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ITALY GUIDE – Our 18-day itinerary traveling from Venice to Cinque-Terre, Tuscany and Puglia

We just got back from our amazing trip to Italy with our heads filled with beautiful memories. I had wanted to go to Italy for a long time, after reading an article on somewhere like Zofia’s travel website. It’s a beautiful place and everyone who visits seems to love it. It took me a few months of research and planning to make sure we had the best itinerary working for us and that we could fit as many things to visit as possible.

Our trip wasn’t the resting type one but if you’re looking to see wonders, gorgeous landscapes and travel a lot through the country, this post will probably save you lots of time researching.

Venice

We landed in Venice and took the shuttle boat to get to San Marco where we took the shuttle to our Hotel. We stayed at the JW Marriott, which I highly recommend. It’s on a private island and everything makes your experience incredible. Also we really liked staying there because Venice was insanely hot, humid and crowded. Being on an isolated private island allowed us to rest well after the flight, to enjoy the gorgeous view of Venice, while still being able to go there when we liked. Venice isn’t the only place you can rent a private island, there are plenty of options around the world that may take your fancy, so if you want some calm and quiet to properly relax, you may want to look into doing this.

Hotel:

JW Mariott Venice – 2 nights – We loved it. The setting is gorgeous, the food is delicious, the rooms are spacious and the view from the pool on Venice is breathtaking!

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Fiola at the JW Marriott Venice. The food was outstanding and the service out of this world. If you are looking for a gastro dinner secluded from the Venice crowded, this is your place.

Things to do:

  • The famous Piazza San Marco
  • Wander around the tiny street and get lost
  • Grab a gelato
  • The Jewish Museum and Ghetto

Cinque Terre

We rented a car at the train station in Venice (make sure you rent there and not the airport, it was much easier for us and the airport is very far). We drove all the day to la Spezia, stopping at Castello Scaligero (highly recommend wandering there and getting a gelato!)

We parked our car in La Spezia and took the train to Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre. It’s the first village from La Spezia and only 12 min away by train. I highly recommend leaving your big luggage in storage at the train station and taking only a backpack or carry on as the villages are built on mountains, the streets are cobblestones and it’s really hard to get around with big luggage. We didn’t know that and thankfully the owner of the place we stayed helped us.

We loved walking around between the villages and we wished we had stayed another day there.

Hotel:

Scorci di mare Riomaggiore – 2 nights – Very clean, ideally located, gorgeous view.

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Nessun Dorma – Manarola – We took the pesto class but you can also have lunch and dinner there, it’s amazing!!
  • Da Eraldo – Monterosso – Book a table outside. The food is delicious and the location is very cute! Loved the tuna carpaccio, the fish of the day and the warm delicious bread.

Things to do:

  • Pesto class at Nessun Dorna
  • Hikes between the villages – bring good walking shoes (forget about heels and wedges, even sandals…)
  • Wander in the villages in small shops, bars and gelateria
  • Go to the beach in Monterosso

Tuscany

Sienna & Tuscany Country Side

We drove from Cinque-Terre to Sienna and stopped on the way in Lucca. The drive is beautiful like everywhere in the region. However, be aware that most roads are pretty tights. We avoided driving at night and we’re very happy we did. Days are very long in the summer so plan early dinner so you don’t have to drive in the dark. Most towns are very isolated and on top of a hill.

All the landscapes here are gorgeous, and each town has its own history. Try to fit 1 or 2 towns a day in your schedule, more can be too much and parking is not necessarily easy to find.

Hotel in Sienna:

Athena Hotel – 3 nights – Ideally located, beautiful rooftop, great food, and service.

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Cantina Giuliano – Kosher, delicious pasta, vegetables and cheeses
  • Athena Hotel – Loved the caccio e peppe pasta
  • Il Celliere a Castagnoli – we went there for lunch and it was beyond incredible. Their truffles pasta were so so good!
  • La Botega del Gelato – try their salted pistachio flavor!
  • Buon Gusto Gelateria – best sorbet I ever had. They have authentic flavors, very high quality and fresh!

