OUR ITALIAN ADVENTURE:
2 weeks in
Italy
Ciao amici! We spent 2 weeks in Italy, visiting the western coast and had an amazing time. We ate so much delicious pasta that we were both ten pounds heavier leaving than when we arrived. We saw incredible historic sites and natural scenic beauty. Italy is definitely a place you need to visit more than once. Maybe next time we’ll explore the interior parts of Italy or the eastern coast, perhaps. I’ve always wanted to see Venice.
But for now, we began our Tour of Italy in Milan where we checked out the city and got our first taste of Italian cuisine. From Milan, we made our way down the coast and ended up in Sicily. So we cover all of the western coast of Italy plus a lot of Sicily – nearly a third of the entire country. We hope you find our itinerary helpful in planning your own 2 weeks in Italy.
day 1: Milan
Kicking things off in Milan, we saw the stunning Duomo di Milano in Piazza del Duomo and we walked through the open air Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. As you can imagine, the architecture was just incredible. We shared a delicious pizza and pasta dish before heading over to the canals of Naviglio Grande to catch the sunset.
The canals were alive with activity as people came out to enjoy the many bars and restaurants. We had a great time exploring Milan and it was the perfect introduction to Italy.
Day 2: Portofino and Monterosso
We hit the road early in the morning and headed toward Portofino. The drive was really beautiful and as we got closer to Portofino, we caught glimpses of the glistening blue water below which got us really excited. Portofino is a postcard port town with lots of restaurants and shops. The scenery is gorgeous with all the boats in the water and houses on the hills in the background.
We had a really delicious lunch of fresh pasta with crispy garlic chips on top. They’re my new favorite thing and I want them on top of every single meal I eat from now on! While having lunch, we enjoyed watching the locals and tourists going about their activities as we rested.
We ate a ton of pasta during our 2 weeks in Italy but we never got tired of it. In fact, I wish we’d eaten even more. Is that bad?!
From Portofino, we kept going to our final destination of the day which was Monterosso, one of the five villages of Cinque Terre. If you’ve got 2 weeks in Italy, or any time for that matter, you need to make sure you definitely visit Cinque Terre.
Monterosso is incredibly beautiful. The streets of this village wind down the mountain and end at the sea where there’s a small sand beach and the train station. We had another amazing dinner at a little restaurant with tables out in the alley. Josh ordered the most amazing gnocchi dish which was so rich and flavorful we worried it had cheese in it. The wait staff assured us that, in Italy, gnocchi is not made with dairy.
Day 3: Vernazza
We started the morning in Monterosso and hiked to Vernazza which is the next village over. Each of the five villages are connected by hiking path or train only – no cars allowed, which makes it really nice to walk through the villages without worrying about vehicle traffic. The hike to Vernazza is a tiny bit of work as you have to climb a lot but the views along the way are totally worth it. Vernazza has a small beach and really colorful buildings.
We had a great time exploring the streets and shops in town and grabbing some amazing food – yep, pasta, of course! We also enjoyed some sorbet, which I haven’t mentioned yet but was a daily occurence, often times more than once daily.
At the end of the day, we were beat from walking so much so we decided to take the train back to Monterosso al Mare where we couldn’t resist walking a bit more along the beach. We visited Il Gigante, a giant sculpture of Neptune who keeps watch at the end of the beach. And, as I warned previously, we shared another sorbet before calling it a night.
Day 4: Corniglia, Manarola & Riomaggiore
On this day we explored the three southernmost villages of Cinque Terre. This was a great day! We saw beautiful sights and ate some really delicious food. We started in Monterosso, of course, and took the train to Corniglia which is at the top of a mountain and has no beach accesses. To get to this town from the train station, you have to climb up a long, zig-zagging stairway.
It’s exhausting, especially on the way up, but you can take as much time as you need and there are benches along the way. Once you’re at the top, as you can imagine, there are some amazing views of the surrounding mountains and the sea.
After exploring and enjoying the great architecture in Corniglia for a while, we took the steps back down and hopped on the train to the next village. In Manarola, we enjoyed some delicious focaccia for lunch. It was loaded with tomatoes, onions and other veggies and really tasty. Monarola has some really cool swimming spots and rocks to jump from so make sure you have your bathing suit handy.
