Mapping Out Our Italy Road Trip

Last year I had such a great time on my two week trip to Bali that Mark and I decided to plan a two week holiday this year over both of our birthdays.   With my birthday at the end of September and Mark’s in early October we have been hesitant on what travel looks like with COVID for months.  And while our original plan (traveling around South East Asia) will not work, we are now putting together our plan-B, an Italy road trip! 

I have been to Italy a few times – I visited Venice, Florence, and Rome with my family when I was in high school,  I studied abroad in Rome for three weeks when I was in college, and last year I went to fashion week in Milan.  However, my transport has been by either train or plane so driving will be quite exciting.    I wanted to share our tentative plan and see if anyone has any suggestions for things we should do or places we should go: 

We have a little over two weeks where we will be renting a car and driving around. This is our tentative plan:

Lake Como |   This is where we will be for my birthday and we are planning to kick off the vacation with a few relaxing days on the lake. I have been looking up villas –  Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta,  and Villa del Balbianello are on the list.  Beside the villas a ferry / cruise around a few of the cities include Como Bellagio , Menaggio , or Varenna.

Positano & Cinque Terre |  In Portifiono, we have plans to visit the lookout point from Castello Brown and the Abbey of San Fruttuoso. And in Cinque Terre, hiking through the five towns and then once w e reach the ned, taking a boat to see all five from the water on the way back.

Florence | Stop by Pisa on the way and then visiting some of my favourites. One of my favourite Florence memories is visiting the Duomo, formally known as the  Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and climbing to the top.  In terms of art, we are planning on visiting the Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell’Accademia (Michalengo’s David), and Pitti Palace.    This will be complemented by Ponte Vecchio and Boboli Garden over our four days.  We are also looking into a day trip to a Tuscan vineyard – we would love any recommendations is you have any!

Naples & Positano |   I have been to the Amalfi Coast before and remember it being absolutely stunning so i am just quite excited to go back.  Of our five stops this one is the least planned – the main goal is to just enjoy the scenery and the water.   I have been looking into a day trip to Capri on a sailboat though, and perhaps kayaking. 

Rome | In Rome, somewhere I have spent a lot of time, the only thing we have booked is a morning at the Vatican (and we will likely stay to afternoon if Have to guess.  For other museums – we have a few on the list including the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo,  Galleria Borghese, and the Capitoline Museum.  And for outdoor activities  as Mark has never bene to Rome we are planning on hitting all of the hot spots including the Collusuem , Gianicolo Hill , The Roman Forum, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona

A few things that we have considered but that ended up not making our tentative list including  Lake Maggiore and visiting the three Borromean Islands as well as touring the Roman  catacombs.

Have you ever been on an Italy road trip?