An Italian summer (part. I)

We are taking you on the Italian leg of our euro summer!

Rome

Rome is the most majestic European city we have ever seen and ranks high above the planet's most beautiful cities for a reason! The city is an open-air museum where you can casually encounter an Ancient Roman temple or an Egyptian obelisk! It gets scorching and heavy in summer (with perceived temperatures reaching 38°C). Make sure to book your visits in advance (to the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, and more).

We loved:

-Oro Bistro for a nice view of Victor Emmanuel II National Monument;

-Villa Borghèse for a lovely morning stroll;

-Two Sizes for delicious and cheap tiramisu and Giolitti for the best ice cream;

-Osteria Da Fortuna for traditional Italian food (get the polpette and any pasta);

-Ginger for healthier and fresh options (also has delicious pizza and pasta).

The Vatican

We paid a healthy sum of money for a 3-hour group tour of the Vatican, and we were left disappointed—we wouldn't recommend it. Our guide was nonchalant and didn't provide much additional value (we would have loved unknown facts, but the information we got was very basic, the same as you'd find in a book or video). 

Nonetheless, we enjoyed the Vatican's stunning gardens and the beautiful art in the museums, especially on the walls of this Gallery of Walls. Of course, Chapelle Sixtine is a must-see, and you must enter the St. Peter's Basilica (San Pietro).

Naples

Naples felt like a total change of scenery because of its lively and vibrant essence. With its narrow streets, street art, countless traditional shops and bustling markets, it has its own character. When exiting its historic centre, walk down to the seafront. Lungomare is a perfect place to take in the beauty of the sea and the iconic Vesuvius.

Another way of describing the city is contrasted: culturally rich on one side and somewhat chaotic on the other. But that makes up the beauty of Napoli!

Driving inside Naples will be your worst nightmare, but we can't think of any other option when coming from Rome and moving down to the Almafi coast. Driving (an SUV) in Napoli's narrow and crowded streets will give you heart palpitations, and the same could be said about Italians' driving style and countless motorcycles. 

We recommend parking your car close to the port or sea and not using it to drive in town. Pick it up when you're ready to leave Naples. 

We loved:

-Etto for creative Mediterranean cuisine;

-Lombardi 1892 for typical Italian dishes and our favourite Neapolitan pizza!