Italy: Weddings, Renaissance Cities, and a Grand Finale in Rome
- wanderer
- 14 hours ago
- 13 min read
Updated: 4 hours ago
Italy was the final chapter of our Europe trip, and it could not have been more different from France or Switzerland. We arrived from the Alps with our suitcases, tired feet, and a few very ambitious plans — then found ourselves swept into three unforgettable cities, a beautiful wedding celebration in Venice, a slightly chaotic Florence hotel situation, and a final few days in Rome that made it very hard to say goodbye.
This part of the trip had a little more unpredictability than the earlier chapters, but it also held some of the biggest moments: arriving in Venice by water, celebrating friends from all over the world, watching the evening light fall over Pisa, standing beneath the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and ending the journey with a wonderful final dinner in Rome.
Part of our Paris-to-Rome Europe itinerary:
For the full route, general travel tips, and links to the France and Switzerland chapters, begin with our complete Europe trip guide.
Day 1: Switzerland to Venice, and Wedding Festivities Begin
We left Interlaken at around 7:30 a.m. and began the journey south toward Venice. The route took us through Spiez and Domodossola, where construction meant the train journey continued by replacement bus to Milan. Our train into Spiez ran late, but the buses waited until the connecting passengers arrived, which was a small but much-appreciated sign of how smoothly Swiss travel tends to work even when plans change.
From Milan, we continued by train to Venice and arrived around 3:15 p.m. From there, we took a water taxi toward Hotel Baglioni Luna, where the groom’s side of the wedding party was staying. Arriving in Venice by water felt appropriately dramatic — canals, old palazzos, and beautiful architecture appearing around every turn.
The only complication came after getting off the water taxi. Dragging two large suitcases across Venice’s cobbled lanes and over several bridges was not the welcome experience we had imagined. Venice is magical, but it is not suitcase-friendly. If your budget allows, I would strongly consider spending the extra €50–75 on a private water taxi that drops you as close as possible to your hotel, especially if you have large luggage.
The hotel itself was beautiful, set along a canal with the kind of historic Venetian architecture that makes even checking in feel special. Our rooms had been arranged by the wedding hosts for the two days of celebrations, and the staff showed us up before we had a short chance to rest.
Not long after, we received a message from the wedding planners: the first event would begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. at The Gritti Palace, where the bride’s side was staying. We left Hotel Baglioni Luna around 6:00 p.m. for the roughly 10-minute walk — much easier now that we were not hauling suitcases through Venice.
The opening celebration was held on the terrace at The Gritti Palace, overlooking the Grand Canal. It was a perfect setting for the start of a wedding weekend in Venice. The evening included traditional mehndi, or henna, for the women and even some of the men, a heartfelt speech from the groom, plenty of photographs, and the excitement of meeting guests who had traveled from five different countries to celebrate.
It was warm, personal, and the perfect beginning to the festivities.
Day 2: A Venetian Wedding on the Water
The next morning’s theme was floral pastels, and we had an early start for the wedding ceremony. We were meant to leave our hotel around 9:30 a.m. to reach the venue for 10:00 a.m., ahead of the 10:30 ceremony.
Nothing could have prepared us for the feeling of taking part in a traditional Indian baraat through Venice. Six water taxis moved along the canals, with live dhol music playing as we traveled toward the mandap. Locals and tourists watched from the bridges and canal edges, many dancing along, filming, and taking pictures.
It was loud, joyful, slightly surreal, and one of those travel moments that you know you will never experience in quite the same way again.
The wedding venue was dreamy, with a mandap decorated in white, pink, and peach roses. The ceremony was beautiful and emotional, followed by a wonderful four-course lunch. By the time we returned to our hotel, we were completely full and exhausted, so we took a much-needed break before the evening celebrations began.
That night, the dress code shifted to black tie. The floral lehengas, saris, and kurtas of the day gave way to elegant gowns and bow ties. The evening began with masked dancers and a beautiful piano performance by the bride, before we moved into the ballroom at Hotel Baglioni Luna.