Things to do:

  • Truffle hunt – we did ours with Tartufi di Teo, best experience ever!
  • 1 afternoon visiting the beautiful Sienna, get lost in the small streets and grab a pizza to go and eat it on the piazza
  • Visit Lucca and Volterra – very cute medieval towns
  • 1 day visiting Montepulciano and Pienza (try their pecorino, it’s the local specialty!)
  • Pasta cooking class – ours was at Cantina Giuliano
  • Day in Chianti, we went to Gaiole and Greve for an olive oil tasting

Florence

We drove from the chianti region to Florence and returned the car. We used taxis a few times for the time we were in Florence but we walked pretty much everywhere, which was great to discover the city. If you have not been to Florence before, you can check out articles such as https://www.lacasadelriccio.com/5-must-go-to-places-in-florence/, so you can have a general idea of what to do when you arrive. We didn’t have anything really planned and we loved it this way after running nonstop for one week. We didn’t shop much there but it seemed like the perfect town to do so.

Hotel in Florence:

AC Firence – 3 nights – Modern and clean. Location was ok, we got a good deal and booked it for free via Marriott. We didn’t spend that much time at the hotel so it was perfect for us.

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Bottega Conviviale – delicious pizza, cute outdoor space for lunch
  • Bucca Mario – nice spot for dinner, pasta were good. We didn’t eat meat but it seems like a good place to do so.
  • Tamero – delicious pasta and appetizer, located on a very cute place. Loved the vibe there. Recommend it for dinner.

Things to do:

  • Museum visits – grab your tickets in advance as it gets very crowded in the summer
  • Cross the Ponte Vecchio – really fun!
  • Palazzo Pitti and its garden
  • The synagogue and museums. Must see, so beautiful!

Puglia

North of Puglia

We loved Puglia. The region is so different from the rest of Italy. We took a train from Florence and rented a car near the train station in Bari. We drove all over Puglia to discover the beauty of the region. Our hotel was very nice, but I would recommend staying in a Masseria near Ostuni. We really liked it and wish we’ve done that because it was more charming than Polignano.

Hotel in Polignano:

Cala Ponte Hotel – 3 nights – Nice pool and location. Cute hotel.

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Pescaria – great for casual lunch. Fish was delicious. Tuna was super fresh and tasty!
  • Osteria del Tempo Perso – loved everything about that place. We loved the burrata, the pasta and that it’s in a Grotta 😉
  • Casa Mia – nice outdoor spot. Food ok but nothing incredible. Good location.

Things to do:

  • One beach day – the water is incredible, so warm in the summer! We went to Sabiaddoro beach club for the half day and loved it!
  • One day in the little town of Ostuni. It’s stunning!
  • If you have time, go see Matera. The history of this town is so interesting. People lived in grottos until the 50s!

  • Alberobello is so cute! The small Trulli town is a great stop!
  • We didn’t have time to see it but apparently, the Gotta is great.
  • Walk around in Polignano, a cute little town with a beautiful view of the sea.

South of Puglia – Salento

This was the last part of our trip and it was so relaxing. We drove to Otranto and loved staying at Masseria Muzza. We spent lots of time at the pool, enjoying the sunset and drinking cafe leccese (iced coffee with almond syrup, so addictive!). I recommend staying in a Masseria during your stay in Puglia as it is very authentic and charming. Don’t forget to try the orchiette.

Hotel in Otranto:

Masseria Muzza – 3 nights – The hotel was beyond our expectations. The service is outstanding, the staff is so discreet and make your experience so relaxing. The hotel is sumptuous, all white, so subtle with many details. The food was also great, we loved the breakfast and we had dinner there twice.

