And here we are, the second part! Excited… to be part of this journey around Europe?
Sorry, it took me a while to organise the time; I will start now to share with you my little trip in the old country. Here you are, the second part of Italy.
Here are the towns we have been visiting between the five regions of Italy: Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Umbria.
- Bergamo
- Sirmione
- Padova
- Venezia
- Prosecco wine region
- Bologna
- Firenze
- Pisa
- Volterra
- SanGiminiano
- Siena
- Castriglione al Lago
- Perugia
- Assisi
- Gubbio
Enjoy and see you next week, which will be in Bulgaria!
“Quick pitstop in Pisa! 
I’m happy to report that the Leaning Tower is still standing—mostly because Mr Platypus spent the afternoon holding it up. He takes his job as a travel companion very seriously!
We had a great time wandering the Square of Miracles with the family, checking out the Cathedral and the Baptistery, and even braving the climb to the top for those incredible views over the city. 
Why is the square surrounded by walls? Great question!
The construction began in 1154 (the oldest part is right there by the Cathedral). At the time, Pisa was a powerful Maritime Republic, and the square sat at a vulnerable northern point of the city. The walls were built to protect the city’s religious heart and the bridge from invaders. Considering how the tower leaned due to the soft soil, it’s a miracle the walls stayed so straight!
Now, we’re leaving the crowds, after a pleasant aperitivo and heading up the hills to Volterra! 
“
“Stepping back 3,000 years in Volterra, a living history book that spans from the Etruscans to the Romans and right into the Middle Ages.
It is hauntingly beautiful wandering the alleys of this Tuscan hilltop town —from the towering stone walls of the Palazzo dei Priori, the glow of the Christmas stars hanging over the narrow ‘vicoli, to these beautiful, mossy stone arches that make you feel like you’ve stepped back centuries.’
Volterra is famous for its Alabaster—the ‘stone of light.’ It has been carved here for over 2,000 years. We’ve seen it everywhere—from the glowing art installations in the squares to the delicate sculptures in shop windows.
Of course, no trip to Tuscany is complete without the food! 
We warmed up with wild boar ragu and local wine at the Trattoria Il Poggio. It felt like dining in a medieval fortress. 
This post’s text is fully AI-generated, do not think I am that good at writing… I am just curious to share with you what the style of writing #GeminiAI thinks is good for a Facebook post.
Interesting! 
Medieval Christmas in the “Manhattan of Tuscany”
There is something extra magical about visiting San Gimignano during the holidays. The skyline, famous for its surviving 14th-century stone towers, feels even more like a storybook when you add a giant, white-ornamented Christmas tree to the Piazza del Duomo.
Architecture and Ancient Streets
The city’s architecture is a masterclass in medieval preservation. From the high, crenellated walls of the Palazzo Comunale to the narrow, herringbone-patterned brick streets, every turn offers a new view of the “City of Beautiful Towers”.
We even found a quiet moment to admire a traditional Nativity scene nestled under a historic stone vault, with a beautiful, faded fresco watching over it from above.
The World-Famous Gelato
Of course, no trip here is complete without a pilgrimage to Gelateria Dondoli in Piazza della Cisterna. The display case is a work of art—from the classic Fior di Latte and Yoghurt to their specialised Crema allo Zafferano di San Gimignano (Saffron Cream), which is an absolute must-try.
Wine and Holiday Cheer
As we wandered past storefronts decorated with festive garlands, we couldn’t resist peeking into the local enotecas. The shelves are packed with the local pride: Vernaccia di San Gimignano. It’s the perfect crisp white to toast to a day of exploring. We even ran into a band of musicians dressed as Santa Claus parading through the stone alleys, filling the medieval air with music!
Siena, the red rock city, is on our way to Umbria. A few hours to discover it made me happy, and sad to leave so early.
Side note: I can plan as much as you want, but I grant you, you will forget everything.
A Winter Day in Siena:
Siena’s golden age was between 1260 and 1348, and you can see it in every brick. We visited the Duomo di Siena (swipe to see that incredible facade!), which is easily one of Italy’s most spectacular Gothic cathedrals.
You’ll also notice the “Facciatone” in my photos—that massive, lonely wall of marble. It’s actually a remnant of a 14th-century ambitious plan to expand the cathedral into the largest in the world. The Black Death hit in 1348, the money ran out, and the project was abandoned, leaving us with a beautiful, haunting “skeleton” of what might have been.
