Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, or five towns, consists of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each island is fairly small and offers its own distinct features. My personal favorite was Riomaggiore because of its restaurants and trailheads.

(The picture to the right is Riamaggiore)

It offered incredible scenic views (highly recommend staying here for the sunset), and had a wide range of activities from boat riding to hiking. Moreover, there’s an effective train transportation system with a high frequency of trains in and out of the islands, making it quick and easy to move from/to various locations.

 

Florence

I think that Florence is very special because of its peaceful ambiance and cobblestone streets. My family and I visited two attractions: Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza del Duomo.

It took us about an hour to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo (the entire city of Florence is fairly small, so it’s almost all walkable). This location provides a panoramic view of the entire city, and is particularly beautiful during the sunset. There are also several street artists and local artisans selling products around the statue of Michelangelo.

Piazza del Duomo is a large city square filled with swarms of local artisans selling their products. This square also is known for its cathedral, Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is the third largest cathedral in the world, with the largest being St. Peter’s in Rome and the second largest being St. Paul’s in London.

 

Venice

Venice was a very unique experience, as it was fascinating to see how boats replaced cars. Excluding the boat rides, the most memorable experience in Venice was the glass-making demonstrations. An interesting fact is that Venice was the dominant glass producer in the West since the 10th century, and that legacy has continued today.

We visited Murano Glass & Venetian Masks where they showed a quick 10 minute demonstration of creating intricate pieces of animals, candy, flowers, and more. The process was very quick, and it was interesting to see how they managed to shape the glass and add color within a few seconds.

For children under the age of 14, viewing the demonstration is free. Otherwise, it costs 5 euros. I highly recommend visiting. If you are interested, there’s also an option to book a tour to view the furnace and gain more insight into the production of these pieces.

Venice is a particularly difficult city to navigate because Google Maps gets very confused. But, don’t panic because the entire city is fairly walkable. Also if time permits, go on a Gondola ride!

**The ‘candy’ and Christmas Tree is made 100% with glass!