Exploring different sides of Italy

I have mixed feelings about Rome. It has so much amazing history, great food, and beautiful buildings. On the flip side, it is so popular that the amount of people made a lot of the sites almost unbearable. I would recommend going in the off season. We also went during a heat wave which I think colored my experience a bit, because it was so difficult to be outside during most of the day. You must(!) get a place with A/C if you go in summer. 

The sites are so incredible, in particular the Roman Forum. Getting a little tour is recommended, because they can tell you about all the different stages of history that happened right there. It was my favorite place in all of Rome. It is also large so it felt less crowded than other tourist sites. The Vatican and Trevi Fountain are as beautiful as you can imagine, but so crowded. At the Vatican you will be physically squished and pushed along by the hoard of people. The sistine chapel is quite amazing, and having a little guide book to learn more history was wonderful, and made the experience more enriching. You also need to try as much gelato as you can! Every place we tried was amazing, especially the famous Giolitti, so many fun flavors!

I absolutely loved the Cinque Terre! I wish we could have stayed a bit longer. Everything from the food, to the views were amazing. It is quite busy, but you can still find areas of calm. I was very happy we chose to stay in Manarola. It is a nice town on the water, but it wasn't quite as busy as some of the others. On our first night we walked up the stone roads to the church, and then even higher to Trattoria dal Billy. It is a small place that serves all kinds of yummy raw fish and pasta. It also has a nice view, and personal, kind service. On our second day we did the hike from Manarola to Monterosso al mare. Don't be deterred by the seemingly 90 degree angle climb at first, the rest is much nicer and flatter. The views along the hike are also quite amazing. I would recommend this if you are physically fit! You also get a bit of insight into the lives of the locals, walking buy their homes. You can end the day at the beaches of Monterosso, where you can rent a beach chair/ umbrella for the day from one of the many vendors. 

On the last day we spent time at Vernazza, another popular town in the Cinque Terre. From the central square we booked a boat tour that took us along the coast, and allowed us to stop off and swim in the lovely water. I would recommend finding one in the square and going if you like boats!