Our Trip to Italy, Part Two
Cison di Valmarino & Venice
I’m so excited to share Part Two of our trip to Italy!
After spending five days in Florence, we hopped on a high-speed train to Venice, which brings us to Part Two of the trip. (If you didn’t see Part One, Florence, see below and click to read it.) In this post, I’m sharing a bit about our time in the area where the wedding was and then our Venice itinerary.
Our Trip to Italy, Part One
Last month, Tony and I went to Italy and had the time of our lives. The idea of visiting Italy began last year because the son of our dear friends planned to get married there. We knew we wanted to attend the wedding and take a trip to celebrate our 35th anniversary. We began by booking our flights six months in advance, and from there, our vacation sta…
Part Two~
Cison di Valmarino
Day one
Once we arrived at the Venice Mestre Train Station, a driver picked us up in a private vehicle to transport us to the wedding venue. We drove for about an hour up into the Prosecco Hills and arrived at the picturesque village of Cison di Valmarino. We stayed at a small hotel on the main square of the ancient village. Once we checked in, Tony and I wandered around the grounds and walked down to the main square to enjoy drinks with other wedding guests. Shortly afterward, we were transported by vans to a lovely venue with gorgeous views for the wedding welcome dinner. We had a fantastic meal and sat with a great group of people. What a fun evening!
Day Two
Tony and I had a light breakfast at the hotel and left the grounds to exercise and explore the small, charming village. The mountain scenery and view of a nearby towering castle intrigued us as we walked up one of the main roads. We came upon cute homes, a forested area, and a small stream that led to a river. After roaming around, we returned to the hotel to lounge in our room and back out for a bite to eat. We had lunch in the piazza, then walked in the opposite direction of our morning excursion to sightsee some more of the village. We passed by the local church, Chiesa arcipretale di Santa Maria Assenta, which dates back to 1623, and enjoyed the hourly bells ringing during our stay. We traversed down narrow, winding streets, passing the local school, shops, and restaurants, and viewed homes along tree-lined idyllic neighborhoods. Tony and I went back to the hotel to clean up and get ready for the reason we came: the wedding!
The wedding was one of the most stunning I’ve ever attended. From the enchanting venue to the precious ceremony, the fabulous dinner, and the splendid reception! It was so special, and we were blessed to be guests of such a memorable evening. Those Italians know how to celebrate! After a late evening, we returned to our room full of joy for the newly married couple and their family.
Day Three
Tony and I savored the slow, sunny morning, ate breakfast at the hotel, and chatted with family and wedding guests. We then went to our room to pack and rest before check-out. We arranged for a private transfer from the hotel to our next stop, Venice!
Venice
Day One
After an hour’s journey (with a high-speed driver!), we were dropped off at Piazzale Roma dock, where the hotel’s transfer company met us. We boarded a private water taxi that whisked us away in a small luxury vessel with sleek polished wood and open-air seating. We felt like celebrities! The boat zipped through waterways and onto the Grand Canal, where the water was turquoise and the views impressive. We pulled into the hotel’s dock and were instantly greeted by the warm and friendly staff at the glorious St. Regis Venice.
After handing us glasses of Prosecco and getting checked in, we were shown to our room, where we set our luggage down and immediately left to inquire about where to get lunch. The concierge recommended Al Colombo, and it didn’t disappoint. From there, we meandered to Piazza San Marco. The vast square is just as impressive in person as on-screen! Basilica San Marco stands impressively at one end and close by is the clocktower. The busy piazza is dotted with restaurants, shops, and businesses. From there, we strolled along alleyways, over tiny bridges, and through smaller piazzas. We explored the City of Canals for a few hours, then found our way back to the hotel to unpack and relax. We ended our day with dinner in the outdoor garden at Al Giardinetto da Severino. The twinkling lights added to the charming ambiance, and our dinner of wine, pasta, vegetables, and fish was very tasty.
Day Two
We started the sunny day with breakfast at our hotel overlooking the Grand Canal, then walked to St. Mark’s Campanile for our 10:00 a.m. reservations. It’s a quick elevator ride to the top, and wow, there were such incredible views of Venice and the surrounding area! This was a great way to get our bearings and excite us for our time there. Next on the agenda was Doge’s Palace, a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, where we spent several hours wandering through to see stunning artifacts, paintings, fantastic architecture, and other art.
Following our visit to the palace, we made our way towards the Rialto Bridge, stopping in shops, peeking into cathedrals, and admiring smaller piazzas. We walked over the busy bridge and along the canal, taking in the sights. We found a small restaurant. Osteria Ae Sconte, for a leisurely lunch outdoors, sat for a while afterward to relax and people-watch and then walked to our next stop, Palazzo Vendramin Grimani. We spent an hour seeing the exhibits, roamed the city some more, and then moseyed on back to our hotel to rest.
