Day 1 | Milan Duomo
The first city on my winter eurotrip is Milan where I will be visiting the Milan Duomo located right next to DUOMO Metro station.
The cathedral offers a special experience to head up the roof and view some intricate design. The highest point is actually a figure of Madonna cast in gold, overlooking the city of Milan
For latest information, always refer to their website
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is also around the corner. It is essentially a luxury shopping mall designed with glass roofs. We went there to for a quick tour before heading back home to grab dinner and rest. Getting around is really easy with the help of Google maps, so make sure you have mobile data whenever you go as the locals may have limited proficiency to communicate in English.
Day 2 | Sforza Castle
One of the things that came up in our research was Sforza Castle where it houses several museums and art collections.
Other than the monstrous, fortress like structure and rustic color, I didn’t think there was anything that particularly caught my eye.
When we exited Sforza, there is actually a really nice park to take a stroll that would take you to Arco Dela Pace.
Along the way, do not be surprised to be approached by people hard-selling you stuff like selfie sticks, fidget spinners or friendship bands.
My advice is to stay away from them as they usually charge an exorbitant amount
Day 3 | Florence
Getting between cities can be done so via intercity trains such as Trenitalia or ItaliaRail.
We will be heading to Florence aka Firenze via intercity trains from Milan Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria. We had booked our Airbnb at Santa Maria so that it is really convenient for us to check in and also when we are leaving for Rome few days later. The train schedule are very on time, so I would strongly recommend that you get their at least 40 minutes earlier especially if this is the first time you’re travelling in Europe.
Lunch at II-Giardino
We headed to Trattoria II-Giardino near the area for some local Italian cuisine. It was a pretty sumptuous meal. I guess one of the benefits of travelling in groups is that you can order variety of food which is otherwise too much for 2.
Address: Via della Scala, 61/R 50123
The Mall Outlet
Most people if they are travelling to Europe, especially for the first time would want to get their hands on some luxury shopping because it is a lot cheaper here and in addition, you get refunded on VAT since you’re a tourist.
We took a day trip to The Mall, which is a luxury design outlet. Direct bus services is available for one way (7 euros) and two way (13 euros).
Day 4 | Uffizi Gallery
If you’re into ancient sculptures and paints, then you’ll probably have a good time at the multi-story Uffizi Gallery and can probably spend the entire day and make your ticket’s worth. As we were in a pretty tight schedule to visit the city, we only spent the morning here.
Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
We spend the morning touring Uffizi and then headed over to Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore aka Florence Cathedral for a peek inside one of the famous cathedral in Europe.
Bar PonteVecchio
We also came across a gelato store, Bar Ponte Vecchio on our way back towards Ponte Vecchio for some quick indulgence.
Address: Bar Pontevecchio, Ponte Vecchio, 57, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Day 5 | The Vatican City
Our third and last city in Italy is none other the Capital of Italy – Rome! I’ve heard so much about this place – either from friends, novels, shows and social media. Upon reaching Rome, we quickly checked in and left our luggages before sprinting to head to Vatican City to visit the Sistine Chapel before it closed. We also visited St Peter Square where it represents the core of The Vatican city.
Day 6 | The Colosseum
I never imagined I would be visiting Colosseum. I was really fascinated by its limestone exterior with ancient architecture design.
It is said that Colosseum was used to host gladiator fights and executions during Ancient Rome and the construction of this place took years. You can find out more information regarding opening hours and ticket price here
Roman Forum
Just a few minutes away from Colosseum, you will reach Palatine Hills. The entry to Palatine Hills is included in the cost of Colosseum ticket so it made sense for us to check out that place. Apparently, Palatine Hills were home to aristocrats and emperor back in Ancient Rome.
Moving on, you will reach The Roman Forum which is now surrounded by ruins of ancient government buildings. Almost a perfect fight scene for Mortal Kombat series.
Day 7 | The Spanish Steps
We went to check The Spanish Steps but unfortunately for us, it was closed for maintenance that day. To make things worse, shops were also closed because it was Christmas so we only had limited things to do. Retail hours are so different compared to Singapore so bear this is mind if you’re thinking of doing some ‘Christmas’ shopping.
II Gelato Di San Crispino
It seems like all other shop stops working during holidays but the appetite for desserts don’t. We managed to find this gelato cafe at a little corner and you can only imagine the amount of excitement I had.
They have a variety of flavours with walnut & fig to cinnamon being the popular ones. Also if you’re a sorbet person, they have it too.
There are 2 outlets, one closer to Trevi Fountain and the other near Pantheon.
Piazza Del Popolo
Piazza Del Popolo is landmark square where it sits Rome’s oldest obelisk. You can enter Villa Borghese which is a villa surrounded by landscape gardens and lake.
While you’re there, be sure to check out this iconic historical landmark (Temple of Asclepius) which features a 1700s style.
The size of the villa is fairly huge, you can expect to spend around 90 mins here.
Trevi Fountain aka Fontana Di Trevi
The last attraction of the day was the popular Trevi Fountain. It looks a lot more majestic in person that on picture. It is not easy to capture a clean shot especially if you’re going to take one with the fountain because crowd is there.
Just some closing thoughts. Personally for me, I really enjoyed my time in Italy because I’m a fan of pasta, pizza, gelato, ancient monuments and landmarks just to name a few.
Getting around is also really easy with public transport especially with the help of google maps. Different cities operate differently so always check the local websites and understand how the metro/trams work.
However, one thing to bear in mind is that petty thefts are really common here especially in Rome, so avoid flashing and flaunting your wealth.
