Hi friends! In today’s post, I’m sharing intimate details of my honeymoon travels, specifically my 1-week trip to Venice and Tuscany, in Italy. I’ll share travel tips, suggestions for things to do, and helpful hints for building out your trip itinerary.
As someone who’s traveled to Italy on numerous occasions, both with family and with a significant other, I’m excited to finally share my tips for visiting one of my favorite countries! Not to mention, I’ve visited Venice and Tuscany on both trips…so, I’m kind of an expert! 😉
This will be broken down into a 3 part mini-series, so if you’re not already subscribed to the newsletter, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the other featured articles of this mini-series.
And if you like my outfits featured in the photos below, make sure to check out my other post, European Honeymoon Outfits that Actually Fit in a Suitcase. If you’re not going on your honeymoon, still check it out! It features super practical advice for packing for a long trip.
Without any further ado, let’s jump in! Here’s an overview of my Venice and Tuscany trip!
Venice and Tuscany
Venice, Italy (Days 1 & 2)
We spent the first two days of our honeymoon in and around Venice, Italy. Venice, long considered one of the most romantic cities in the world, is known for its canals that run through the city, and of course, its gondolas!
How to get to Venice:
We flew directly to Rome and then took a connecting flight to the Venice airport. From the airport, we called a water taxi to take us from the airport into the main city. Our hotel helped us coordinate the water taxi, so definitely make sure to ask if this is a service your hotel can help you with!
Where to Stay in Venice:
We stayed at the Hotel Colombina and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The staff was great, breakfast was delicious, and our room had a view overlooking a canal. Plus, the traditional Italian candies at the front desk were to die for! Admittedly, it is a little pricey, but what isn’t in Venice?
Things to do in Venice:
- The Doge’s Palace
- St. Mark’s Basilica
- The Redeemer Festival (dependent on the timing of your visit)
- Day trip to Murano and Burano
- Gondola Ride
The Doge's Palace
From our hotel, we next went to see The Doge’s Palace. This was something my husband insisted that we see, and true to my nature, I had never heard of it before. Located in St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace was built in the 14th and 15th centuries – following the destruction of the original structure – and was home to the Doge of Venice, the highest ranking political figure of the Venetian Republic (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia).
Steeped in history, the building today is open to visitors to admire the opulent gothic architecture and artwork within, as well as the prison apartments and medieval-era weaponry.
And while you’re there, don’t forget to take the opportunity to walk across the Bridge of Sighs and peep out onto the canal!
St. Mark's Basilica
Another popular attraction is St. Mark’s Basilica, located in St. Mark’s Square. My husband and I decided to forego seeing it because there was a long line to get in. I did see it on a previous trip, however, and it’s worth checking out!
Built in the 9th century, the basilica was named for St. Mark the Apostle, protector of the city of Venice. Much of the original architecture and artwork was built in the Byzantine style to portray the power and influence of the Venetian Republic. Over time, other architectural styles were incorporated as well, creating a unique blend of styles. Today, St. Mark’s Basilica hosts more than 4,000 square meters of mosaics and 500 columns (venice-museum.com).
The Redeemer Festival
Later that night, we partied it up at a traditional Italian festival. Held annually on the 3rd weekend of July, the Redeemer Festival, or Festa del Redentore, is a celebration held to remember the end of the plague that struck the city of Venice from 1575 to 1577. It’s one of the most celebrated days of the year for Venetians and it’s an experience like no other for visitors.
On Saturday night, hundreds of boats flock to the waterway on the city’s outer edge to watch the firework display. As far as the eye can see, there are boats; many of which are playing lively music and have people dancing on the bows. When I say it’s an experience like no other, I mean it!
t’s definitely worth planning your trip to coincide with the annual festival! But keep in mind there were heavy crowds the entire weekend we were in Venice with visitors pouring to experience the festival. Personally, I think it’s worth it to brave the crowds to experience the Redeemer Festival because Venice is one of those places that will always have crowds anyways.
Day Trip to Murano and Burano
The next day we took a day trip from Venice to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is long known for its glasswork, while Burano is known for its lace and its colorful buildings.
While in Murano, we had a private demonstration of the glass-making process (also arranged through Hotel Columbina) and then toured the showroom. Admittedly, we spent a wee bit too much on glasswork! But, can you blame us?! Many of the pieces were absolutely stunning! Plus, with appreciation, this artwork will not only beautify our home, but is a form of investment as well.
