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What Tourists Need to Know About the Rome Jubilee 2025

November 15, 2024 by Liz Picurro Leave a Comment

Are you planning to visit Rome in 2025? It’s a big year for the city as the Catholic Church is celebrating the 2025 Jubilee! What does this mean for your trip to Italy’s capital? Here’s what you need to know…

Basic Overview

The Roman Jubilee (or Giubileo) is the Catholic Holy Year which begins on December 24th, 2024, and lasts until January 6th, 2026.

The holy year represents a time of transition from sin to grace for those of the Catholic faith.

The Jubilee is held every 25 years, making its attendance a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It entails religious celebrations, pilgrimages, cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and special performances.

The focal center of events will be Saint Peter’s Square, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican but events will be held all over the city.

The theme of the Jubilee 2025 is hope. It is an event full of joy and celebration.

What is the Jubilee?

The Roman Jubilee originates from the Jewish tradition which established a year of rest for the earth every 50 years. The first Catholic Jubilee was created by the Pope in 1300. Originally it was held every 100 years, then every 50, and now every 25 to allow each generation to attend.

a golden stained glass window in Rome with a white dove in the center. In line with the Rome Jubilee theme of hope.

The holy year is a period in which the Pope grants plenary indulgence (absolution from all sins) to all pilgrims who travel to Rome and participate in planned religious initiatives. Many Catholics view it as a time to start anew, to engage in values of charity and forgiveness, and to reflect on their lives.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]

The Jubilee officially begins on Christmas Eve with the opening of the Holy Doors of the 4 Papal Basilicas of Rome. These are Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major, and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. These doors are closed and walled up between Jubilee years.

On Christmas Eve, the Pope is carried to the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s and will be the first to pass through the door in an elaborate ceremony. Then the doors will remain open for the passage of pilgrims during the year.

In addition to attending specific events and passing through the Holy doors, there are several Jubilee pilgrimage walks that cover the whole of the city. The primary walk stops at each of the Papal Basilicas. There is a walk that stops at 7 churches around the city. And, finally, one which stops at 28 churches and basilicas and focuses on holy women.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]

a church ceiling in Rome. One of the many places to visit during the Rome Jubilee

What Does This Mean for Non-Pilgrim Travelers?

Because Catholicism is a missionary religion, everyone is welcome to participate in the various church events, pilgrimages, and services. However, if you’re traveling to Rome in 2025 more for tourist reasons than religious, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare for.

The first is, naturally, the crowds. In 2023 Rome had 35 million visitors. For the Jubilee year, they’re expecting an additional 30 million. This means you’ll want to start planning early and making reservations now.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures – read about her week in Rome Here!]

Most of the religious events are centered around the Vatican, but the entire city will be even more bustling than usual, and you can expect a lot of foot traffic around the major attractions. Other cities in Italy are not preparing anything special for the Jubilee. However, you can probably expect the nearby tourist areas (like Amalfi Coast & Florence) to be more crowded.

There has been a lot of renovation work over the past 3 years in Rome. Cleaning up landmarks, improving public transport, and upgrading tourist facilities in preparation for the Rome Jubilee year. So the city will be at its best and brightest.

[Photo Credit: Hilary & Zackary via Shared Adventures – read about their honeymoon in Rome & the Amalfi Coast Here!]

Top 6 Tips for Tourists

1. Book Early. There are only so many accommodations in Rome, and booking earlier will ensure you have the best rooms during your stay.

2. Increase Your Budget. Everything from food to taxis will probably have a higher tariff because of the bigger crowds. Make a little extra room in your budget.

3. Plan to visit the big sites early in the day, over lunch, or very late in the evening. The city will be busier than usual and these times will help you to avoid the heaviest foot traffic.

4. Be sure to do a little extra planning. Book restaurants in advance, give yourselves extra time to walk in case the bus or metro is too full. And, download the Iubilaeum25 app to keep up with event schedules.

[Photo Credit: R. via Shared Adventures – read about their family Italian adventure here!]