Finally, we ended the day in Riomaggiore which is beautiful. There are many wonderful lookouts in Riomaggiore with pretty views out to the sea. There was also a great pebble beach where we were able to sit and catch the sunset. It was a great day filled with incredible sights and delicious pasta and, of course, sorbet.
Day 5: exploring tuscany
We packed up and left Cinque Terre to continue South. Of course, we took a detour through Tuscany and checked out a couple of mountain top villages. This beautiful countryside was another must see destination for us during our 2 weeks in Italy. The drive was picturesque and the two villages we visited, Montepulciano and Orvietto, were both unique and incredible.
Montepulciano was a top pick for me because I love the wine that comes from that region. We had the most delicious meal here and also toured Citta Sotterranea, an underground winery which was once the home of Italian nobility and had a wine cellar, a prison and secret tunnels which led out of town.
Let me tell you more about that amazing meal I mentioned, which I can still taste on my tongue all this time later. There were so many yummy sounding options on the menu so we decided to order several dishes to share. We had two different pasta dishes which were so amazing, one had a garlic sauce and the other a tomato sauce. We also shared a bowl of chickpeas that were cooked in some kind of heavenly broth and, lastly, we had a dish of kidney beans in tomato sauce. This was easily one of the best meals of our lives. Every single mouthful was pure delight! Sadly, the particular restaurant has since closed permanently. I guess we’ll just have to savor our memories.
With full bellies, we headed to Orvieto which is a sprawling town built on top of a mountain. It’s amazing to see as you approach. We had a really fun time exploring Orvieto. We walked the streets of the downtown area checking out the shops until we found some sorbet.
Next, we climbed an amazing spiral staircase to the top of the Torre del Moro for some beautiful views of the village. We had amazing views in every single direction. The last thing we did before leaving Orvieto was visit Rocca Albornoziana. These ruins are all that’s left standing of a once amazing fortress built into the old city walls. There’s no charge to explore the ruins and you’ll be treated to some spectacular views of cliffs and even St. Patrick’s well below.
This was yet another really great day filled with beautiful sights and delicious food. That’s pretty much how I would define Italy, so just get used to reading that. We finished the day by completing our drive to Rome where we spent the next couple days.
day 6: our first day in rome
Holy Moly! Rome is both incredible in scale and overwhelmingly beautiful. If you’ve got 2 weeks in Italy, visiting Rome is an obvious no-brainer. We spent just two full days in Rome but we made the most of those days. We were able to fit in a ton of stops. We saw many of the well-known attractions including the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum to name a few. Plus, we also saw so much more. One thing we didn’t spend a lot of time on, however, is Vatican City. We checked out St. Peter’s Square, for example, but didn’t visit any of the museums. If that interests you, you may want to add an extra day to explore Vatican City alone.
On our first day, we began our Roman adventure in Piazza Navona which has three stunning fountains down the center of the piazza. We took our time admiring each fountain as the piazza wasn’t very crowded.
From there, we moved on to the Pantheon which is so beautiful on the inside. Every inch from floor to ceiling has magnificent details and it’s actually difficult to take it all in.
Next we made our way over to the Altare della Patria, properly called the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument or Vittoriano. It is a monument built in honor of the first king of a unified Italy. There’s actually a museum which honors the Italian military and the entire building is an incredible work of art both inside and out.
Moving on, we made our way to the Roman Forum which just may be my favorite site in Rome. At the city center, this plaza is surrounded by the ruins of several ancient government buildings and it really does feel like you’re stepping back in time when you stand here.
We finally decided it was time to stop and grab some food. We popped into Trattoria Luzzi and ordered a couple of pizzas. We had one with tomato sauce and garlic, which was great, but the other one really stood out from other pizzas in Italy. It was covered in fresh arugula, tomatoes and an olive oil drizzle. Both pizzas had a delicious crust and were exactly what we were craving. Of course, we followed lunch with some yummy sorbet.
