Italy Adventures
with Rick Steves Best of South Italy in 13 days tour
Greetings from Chris and Andy—retired, curious, and finally traveling with no alarm clocks and no return date anxiety. With retirement came a simple goal: see the world while we’re healthy enough to enjoy every step (and every meal).
Italy seemed like the perfect place to start. Great food, incredible history, stunning scenery, and a culture that understands the importance of sitting down and savouring life. This trip through Southern Italy delivered all of that and more. What follows is our food-filled, laughter-heavy journey—proof that retirement is not about slowing down, but about choosing what’s worth lingering over.
We did a do it yourself tour of Northern Italy last year using Rick’s books as a guide. We had a wonderful time but it was a lot of work! This year we decided
to take one of his amazing tours where we could leave the planning for someone else!
We couldn't wait to embark on this adventure and explore Southern Italy!
From start to finish, this tour was exceptional. The pacing was just right, the logistics seamless, and the experiences thoughtfully chosen. Lisa our fearless guide was truly outstanding—knowledgeable, warm, endlessly patient, and always prepared with a backup plan when needed. We learned, laughed, ate very well, and connected with a genuinely lovely group of people. Italy revealed itself not just through its famous sights, but through small moments, shared meals, and unexpected delights. We came home tired, happy, and full of memories—and already talking about where we might go next.
Rome
We arrived in Rome exhausted—but buzzing with excitement. We’d planned to arrive two days early to tame the inevitable jet lag and be well rested for our
Rick Steves Best of South Italy in 13 Days tour. Having visited Rome before,
we were also eager to visit a few spots we’d missed.
Our cab whisked us to the Hotel Smeraldo, our home for the next four nights, in about forty minutes. The location was perfect — just steps from the lively Campo de’ Fiori market.
Since our room wasn’t ready, we stored our bags and got straight to business: lunch. Luckily, pizza was waiting right across the street at Roscioli. A line out the door—always a good sign.
We ordered two kinds of pizza: classic tomato and mozzarella, and another topped with pesto and fresh mozzarella. The crust was perfect, the cheese melty, and we ate standing outside like locals who knew exactly what they were doing.
My photo doesn’t do it justice—mostly because we devoured most of it before
I remembered to take one.
After wandering through Piazza Navona and then exploring the Campo de’ Fiori market, we headed back to the hotel to rest before dinner.
Campo di Fiori market is a vibrant bustling open-air
market located in the heart of Rome. Known for its
fresh produce, colorful flowers, and local items.
Our concierge recommended
Il Piccolo Vicolo,
a cozy spot just
around the corner. Dinner was wonderful and—naturally—was followed by gelato from a conveniently located shop across the street. Chocolate and caramel, two scoops each. Life doesn’t get much better.