5. Attend a few events. There will be so many events, special exhibits, and cultural activities! Even if you’re not Catholic, we recommend looking them up and enjoying some of the celebrations, since you’re there for the Rome Jubilee anyway.

6. Check the Calendar. Consider visiting in January, late Summer or the Autumn months as these will likely be the “low season” for the Rome Jubilee. Late April through the end of June and December will likely be the very busy “high season”.

Keep an eye on the calendar and try to avoid dates with big events and major Catholic holidays. We’ve provided a calendar below to highlight the biggest days.

a calendar highlighting the major dates that will increase crowds during the Rome Jubilee

Ready to start planning your trip to Rome? 2025, more than ever, is the best time to partner with a travel advisor to ensure you have an incredible adventure. If you’re ready to talk about your Italy 2025 plans, let us know!

How Many Days Should You Spend in Rome?

June 12, 2024 by Liz Picurro Leave a Comment

“How long should we spend in Rome?” This is something we get asked practically every day, and the answer is “it depends”.

If you’re short on time and your wish list is long, it’s okay to do a quick two-night spin through Rome to see a few highlights and move on. But if you really want to experience Rome, and have the time to do more than just scratch the surface, you could easily spend a week in this fascinating city

Realistically, most of our clients choose “option A”– the quick hit – in order to spend more time in Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, etc. And our first few visits to Rome looked like that too. But we just spent six nights there. And it opened our eyes to new neighborhoods, hidden gems, fabulous restaurants, and cool daytrip possibilities. So we thought it might be interesting to compare what you can see/do in two nights versus a longer stay.

A Weekend in Rome

With just two days in Rome, you’ll need to be ruthless about cutting back your wish list. Most importantly, the two marquee attractions, the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum. Each merit a half-day (3-4 hours minimum). And you’ll want to pre-arrange skip-the-line visits for both, so that you don’t waste time waiting in long lines. There are some early-morning and early-evening time slots. These help free up more of your day. But you should still anticipate that you’ll have just two half-days to explore the rest of the city.

One of those mornings or afternoons could be spent walking around the central historical district to see the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc. (If you want to go inside the Pantheon, be sure to pre-book those tickets as well).

With the remaining half-day, you could choose another neighborhood to explore (Testaccio, Trastevere, Ostiense, etc). Or dive deeper into a specific interest (churches, shopping, food/wine, etc)

In conclusion, in two days you can get a great introduction to Rome. Try a couple of restaurants, and knock the Vatican and Colosseum off your bucket list. And hopefully, that will leave you wanting more!

A Week in Rome

It’s interesting that people will happily spend a week in Paris or London but resist spending that much time in Rome. If you’ve already done a quick visit and are ready for a deeper dive – or if you’re embracing the idea that Italy is meant to be lingered over, region by region, and not “done” all at once in one trip – then there is MORE than enough to fill a full week in Rome and its surroundings.

Consider devoting a full day to Vatican City. Linger longer in the Vatican Museums to see the lesser-known galleries. And spend a few extra Euros to climb to the top of St Peter’s and explore the crypts underneath. While you are on that side of the river, check out Castel Sant’Angelo and the views from its rooftop.

Take a food tour. Rome has some great foodie neighborhoods with outdoor markets and fabulous local restaurants. It makes all the difference to have an expert guide you through them and show you the best spots. For example, we ate in Trastevere one night and were underwhelmed. But when we came back later in the week on a guided food tour of the same neighborhood, it was a highlight of our trip.

Find some smaller lesser-known museums to explore. Whatever you are into (history, art, fashion, architecture, photography, and more) we can guarantee there’s a museum you’d find fascinating. Spend an hour or two in one that looks interesting. We absolutely loved the Doria Pamphilj Gallery and the Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi.

Seek out green space. Stroll through the Borghese Gardens, or the Appian Way.

Act like a local. Visit a less-touristy neighborhood like Prati or Testaccio and linger over aperitivos at a neighborhood cafe. Similarly, pop into a grocery store to see how Romans live (and grab some snacks to picnic on.)

