Sognando di Italia… Mike and I haven’t to Italy been since our honeymoon in 1998. We landed in Venice as naive 24 year olds with only tour books in hand and a love for the city. We embraced everything Venetian- gondolas, pasta, wine, Saint Mark’s Square (their Doge Palace was closed as they were under extensive renovations at the time). We took the train down to Rome and walked the streets with our book in hand as we guided ourselves through the streets to all of the sights (except the Colosseum, which was closed for renovations) and even found a quaint pasta place for lunch that we both fell in love with near the Vatican. We vowed to return to both cities if we ever got the chance again as we both wished at the famed Trevi Fountain…
I am proud to say will will be returning with Adventures by Disney later this summer! Once we arrive we are greeted by Adventures by Disney and will check into the Hotel Gran Meliá Rome. We should have some free time to explore a bit before meeting everyone traveling with us, primarily the Earmarked Travel Advisory Council, at a welcome reception and dinner in this breath taking hotel and city.
Exterior.
We will finally get to see the Colosseum- now on a VIP tour! Another highlight in Rome is sure to be the visit to the Vatican Museum
on an exclusive after-hours tour. We stood on a horribly long line to see it decades ago, sharing the tour with what felt like 100 other people.
Next we head to Tuscany, an area we missed on our honeymoon. We check into the Hotel Borgo di Cortefreda…
While in Tuscany I am really looking forward to a private pasta-making lesson at a working Tuscan farm that produces Chianti’s finest wines and olive oil (a bucket list item I can check off was to take a cooking class in Italy!). We will also go to Florence where we have reserved entry and access to see Michelangelo’s “David” followed by a walking tour of the city’s famed Duomo.
Then we head to Venice and check into the Hilton Molino Stucky…
This is city holds such a special place in our hearts- we just cannot wait to return! We are especially looking forward to the Doge Palace, returning to Saint Mark’s Square and it’s beautiful Basilica, and making our very own Venetian Mask.
Stay tuned as I will share all this magical tour has to offer!