With painted ceilings overhead and pastel peonies and roses throughout the room, the setting was almost impossibly romantic.
There was another fantastic four-course dinner — yes, we ate a lot — along with moving toasts from friends and family that left many of us emotional. The couple’s first dance eventually gave way to proper Indian dance music, and we danced until midnight.
Day 3: Murano, Burano, and Venice on Our Own
After two full days of celebrations, we said goodbye to our wonderful hosts and finally had a full day in Venice to ourselves.
We visited Murano first and stopped at Original Murano Glass OMG Factory & Showroom, where we watched a glass-blowing demonstration and got a closer look at the island’s famous glass-making tradition. Seeing the process in person made the finished pieces in the showroom even more impressive.
From Murano, we continued to Burano, famous for its colorful houses, lace-making tradition, and linen shops.
Murano and Burano made for an easy and beautiful change of pace from central Venice. Murano offered a closer look at the island’s glass-making history, while Burano felt cheerful and colorful in a completely different way.
We returned to Venice later in the day, wandered a little more through the city, and called it an early night before moving on to Florence.
For our last night in Venice, we stayed at Palazzo Pianca, which was a lovely final stop before leaving the city.
Day 4: Florence, Pisa, and an Unwanted Adventure
We took the 10:00 a.m. train to Florence, expecting a fairly simple change of cities. Instead, it became one of those travel days that teaches you a very specific lesson: always confirm check-in instructions when staying at an apartment-style property.
We had booked Santo Spirito Venti through Agoda. The listing looked cozy and appeared to have the amenities we wanted, but it was not a traditional hotel. It was more like a group of private rooms or apartments managed as a small guesthouse, with private bathrooms and shared common spaces. What we did not realize was that there was no front desk or reception; the host needed to send instructions to grant access to the building.
After taking the bus to the property, we stood outside a locked door for almost an hour in the heat, unable to reach anyone. Eventually, a helpful Agoda representative helped us contact the host, who finally sent the access instructions.
By then, we had already lost a good part of the afternoon. Once we got inside, the room also did not work for us. There were cleanliness issues, an unpleasant smell, some differences between the listing and what we found, and loud construction immediately outside the window.
Perhaps we simply caught the property on a bad day, but unfortunately, our experience was not what we had hoped for. We tried to resolve the situation with the host and were told that a cleaner would arrive shortly, so we waited another half hour. Unfortunately, no one came.
By around 3:00 p.m., we contacted Agoda again. After some back and forth, the host eventually agreed over WhatsApp that we could cancel if we checked out before 4:30 p.m., so they could re-sell the room. They said they could not refund us directly because the payment had been made through Agoda.
We sent the WhatsApp correspondence to Agoda, checked out, and decided not to spend any more of the day trying to resolve the situation. We found another place right across from the train station and checked into c-hotels Ambasciatori instead. It was cleaner, easier, and somehow about $100 cheaper than the original booking.
The Florence saga did not end there. We had to call Agoda every other day, and some of those calls lasted close to two hours as we worked through the cancellation and refund. After what felt like countless hours on the phone and plenty of back and forth, we finally received our refund.
It took far more time and patience than we had expected, but at least the story had a happy ending.
The experience also taught us something useful. When booking apartment-style accommodation, we now make sure to check the entry process, whether there is a front desk, how the host can be reached, and what recent guests say about the property. Every property and stay is different, but having those details in advance can save a lot of stress.
After all that, all we really wanted was to rest. But we already had a Pisa tour booked, and we did not want to lose the entire afternoon. We took the roughly one-hour train to Pisa, arriving with limited time but determined to make the best of it.
We were not especially interested in climbing the Leaning Tower, but we did want to experience the full Piazza dei Miracoli complex, including the cathedral, baptistery, and surrounding monuments. Thankfully, the summer hours meant the area stayed open later, and we had time to explore before catching the last train back to Florence around 10:30 p.m.