Take a daytrip. From Rome, you can easily spend a day in Naples (one hour by train) or Florence (90 minutes) and be back in time for dinner. In the summer, you could even hit the beach (Ostia is just 30 minutes outside the city).

If you’re ready to really appreciate Rome’s charms, let us know. We’d love to help you plan a fabulous itinerary!

Florence vs Rome

March 1, 2022 by Liz Picurro Leave a Comment

Rome vs Florence Pin — *Pin it for Later!*

These two famous Italian cities are incredible, unforgettable destinations that everyone should visit at least once. But sometimes, depending on what else you’re hoping to do and see in Italy, you have to choose between Rome and Florence, and can’t do both in one trip. Whichever one you choose, you’ll find incredible food, plenty of history, and some famous sites paired with classic Italian dolce vita. But how do you decide? If you can only fit one into your trip here’s a little guide to help you find the perfect fit.

LENGTH OF STAY

Let’s face it, neither of these cities can be fully experienced in just one day. You could spend weeks or even months in them and keep finding new amazing discoveries. But what is the minimum amount of time you need to enjoy the city and see the most famous sites?

Depending on how long you have to dedicate to your city, it may determine which one you visit.

Rome
In such a big city, it’s best to spend 4-5 days. Ideally, you’ll have 3 full days dedicated to Rome in addition to your arrival & departure half days.

Florence
To see the top tourist sites you need a minimum of 2 days, though 3 days is more ideal. Florence is a much smaller and more walkable city so if you’re short on time you’re more likely to “see it all” in Florence.

Best Time of Year

Another external factor is seasonality. What time of year are you planning on going? Depending on the weather, you may want to skew your trip further south or north.

Rome:

Best Time: Late Spring
Winter: Average: 47°F – cold winds and occasional rains
Spring: Average: 67°F – warmer, a mixture of sunny & rainy
Summer: Average: 87°F- very hot and dry, lots of sun.
Fall: Average: 70°F – the wettest season, starting in Mid-October.

Florence

Best Time: Early-Mid Fall
Winter: Average: 45°F- cold & cloudy with high humidity
Spring: Average: 59° F – sunny with chilly evenings
Summer: Average: 80°F- sunny, hot and humid
Fall: Average: 66°F – brisk and cool until November when the chill starts to set in and the rainfall increases.

Overall Vibes

Rome– The capital and largest city in Italy, it is a sprawling megalopolis. Even with its ancient ruins, impressive architecture, and historical sites on every corner, it feels like a city. You’ll have to use the metro, bus, or taxi to make your way around. But it’s still a city with a clear Italian feel. Rome is famous for street food, slow espresso mornings, and late evenings. Rome has a vibrant nightlife and because of its size, there’s a huge variety. If you’re traveling with a group, you are sure to find a little something for everyone, from top fashion, to tourism, cuisine, and cinema. You’ll find everything a modern city has to offer, in addition to the ancient ruins.

[Photo Credit: Caleb Miller via Unsplash]

Florence- The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is a large but very walkable city that has managed to keep its medieval and Renaissance feel. With winding streets, elegant palaces, and lots of beautiful Renaissance architecture, it’s a very cultural city with some of the most famous artworks in the world. Every corner of Florence oozes that old-world charm and you won’t have to worry about taking public transport. Florence gives you the quintessential Italian city feel, plus those Under the Tuscan Sun vibes. You won’t find as much variety in the nightlife or activities, but whichever corner you turn down, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a romantic Italian film.

[Photo Credit: Herr Bohn via Unsplash]

Amazing Foods

If you’re a foodie, deciding between Rome and Florence is entirely down to personal preference. Both of these cities have incredible local/regional food, quality ingredients, and innovative chefs. Rome will have a bit more variety and more street food. You’ll find simple but delicious dishes like cacio e pepe, pizza, pastas, and stews. Florence has embraced the slow food movement, with tiny cafes and earthy restaurants. You’ll find pappardelle with wild boar sauce, tripe, gelato, and of course Bistecca Fiorentina!