In Burano, we spent our time checking out the shops and roaming around the beautiful little island. My husband bought a beautiful blue and white linen shirt and I bought a white leather belt and some new sunglasses!
Gondola Ride
We spent our last night in Venice, exploring the area and walking around. Alternatively, consider taking a gondola ride! What better way to see the city? Especially after a tiring day on your feet.
Overall, Venice was good to us! You could easily spend more than 2 days there, especially if you want to complete all my suggested “things to do” at a more leisurely pace. But for a jam-packed trip with lots to see, 2 days in Venice is perfect.
Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano (Days 3 & 4)
Siena and many of the surrounding Tuscan towns date back to the medieval era. Hence, you’ll find many fortifications, underground passageways and the like.
Siena, specifically, was once an incredibly powerful influential city, known for commercial and banking activities. But, due to economic and territorial rivalry with Florence in the 13th and 14th centuries along with the Black Death plague, the city was severely weakened (Britannica.com). Today, along with its neighboring Tuscan cities and villages, much of its original medieval charm remains intact and open to visitors.
How to get to Siena:
We traveled from Venice’s city center back to the airport via water ferry. Once at the airport, we journeyed on foot (it’s a quick walk!) to the rental car agency and picked up a nice sleek little Fiat. When in Rome!
Where to Stay in Siena:
We ended up staying in the heart of Siena at a hotel called, Relais Degli Angeli.
Although we had a wonderful stay, it was incredibly difficult and stressful to park and we ended up dragging our luggage through the streets; with the hilly terrain, this was no easy task. If I were to do it again, I would choose to stay at an Italian villa in the countryside.
Things to do in Siena and Surrounding Towns:
- Eat gelato at the world’s most famous gelateria (or another gelateria of your choosing)
- Take in the views at scenic overlooks
- Val d’Orcia scenic drive
- Wine tasting and tour
- Try pici
Eat Gelato at Gelateria Dondoli (or another gelateria of your choosing)
Gelateria Dondoli is considered the world’s most famous gelateria, attracting tourists and celebrities, alike! Check out some of the unique flavor options, like cream with saffron and pine nuts, pink grapefruit and sparkling wine, and cream with aromatic herbs, to name a few.
Gelateria Dondoli is located in the central Piazza in San Gimignano. It’s impossible to miss because you’re bound to see clusters of people gathered outside its doors!
Pro Tip: It’s easy to get confused and stop at the Caffetteria Gelateria dell’Olmo, which claims to have the best gelato in the world. This (of course!) happened to us. When visiting, make sure to walk up the hill completely into the piazza and you will find Gelateria Dondoli.
Regardless of which gelateria you end up stopping at, Italian gelato will not disappoint!
Scenic Overlooks
A trip to Tuscany would be incomplete without enjoying the natural beauty of the landscape through one of the many scenic overlooks.
Here’s one of my favorite scenic outlook spots we stopped at in San Gimignano:
Val d'Orcia Scenic Drive
Val d’Orcia is an area known for picturesque views of Italian countryside in Southern Tuscany, just outside of Siena.
Take in the stunning vistas of this unique terrain with a quick and easy drive.
Tour and Wine Tasting
What better way to pay tribute to one of Tuscany’s largest exports than with a wine tasting and a tour of the wine-making process?
We chose to do a tour at Ercolani in Montepulciano. Admittedly, it looks like just a little hole in the wall. But, take a few steps downstairs and you’re transported to a series of underground rooms. These rooms were home to four wealthy families in the medieval ages and served as an alternative escape route, extending out past the city gates. Plus, with the tour, you’ll also see some medieval weapons and torture devices that were dug up.
Of course, you’ll also learn about the wine-making and aging process. The tour concludes with a tasting, where you’ll sample Ercolani’s finest cheese and wines and can purchase a case to be shipped home. Note: the Ercolani tour was free, with the hopes that you’ll make a purchase following the tasting.
Try Pici
My favorite meal from our honeymoon trip was a bowl of pistachio pesto pici. Pici is a type of pasta, kind of like a thick spaghetti. It originated in Siena and it’s traditionally made out of flour and water only, as opposed to most pastas, which are made from flour and eggs.
