A writer said once that “the journey IS the destination”. Our preparing for Italy, planning on staying exclusively at Airbnb accommodations the whole 2 week trip was a testament to that saying. We had a blast planning where to stay. We would grab a glass of wine, our iPads and phones, and then create lists in the cities we wanted to visit.
We found sometimes that the Airbnb research dictated the cities we chose!
For example, we had heard that there were several great villages in Cinque Terre, Vernazza is a jewel, Riomaggiore is ideally situated and has fantastic restaurants. We found Nicola and Great’s apartment and simply fell in love with the location, the decoration, and even the reviews that previous guests left. We were so delighted to have met them and to allow them to guide us in where to eat, how to have an amazing tour of an official Cinque Terre winery (including the rugged cliff-side vineyards), and then to hear their personal stories. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will be staying with them again someday in the future!
The cities we chose in Italy
With 14 days to explore Italy, we had to find the right balance – relaxing for a few days in one place, savoring the smells, flavors, and sights – with the hunger to absorb as much of the history, architecture, museums, and sheer grandeur of each place. We decided to visit:
- Bellagio (on Lake Como)
- Venice
- Rome
- Florence
- Riomaggiore (in Cinque Terre region of the Northwest coast)
- Milan
Each city offered it’s own charming cafe’s, bustling obligatory tourist spots, and side alley discoveries. Truly, the adventure started from the first Airbnb search! Oh what fun – I hope that you get the same kind of happy feet as you find your own journey.