Must-try Dishes in Rome

Suppli- rice croquettes
Trapizzino- stuffed pizzas
Jewish-style fried artichokes
Cacio e pepe- pasta with a creamy cheese sauce
Carbonara
Allesso di bollito – simmered beef
Saltimbocca –veal wrapped in prosciutto and marinated in wine
Maritozzi –candied buns filled with lightly sweetened whipped cream
Torta Ricotta e Visciole –sour cherry cheesecake

Must-try Dishes in Florence

Pappardelle al cinghiale- pasta with wild boar
Tagliatelle Porcini e Tartufo- porcini and truffle pasta
Pici- dense hand-rolled pasta
Ribollita- vegetable soup
Coniglio con umido- rabbit stew
Bistecca Fiorentina
Lampredotto- a street food sandwich made with thinly sliced tripe.
Schiacciata Fiorentina- a soft sponge cake covered with powdered sugar
Panforte- a thick florentine containing fruits and nuts

Rome is Perfect for…

History Buffs

a couple in front of ancient roman ruins in italy

Both cities have deep historical roots on display around every corner. But for history buffs, Rome comes out ahead. Florence’s history is undeniably concentrated in the Renaissance. In Rome, you’ll find everything from ancient Roman ruins to the Medieval period, the Renaissance, and a modern city. Rome is full of ruins, churches, and museums from every era that might interest. It’s also just a day trip away from archaeological wonders like Pompeii.

[Photo Credit: Dana via Shared Adventures Travel – read all about her anniversary trip to Rome here! ]

Top Historical Sites in Rome:

Colosseum
Roman Forum
St. Peter’s Basilica
Castel Sant’Angelo

Baths of Diocletian
Palazzo Venezia
Galleria Borghese
The Appian Way

Fashionistas & Shopaholics

Being a big city, Rome offers numerous shopping opportunities. With huge brands, big fashion centers, and lots of shops this is a shopaholic’s paradise. While Florence is known for some key shopping opportunities (leather, hand-made paper), Rome offers everything from top luxury designers to incredible vintage shops to stunning antique markets. Some of the famous shopping streets are like an art gallery of fashion – perfect for a day of window shopping!

Top Shopping Spots

Campo de’Fiori
Via dei Coronari
Chez Dede
L’Archivio di Monserrato

Artisanal Cornucopia
Masion Halaby
La Gallinelle
Palazzo della Civilta Italiana
Via dei Condotti

Bucket-listers & First Timers

Florence does boast some incredibly famous sites, like Michelangelo’s David and the impressively huge Duomo. But if you’re the type of person who likes to see the most famous and well-known sites in a destination, or it’s your first time in Italy, Rome has more bang for your buck. So many of the most famous Italian sites are located in and around Rome. You can see the places that spring to everyone’s mind when they picture an Italian vacation.

[Photo Credit: Dana via Shared Adventures Travel – read all about her anniversary trip to Rome here! ]

Top Bucket-List Sites:

Sistine Chapel
Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Colosseum

Pantheon
Piazza del Popolo
The Mouth of Truth
Vatican Museums

Florence is Best for…

Art Lovers

a panel of the Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery in Florence Italy

Being the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is the best place for art lovers. With famous works from Michelangelo, Donatello, Boticelli, and Leonardo Da Vinci, Florence has incredible galleries and art museums! You could easily spend entire days taking in all the amazing works of art around the city. While Rome has plenty of galleries, Florence can’t be beaten in this respect.

[Photo Credit: Liz via Shared Adventures Travel – read about her trip to Florence here!]

Top Sites for Art Lovers:

Michaelangelo’s David at Galleria Academia
The Uffizi Gallery
Boticelli’s Birth of Venus
Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise

Donatello’s David
Museo degli Argenti
Nazionale del Bargello
Palazzo Strozzi
Medici Chapels

Taking it Slow

If you only have three days to see all of Florence, you will have some very full days fitting everything in. But once you pass the three-day mark there’s a feeling of being able to slow down. From hidden side streets and gelaterias to the extremely popular slow flood movement, Florence encourages taking your time to enjoy its wonders. Because the city is so walkable, the more time you have to spend here the more you feel like you can relax into enjoying the city at a slow and mindful pace. You get a chance to enjoy the little details without feeling like you’re missing out on the “big sites”. Taste your way through the Mercato Centrale, wander through the Boboli Gardens, and catch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.

