bump from 2017
*^just realized this was a bump from 2017
This post was edited on 7/27/22 at 6:00 pm
Posted on 7/27/22 at 11:24 pm to jkylejohnson
quote:
*^just realized this was a bump from 2017
Sorry about that, I didn't realize it at first either.
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