Next up on our itinerary is the Colosseum which is incredible. You could spend a lot of time at the Colosseum if you want to explore its entirety. First, as you approach the Colosseum from Palatine Hill, you encounter the Arch of Constantine which was erected early in the fourth century and creates a very dramatic and impressive entrance to the Colosseum beyond. Then there are so many statues, artworks and beautiful architecture to admire once you’re inside.
We left the Colosseum and made our way to the Trevi Fountain which is obviously beautiful. We took our time moving through the crowd so that we could admire every angle and detail of the very large fountain. We also enjoyed the opportunity to sit next to the fountain and rest for a while.
By this point of the day, the sun was starting to lower in the sky and the day was turning into evening. We spent a little time walking along the Tiber River and exploring several bridges. The bridges are really beautiful and many are lined with stunning statues. We saw the Corte Suprema di Cassazione straight ahead as we crossed the Ponte Umberto bridge.
As we strolled along the river admiring the views of the city, we came across a totally vegan restaurant which was a great surprise. We decided to have dinner and we were not disappointed. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share. It would be difficult to pick one dish as our favorite because each one was unique and delicious. We finished dinner strong with an amazing dessert of poached pear with toasted coconut and chocolate sauce in a brandy reduction – fancy shmancy!
We had to walk that dinner off, so we explored the area around the river a little more before heading back to our room to rest up for another amazing day in Rome.
day 7: our last day in rome
The next morning, feeling energized and excited to continue our tour around Rome, we started our day with a cup of chai tea and listened to an incredible cellist playing beautiful music in the Piazza della Rotonda right in front of the Pantheon.
Afterwards, we indulged in a bit of delicious chocolate from Quetzalcoatl Chocolatier. They had a bunch of vegan options and everything was really tasty. We enjoyed our chocolate purchases as we made our way to the Spanish Steps. We spent a little time checking out the steps and just enjoying the general area before heading toward Vatican City.
On the way, it began to rain just as we came upon Il Margutta where we stopped and enjoyed a delicious vegan buffet-style lunch. By the time we finished our amazing meal, the rain was letting up – perfect timing! Next we came upon Piazza del Popolo which has a tall obelisk monument in the center of the square. The monument is covered in intricate engravings and towers above the large piazza.
We took a detour through Villa Borghese to explore the park, gardens and guesthouse which were all really lovely. Then we had a long walk around the city to get to St. Peter’s Square where we stood among a large crowd and gazed at the spot where many Popes through history have addressed their followers. We continued to walk around the Vatican and admire the buildings and architecture, however, we opted not to go into any of the museums.
When we’d finished exploring the Vatican, we made our way back downtown and took our time to enjoy the cool sites along the way. We stopped to check out Castel Sant’angelo and caught an amazing view from the top.
As the sun began to sink on the horizon, we crossed St. Angelo Bridge which is lined with gorgeous statues. While standing on this bridge, you can look in one direction and see Castel Sant’angelo straight ahead. You can also look out to see Vatican City in the distance which looks really incredible lit up in the evening. We spent a lot of time on this bridge because it was just a really pretty place to be.
Feeling exhausted and really hungry, we needed food. Making our way toward Buddy Italian Restaurant, we passed and admired the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Finally, at the restaurant, we had an interesting dinner. The sandwich we ordered was weird and we weren’t fans. The fries tasted like bad frozen fries. The ratatouille was amazing, but the star of the show was a dish we’ve never had before. We were immediately won over by a thick pizza crust with avocado, tomatoes and sesame seeds. It was soooo delicious!
After dinner, we walked around the city a little more and tried to soak up the city as much as possible before leaving for the Amalfi Coast. Having spent 2 weeks in Italy, it’s too difficult to pick one favorite thing, but visiting Rome is definitely a strong contender. When we recall our time in Rome and discuss what we liked most about it, Josh says that he was so impressed with the piazzas and fountains everywhere. He loves to say that in any other city, these piazzas and fountains would be THE THING to go see. But in Rome, they’re just one more cool thing in an endless parade of really cool things. And I think that’s pretty cool…
day 8: the amalfi coast
Obviously, if we plan 2 weeks in Italy, we’re going to spend part of that time on the Amalfi Coast. So the next morning, we hit the road and headed down to the coastal town of Maiori, where we were staying for two days. We were bummed because we’d been planning to spend some time splashing in the waters of Positano as we passed through, however, the weather was not cooperating. It was a cloudy and rainy morning so we traded our bathing suits for jackets and made the most of it.