Top Hidden Gems:

San Marco Museum
Todo Modo Bookstore
Oltrarno Neighborhood
T orrigiani Gardens

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
Via Toscanella Street Art
Fiesole
Orsanmichele

Day Trips

a smiling honeymooner on a wall with beautiful rolling Italian hills

If you like to get out of the city or are keen to spend some time in the incredible Italian countryside, Florence is the best city for you. With the beautiful Tuscan rolling hills just outside the city, taking day trips is extremely easy. Visit nearby towns like Siena, Pisa, and Lucca; hop on a train to Bologna; book a cooking class in Chianti; or you can even head to a country villa or farmhouse to see how they make wine and olive oil!

[Photo Credit: Jamie & Matt via Shared Adventures — read about their Italian adventure here!]

So which city is perfect for you? The best part of custom travel planning is being able to pick the perfect experiences for your interest and your style of travel. Inspired to visit Florence or Rome? Or do you have time to see both? Let us know and we can start planning!

A First-Timer’s Feedback

May 19, 2019 by Ann Petronio

My friend Clare recently asked me to help arrange a family trip to Italy — for her and her husband, and their high-school-age son, visiting her older son who is spending a semester in Florence. It was their first trip to Europe, and they had an ambitious wish-list, but we hammered out a pretty fantastic itinerary that included something for everyone.

From the feedback below, it sounds like it was a hit. And I very much appreciate her sharing all these details/tips that will be of interest to other first-timers!

Hi Ann-

I am finally sitting down to write something up for you. This is a lot of information, but hopefully it can help someone who is thinking about Italy for the first time.

Rome:

When we arrived in Rome, the driver you set us up with was ready and waiting and delightful! He dropped us off at Capo d’ Africa around 11 am. The individual at the front desk who checked us in was very friendly and said our room would be ready in about 15 -20 minutes. They also recommended a local restaurant and, though they encouraged us to make evening dinner reservations, we knew we would not make it to start dinner at 7:30!

We had a wonderful lunch that fueled us for the day. We took some time and walked down the Colosseum and some other areas – we basically explored and walked a lot until we were done. It did rain on us but that was okay – we were just happy to be outdoors. After walking around we settled in at the hotel a little more, went out to get some drinks and gelato and then hunkered down for a good night’s sleep!

Sunday we were off for the day and did a lot of walking before the mid-day Colosseum Tour. The surprise of having Brett join us in Rome for Dillon’s birthday was outstanding – he was shocked and SO SO happy to see him. The Colosseum Tour was really great. Our guide was excellent – great information at a nice pace. Half of our group was an extended family with young kids so they left half way through – which actually made it a small group tour. We finished our day at a restaurant Dillon had picked before we went (from Trip Advisor). Food and drinks were good and it was a nice atmosphere.

Monday Morning we were out early to the Express Sistine Chapel Tour. Your ears probably were ringing b/c you picked the PERFECT tour for us. Loved the small group – there were 5 of us. Rosa – our tour guide – was great. Her pace was so fast – but it really worked for us! Since Dillon and I don’t love museums – this was a fabulous way to see the Sistine Chapel, Vatican and St. Peters Square. I think LivItaly Tours does it right! After that were were back to the hotel to check out and head to the train station. We had plenty of time and opted to walk – which took us about 25 minutes.

NOTES: The hotel was great – room was oversized and we did not feel crowded with a cot. We did have to ask at the front desk how to keep the lights on. Clearly we were rookies! No A/C – had to open windows – which was a little strange with no screens! The included breakfast was good and service excellent. We also loved the location.