Day 5: Florence at a Slower Pace
After the chaos of the previous day, we gave Florence the attention it deserved. We spent the day exploring the city’s major highlights, including the Uffizi Gallery, the cathedral complex, and the streets around the historic center.
Uffizi tip:
If you are flexible with your schedule, check the afternoon ticket options. The Uffizi offers a discounted “Afternoon” ticket for entry from 4:00 p.m. onward, which can be considerably cheaper than the regular admission. This can be a great option if you want to spend the earlier part of the day exploring Florence and visit the gallery later. Check the official Uffizi website for the current pricing and ticket rules before booking.
Florence was beautiful, but the heat was intense, so we returned to the hotel for a short afternoon break before heading out again in the evening. That pause made a real difference. Sometimes the most useful thing you can do on a packed trip is admit that you need to rest before continuing.
The evening around Ponte Vecchio was especially lovely. We wandered through the city, had a nice dinner, and finally felt like we had settled into Florence after the difficult arrival.
We also realized that we had booked a similar apartment-style stay in Rome, so we acted early. That same day, we contacted the Rome host directly through WhatsApp and phone, confirmed the access process, and received all the necessary details in advance. Thankfully, they were responsive and helpful — a huge relief after Florence.
Day 6: Rome and the Vatican Museums
The next day, we took the 12:00 p.m. train to Rome. We had a Vatican Museums tour booked for 5:30 p.m., so we had enough time to get settled and make our way across the city.
For all our nights in Rome, we stayed at Domus Spagna Frattina Prestige Suite, just minutes from the Spanish Steps. The location could not have been better. We were about 10 minutes from the metro in a lively, walkable neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and activity nearby.
We reached Vatican City around 4:00 p.m. and stopped by St. Peter’s Basilica first. Entry is free, but the line was far too long to justify standing in the afternoon heat, so we took photos and continued toward the Vatican Museums.
If visiting the basilica is important to you, I would recommend planning it early in the morning or booking an option that helps you avoid spending so much time in the queue.
One important note: Vatican security is strict, and visitors are not allowed into the museums before their reserved time. We still waited in the heat for around 45 minutes, but once inside, it was completely worth it.
Vatican Museums booking tip:
Be especially careful when searching for Vatican tickets online. Some third-party sites are designed to look remarkably similar to the official Vatican Museums website, making it easy to assume you are booking directly with the Vatican when you are not. The Vatican Museums themselves warn visitors about websites using similar domains and confirm that the only official online ticket portal is tickets.museivaticani.va.
One quick check we use is to scroll to the bottom of the website and look at the company information, contact details, and links. If you see a business name, an unfamiliar domain, or something like “@travel” or another third-party company, that is a good reason to stop and check the website address again.
We found the official Vatican booking option considerably cheaper than many third-party sites, so it is worth checking the official portal before paying a premium for what may simply be an ordinary admission ticket.
The museums are massive and overwhelming in the best possible way — one beautiful gallery leading into another, with Egyptian and Greek collections, ornate rooms, grand staircases, painted ceilings, and art at every turn.
The Sistine Chapel absolutely lived up to its reputation. After moving through so many incredible rooms, stepping into that space still felt special and unforgettable. The entire visit was one of the most memorable museum experiences of the trip.
Back near the Spanish Steps, we had dinner at Alla Rampa. After a long day of sightseeing, it was nice to have a restaurant so close to where we were staying.
Google Maps, however, sent us up and over the Spanish Steps before bringing us down the other side, only for us to realize there was a simple street-level route from the side of the steps.
Do not follow maps blindly in Rome if you are already tired — unless you are actively trying to double your step count for the day.
And, of course, we had Venchi gelato more than once while in Rome. After so much walking, it became one of our favorite little treats along the way.
Day 7: Rome, One Landmark at a Time
Our final full day in Rome was spent exploring some of the city’s classic highlights, with a slower afternoon break to escape the summer heat.
We started with breakfast/brunch at Trecaffè on Via dei Due Macelli, and we were so glad we found it. It was a fantastic spot for coffee and breakfast and ended up being one of those places we were happy to have discovered.