Driving along the Amalfi Coast was an amazing experience by itself. The landscape is incredible and the rainwater was rushing down the mountain and creating beautiful waterfalls. The sky created a dramatic and moody backdrop behind the mountain-side villages. It was absolutely stunning! We had a delicious lunch in a small cafe along with every other local and tourist who was trying to hide from the rain. Everyone was chatting and laughing including the restaurant staff – it was a great time.
After lunch, we continued further down the coast taking our time checking out the various towns along the way including Atroni, Castiglioni, Minori, etc. We were terrified and impressed at how quickly the tourist buses wiz up and down the narrow roads whipping around the mountains curves like it’s no problem at all.
When it started getting dark and we could no longer see the sites, we decided to grab dinner. We enjoyed another delicious pasta dish at a cozy little ristorante. As we were walking back to our room, after dinner, we saw fireworks lighting up the sky. It was a perfect ending to the day.
Note: We learned the hard way (several parking tickets) that it’s not ideal to have a car on the Amalfi coast. These villages existed long before automobiles did so the streets are very narrow and parking is extremely limited. If possible, ditch your car and opt for a scooter. Otherwise, we had the best time exploring the various towns along the Amalfi Coast.
day 9: the amalfi Coast
Feeling well rested the next morning, we walked to nearby market and grabbed some fresh fruit for breakfast. We also popped into a local bakery and bought some delicious vegan cookies beacause, well. why not?!
Next, we headed up the mountain in order to visit Ravello. This beautiful town has some really great views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and gorgeous cliffside gardens. We spent the whole day enjoying those views, the shops, and some adorable cats which roam the streets of town. We don’t know if the cats are strays or pets but they seem well-fed and are friendly. We really wanted to bring them all home.
At the end of this really chill day, we wound our way back down the mountain and enjoyed another nice pasta dinner in town before heading back to our room to prepare for our next day in Capri.
day 10: Capri
We took the day to head over to the Island of Capri where we had a wonderful time. If spending 2 weeks in Italy sounds like a dream, then Capri is the dreamland. The water is so blue and the island is covered with beautiful cliffside gardens. There are a ton of lookouts with incredible views of the sea. The way the emerald green of the island gardens hits against the deep blue of the water is really mesmerizing.
Our ferry from the mainland dropped us in Marina Grande which is where the port is located and there’s a lot of hustle and bustle as people are arriving and leaving. It’s very picturesque with small boats in the port and Mount Solaro in the background. We spent a little time walking around the port town before taking the funicular up to the Piazza Umberto Primo.
We took our time exploring the streets and shops in the piazza for a while. The buildings are so beautiful and we had perfect weather for walking around the island. Once we’d had our fill of the piazza, we made our way back to the coast and sought out the Faraglioni Rocks. These three giant rock stacks rise up from the sea creating a stunning vision. You can see these rocks best by boat by they’re also amazing to witness from the coast, like we did.
By this point, we were both completely starving. We came upon Ristorante Le Grottelle, an adorable restaurant with an outdoor patio seating area that overlooked the water. It was the perfect spot to rest and enjoy some delicious pasta. We both had a giant plate of spaghetti aglio e olio and were very fat and happy as we continued our hike toward Arco Naturale.
When we reached the natural arch, we could barely believe our eyes. Leftover from a collapsed grotto, Arco Naturale is an amazing sight to behold. It was relatively easy to access the arch. From the main sidewalk, we followed a paved walkway down to a point which opened up to incredible views of the arch and the sea below. We probably spent a good 30 minutes or so just admiring and taking photos of Arco Naturale before moving on.
We finished our tour of Capri in Marina Piccola which is a fun place to explore. Not only are there a ton of shops, restaurants and cool buildings but there are also several little beaches where you can relax. We decided to do exactly that and hung out at Saracen Tower Beach where we sunbathed and splashed in the water for a while. Then, exhausted, we headed to Marina Grande to catch our return ferry back to Maiori.