LaSpezia/Cinque Terre:

The train ride to La Spezia was beautiful – so much to take in. When we arrived we took a cab to the hotel and our room was ready. We were surprised by the size – Dillon’s cot was in a living room area – so we definitely did not feel crowded. It also had a beautiful view and we saw a few ships come in and out. Again, needed to open windows to cool down the temp! The hotel recommended a local favorite for dinner where we arrived at 7 pm and were their first customers! We walked along the water and just enjoyed the sites and made plans for the following day.

We decided to take the train from La Spezia to the farthest town in Cinque Terre (Monterosso) and make our way back. We had read a blog that recommended the hike from Vernazza to Corniglia – and decided that we would take that one. The blog indicated there were places along the way to stop for food and drinks. Unfortunately, we found out after climbing the stairs to the hiking trail, that it was closed. In fact, the only trail that was open was Monterosso to Vernazza. That was a bit of a bummer, especially since we purchased the hiking/trail pass. Instead we went back into town in Vernazza and enjoyed pizza and beer by the water. We made our way to each town by train. Corniglia we explore along the water, did not walk the 350 stairs to the town. Manarola was our favorite shopping town and we spent a bit of time exploring the shops. We returned to the hotel after a great day, played some cards and went for a walk to find something to eat. Much to our surprise, most places were closed for the night (8:30 or so), and by the time we got to a grocery store – it was closed as well. So we headed back to the hotel and had some snacks that we had in our bags and got a good night’s sleep!

One thing we hadn’t planned for was having Euros for this location – we needed 15 for each trip to and from the train station.

NOTES: Next time I think we might opt for the boat transportation from town to town instead of the train. We thought it might be too chilly, but the weather was delightful. Loved being in La Spezia, but if we went back we would probably opt to stay in one of the towns for something different.

Florence:

We arrived on time and Brett met us and walked us to the hotel. The room was not to be ready for a while, so we checked our bags and hit the town, It was so fun to be in Florence and I am glad you said to let Brett show us the town since that is where he has spent his semester. We saw many sights and Brett helped formulate our plans for Thursday morning while he was in class.

Brett made reservations for a nice dinner for the four of us and his girlfriend. Probably in our top 3 meals of the week. Thursday we got up and explored a little earlier at Brett’s suggestion, to see the Duomo without the square being packed. We walked around and went up and enjoyed the views from Piazzele Michelangelo. We met Brett for lunch – he took us to his favorite sandwich shop where the owner knows him and then we saw where he lives. We had picked a pizza and gelato making class b/c Brett only had the afternoon and had already done a pasta class with school. This was a disappointment. The food was good and the boys and I enjoyed our time together, but we felt very rushed. Of the 3 hour experience, we probably only prepared and cooked for just over an hour. It was warp speed. Mark shopped and explored while we were in class.

We did end up making reservations for our train to Bologna for the next day. Brett was looking online and everything was booking up b/c it was Good Friday. In hindsight, we probably should have booked in advance.

NOTES: Hotel De La Ville – This probably was our least favorite hotel. The room was very cramped with the pull-out couch. And the temperature was hot, with no window to open. I think we also just felt like we were in a cave b/c there was no outside light. The breakfast was good and the service friendly.

Bologna:

Hotel location was perfect for our stay. After checking in we took a walk to the main square area and found a cafe. We sat outside, enjoyed some drinks and snacks and played cards. There was live music on the square, and the church across the way had a choral group perform for Good Friday. Brett had selected a place for dinner, and we headed there on our walk back. It was a small local place. The food did not have “plate appeal” – but Mark said it was his favorite of everything he ate during the trip.

Again, your ears should have been ringing all day Saturday – that Food and Ferrari Tour you booked for us was SO FUN! It ended up being a 10 hour day – but it was relaxed and so enjoyable. Our guide was excellent – very funny and very knowledgeable. We had 18 people and it was a great size. We opted not to drive a Ferrari – 150 Euros for 10 minutes seemed crazy. Although if all 4 of us could have gone in one car we would have done it! The family restaurant where we had the meal at the end was great – delicious food at a relaxed pace. The location was beautiful farmland. This was definitely a highlight of the trip!

