A Bella Vita Client Perspective: A Romantic Getaway to Italy!

 

Why did you choose Italy?

With this being our first trip to Europe, we wanted to visit a place with a relaxed culture known for amazing food and wine.

What were your expectations for this trip?

We wanted to explore new cities and meet people who call them home, experience their culture, and enjoy authentic Italian food and wine. 

What was your favorite destination and why?

We added a stop in Bologna to our trip and it ended up being one of our favorite destinations because it was small and we explored it on a bicycle! We fell in love with this little “mortadelleria” in the Piazza Maggiore where the owner served only one red wine; it was one of the best we had on our trip!

Favorite accommodation and why?

Let me start by saying every accommodation was absolutely amazing in its own way. I’ll choose our first hotel in Rome for now because of its amazing rooftop bar and restaurant. This was our first time experiencing Italian aperitivo and it did not disappoint. Also, the view of the city was fantastic!

Favorite tour/excursion and why?

While in Florence we took two fun day trips, one to the Chianti wine region and the other to Modena and Parma where we learned about parma ham and balsamic vinegar production. Our day at Castello Monterinaldi was especially memorable thanks to our talented driver/tour guide, Luca, who played classical piano as we enjoyed a four-course lunch with wine pairing. Also, our cooking class in Florence was definitely a highlight of our trip and something we would 100% do again on a future trip!

What did you think of the food (and wine)?

Of course, Italy did not disappoint! Each city brought a new style of food and local dish to enjoy. Some favorites were Roman style artichokes and fried zucchini flowers, Neapolitan pizza from the pizzeria da Michele, Florentine steak at Buca Mario, mortadella sandwiches at Pigro, and cicchetti in Venice at Vino Vero. We are very happy we decided to purchase and ship wine home. It really takes us back each time we enjoy a bottle at home with our friends and family.

Anything you would do differently?

If I could do it all over again, I would plan to stay a few nights in the Cinque Terre since we loved our time there so much! We went for a day trip and were able to see three of the five villages. While there, we met our trip planner, Christine, in her hometown of Monterosso and she took us on a beautiful walking tour. We fell in love with the area and enjoyed a boat ride, a fresh seafood lunch, and the local wine, Sciacchetra. 

Your overall feeling of working with Bella Vita?

Each and every member of the Bella Vita team was a dream to work with and made planning our trip so fun and easy! They really listened to everything we wanted and were able to come up with an itinerary very quickly. Bella Vita planned a trip that truly exceeded our expectations and we are so thankful for all of the wonderful experiences so perfectly coordinated by their team.