Restaurants we recommend:

  • Zenzero – cute authentic spot with fresh vegetables and dishes
  • Masseria Muzza restaurant – we’re obsessed with this place, everything was BEYOND

Things to do:

  • Visit the town of Lecce
  • Jump in la Grotta de la Poesia
  • Go see Cava di Bauxite
  • Enjoy a beach day

We flew back from Brindisi to Rome to Montreal. Our trip was exceptional and we made so many memories.

Hope all these insights will help you plan your trip to Italy!

ITALY GUIDE - Our 18-day itinerary traveling from Venice to Cinco-Terra, Tuscany and Puglia We just got back from our amazing trip to Italy with our heads filled with beautiful memories. It took me a few months of research and planning to make sure we had the best itinerary working for us and that we could fit as many things to visit as possible. Our trip wasn't the resting type one but if you're looking to see wonders, gorgeous landscapes and travel a lot through the country, this post will probably save you lots of time researching. Venice We landed in Venice and took the shuttle boat to get to San Marco where we took the shuttle to our Hotel. We stayed at the JW Marriott, which I highly recommend. It's on a private island and everything makes your experience incredible. Also we really liked staying there because Venice was insanely hot, humid and crowded. Being on an isolated private island allowed us to rest well after the flight, to enjoy the gorgeous view of Venice, while still being able to go there when we liked. Hotel: JW Mariott Venice - 2 nights - We loved it. The setting is gorgeous, the food is delicious, the rooms are spacious and the view from the pool on Venice is breathtaking! Restaurants we recommend: Fiola at the JW Marriott Venice. The food was outstanding and the service out of this world. If you are looking for a gastro dinner secluded from the Venice crowded, this is your place. Things to do: The famous Piazza San Marco Wander around the tiny street and get lost Grab a gelato The Jewish Museum and Ghetto Cinco Terra We rented a car at the train station in Venice (make sure you rent there and not the airport, it was much easier for us and the airport is very far). We drove all the day to la Spezia, stopping at Castello Scaligero (highly recommend wandering there and getting a gelato!) Castello Scaligero We parked our car in La Spezia and took the train to Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre. It's the first village from La Spezia and only 12 min away by train. I highly recommend leaving your big luggage in storage at the train station and taking only a backpack or carry on as the villages are built on mountains, the streets are cobblestones and it's really hard to get around with big luggage. We didn't know that and thankfully the owner of the place we stayed helped us. We loved walking around between the villages and we wished we had stayed another day there. Hotel: Scorci di mare Riomaggiore - 2 nights - Very clean, ideally located, gorgeous view. Restaurants we recommend: Nessun Dorma - Manarola - We took the pesto class but you can also have lunch and dinner there, it's amazing!! Da Eraldo - Monterosso - Book a table outside. The food is delicious and the location is very cute! Loved the tuna carpaccio, the fish of the day and the warm delicious bread. Things to do: Pesto class at Nessun Dorna Hikes between the villages - bring good walking shoes (forget about heels and wedges, even sandals...) Wander in the villages in small shops, bars and gelateria Go to the beach in Monterosso Tuscany Sienna & Tuscany Country Side We drove from Cinco-Terra to Sienna and stopped on the way in Lucca. The drive is beautiful like everywhere in the region. However, be aware that most roads are pretty tights. We avoided driving at night and we're very happy we did. Days are very long in the summer so plan early dinner so you don't have to drive in the dark. Most towns are very isolated and on top of a hill. All the landscapes here are gorgeous, and each town has its own history. Try to fit 1 or 2 towns a day in your schedule, more can be too much and parking is not necessarily easy to find. Hotel in Sienna: Athena Hotel - 3 nights - Ideally located, beautiful rooftop, great food, and service. Restaurants we recommend: Cantina Giuliano - Kosher, delicious pasta, vegetables and cheeses Athena Hotel - Loved the caccio e peppe pasta Il