Trastevere in Rome
It's official, folks, we're headed back to Italy!
We decided we just couldn't get enough, so we're headed back with some slightly different goals in mind this time around.
Our last trip in the spring of 2016 was full of great adventures -- we packed five cities into our itinerary, and splurged from time to time, knowing this was our celebratory honeymoon. We stayed in cute hotels, converted palaces, and bed and breakfasts. We saw the great sites meant for anyone who either hasn't been to Italy in a while (10 years for Eliza) or ever (for Paul). We put on our tourist pants and had in-depth tours of places like the Colosseum and Vatican, which were great memories and so worth it.
This time, however, we're going to switch things up a bit.
How, you might wonder?
By taking a shot at living like the locals, and perhaps even taking the time to relax! We have booked AirBnbs in Florence and Rome to serve as home bases while we take in the culture of these amazing cities and the outlying areas. We plan to go to the markets and make breakfast in our little apartments' kitchens, while steering clear of the tourist-laden areas so we can really get to see what life is like on a day-to-day. We have a couple day trips planned to get out into the country and see where Paul's ancestors came from. And of course we plan to eat well, in more off-the-beaten path places where we can get a true taste of la dolce vita.
Just by chance, our favorite areas of both cities are beyond the rivers. In Florence, it's the Oltrarno, and in Rome, Trastevere. Both places had atmospheres that suited us, and we can't wait to get back to call these neighborhoods home, if only for a few days!
The flights are booked for April, so it's official! Do you have favorite spots in Trastevere or Oltrarno? Leave us a comment!