How to Decide Where to Travel in Italy for Your Romantic Anniversary Vacation
Is your anniversary coming up? Are you dreaming of a trip to Italy? Follow this guide for a foolproof itinerary to get the bang for your buck! We knew we wanted to do a European trip to commemorate our 10th anniversary. It took us a while to narrow down the locations we wanted to visit, but we ended up choosing Florence, Lucca, and Cinque Terre. We were hoping for the perfect mix of city, idyllic village, and seaside beauty.
As we were getting ready for this trip, we were prepping our house to sell… so the rest and relaxation was exactly what we needed. The days leading up to the trip were pure chaos of packing our suitcases and the house! We were so lucky to be able to leave the kids safe at home with family and other trusted babysitters. Once the plane landed, we were able to push pause on all of our daily family responsibilities and bask in the happiness of 10 years together.
Where You Should Begin Your Trip in Italy
Florence was the perfect launch pad for our Italian adventure! We landed in the city after a rainstorm (with a cab driver that kept yelling “Mama Mia!” at other drivers and made us feel like we were in a movie) Once we got dropped off at our AirBnB the rain had cleared and we were greeted with empty streets and stunning views! Our trip took place in early May, and we found it to be the perfect window of time for the weather and less crowded streets. Florence is packed with all of the art, history, and food you could ever dream of! Our AirBnB was as close to the Ponte Vecchio bridge as you can get, and I cannot recommend it enough. The location was so convenient for all of our activities.
Florence is the Most Walkable City!
When you book your stay in Florence, choose something close to the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio. We found AirBnB’s to be much more affordable than hotels. Once you are near the Ponte Vecchio you can walk to everything, which makes your days even more romantic and spontaneous. Your day could be filled with seeing the David, hitting up a Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner, and then taking an evening walk along the Arno River. And gelato, always gelato! My favorite flavor was cinnamon!
Staying in a Storybook Village
We knew we wanted to stop by ALL the sights in Florence: Boboli Gardens, Accademia, the Duomo, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio. We loved it all, and everything is a must-see in our book. A couple of tips: download the Rick Steves audio tour for the Uffizi. It’s a quick 60-minute highlight reel, and it was perfect (and free!). For the Accademia with the David, we chose to hire a guide. I love Michelangelo’s work and was interested in hearing more about the nitty-gritty details of the journey to create the David sculpture and his other, less well-known works of art. The Boboli Gardens were a perfect afternoon spot after museums in the morning. You can take in the skyline of Florence with all of the red roofs and relax at various spots throughout the gardens.
After the hustle and bustle of Florence, we were ready for something a little slower-paced and heard that Lucca was the perfect stopping point on our way to Cinque Terre. We found an adorable Airbnb to stay in near the city center that was very charming. The entire town of Lucca is surrounded by a city wall (that you can bike around!). The city has historic cathedrals, delicious pizza cafes, and fun little souvenir shops to explore. We thought one night was the perfect amount of time for Lucca.
The Magic of Cinque Terre
I had heard that Cinque Terre was beautiful and was a fun place to visit. That being said, I tried to temper my expectations, and they were happily blown away. Cinque Terre is the absolute perfect spot to celebrate with your spouse. The views are insanely gorgeous, the food is incredible (foccacia sandwiches for 2 euros!?), and our hotel was the best find! I came across Porto Rocco in Monterosso, Italy on Google and we decided to go for it. Not only were the views beautiful, but the service was amazing. Monterosso is one of the larger cities in the Cinque Terre. The town is fun to explore at night and very easy to get around.
Don’t Get Too Strict on Schedules
The beauty of Italy is relaxing and taking things one day at a time. Give yourself some wiggle room in your schedule to have spontaneous adventures. They always lead to something amazing! You cannot go wrong in Italy. We truly had the best time and were charmed by everything we were able to experience together. For travel, I suggest flying into Florence so you can hit the ground running. At the end of the trip, we took a train from Cinque Terre to Pisa and caught a flight home from there. Pisa was a perfect stop for a couple of hours to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa and have a delicious meal.
You really can’t go wrong when you are travelling to Italy. My wish for you is that you can find all the best pasta dishes, have incredible museum visits, and enjoy the amazing views!
