wareontheglobe Italia

Hotel Raito – A Magical Amalfi Weekend Away From The Crowds!

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If you read my latest post, you know that the first proper stop on our big Italian family vacation in 2025 was in Raito, Italy, which is located just above Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast. Very swoon. And, we stayed at the absolute loveliest hotel, Hotel Raito. This post describes our wonderful time at Hotel Raito and provides a detailed review of our stay!

View from Room 514 (Deluxe Sea View room).

The sunrise at Hotel Raito. I’m not a morning person, but this was worth waking up to see.

Pros of Hotel Raito: Absolutely amazing views, stunning pool, our balcony was gorgeous, did not feel insanely crowded, on site parking lot.

Cons of Hotel Raito: A bit pricey, not within walking distance to much, quiet at night, some parts are a bit dated.

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3 Really Fast Days in Florence + a Wine Tour!

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The third stop on our big Italian vacation with Dan’s Uncle and Aunt in September 2024 was Firenze (or, Florence)! Dan’s Aunt was an art teacher, so this was her destination selection and definitely her city! We have been to Florence twice before this trip and quite frankly, its not our favorite Italian city. (I know, molto unpopular opinion). In any case, there is a ton to do in Florence, and it is truly a gorgeous city. We squeezed as much as possible into 3 days, one of which consisted entirely of a wine tour through Tuscany. This post explores our trip and provides information to recreate it.

Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN FLORENCE, THE REAL DAVID AND A FOOD TOUR!

We arrived in Florence via a 1.5 hour train from Lucca. And, it was POURING rain. POURING. We called an Uber van from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella train station to our hotel, Palazzo Ridolfi. And we got lucky with the Uber, they are not frequent or easy to get in Florence. Palazzo Ridolfi is located in an old palazzo in the Oltrarno neighborhood, which is the neighborhood across the River Arno from Florence’s tourist center.

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Eating around San Spirito in the Fall!

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You probably already know that Dan and I love a food tour. This post details the food tour that we took with Eating Europe in Florence. It was quite good, and we were successful in trying delicious food, getting a bit off the insanely crowded tourist path and ordering from a wine window!

Dan and I in DiVin Boccone on the tour.

STOP 1: PROSECCO IN PIAZZA SANTO SPIRITO

Our tour began right in Piazza Santo Spirito.  Piazza Santo Spirito is a well-known Florentine square in the Oltrarno neighborhood (i.e. just across the Arno from the main tourist sites). The piazza dates back to the 1200s and it is still a popular square for both locals and tourists. You’ll find a handicraft market on certain weekends and local children often play soccer in this square. The piazza is also ringed by restaurants, bars and cafes, making it an interesting stop in Florence. We started our tour with introductions and a glass of dry Italian Prosecco.

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The Perfect Itinerary for a Day Trip to Lucca, Italy!

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We made our second trip to Lucca in September, having first visited in 2015. While we stayed for two days on both visits, many visitors spend only 1 day, or even a half-day, visiting from Florence and other parts of Tuscany. I still recommend staying at least a night to get the full Lucca experience, but if you only have a few hours (or 1 day) to see Lucca, this is what you should see and do!

In Lucca!  Walking shoes are recommended.

ARRIVAL IN LUCCA

Most people will arrive in Lucca via its only train station. The train station is small and located a short 5-minute walk from Lucca’s old town, which is the heart of the city and where you want to be!  Once you get off the train, follow signs for the exit and leave the train station (there is a ramp to the right side of the station if you need it). Walk to the left side of the train station (with your back to the station) and you can literally walk a straight line to Lucca’s town walls. If you make this straight walk, there is an entry into the old town here. I do not think most people need a taxi, as the walk is short and easy.

Arriving in Lucca. The main station building is straight ahead. It’s safe and there is assistance inside the main building if you need help.  To access the main station building, there is an underground walkway.

Lucca’s incredible old town walls. The little walkway to the right is the walkway I mentioned to the train station.

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2 Days Exploring Lucca, Tuscany!

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This post reviews Dan and my two-day visit to Lucca in September 2024. This was our second visit to Lucca  (read about the first here) and as expected, we had a wonderful time.

Lucca’s famous towers, which were formerly owned by wealthy families showing off.

LUCCA, TUSCANY

Lucca is a small city in Tuscany – about an hour inland from the Ligurian Sea and about an hour west of Florence. Lucca is a popular day trip from Florence, and its known for its well-preserved historic center that is surrounded by amazing town walls that you can walk or bike along. Lucca is also the birthplace of several famous composers, including Puccini (the most famous), Catalani and Boccherini.

Lucca, Italy.

Aside from being generally popular with tourists, Lucca is also the hometown of Dan’s great-grandmother, Ida Poli. We first visited back in 2015 and returned in 2024 with Dan’s uncle and aunt. We really like Lucca. While it can be touristy, it is still a real Italian town and it’s not nearly as touristy or crowded as Florence or Cinque Terre. We stayed overnight both visits, which I recommended over a day trip to fully enjoy the city.

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