Just Home from a Month in Italy!
This was an amazing trip and it will be turned into a travel guide eventually....
April 1st we boarded our plane to DFW and then onto Rome! Arriving on the 2nd as you fly overnight going there. We were staying near the train station as we likely the location and price. We skimmed a bit in order to splurge a little in Venice.
We did extensive research by pouring over YouTube videos and used Booking.com for the rooms and local attractions. I think the hardest part is admitting you can’t do it all! Everyone will tell you “you’ve got to see…” Just trust your gut and “See” what you want to see.
Rome was 5 days - We were heavy on Antiquities, Art Museums and Churches. The Vatican was on the 3rd. We booked a “skip the line tour” had a great guide and walked our legs off. Like 6 miles………. We were there and the security was already elevated as it is Jubilee this year……… It was April and they claim the crowds were thin. I don’t want to be there when it is busy! The tour had made changes without telling us….. I am very disappointed that we did not see St. Peter’s Basilica. A longer Vatican Museum tour and you can’t ever see all of it.
We also went to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (they now charge you to get down close); we chose to over look down into the Forum to get better photo reference for me for use in my paintings. Dene and I discovered an amazing restaurant - we have a knack for wandering into the coolest places.
We then took the Italo Highspeed Train to Venice. We stayed next to the Rialto Bridge. We got back on the Vapporetto Boat and went to the Academia Bridge for photos. The next day toured Doge Palace and St. Marks. Our guide was excellent. We were glad to only be there 2 nights as it was as crazy as Rome.
Off to Florence on the next Italo Highspeed train. There is a Central Market there which has a restaurant upstairs and a Food and goods market downstairs until 1pm each day. We goofed, should have explored the market 1st. We went to see David, toured just the marble statues associated with Michelangelo. Also the Duomo. The “Golden bridge - the Ponte Vecchio” and the Piazza della Signoria where we had dinner. The weather turned rainy so the Uffizi Gallery / Museum and the Piazza della Repubblicia where the Carousel is located. We had dinner at Caffe Gilli for my birthday dinner. At the end of 10 days, we had already walked 30 miles.
No more Trains! We got the rent car and were off to Montepulciano area! The Cignella Wine Resort for 4 nights. We learned to make pasta, toured the Ricci Winery (Emilio was awesome - wine coming!) and the countryside. We had a picnic lunch at the Cugusi Silvana Cheese Agritourism. While around Montepulciano, I painted a 4x4 plein air of the Basilica there and the weather held for an 11 x 14 sketch there.
We then moved to a Hotel in San Quirico d’Orcia. This tiny town was a delight. Quiet! We stumbled into an amazing restaurant with a view to match. When you entered, you had no idea that a Wisteria covered courtyard was in the back - what a find! We drove to Montalcino, around the area and took many pictures as it is the countryside everyone loves to paint. We went to Pienza and discovered a wonderful restaurant for lunch - down a side alley, hidden off the beaten path.
On to Orvieto. We stayed at an apartment overlooking the town. We went into This mountain town using their Tram and bus system. It was cheap as to encourage visitors NOT To Drive up the mountain. Sat down for a lunch immediately then entered the Huge, Duomo Church and the Etruscan Museum across the street. I got to start an 11 x 14 inch painting of Orvieto from the apartment before the rain hit.
Our last stop was the little town of Santa Marinella, just north of Rome on the Med. We had booked the suite with the whole huge patio and place to paint. Their restaurant was across the street - the food was amazing! Seafood & pasta. This is where customer service lived. The entire staff at the Cavalluccio Marino was amazing! Roberta who was at the front desk shared that her sister was an artist as well. She was gifted some of my note cards that I take and give to people who are kind along the way. The sun was a delight to bask in, I got some color finally. The views were sweeping and spectacular. Lots of pictures, sunsets, sailboats and more.
We moved back into Rome the night before we left. Up at 5:30am, to the airport by 8:30am (Rome) Boarded our plane at 10am for our 10 hour flight back; which turned into 12.5 due to heavy weather in Dallas. Our second flight home to San Angelo, canceled; though we were immediately rebooked (unbeknown to us) on to the 10:45 that arrived at midnight. We were up and on our feet for 24+ hours.
Rough ending to what was an amazing trip. I will be Writing and Creating a TRAVEL GUIDE that will be available to purchase. There will be trip building recommendations and photos of my paintings. It will have names of all the places we stayed, recommendations for restaurants and much more. (I will be creating one for the France trip from 2023 as well.)