Celliere a Castagnoli - we went there for lunch and it was beyond incredible. Their truffles pasta were so so good! La Botega del Gelato - try their salted pistachio flavor! Buon Gusto Gelateria - best sorbet I ever had. They have authentic flavors, very high quality and fresh! Things to do: Truffle hunt - we did ours with Tartufi di Teo, best experience ever! 1 afternoon visiting the beautiful Sienna, get lost in the small streets and grab a pizza to go and eat it on the piazza Visit Lucca and Volterra - very cute medieval towns 1 day visiting Montepulciano and Pienza (try their pecorino, it's the local specialty!) Pasta cooking class - ours was at Cantina Giuliano Day in Chianti, we went to Gaiole and Greve for an olive oil tasting Florence We drove from the chianti region to Florence and returned the car. We used taxis a few times for the time we were in Florence but we walked pretty much everywhere, which was great to discover the city. We didn't have anything really planned and we loved it this way after running nonstop for one week. We didn't shop much there but it seemed like the perfect town to do so. Hotel in Florence: AC Firence - 3 nights - Modern and clean. Location was ok, we got a good deal and booked it for free via Marriott. We didn't spend that much time at the hotel so it was perfect for us. Restaurants we recommend: Bottega Conviviale - delicious pizza, cute outdoor space for lunch Bucca Mario - nice spot for dinner, pasta were good. We didn't eat meat but it seems like a good place to do so. Tamero - delicious pasta and appetizer, located on a very cute place. Loved the vibe there. Recommend it for dinner. Things to do: Museum visits - grab your tickets in advance as it gets very crowded in the summer Cross the Ponte Vecchio - really fun! Palazzo Pitti and its garden The synagogue and museums. Must see, so beautiful! Puglia North of Puglia We loved Puglia. The region is so different from the rest of Italy. We took a train from Florence and rented a car near the train station in Bari. We drove all over Puglia to discover the beauty of the region. Our hotel was very nice, but I would recommend staying in a Masseria near Ostuni. We really liked it and wish we've done that because it was more charming than Polignano. Hotel in Polignano: Cala Ponte Hotel - 3 nights - Nice pool and location. Cute hotel. Restaurants we recommend: Pescaria - great for casual lunch. Fish was delicious. Tuna was super fresh and tasty! Osteria del Tempo Perso - loved everything about that place. We loved the burrata, the pasta and that it's in a Grotta ;) Casa Mia - nice outdoor spot. Food ok but nothing incredible. Good location. Things to do: One beach day - the water is incredible, so warm in the summer! We went to Sabiaddoro beach club for the half day and loved it! One day in the little town of Ostuni. It's stunning! If you have time, go see Matera. The history of this town is so interesting. People lived in grottos until the 50s! Alberobello is so cute! The small Trulli town is a great stop! We didn't have time to see it but apparently, the Gotta is great. Walk around in Polignano, a cute little town with a beautiful view of the sea. South of Puglia - Salento This was the last part of our trip and it was so relaxing. We drove to Otranto and loved staying at Masseria Muzza. We spent lots of time at the pool, enjoying the sunset and drinking cafe leccese (iced coffee with almond syrup, so addictive!). I recommend staying in a Masseria during your stay in Puglia as it is very authentic and charming. Don't forget to try the orchiette. Hotel in Otranto: Masseria Muzza - 3 nights - The hotel was beyond our expectations. The service is outstanding, the staff is so discreet and make your experience so relaxing. The hotel is sumptuous, all white, so subtle with many details. The food was also great, we loved the breakfast and we had dinner there twice. Restaurants we recommend: Zenzero - cute authentic spot with fresh vegetables and dishes Masseria Muzza restaurant - we're obsessed with this place, everything was BEYOND Things to do: Visit the town of Lecce Jump in la Grotta de la Poesia Go see Cava di Bauxite Enjoy a beach day We flew back from Brindisi to Rome to Montreal. Our trip was exceptional and we made so many memories. Hope all these insights will help you plan your trip to Italy!

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