Week 5 - Florence
From Portugal to Pasta: Our First Taste of Italy
After a great month in Portugal, we hopped a quick flight from Lisbon to Florence—our first time stepping foot in Italy. Flying in, we were glued to the window, taking in the rolling Tuscan hills. Florence (or Firenze, if you’re trying to impress someone) sits right in the heart of Tuscany and proudly wears the title of Italy’s leather capital.
Our apartment was in Old Town, near the train station, tucked inside a historic building with plenty of charm—and not much light. It was a bit dated, but it grew on me over our 10-day stay. Character goes a long way.
Florence’s central location and excellent high-speed rail connections gave us the perfect excuse for some extra adventures: an overnight in Rome and a day trip to Venice. The train system here is top-notch—something we first appreciated in Spain and Japan. Being able to zip to Rome or Venice in under two hours without the usual airport drama? A dream. (Though I still treated the train station like an airport and showed up way too early.)
Rome: Papal Smoke & Ancient Stones
By slight coincidence, we were in Rome on the day the Conclave began. While we didn’t get to stick around to see the white smoke or the new Pope, it was fascinating to witness part of the process. With over 75% of Italians identifying as Catholic, this is serious business. I was pulling for the Cardinal from the Philippines—you know, the one who bikes to work—but I’m intrigued by Pope Leo, an American who’s spent most of his time abroad.
Rome itself? Absolute stunner. The city buzzes with history. Around every corner is something jaw-dropping: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, St. Peter’s Square, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain—you name it, we hoofed it to it. Bonus: we met up with a friend of Tara’s who’s moving to Rome and helped us plan the rest of our day in Rome.
Venice in a Day
A quick two-hour train ride landed us in Venice for the day. It’s beautiful, no doubt, but I left with mixed feelings. The charm is undeniable—those canals, the boats, the faded grandeur—but it’s hard not to think about the toll tourism is taking on the city (we contributed, guilty as charged: CNN article). One memorable moment: chatting with our gondolier, who told us he has no interest in visiting the U.S. because of our gun problem. Perspective, right?
Chianti Cruising
We also rented a car and headed out to the Chianti wine region—about 45 minutes from Florence. The countryside was as gorgeous as advertised. Driving in and around Florence? That was… an experience. Between the rental car logistics and the drivers going the wrong way almost causing an accident, it kept things interesting. Next up: Siena, just about an hour away.
Trip Highlights
Seeing Michelangelo’s David in person—Florence, you win.
Standing outside the Colosseum, soaking up its scale and history.
Staying close—figuratively and literally—to the action of the Conclave.
Final Thoughts
Florence was wonderful, but we’re ready for the next chapter—ideally something smaller, quieter, and closer to nature. We’re also counting down the days until we see Ethan & Hailey in Istanbul.
Things We Learned in Italy
Just because it’s Italian food in Italy doesn’t mean it’ll be amazing.
Travel doesn’t make you immune to illness.
A lot of “Italian leather” and even cheese-making milk comes from water buffalo—not the kind you see in Yellowstone.
Paying at gas stations is a mystery. Shoutout to the woman who accidentally covered our €15 fill-up.
Show the slightest interest in a leather item and salespeople swarm like murder hornets (Tara swears she saw one).
No Uber/Lyft/Bolt in Florence = more business for taxis, more frustration for us.
Rome has two major train stations—don’t make the same mistake we did.
Getting yelled at in a foreign language while biking still gets the message across.
Free water isn’t common, but when you find it, it feels like gold.
Travel & Life Tips From the Road
Holding hands doesn’t give you full sidewalk rights—share the space.
Keep your foot in your airplane seat area—aisles are not footrests.
Stopping abruptly in the middle of a busy sidewalk = rude.
You can use your phone without the speaker on. Please.
Give up your seat on public transport to someone who needs it more. It’s not outdated—it’s decent.
Don’t be that tourist. Read the room, respect the culture, and try not to stand out for the wrong reasons.
Ciao for now!
We are all fascinated by the ease, in which you seem to float from Country, to Country, city to city, going with the flow, as part of the experience. The photos are breathtaking and the memories will stay with you forever. Travel on, and be safe. ❤️
Sweet.
We're strongly considering an Italy trip later this year and have been debating starting in Rome and then going north or starting North and then going to Rome. sounds like between Venice Tuscany and Florence there's more to do up north before we ZIP down south to Rome or do day trips like you talked about with the train. Thanks for the insights