Italian Spring Break

My family moved from Tampa, Florida, to Germany almost a year ago due to my job. Since then, we have taken small road trips within Germany and quick trips across the border to France and Belgium. During the last week of March 2023, my family decided to head south to enjoy the warmer weather in Italy. My family has been looking forward to the sunny weather since Germany's weather since October has been miserable. It is hard to overstate the misery and depression that can set in living in an area where the climate is primarily overcast and rainy. I am putting the trip in context because we departed on a rainy day from Germany and returned to rain again. The rain made driving through Switzerland less enjoyable because the mountain scenery was limited by the rain and overcast skies; however, once we crossed into Italy, it seemed like we had entered a completely different part of Europe.

Santa Margherita and Pisa

The first night in Italy was spent in Milan; however, the first major stop was in the lovely coastal town of Santa Margherita along the Mediterranean Sea. I drove south from Milan towards Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, towards Rapallo. The drive consisted of numerous tunnels, and the most nerve-wracking point was driving up along a high-elevation bridge that was both narrow and curvy. Eventually, I arrived at Rapallo and took the road along the coastline toward Santa Margherita. The view along the coastal road was spectacular. I arrived in Santa Margherita and checked into my Airbnb apartment, and the view from my apartment toward the water and the busy street below was magnificent.

My family and I settled in and then took a walk around town. We walked down towards the church, where the main road with restaurants and shops was located, and stopped for an excellent cup of cappuccino and gelato.

Next, we walked along the boardwalk area by the water and came across what appeared to be an old fortification overlooking the harbor. We kept walking and came across a boat selling fresh seafood, which we decided to try, and to our delight, it was delicious. Later, we stopped for dinner at a local restaurant close to the waterfront. We enjoyed our meal and called it a night since we had an early morning the next day.

The following day, after breakfast, my family and I drove an hour and a half to Pisa to see the famous leaning tower.

Upon arriving, my family and I entered the ground where the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" was located and immediately began taking photos of us attempting to hold up the tower. My wife and I took the opportunity to walk up the tower, and to our surprise, the climb was less arduous than we had expected. However, you could feel yourself being pushed to one side by gravity as you climbed. The view from atop the tower was incredible, and it was amazing to see the entirety of the small city and the surrounding landscape.

After climbing down from the tower, my family and I visited the main Cathedral. Inside, the cathedral was immaculate, and the artwork was stunning. We walked to the small Basilica adjacent to the main Cathedral. Finally, we walked the grounds and the perimeter wall. Afterward, we drove back to Santa Margherita.

Upon returning to Rapallo from Pisa, we encountered a road closure along the coastal road toward Santa Margherita. A kind Italian lady on a scooter offered to lead us to Santa Margherita using an alternative route. The route ended in being the famous SS1 road that takes you up along a mountain road overlooking the coast. The road required attentive driving since the route was curvy and narrow. My family became extremely nervous when I had to make a sharp left turn on a narrow road at the highest point where you could see the sea and all the buildings below along the mountain steps. If interested, see the YouTube video of the road being driven from the opposite direction. The night ended with a simple dinner and preparation for the next leg of our Italian road trip.

Florence

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and my family and I were in for a treat. My family got settled in our Airbnb located in Santa Croce Square, and the church in Santa Croce Square is where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried.

After settling, my family and I strolled along the Arno River and towards the Ponte Vecchio-covered bridge. We then turned into the Galleria degli Uffizi, lined with statues of famous political, artistic, and religious people of the Renaissance. My favorite statue as a military strategist was of Machiavelli.

We continued walking into the Plaza Della Signoria, where we could see a replica of the statue of David and the statue of Neptune. Towering over the plaza was the Palazzo Vecchio, which I immediately recognized as the location where the cannibal Hannibal Lecter hung one of his victims and the location of Dan Brown's Inferno.

Afterward, we walked down the via de' Calzaiuoli towards the Battistero and the Duomo of Santa Maria Del Fiore with its famous Dome. Later, we had dinner near the Badia Fiorentina and the Bargello.

My family and I went to the Galleria dell' Accademia for a guided tour the following day. Our tour guide, Elvis, brought us inside the Galleria and immediately took us to where Michelangelo's famous statue of David is located. The site and size of David were imposing. Elvis provided commentary on Michelangelo's development of the statue and the perspective of the statue from different angles. Elvis then walked us back to view and learn of four of Michelangelo's unfinished statues. His narrative was both informative and entertaining. When the guided tour ended, we continued to walk around the Galleria to view beautiful works of art. The one room full of marble statues was terrific. The time spent in the Galleria was worth every penny.

After Lunch, my wife and I returned to the Duomo of Santa Maria Del Fiore. Unfortunately, we could not get tickets to climb up to the top of the tower or the Dome. Thankfully, the entrance to the Duomo was free, and we went inside to view the massive interior.

We then went to the Medici Family's palace, and it was interesting to be in the home of such a consequential family who influenced events throughout Europe. Afterward, my family and I again had dinner in the area by the Badia Fiorentina and the Bargello. We ended the night and prepared for the trip to Venice.

Venice

The drive to Venice took me through the beautiful countryside. We passed through Bologna but didn't stop. My family and I reached the outer part of Venice by mid-afternoon and checked into our Airbnb. Once settled, we walked to the central transportation hub and took a tram into the Island portion of Venice. Once we got onto the Island, we took a boat ride down the center canal passed the Rialto Bridge towards the Basilica di San Marco. Standing in the Basilica di San Marco plaza, you can see the Basilica di Santa Maria Della Salute, the Church of the Santissimo Redentore, and the Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore.

After walking around a bit, my family and I took a Gondola ride down the inner canals. The Gondola ride lasted an hour, and then we had dinner.

After dinner, we did some shopping, where I bought a Carnival Mask, and I wanted a second mask to go along with the one I purchased in 2004 when I first visited Venice. Shopping complete, we headed back to our Airbnb to prepare for our final stop in Italy.

Milan

The final stop in Italy was Milan. We stopped in Milan on our first day in Italy but saw nothing. Once settled in our Airbnb, we walked less than ten minutes to the Duomo of Milan, which was impressive amidst a large square surrounded by shopping and restaurants. We went inside the Duomo and admired the artwork and the tombs of two bishops. Afterward, we went up the terrace. The climb up the stairs to the terrace was harder than the climb up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Once on top, the view was spectacular. I took the opportunity to take pictures of the city from afar and the square below.

After finishing our time on the terrace, we visited Duomo's Museum, which also had another church. The museum was filled with various statues and artwork, and the one sculpture I was impressed by the depiction of the Eternal Father.

Once we finished inside the museum, we stopped for snacks and drinks and walked through the shopping area for a bit. The night ended with a pizza dinner near the Airbnb.

The next day, my family and I drove back to Germany. The route back took us through Switzerland and France, which rained often. The trip started in the rain and ended in the rain.