Aaron's Travels

In April of 2024, my mom and I took a trip to Italy. On the same trip, we visited the countries of Vatican City and San Marino. You can read about that here.

While in Italy, we did some exploring on our own, and we also went on a tour throughout the country. We went on Tourradar’s “Italian Delights (12 days)” tour.

We started off our trip in Rome. We visited the Colosseum. It was incredible.

We also saw the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, and the Pantheon. These locations were crowded, but definitely worth seeing.

We left Rome and continued on to Pompeii. This historically significant site is massive and very well-preserved. It was one of my favorite spots on the trip. After that, we made our way to the Amalfi Coast. We enjoyed our time there.

We made brief stops in Montecassino and Assisi. These peaceful locations offered some spectacular views of the Italian countryside.

We made our way to Venice. This unique city, with its vast array of canals and waterways, left a lasting impression on my mom and me. It is a must-see for anyone traveling to Italy. While in Venice, we rode in a water bus, a water taxi, and a gondola.

We stopped in Verona, the setting for William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet”. We saw the balcony and statue of Juliet. There is also an impressive amphitheater in the city.

We went to the town of Sirmione on Lake Garda. The most stunning site in Sirmione is the Scaliger Fortress (Rocca Scaligera).

We went to Cinque Terre, which is along the west coast of the country. We visited two towns: Vernazza and Manarola. They are picturesque and pleasant.

We stopped briefly at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I managed to take a funny photo and climb to the top of the tower. There are bells at the top.

We spent a full day in Florence. We were able to see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore as well as the Basilica of Santa Croce.

We also visited two museums in Florence: the Galleria dell’Accademia and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. We saw works by two of the great Renaissance masters: Michelangelo and Donatello. Specifically, we saw “David” by Michelangelo and “Penitent Magdalene” by Donatello.

We made a stop in San Gimignano, where we saw numerous towers and ate delicious gelato. Then we visited Siena, where we saw the Duomo of Siena and the Piazza del Campo.

We came back to Rome for our final day in Italy. We visited the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Mamertine Prison, and the Piazza Navona. Rome has so much to see, but we only had time for the highlights. Still, I was quite pleased with what we were able to see.

Italy is a wondrous country, with a rich history, stunning landscapes, and savory food. It’s the land of amore.

If you have any questions about my travels in Italy, feel free to contact me.

When my mom and I took the tour around Italy, we went on Tourradar’s “Italian Delights (12 days)” tour. Tourradar has lots of awesome tours to Europe. Check them out!

Another operator that I often use when traveling is Viator. Viator has lots of awesome tours, too. Check them out! To view a collection of the experiences that I have personally partaken in and highly recommend, go here.

Many of the photographs displayed on this website were taken with a Nikon D3400 digital camera. I use a 70-300mm zoom lens. You can find this camera for sale on Amazon by clicking here. NOTE: The link provided is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.