This spring, I had the pleasure of planning an inaugural trip to Italy for close family friends, Scott and Erin Singer, to celebrate Erin's birthday. Their time was limited to just one week including one night on the flight from the USA. They planned to use Rome as their gateway.
With that in mind, I suggested they take the Leonardo Express train (click here for train info) from Rome's Fiumicino Airport to the Rome Termini train station (cost E14) where they would take the Freccia Rossa (90 min between Rome and Florence). The flight was on time and everything worked perfectly.
They were staying at the glamorous "new" Plaza Hotel Lucchesi in Florence.
Rooftop Terrace with pool and view of Santa Croce at the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi in Florence.
The hotel sits along the Arno river and has amazing views of the city. It is also in a perfect location for walking to everything they wanted to see and do. The first day, they discovered happy hour by the swimming pool on the hotel's rooftop was a good buy at E16 per person for the bountiful pasta and accoutrements buffet including a drink. And they reported that the bartender made excellent mojitos!
Scott said that the smartest decision he made in preparation for their trip was to buy a Firenze Card for each of them at E72. This gave them access to some 72 museums in Florence without standing in line. Scott reported that after about 5 museums, the pass pays for itself. For another E5 you can use the bus service and wifi for free!
72 Museums...72 Hours...72 Euro and No Lines!
This pass saved them so much time, they were able to see everything on their list, including the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, the Galleria dell' Accademia, Palazzo Vecchio, and the fabulous new Museo del Opera dell' Duomo which is not to be missed.
Among the places where they ate, their favorites were Quattro Leoni where they had their first pear pasta (yes! the dish is made with pears) and the JT Caffe near the Palazzo Pitti (Piazza dei Pitti, 32) where the cappucino and tiramisu exceeded all expectations. Casual dining, not pricey.
Two of JT Caffe's tempting treats.
With only four nights to spend, their time in Florence flew by. We told them not to miss the Leather School at Santa Croce Church which you could see from their hotel. They were not disappointed. Both of them loved seeing the artisans at work and the beautiful leather work they produce. Scott bought Erin a purse and the artisan offered to put her monogram very discretely inside the flap. She was thrilled. It was a highlight of their stay in Florence.
Erin's purse from the Leather Factory at Santa Croce with discrete monogram.
Upon departure day, they hopped back on the Freccia Rossa for the short trip to Rome (approximately 90 minutes). They stayed at the Hotel Splendide Royal, a fabulous five-star facing the Borghese Gardens yet a short walk from the Spanish Steps. To celebrate Erin's 40th birthday, they dined at Mirabelle Restaurant on top of the hotel, and it was an evening they will never forget. The setting, the MIchelin caliber service, and the meal were all superb. This was another highlight of their trip.
Mirabelle Restaurant at the top of the Hotel Slendide Royal overlooking the Borghese
Gardens.
Scott and Erin at Mirabelle Restaurant on Erin's' birthday.
Sightseeing in Rome included a private visit to the Vatican with an expert guide organized by Dream Italy.
After two short days in Rome squeezing in as much as they could, they departed for their return flight home already planning their next trip to Italy, a country they came to love in just a short time.