Adventure With Julia

Italy Day 1:

After a crazy night on the ferry, we arrived in Bari, Italy. We spent the majority of the day driving to Sorrento across the south of Italy. The views from the bus were spectacular mountain peaks and sparkling ocean views. We stopped at a gas station for lunch and enjoyed the best gas station food I have ever had. The buying process was extremely different than in the US, but the pizza was well worth the struggle. 

Eventually, we came to Sorrento which involved a scenic drive past Naples, and a mountainous ascent to the hotel Art Hotel Sorrento.

This was a great hotel with picture-perfect Mediterranean views that every traveler dreams of. We enjoyed a walking tour of Sorrento, along with the famous lemon gelato inside a lemon. There is gelato everywhere throughout Italy, but I recommend going to Il Gelato Primavera for the most flavorful. My favorite part of Sorrento was the beaches. You can view them for miles from Piazza Gargiulo. There are some tourist beaches and some for locals, so check before you go.

We enjoyed a farm-to-table restaurant for my favorite meal of the trip. First, we were taught how to make mozzarella cheese through a live demonstration. Then we could taste the cheese and sat for a lovely dinner of Italian pasta. Pasta truly tastes different in Italy!

Day 2:

The next morning we woke up early to a spectacular sunrise over the mountains and enjoyed it from our balcony. This day had no planned group activities besides dinner. We took this as a time to relax and explore. We ate, shopped, and swam in the sea. I loved getting the chance to relax in the Mediterranean. The water was incredibly warm with visibility of over 20 feet. I swam far out and could easily float due to the high salt concentration. The beach itself was gorgeous, full of many people soaking up the sun.

Day 3:

On day 3 we sadly had to leave the beautiful city of Sorrento, and set off for Pompeii. This was about an hour’s drive, allowing us to arrive in Pompeii early. Outside the entrance, there were many pop-up shops for every possible trinket you could want. If you visit here remember that the prices are set high and you can negotiate too much lower prices with the vendors. Pompeii was fascinating but very hot with no shade. If you are planning a trip here, go in the morning!

Later we arrived in Rome! Rome is a beautiful, historic city that has become one of my new favorites. We walked the streets and viewed the famous stops such as Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and much more. For dinner, we enjoyed authentic Italian in a unique atmosphere. We ate at a restaurant in a tunnel where opera singers would walk through the tables performing throughout dinner. Great food and entertainment!

Day 4:

This day was packed with all of the sights of Rome. We started with an early morning tour of the Colosseum which was fascinating. The tour guide was excellent and set the scene for guests to imagine what it would have been like during its creation. Following the Colosseum we ventured to Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. We experienced a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. We began in the museums to gain an understanding of the history behind the creation of the Vatican. I loved seeing all of the ginormous old maps along the walls and famous statues. After the museums, we viewed the Sistine Chapel, covered by the Frescoes done by Michelangelo. Seeing this in person was incredible, after only seeing the art from photos in history classes at school. Visitors could spend all day solely looking at the art in the chapel. Lastly, we saw St. Peter’s Basilica, my favorite part of the day. The inside space is massive, equal to 4.3 football fields. Being the largest interior church in the world, everything inside was impressive and covered in gold. Standing inside truly made me feel small in the best way possible.

To end the trip we enjoyed free time in Rome and a pizza dinner as a group. Rome is truly fantastic and I hope to return and spend more time some day.