Day Trips, Italy, Pisa

Spending a day in Pisa

by alwayswanderlustingLeave a Comment on Spending a day in Pisa
Spending a day in Pisa

TRAIN:
Roma Termini to Pisa Centrale
Travel Time: 2h 30min
Total: €92
Ticket per person: €46

Right after Vatican City, we had to go back to our Airbnb to pick up our things and get to Roma Termini to take the train to Pisa. We decided to stay in Pisa for two nights and go on two day trips to the following places: Cinque Terre and Siena. I was stuck between Siena and San Gimignano but decided to stick with Siena. Logistically, it might have made more sense to stay in Florence but Sam had already been to Florence so Pisa was the next best alternative. The Airbnb we stayed in is no longer listed on Airbnb so I have provided a close alternative (in location and in price) instead. Continue reading “Spending a day in Pisa” →

Italy, Rome

Vatican City

by alwayswanderlusting1 Comment on Vatican City
Vatican City

TIP #1:
Please make sure to keep your shoulders and knees covered before entering the Vatican! No shorts and carry a shawl! 

Our last day was spent at the Vatican City! The Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome and is home to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Like the Colosseum, it is definitely important to purchase your ticket in advance to avoid waiting in line. When Sam and I got to the Vatican, the queue to purchase tickets was so long that it ended up wrapping. The wait time was an average of four hours! Continue reading “Vatican City” →

Italy, Rome

Iconic Monuments in Rome

by alwayswanderlusting7 Comments on Iconic Monuments in Rome
Iconic Monuments in Rome

TIP #1:
For major attractions like the Colosseum, buy your tickets online in advance to avoid waiting in line for 3+ hours

COLOSSEO

Our first stop for the day was the infamous Colosseum (70-80CE). The largest and most iconic amphitheater ever built, it was used for gladiator fights and public spectacles. It was really awe-inspiring to finally see the Colosseum in real life. One of the more interesting aspects I found myself thinking about is how crazy it is to see this incredible structure that is thousands of years old situated next to a cafe that is hundreds of years old which was right by buildings that were far more modern and contemporary. The juxtaposition of the layers of history and architecture is something to admire. Continue reading “Iconic Monuments in Rome” →

Italy, Rome

Exploring Rome

by alwayswanderlusting2 Comments on Exploring Rome
Exploring Rome

I arrived to Rome first (Sam was estimated to arrive closer to 18:00). There were several ways to get to the main train station in Rome (Roma Termini) and I decided to just take the airport bus since it was cheap and our Airbnb was located just a few blocks from the station. The airport bus takes you directly to Roma Termini in approximately 40 minutes and it only costs €4. The other alternative is to take a (white) cab and while it is quicker, it will cost €30 one-way. A side note: One thing I learned was that “arcade” means “arches”. I was a little confused with the directions due to that minor misunderstanding and ended up wandering around a bit.

Continue reading “Exploring Rome” →

Italy, Travel

A Taste of Italy

by alwayswanderlustingLeave a Comment on A Taste of Italy
A Taste of Italy

My Italy trip was split into two parts. I initially planned to spend a week in Italy with my friend Sam (we planned this trip together after meeting only once!) as she only had one week of fall break. However, after reading up on the various regions in Italy, I ended up just extending the trip to two weeks to get a strong taste of Italian culture and taste of the cuisine.
Continue reading “A Taste of Italy” →