Back on the mainland, we grabbed a delicious dinner of spaghetti and gnocchi. Then we walked around Maiori for one last taste of the Amalfi Coast before continuing our journey to Tropea the next day.
day 11: Heading to tropea
Next, we packed up and left Maiori headed south to Tropea. Getting there was half the fun! The drive down was filled with incredible scenery of stunning mountains, beautiful lakes, colorful fields and cliffside gardens. As we approached Tropea, we could see the colors of the water transitioning from deep blue to a brighter teal color.
We arrived in Tropea too late for lunch and too early for dinner, yet we were starving. Thankfully, we were able to find a nice restaurant that was open. This was our first introduction to the Tropea onion which we became crazy over. It’s got a pretty pink color and really nice, subtle onion flavor which compliments pasta very well.
After lunch, we spent a little time hanging out at a quiet beach that was pretty secluded. After a few hours of sunbathing and beachcombing, we were getting hungry again so we headed into the town of Tropea. We both enjoyed another bowl of spaghetti aglio e olio which we’ve become addicted to. After dinner, we decided to walk off all that delicious pasta so we explored downtown Tropea which was teaming with people.
The city was really alive with tourists and families. There were so many children running around and playing. Downtown Tropea has a very warm and friendly vibe at night. We had a great time exploring the shops and even stumbled upon a live concert in a quaint old church. We sat and enjoyed the beautiful music until the end of the concert and then continued exploring the city for a bit. We caught our first glimpse of the Sanctuary of Saint Mary ‘dell’Isola which is stunning at night.
day 12: Our Final Day In tropea
The next morning, we had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit from a local market and then spent basically the entire day hanging out at Rotunda Beach. This is one of our all time favorite beaches we’ve ever been to. Apart from the stunning clarity of the blue-green water, the topography is unforgettable. The buildings of Tropea rise up behind the beach creating wonderful shade to lay in while the Sanctuary of Saint Mary ‘dell’Isola provides a beautiful view ahead.
For lunch, we grabbed some more delicious pasta which we ate on an outdoor patio overlooking the sea. Then we explored the beach more and spent time walking through rock tunnels and climbing up to the Sanctuary where we were treated to terrific views of the ocean and Tropea. We ended the day by walking around downtown a bit more and enjoying the fun vibe of the town. Of course, we had more pasta and sorbet because we’d be crazy not to.
We were really sad to be leaving Tropea the next morning because it is one of the most beautiful beach towns we’ve ever seen. But we were excited to be heading to Sicily next and looking forward to seeing what it was all about.
day 13: Driving Through Sicily
Driving into Sicily felt surreal. We had no idea it would be so mountainous and lush. It was as if we’d crossed some invisible line and the people on the other side were ten times happier. Everyone was smiling and waving at us. It was so nice. And I can’t say it doesn’t make sense. I mean, wouldn’t you be smiling if you lived in one of the most beautiful places on Earth?
It was lunchtime when we arrived in Sicily and we were hungry. So we stopped in Cefalu and had a pizza. Surprisingly, it was difficult to get a loaded vegetable pizza in Italy. We ended up having a lot of tomato and garlic pizzas, which were good but not really exciting. However, this pizza was topped with delicious large red peppers.
After lunch, we checked out downtown Cefalu for a bit before finishing our commute to Favignana. We had to take a ferry to the island, of course, and we had a difficult time figuring out where to park our car for the time we would be away from the mainland. In fact, we just barely made it to the ferry on time. But once we disembarked in Favignana, all the stress of the afternoon melted away and we were so glad we decided to make the trip over to the island.
We spent the remainder of that evening just exploring the downtown area which was surprisingly lively in the evening. We grabbed a pasta dinner while we were out and, of course, followed it up with sorbet before heading home to rest up for the following full day on the island.
day 14: Biking Around Favignana
The next morning we awoke in Favignana to a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to go for a bike ride around the island. It was a great way to explore the island because we could really take our time and meander around all the beaches and attractions for as long as we wanted. Riding along, we saw the most incredible sights.
