Visiting Italy was a DREAM! We could not have made a better decision than to spend two weeks touring and eating our way through this beautiful country.
Rome, Pisa, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Venice were among the cities we visited in Italy. Each region has a unique taste, and all are equally delicious in flavor.
From freshly made pastas to pizza to seafood, you are sure to find something that you will love in Italy.
Rome
The first city we stopped in was Rome, Italy. Full of history and culture, we spent several days exploring the city and food scene in Rome.
My favorite restaurant, Pianostrada, offered dishes like fried artichoke, linguine, and limon ravioli – all were to die for!
Risotrante 433 in Rome is a great stop if you get hungry while walking and are in the mood for a good Margarita pizza. Another spot that is great for a quick snack is Alla Rampa dei Gracchi, which has some of the best fried calamari.
We also tried several other dishes while in Rome, such as the lobster pasta at Prisco. Don’t skip the red wine in Italy – a must at dinner (or any) time.
Lastly, you will find plenty of gelato shops in Italy. And just a warning – you will eat gelato EACH AND EVERY DAY you are in Italy. It is called the gelato diet, and we were all for it!
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast was one of our favorite experiences in Italy. It includes the main town of Amalfi, as well as the towns of Positano and Ravello.
Here you will get a lighter taste of Italian fare. Instead of heavy pasta dishes and meats, Amalfi offers more of seafood options and light pasta sauces to choose from. One of our favorite dishes was the fusilli shrimp pesto.
You will often find yourself sitting at a café enjoying an espresso or Aperol spritz while people watching or enjoying the Mediterranean Sea views in Amalfi.
Amalfi also has the famous Santarosa pastry that you MUST try before leaving town.
Ravello had our favorite restaurant, Le Querce. It was amazing farm to table Italian food, a restaurant hidden in the mountains with stunning views. We tried their fresh wine, vegetable board, and a lemon crema ravioli I will never forget.
Pisa & Naples
We only spent one day in Pisa, Italy since our one main goal was to see the leaning tower of Pisa. It was well worth the stop of course just to accomplish that goal.
Since our time was limited in Pisa, our favorite stop was actually breakfast where we found one of the best spots near the train station for coffee and pastries galore.
Naples was also another quick stop for us in Italy, where we explored the shopping and streets as well as the famous margarita pizza birth place…DELICIOUS!
Florence & Cinque Terre
Florence is another city in Italy that is rich in history. The food scene is vibrant and out of this world as well.
The pasta dishes are a little richer, as you can tell from thickness and sauces served on each dish. One of my favorite and most unique dishes that I tried was an asparagus lasagna, it was very filling even with no meat added.
While in Florence, a Florentine Bistecca is a must. We stopped in Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco for a taste and it was one of the best steaks we’ve ever tasted for sure.
From Florence, we took a day trip to the most beautiful place you will ever visit in Italy – Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre, which translates to “five lands,” has five fishing villages in the area.
The hiking to and through each village in Cinque Terre was unforgettable, but so was the food.
You will find more seafood dishes offered in Cinque Terre, grilled and fried, and their pesto was as popular as gelato in all of Italy. Basil, which is the main ingredient in Pesto, loves the climate in this Italian Riviera region.
THE BEST pesto pasta I had was in the village of Corniglia. It was absolutely worth th3 380+ steps we had to climb in order to get to the village during our hiking adventures in Cinque Terre.
Speaking of gelato, of course we had hazelnut gelato in one of the villages for dessert. It always hits the spot.
Venice
Our last stop in Italy was Venice, a romantic city with plenty of charm. You must take a gondola and water taxi ride in Venice, Italy…but you also must give some of their northern Italian dishes a try as well.
You should notice a difference in flavor in northern versus southern Italy. The beef lasagna was rich with its fresh tomato sauce, but you will even notice a paradelle pasta with no meat was just as rich in flavor.
If you are in the mood for seafood, Venice does serve us some delicious freshly fried sardines and artichokes. We also tried a whole seabass, and the seasoned it to perfection.
Lastly, you cannot leave Venice (or Italy for that matter) without eating a slice of the famous tiramisu.
One thing about Italy, you can always find you an espresso and croissant to snack on. We made sure to take full advantage of that much needed caffeine to keep going during our travels.
