Three years ago, Jason and I decided it would be fun to go to Italy for our ten year wedding anniversary.  Why Italy? Jason's family came from there and we thought it would be cool to see it  Thus began three years of internet searches, Google Earth searching, and even making a few friends to advise us along the way!  

Here is a brief (believe it or not) summary of what we decided we wanted to see on our adventure!

  Our plane will land in Naples.  I've seen as early as 10am, or as late as 4pm on the itineraries. I'm hoping for the 10 am so we will have time to visit the Island of Capri.  Along with BEAUTIFUL city streets and shops, there is the Blue Grotto, so named because when the sunlight reflects through the water, it illuminates the inner cove with a gorgeous blue color.

The Valley of the Mills is another of Italy's beautiful ruins!  An area near Sorrento that was abandoned and is now over grown with foliage.

Cumae, located just north of Naples is home to some of the Greek God temples still standing in Italy.  

 I was very interested in Greek Mythology whenever we studied it in school, so the opportunity to walk amongst the ruins I've read so much about is going to be AMAZING!

 

The Temple of Jupiter

Positano, the world's most vertical city! Located on the Amalfi coast is one of the MANY towns we hope to wander through the city streets of. Tasting their local food, drinking the wine created at local vineyards, experiencing Italy as a culture.

Paestum another area along the coast that gives a glimpes into a history of Gods and Goddesses.

 Craco.  Wow! I am more than excited to go to this city, Built on the edge of a cliff, there was an earthquake in the 60's that sent part of the city over the edge.  It scared the remaining residents so badly, they all moved away leaving an abandoned city to roam through and experience!

Pompeii.  I am repeatedly SHOCKED at the number of people who have never heard the story of Pompeii.  The technology these people had ahead of their time, yet had no way of getting advanced warning when Vesuvius erupted.  The beauty, shock, and pain of this city draws me to it!  

Another history lesson I found myself riveted to!

Rome!

This city has SO much culture and life to see! Although Jason and I are not church viewers, or museum visitors, there is still so much to see just by strolling around the city!

Piazza Del Popolo, known as the plaza of performers!  People gather in this city square and perform for donations.  I only hope that they will be out when we visit!!

The Roman Forum

The Spanish Steps

St Peter's Basilica Dome

The Pantheon

Campo de Fiori has been suggested as a wonderful place to grab a bite!

Constantin's Arch

The Colosseum

Trevi Fountain

Ostia Antica is one of the hidden gems of Italy in my opinion.  Another site of ruins but with the benefit of NO GUARDS! You are free to touch and feel the history as you wish!

 

Assisi is raved about as one the most beautiful, cozy, welcoming townships in Italy. It is quite a bit out of our way, and may be passed by if we are short on time, but it is still on the itinerary until we find we need to decide otherwise.

 

 

The wonderful thing about Italy is that it is peppered with hill towns everywhere! You are only a stones throw from another town that looks like you stepped out of a time machine and into history.

Cortona

Montalciano

Montepulciano

Siena

Orvieto

 

Siena

San Gimignano

The Tower of Pisa

Overrated in my opinion, but, kind one of those things I'd hate to drive right past and NOT stop to take a picture or do a ridiculous pose that has been done a thousand times by a thousand tourists. :)

 The next step on our tour of Italy is another hidden gem, or rather 5 of them known as the Cinque Terre.  Cinque meaning 5 although technically, there are now 6 Oceanside cities that covers the north west coast.  They brag some of the most beautiful ocean views and not too many tourists. 

 Although theses pictures look similar, they are in fact all from different cities in the Cinque Terre.

This beach is a rarity in Italy as it is a sand beach.  Most of the beaches in Italy are rocky.

The Bridge of Sighs

     Venice is another city I plan on spending a few extra days in! Everything about this city entices me!!

Juliet's Balcony in Verona

Lake Como in the Apennine mountain region.  Lake Como is also home to a castle where a man gives a unique history lesson with demonstration using birds of prey!

And last but not least, Torino.  One of the things I really want to tour is the tunnels that run under the city! But this is also where we will be meeting one of the online friends who has helped us with SO many questions and given us suggestions on what to see!  It'll be so much fun to be able to sit down and talk with her face to face after all theses years!

Now. here are the homes away from home we will be staying at, in no particular order.  These are all Agriturismos which is Italian for agricultural tourism's, or bed and breakfasts set on farms and vineyards!

  

I do have a completed budget for the trip as well if anyone is interested in what a trip like this would cost two people, and believe me, it's not as much as you would think!