First we made our way to Cala Rossa which is a stunning rocky beach with the most beautiful teals and blues in the water. There were people scattered on towels all over the rocks and swimming in the water. We found our own little rock to perch on for a bit while enjoying the scenery before heading to our next stop.
Next up, we made our way to Grotte del Bue Marino which has a couple really cool caves that you can explore. On the way here, we popped into a market and bought some bread and fruit which we ate for lunch while sitting on the edge of the rock wall and gazing at the most clear blue water we’d ever seen. There weren’t many people swimming at this location while we were there so it was very peaceful. I think it would be tricky to enter the water here, but not impossible. I imagine this would be a really great spot to explore by boat.
After eating and exploring the caves, we continued on to Grotta Perciata which was really unique. There are a bunch of rock formations weaving around the shore which create little natural bridges that you can walk along. And just like everywhere else on the island, the water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom as if you’re looking through glass. There’s also a little snack bar here from which you can grab a drink and a quick bite to eat, if you’d like.
From there, we headed to Lido Burrone which feels more like a typical public beach with bars, restaurants, public bathrooms and chairs for rent. There were lots of boats and swimmers in the water. We found a spot on the crowded sandy beach and hung out for a bit of relaxing and, occasionally, wading into the water to cool off.
Once we felt rested, we hopped back on our bikes and rode toward Cala Rotonda. This was the longest part of our bike ride and we saw lots of cool stuff along the route including a cute horse who was hanging out under an apple tree and waiting for every single passerby to feed him an apple.
By the time we reached Cala Rotonda, we were so hot and needed a drink badly. Like a mirage rising from the desert, there was a little stand right off the road at the top of the beach selling citrus slush drinks made from fresh squeezed juices. We bought one to share and it was cold, refreshing and very flavorful, just what we needed. So we bought another and felt very content.
With our cold drink in hand, we hiked down to the shore and our efforts were rewarded with cool views of Arco di Ulisse. This natural rock formation extends into the sea and has an arch through the middle of the rock. We spent a little while walking around the jagged coast and enjoying the views.
Next, we headed back in the direction we’d come. Ultimately, we were heading toward Castello di Santa Caterina to catch the sunset. But we still had a while before the sun would begin setting so we stopped at Marasolo Beach. There are some rocky areas but there are also sandy spots on this beach, as well, so it’s pretty easy to get into the water. There’s also a little stand from which we could grab a cold drink, making it a great spot to settle in for a while.
Finally, we headed toward Castello di Santa Caterina. We rode our bikes as far as we could until the climb became so steep my poor legs just couldn’t go any farther. So we hopped off our bikes and walked the rest of the way up. It’s a bit of a hike up the mountain to get to the castle so make sure you allow plenty of time if you’re heading up for the sunset. When we reached the top, we had fun exploring the ruins of the old castle but the best part was the incredible views. We could see so far in every single direction and the colors of the setting sun made it a really magical experience.
After the sunset, we grabbed dinner and spent our final hours exploring the streets of downtown Favignana a little more before heading out to Palermo the following morning. Of all the things we did and places we saw during our 2 weeks in Italy, Favignana was another special highlight.
day 15: Driving to Palermo
We spent the day driving back through Sicily to reach our final destination which was Palermo. The drive was very lovely and we took our time enjoying the sites and views along the way. Josh really adores driving in Italy. He appreciates the pace and flow of traffic and says Italian drivers (really European drivers) are very considerate about sharing the road and moving over for faster traffic. Of course it also helps when the scenery is consistently beautiful like all of Sicily.
We arrived in Palermo late in the evening and we were tired, but the city was calling us. We started with a great meal at Haiku and wandered the ancient streets for an hour or so before heading back to our hotel.
day 16: Palermo
The next morning, we were really excited to explore Palermo. There are so many incredible buildings in Palermo and we wanted to see all of them. On the way to our first stop, we popped into a little bakery and grabbed a few delicious vegan pastries and an orange juice. We enjoyed our breakfast while continuing our walk to San Giovanni degli Eremiti which is a stunning old church with five red domes on top and surrounded by beautiful gardens of citrus trees and cacti.