Because of it’s simple ingredients, pici was once considered food for the lower class, who couldn’t afford or didn’t have access to other ingredients.
Although our pici meal was in Siena, today pici is served all throughout the Tuscany region.
Overall, we had a great time in Siena and the surrounding towns and found that there was lots to do and see. In hindsight, I wish we spent more time on this portion of our trip because we didn’t see much of Siena itself. I would recommend spending 3-4 days in Siena in order to complete all my “things to do”, while also giving yourself enough time to see Siena properly.
Lucca, Monteriggioni, and Pisa (Days 5 & 6)
Lucca is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Tuscany with its 16th-century Renaissance walls. The city is widely recognized as having Etruscan origins, but many believe there was an earlier Ligurian presence. In 180 BC, Lucca was colonized by the Romans and later gained it’s independence, before being part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1860 (Italia.IT).
With a rich cultural history, Lucca is well worth a stop for any Venice and Tuscany trip!
How to get to Lucca:
We traveled via our Fiat from Siena to Lucca, stopping in Monteriggioni and Pisa along the way.
Where to Stay in Lucca:
We had a wonderful stay at Hotel Ilaria and you can’t beat the location! Although our room itself wasn’t anything special, the hotel offered a happy hour with free prosecco and snacks, the staff was great, and on-site parking was available, which made it super easy for travelers with large, oversized suitcases, like us. I would 100% stay there again.
Things to do in Lucca and Surrounding Towns:
- See the Leaning Tower
- Walk along Lucca’s walls (or Monteriggioni’s walls)
- Shop for leather goods
- Grab a drink and/or food at a piazza built around a Roman Amphitheatre
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
On our drive from Siena to Lucca, we stopped at Pisa to see the Leaning Tower. Although the area was swarming with other tourists, seeing the Leaning Tower was definitely a bucket list item.
Plus, it’s easy to get to when traveling from Siena to Lucca. We found that a few hours in Pisa – to see the leaning tower and stop for a bite to eat – was more than sufficient.
Walk On Top of Medieval-Era Walls
We also stopped at Monteriggioni on our way to Lucca. Monteriggioni’s is known for it’s well-preserved walls that encompass the city (much like Lucca). Monteriggioni was built in the 13th century by the Sienese and grew in power because of it’s location on Via Francigena, an important trade route that once connected Rome to France (tuscany.guide).
If you have time during your trip, I definitely recommend a stop in Monteriggioni to walk on its walls! As you can see from the photos, they’re monstrosities!
But, in either case, definitely check out Lucca’s walls! Today, these walls once meant to keep invading armies out, are now inviting to visitors and locals, alike! On top of the walls is a park with a walking trail, where you’ll find people jogging, walking their dog, or bringing their children to play.
Shop for Leather Goods
OK. So…yes, I already bought a leather belt while in Burano. But, I have a soft spot for Italian leather.
And although I didn’t fully splurge to spend a few hundred Euros on a leather jacket, I did treat myself to a new white and gold leather purse and my husband bought a high-end pair of leather shoes.
Grab Food and/or Drink at a Piazza Built Around a Roman Amphitheatre
One of my favorite things from the whole trip – and yes, I know I’m about to sounds like a simpleton – was sitting and enjoying food and drinks at Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is located in Lucca and is elliptical in shape, having been originally built around a roman amphitheater. There are 4 gates on each “side”, if you will, to enter and exit the piazza.
It’s a great location to rest, take in and admire the atmosphere!
Lucca was one of our favorite places from the trip! And although we found a day and half to be sufficient, if you’re looking for a more leisurely vacation, definitely consider staying longer.
Venice and Tuscany Trip Debrief
Overall, our trip to Venice and Tuscany was incredible! And I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to experience Italy’s romantic, countryside charm.
I hope you found all these travel tips useful if you’re hoping to book a Venice and Tuscany trip in the near future. If you liked this article, please make sure to share it with a friend!
And don’t forget, this post only covers the 1st week of our honeymoon adventures. Check back in with The Chic Capitalist blog for travel tips to Greece and Turkey, or subscribe to the newsletter to get notified of new posts and gain access to exclusive content.
As always, while you’re waiting for that post to come out, don’t forget to get caught up out my other travel-inspired posts:
Thanks for reading friends! Until next time.