We walked over to Basilica San Marco in the early evening and attended the 7 p.m. Mass. Listening to an Italian church service while taking in the immense beauty of the basilica was so special. After Mass, we dined at the lovely Antico Martini, where we ate more tasty fish, pasta, and vegetables and drank local wine.
Day Three
Tony and I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at our hotel with great canal views. We lingered over coffee, not wanting to rush the day. We sat there in easy conversation and watched boats zip by on the sparkly water. Eventually, we left and decided while in Venice, we had to experience a gondola ride. Armed with a small bottle of champagne and two cups, we boarded one near our hotel for a private 30-minute tour through the canals. We found it to be very romantic!
Afterward, we returned to the St. Regis to catch a private 20-minute boat ride to Murano, the island renowned for glass-making, for a half-day trip. The journey to the island was an adventure as our boat sped through the open water. We enjoyed seeing Venice from a different angle, and the combination of sea spray, warm sun, and wind in our hair made for a fun ride. Once we arrived in Murano, we docked, and our private two-hour glass-making factory tour began. Our guide, Matteo, explained the process from beginning to end, and we watched the master glassblower work his craft. I was able to select colors for a flower the glassblower created. It’s a remarkable process and takes years to hone the skill. So impressive! We wandered the gallery, admiring the beautiful works of glass art, then left to explore the island. We browsed in the shops and made a few purchases of Murano glass before hopping back on the speedboat to Venice. We disembarked, happy but hungry, and ate a delicious late outdoor lunch at our hotel.
Immediately following lunch, the St. Regis Sabrage Evening Ritual began on the garden terrace, and I was lucky enough to be selected to open the bottle! The saber is much heavier than it looks! With assistance from the sommelier, I sliced through the champagne bottle, and the cork went flying. What a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was! Tony and I returned to our room to change, then left to walk to our 7 p.m. Vivaldi concert at Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieta. I’ve been a fan of Vivaldi’s music for decades, so attending this performance was a dream. The talented musicians played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concertos with such passion-it was sensational!!!
After the concert, we walked for almost 30 minutes to find the restaurant where we had booked a table. Vecia Cavana was worth the walk! This dinner was our favorite of the whole trip. Our server was fantastic, funny, and kind, and the food was delectable! We sat there for several hours, enjoying each meal course, and left with full bellies and happy hearts.
Day Four
This was our final day in Venice. After another delightful breakfast along the water, Tony and I went to our room to pack our luggage, then left the hotel to shop and wander around one last time. We meandered through alleyways and over tiny bridges, popping in and out of the shops. After several hours, we returned to the St. Regis for lunch on the terrace. We soaked up every last minute of this charming, unique city before our private water taxi arrived late afternoon to transport us to the Santa Lucia Train Station.
We boarded the comfortable high-speed train back to Florence and arrived early in the evening. We took a taxi to our hotel, AC Hotel Firenze, checked in, and then headed out for our last dinner in Italy. It was a 15-minute walk to dine at La Carrabaccia, where we ate more pasta (surprise! 😉), vegetables, and chicken. After dinner, we returned to the hotel to organize our baggage and get some sleep for a morning flight home.
Day Five
Our magical vacation was over. We boarded a short morning flight to Paris, then a long flight to Los Angeles and back home.
Final Thoughts on Our Trip to Italy
I am including a few tips and noteworthy information here.
Tips
This seems obvious, but wear comfy shoes. Having suitable footwear is best when you spend all day on your feet. Some of the streets in Florence were cobblestone, so flimsy sandals would have been uncomfortable. Venice is pedestrian-only, so you must walk anywhere you want to go. If you buy new shoes before your vacation, please break them in beforehand. Your feet will thank you because no one likes blisters.
If traveling during the shoulder or high season, I highly recommend you purchase advance tickets (Skip-the-Line Passes) for popular attractions. We saved time not waiting in lines and the disappointment of not getting into places we wanted to visit. It’s well worth the few extra dollars.
If you follow a specific diet or have food allergies, plan out some of your meals before you go. I read about all the places where I could find gluten-free food in the two cities we visited, read reviews, checked menus, and then made restaurant reservations that suited us.
Notes
Our favorite places in Florence were the Basilica Santa Maria Novella, Pitti Palace, and Boboli Gardens. We loved every place on our itinerary, but these were our top three. Florence is full of things to do!
Our favorites in Venice were Doge’s Palace, the Vivaldi Concert, and the day trip to Murano. We enjoyed the uniqueness of Venice and how all the tiny islands connected.
The locations of our hotels made sightseeing easy as they were both centrally located. This aspect was important because we didn’t want to spend extra time traveling to and from the attractions.
Our trip to Italy was dreamy and well worth the time planning every detail. We wouldn’t have changed a thing! ❤️
Absolutely gorgeous! I hope to return so I can visit Vecia Cavana. So glad you had an amazing trip!
I loved reading about your trip to Italy, Natalie. Your descriptions and pictures are so alluring. They make me want to go there and experience it for myself. Your tips for travel are also a great addition to your newsletter!