Midnight in Rome & a sunrise over Tuscany.
I had high expectations for my first trip abroad, but Italy was more than I could have imagined. I wouldn’t have changed a thing, and we managed to do a lot in a short period of time.
We flew into Rome via WestJet, and the flight was surprisingly painless. We took the Leonardo Express into town, which was a very easy process. The Rome train station as a lot bigger than I expected, but the signage was very straightforward, and we managed to find our way around. We stayed at a cute little boutique hotel with a beautiful view of the Colosseum. Breakfast was included which was nice and a great option for those busy days exploring.
On our first night we couldn’t sleep due to the jet lag, so we ended up wandering the streets of Rome at 3 am. It was a great way to experience the city without all the noise and crowds, and turned out to be one of my favourite memories from the whole trip.
The next day we took the high-speed train from Rome to Florence and met a lovely couple from Los Angeles, also on their first European adventure. Our hotel in Florence was a 5-minute walk from the station and was very easy to find. All the major attractions in the area were within walking distance, and the Duomo was right at the end of the street! They had a great breakfast selection and a beautiful rooftop terrace overlooking the Duomo, although it is only accessible during breakfast service.
We spent our first full day exploring Florence, eating and shopping all day long. We didn’t do any tours, so we got to explore at our own pace. I could wander the streets of Florence all day and never get bored. We got to see all the major sites, eat some amazing food, and shop at all the stores and markets you could think of.
The next day we did a 12-hour day tour to the beautiful coastal towns of Cinque Terre. The tour consisted of a beautiful bus ride through the mountains to Levanto. During the tour, we got to visit Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso. The guide would tell us which train to take and which stop to get off on, but let us explore the towns at our own pace. We got a little taste of every town and had enough time to eat and shop comfortably. We settled on fresh focaccia with pesto and cheese for lunch, and some pineapple gelato for dessert.
My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 1 year anniversary on this trip, so as a gift to ourselves we decided to do a hot air balloon ride in Tuscany. So, our last morning in Florence, we woke up at 6 am, took the shuttle to the departure field and got ready to fly. The flight itself was absolutely amazing. The sunrise, the countryside, the breeze… I have no words. The flight lasted about an hour, we had to land a bit early because the wind was picking up, but then we got to enjoy a nice picnic breakfast in the countryside. We had a toast with some prosecco, then enjoyed fresh breads, meats, cheese, honey, pastries, and fruit. I couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate our first year together.
Next, we packed our bags and took the train to Arezzo. We stayed in a lovely villa in the Tuscan countryside, which was about 30 minutes outside town.
The property itself was much like a B&B and had a very homey and welcoming feeling. There was a community kitchen, living room, and sitting area all accessible on the main floor. The rooms were individually decorated with a rustic Italian aesthetic. You got to know all the other guests staying at the property, the owners of the properties, and their 4 dogs and stray cat.
There was something very special about the connections we made here. The owners of the property were amazing hosts, greeting us each morning and making sure we were taken care of. From fresh-baked cakes to refills of our coffee, they took care of everything. Having breakfast outside overlooking the countryside was an unforgettable way to start the day.
There was a restaurant just down the street which had amazing food and delicious wine. They even host pizza night every Monday (which was the best pizza I had the whole trip). They also hold various events, such as wine tastings, throughout the year.
On our first day in Tuscany, we did a cooking class which was hosted right in the villa kitchen. It was just us and the chef, and it truly felt like cooking at home. We learnt how to make pasta, ragu sauce, tiramisu, and a dish that was like a chicken meatball wrapped in speck, cooked slowly in cream. Everything tasted amazing, and we got to take the recipes we learned home with us.
The next day we rented the car from the villa and did some town hopping around Tuscany. We went to Lucignano, Siena and San Gimignano one day, and Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona the next day. Driving was a bit scary, parking even scarier, but we still enjoyed our time. The towns were full of character and history, each with their own unique energy. Be warned, the streets are STEEP. We definitely got our workout in for the week!
The next day we took the train from Arezzo back to Rome for our final night. Our last day was spent exploring the parts of Rome we didn’t get to see on our first night. We wandered down to see the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, then sat down for some dinner and our final gelato from Giolitti. And yes, Giolitti is as good as everyone says it is.
Overall, this was the trip of a lifetime, and I am SO grateful Italy was my first experience travelling on my own. I would go again in a heartbeat and am already dreaming of my next trip to Europe!
Written for Paull Travel by Alicia Bertram, November 2025