NOTES: Unahotels Bologna Centro – this hotel was fine – and they turned on the AC for us! woohoo! The guy at the front desk must have been used to angry Americans b/c he was flustered and apologizing through our check-in. We just kept smiling and telling him there was nothing to apologize for. Rooms were clean and basic. I would compare to a Fairfield Inn. The size of the rooms was generous and the breakfast was good.

Venice:

The high speed train to Venice was fantastic! Very comfortable and kids were happy for WiFi! Again, we arrived early and the hotel checked our bags – it was going to be a few hours until our rooms were ready. We left the hotel armed with a map and walked around the city. We checked the menu at the place we had made dinner reservations at and the kids said to cancel it. Ha ha. We made our way to where we knew we needed to be Monday morning and hit a lot of dead ends – but enjoyed ourselves walking around. We grabbed a bite to eat in the main San Marco square (tourist trap!), enjoyed some live music and relaxed. We headed back to the hotel and checked in, and got settled. After that we walked around some more and picked a place for dinner. This probably was our least favorite meal of the trip, but the service was good.

Monday morning we were off to the Murano, Burano and Torcello Tour which we really loved. We decided to buy water bus tickets for the day – and that is how we got to the meeting spot. We liked being the first tour group of the day – it meant smaller crowds in Murano. The Glass Blowing was fun and we did some great shopping. After we were done we took the water bus around and saw Venice from different perspectives, and got out a few times and walked. It was a fun way to explore! We grabbed some food and made our way back to the hotel so Brett could pack up and catch his train.

Hotel Santa Chiara – Great hotel (our favorite showers of the trip!). Clean and friendly. It was a nice location. They also were willing to turn on our AC. 🙂 The only person who was not friendly was the person at the desk at 4:15 AM when we checked out. No wonder he is on the overnight shift! ha ha.

We were leaving before the buses started service – so they assured us that taxis are always out front. We waited in the rain for a few minutes and then I asked the hotel to call one for us since it was raining pretty hard. We made it to the airport in plenty of time to get some breakfast and relax.

The flights home were fine – though we were late into London and had only about 25 minutes from when we deplaned to get to our connection – and it was a hike. It took us about 35-40 minutes to get through security and get to our gate. But we made it!

Here are some things that came up that we didn’t expect:

Public restrooms are few and far between in most places. When you have a chance to use one – use it. And make sure you have small denomination Euros on hand to pay for them! (I’ll pay a buck for a bathroom anytime if it is as clean as the ones we used were!)
We planned for 250 Euros – and did have to take more out. I would probably have planned for 350 next time.
The A/C – or lack there of. We found that most hotels do not turn it on until it is 78 degrees outside. We were thankful that our last 2 hotels saw a desperate woman in her 50s! Ha ha.
Hotel rooms were larger than we expected.
Language was not a barrier. In fact, everyone we had to speak to spoke English. That was a relief.

How can we thank you??

The organization of all of the documents for us was amazing. It is just how I would have done it if I planned myself. THANK YOU.
You picked perfect tours/experiences for us – the only one we didn’t like was the one I reserved! Ha ha!
Lots of good advice in the information you sent us that made us feel prepared.
Also – what we loved overall was that each of the places we went felt different than the last place. So we really had 5 different experiences. And while we are not accustomed to that much moving around – it all felt very well planned out. Only an expert could have planned this for us!
It was the perfect trip for a first time to Italy. We know we’d go back to Cinque Terre. And then explore other southern locations next time.

And now we need to start thinking about our next adventure!

What Tourists Need to Know About the Rome Jubilee 2025

Basic Overview

What is the Jubilee?

What Does This Mean for Non-Pilgrim Travelers?

Top 6 Tips for Tourists

How Many Days Should You Spend in Rome?

A Weekend in Rome

A Week in Rome

Florence vs Rome

LENGTH OF STAY

Best Time of Year

Overall Vibes

Amazing Foods

Rome is Perfect for…

History Buffs

Fashionistas & Shopaholics

Bucket-listers & First Timers

Florence is Best for…

Art Lovers

Taking it Slow

Day Trips

A First-Timer’s Feedback

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH US

PLAN AN ADVENTURE?