This is a great reference for anyone looking to take a roadtrip through Italy! Because we are digital nomads and work while we travel, we were able to spend over 2 months in Italy, but took some vacation time and did a 6-day road trip from northern to southern Italy! All from our first-hand experience. The itinerary includes some main tourist attractions and historical sites while still mixing in a lot of local spots and restaurants to help break up the exhausting touring days.
We started in Bologna. Bologna, capital of Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy, north of Florence. We had been in Bologna working and living for about a month. And while we absolutely love bologna we decided it was time for a little road trip vacation. Check out the full video here!
DAY 1: Florence
First Stop Florence
Florence is a beautiful 1.5 hour drive from Bologna. We rented a car, but there is also a very reliable and fast train system. Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region full of art, culture, history, food, and all things Italian.
All’Antico Vinaio sandwich shop
We saw all of these people (literally everywhere) eating these delicious sandwich so we had to try one. We stopped at All’Antico Vinaio sandwich shop. The line was crazy long, but it only took about 20 minutes. The sandwiches were pretty good. I do have to admit, and this may not be a popular opinion, they were a little overrated. Although I still think you should try them and see for yourself, but definitely try Pino’s Sandwiches too!
Piazza della Signoria
Next we went to visit Piazza della Signoria. The L-shaped plaza in the heart of Florence may just be the most beautiful city square in the world. Surrounded by important buildings such as Palazzo degli Uffizi, the oldest art museum in the world, and Palazzo Vecchio, once home to the Medicis, it is a beautiful place to stroll.
Ponte Vecchio and crossed the Arno River
Next we went to Ponte Vecchio and crossed the Arno River. The Ponte Vecchio itself is a popular spot. It is also known as the Old Bridge. Up until 1218 it was the only bridge used to cross the river. When crossing the river you will see some cute souvenir shops to shop at. We get to the other side and are in Otrarno quarter.
Otrarno Quarter and Famous Wine Windows
Oltrarno is the right place for tourists who want to experience Florence like a local. This part of the city includes local spots, art galleries, beautiful terraces, and artisanal boutiques. Just a way more local feel. If we had more time in Florence we would have stayed here. It’s probably a 10 minute walk or so to all the most popular tourist attractions in Florence (like the Duomo and Uffizi Gallery, depending on how close you are to the river bank, but like I said, way more local vibe.
We visited a traditional Buchette del vino, or wine windows, a really neat feature of Florence. They are little windows with inscriptions on the walls of some local nobles’ palaces. They have been used for hundreds of years to sell wine. It’s believed wine windows were used by the region’s noble winemaker families to serve city residents during the plague. To find one of these windows visit Babae Restaurant / cafe.
The Duomo and Galleria dell’Accademia
Next we went to see the amazing Santa Maria del Fiore aka the Duomo. I think I could have stayed and stared at this beautiful piece of architecture all day long. The Duomo is the third largest church in the world and is simply magnificent. Be sure to check the website before going and make sure you are wearing proper clothing if you want to enter. And close by is the Galleria dell’Accademia is an art museum best known as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David.