It is also directly across from La Rinascente, a large department store with a good selection of brands. If you are planning to shop, La Rinascente offers a Tax Free Service for eligible visitors. Bring your passport when making the purchase, as your passport details are needed for the tax-free paperwork. Keep the documents and purchases with you when leaving the EU, as the tax-free purchase still needs to be validated through the appropriate customs process.
After our stop at La Rinascente, the heat was becoming intense, so we returned to our apartment for an afternoon break. This turned out to be a good decision. Once the temperatures eased, we headed back out to continue exploring Rome, starting with the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona, before making our way to the Pantheon.
We also happened to be in Rome on June 21, World Music Day, or Festa della Musica. In 2026, the celebration reached its 32nd edition, with the theme “La voce dei luoghi” — bringing music into some of Italy’s most historic cultural sites. The Pantheon was one of the participating venues, with a special concert scheduled for 7:15 p.m. that evening.
We were lucky enough to get tickets to visit Pantheon – Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres that evening. The concert, Sacro e classico, featured music by Haydn and Mozart performed by the Orchestra Latina Philharmonia. Sitting inside the ancient Pantheon with live classical music filling the space was an experience we never could have planned for.
The combination of the ancient architecture, the incredible dome, and live music in that setting was one of those unexpected travel moments that you could never really plan for. We had simply wanted to see the Pantheon and ended up experiencing it during a special evening of music.
After the Pantheon, we continued to the Colosseum for an evening stop. By then, the cooler temperatures made walking around much more enjoyable, and seeing the Colosseum as the day wound down was a lovely way to continue our final evening in Rome.
For our final dinner, we headed to Trastevere, one of Rome’s liveliest neighborhoods and the perfect place to spend our last evening. The area was full of late-night restaurants, bars, people out walking, and the kind of energy that makes you want to stay out a little longer.
We ended up at Nannarella, a hugely popular Roman restaurant in Piazza di San Calisto. It was every bit as good as we had hoped: great food, a lively atmosphere, and warm service — the perfect final dinner in Rome.
We took a late bus back to the hotel afterward. Since we were staying in a busy, lively neighborhood, it felt comfortable to do so, while still following the usual safety precautions we had used throughout the trip.
Day 8: Departure
With heavy but very full hearts, it was finally time to say goodbye to Europe — and to each other. Our flights were around the same time, which made the departure feel a little less abrupt.
One of us was heading back to India and the other to the United States, carrying home thousands of photos, tired feet, far too many memories, and the feeling that this had been more than just a holiday.
There is always something bittersweet about the end of a long trip. By then, you have settled into the rhythm of train stations, city walks, late dinners, and constantly seeing something new.
Saying goodbye to Europe was hard, but it also felt like the kind of trip that would stay with us for a very long time — until the next adventure, hopefully not too far away.
Italy at a Glance
Time spent: 8 days
Cities: Venice, Murano, Burano, Florence, Pisa, and Rome
Getting around: Trains, water taxis, buses, metro, and plenty of walking
Highlights: The Venetian wedding, Murano glass-making, colorful Burano, Pisa in the evening, Florence, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and Rome
Best for: Art, architecture, history, food, romantic cities, and unforgettable experiences
Watch out for: Summer heat, crowds, lots of walking, and apartment-style accommodation where check-in may require extra planning
Our pace: Busy, with a few much-needed breaks along the way
Best food discoveries: Trecaffè for breakfast and Nannarella for our final dinner in Rome
Biggest lesson: Confirm accommodation check-in details before arriving, especially when staying somewhere without a traditional front desk
Favorite memory: It is hard to choose, but traveling through Venice by water taxi as part of the baraat, with live dhol music and people watching from the bridges, will probably stay with us forever.
Italy was a fitting final chapter to our Europe adventure. It was busy, beautiful, occasionally chaotic, and full of moments that felt almost too good to be real.
After eight days of trains, boats, museums, ancient ruins, wedding celebrations, long walks, and far too much good food, we left Italy exhausted but incredibly happy.
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