From there, we headed over to Palazzo dei Normanni or Royal Palace of Palermo. The palace has been occupied, abandoned and restored several times throughout history. Today the building is used by Sicily’s regional parliament and is the oldest royal residence in Europe. That’s pretty cool! The middle level of Palazzo dei Normanni houses Cappella Palatina which is incredible. We particularly enjoyed checking out the mosaic work throughout.
Next up, we popped over to Palermo Cathedral. This building is gorgeous with so much detail at every nook and cranny. The architecture and style of the Cathedral is far more our taste than many other lavish gold covered buildings throughout the rest of Palermo. This one is definitely a must see in our opinion.
Once we’d finished exploring the Palermo Cathedral, we continued toward Fontana Pretoria (Praetorian Fountain) near Quattro Canti which is a bustling square at a major intersection. The fountain is very lovely surrounded by intricate nude sculptures and Santa Caterina in the background. We spent a while enjoying the fountain and then taking in the rest of Quattro Canti. This is where we accidentally stumbled upon the best granita in the world! There are numerous granita stands scattered around Palermo. We definitely recommend the pistachio flavor which is rich, creamy and so flavorful
We took our time enjoying our granito as we headed toward Teatro Massimo which is the largest opera house in Italy and hosts many events including ballet and opera concerts. Like most major opera houses, the Teatro Massimo is beautiful inside and out. We were jealous that we didn’t get to check out a show during our time in Palermo.
It was getting late in the day and we had an early flight out the next morning so we grabbed a quick dinner and were headed back to our Airbnb when we came upon an outdoor rock concert. We decided to hang out for a bit enjoying the show and the exciting atmosphere. It was a nice way to end our time in Italy.
day 16: Flying Home
The next morning, we flew home from Palermo. After such a terrific time exploring the western coast of Italy, we were very sad to have to go home. We definitely could’ve spent a lot longer than 2 weeks in Italy but, alas, we had to get back to our normal lives and responsibilities. Until next time, we’ll keep chasing that garlic-loaded-fresh-pasta taste and dreaming of those out-of-this-world landscapes in Italy.
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on pinterest
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on pinterest
About Us
We love traveling together to see incredible places and eat as much delicious vegan food as possible. This site is our way of helping you plan your perfect trip based on our experiences.
MORE EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS
Ready to Book a Trip to Italy?
Here are our favorite travel resources:
Flight
Accommodation
Travel Insurance
Need More Help?
Check out our Full Travel Resources Page for our full list of resources to help you find the best deals.
Book Your Trip to Italy Today!
Ready to book your next adventure? We’ve compiled a list of all of our favorite travel resources to help you book your trip.
Flight
Skyscanner is our go to site for finding the best flights based on prices, dates, times and flight length. It’s incredibly intuitive playing around with all of the airports and dates to find the best deal.
Accommodation
There are a ton of great hotel/motel sites out there, but we almost always find ourselves booking our next hotel through Booking.com. The site is very user friendly and they often have more properties like small local motels than the bigger sites.
Travel Insurance
Whether you’re concerned about flight issues, medical emergencies or stolen luggage World Nomads has your back. We’ve used them for many of our trips and highly recommend their trip insurance for anyone looking for that extra level of protection. The rates are very affordable and you’ll know that you’re totally covered.
Need More Help Finding a Great Deal?
Check out our Full Travel Resources Page for our full list of resources to help you find incredible flight deals, book ocean front houses for a steal, find the perfect activity for us and so much more.
Related Posts
Top 7 Vegan Restaurants in Valencia
Looking back through our photos and notes to select our Top 7 Vegan Restaurants in Valencia brought back some incredible food memories.
Top Things to Do in Budapest
We were really enchanted by Budapest. It rained the majority of the time we were visiting the city but we still had an amazing time which I think says a lot.
Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Prague
Eating our way through Prague’s best vegan restaurants was amazing with everything from Donuts and Crepes to Goulash and Borsch.
Newsletter Subscription
Never miss our exclusive travel tips! Get them delivered directly to your inbox.