‘Piazza del Campo’ A Square Like No Other
The Piazza is famous for its unique shell shape and its gentle slope toward the Palazzo Pubblico. Standing in the centre, you can see how the brick pavement is divided into 9 sections, representing the “Council of Nine” who ruled Siena during its golden age.
The Hidden Fontebranda
One of the coolest things we found was the Fontebranda. Siena is a city built on hills without a natural river, so the medieval engineers built a massive underground network of tunnels called bottini to bring water to these beautiful covered fountains.
Food
Siena is at the centre of the Tuscan region.
Starting from the Pici, a thick, hand-rolled pasta typically served with a rich wild boar ragù paired with the region’s legendary Brunello di Montalcino wine or classic Chianti Colli Senesi, both born from the Sangiovese grapes. No visit is complete without savouring the city’s historic sweets—such as the Panforte or the almond Ricciarelli cookies—ideally paired with a glass of golden Vin Santo.
Too much to say, not enough time to enjoy!
Taking a look back at our beautiful trip to Castiglione del Lago just before Christmas last year!
The food, the view, the history. It is obvious in Italy, but it is always stunning when you have been out of the country for a while.
We arrived when the sun was down and wandered the street draped in golden lights and “snowball” lanterns. The town was buzzing with festive spirit—from the giant glowing Christmas tree and star to the charming local shops filled with wine and truffles.
Yes, we entered the Umbria region, so ‘TRUFFLES’. Simply unforgettable experience with local lake fish and, of course, that incredible handmade pasta.
By day, we explored the town’s stone walls, taking in the panoramic views of the terracotta rooftops and the vast, peaceful expanse of Lake Trasimeno. We even found the famous “Scuola Elementare della Pasta” (The Elementary School of Pasta!)—the kind of “school” I wouldn’t mind attending every single day! 
Enjoy!
And here you are at Perugia, one of my favourite cities in Italy. The capital of the Umbria region, a feast of history, food and culture. The feeling of this region is a balance between the Northern, laborious and stressed Italy and the relaxed and less productive south.
Here is a look at the amazing spots we explored during our time here (stay tuned, because there is still plenty more to share from the rest of our trip!):
🏛️ The Historic Highlights
- Piazza IV Novembre & Fontana Maggiore: The absolute beating heart of the city. Walking into this grand square at night feels magical, with vibrant, colourful holiday lights strung between ancient stone palaces. In the centre sits the stunning Fontana Maggiore, a 13th-century masterpiece of medieval sculpture.
- Cathedral of San Lorenzo Dominating the main square, this striking cathedral has a unique, raw appearance because its pink-and-white marble geometric facade was never actually finished!
- The Ancient City Walls wandering along Perugia’s high stone perimeter offer some of the best views of the trip. The sweeping panoramic vistas of the rolling Umbrian hills, fading into the chilly winter mist, are completely breathtaking.
- Fun Fact: Perugia’s walls are a historical layer cake. The lower sections were built by the ancient Etruscans over 2,200 years ago, while the upper portions were built centuries later by medieval citizens.
🏰 Underground Secrets & Local Vibes
- Rocca Paolina (The Underground City). This was easily one of the most unique experiences of the trip. We went downstairs and found ourselves wandering through massive, cavernous stone arches and brick vaults. It feels like a hidden, subterranean medieval city frozen in time.
- Fun Fact: It essentially is a buried city! In the 1540s, Pope Paul III built a massive fortress here. To do it, he demolished an entire rebellious neighbourhood and used the existing medieval streets and houses as the foundations, effectively burying a piece of Perugia underground. Today, public escalators run right through it to take you up into the town.
🍝 A Taste of Umbria
- La Prosciutteria Umbria is famous for its cured meats, truffles and chocolate. A dream for any foodie, accessing all of them with a stroll in the old town was the best representation of the region at the Prosciutteria. With its rustic atmosphere, featuring cosy stone walls, beautiful wood finishings, and a spectacular downstairs dining area built into a historic brick vault.
Perugia, you were unforgettable! We can’t wait to share where the road took us next. 🌲🍝✈️
After an amazing time exploring the medieval heart of Perugia, we started our second day in Umbria with a total change of pace—diving headfirst into a chocolate lover’s paradise! We spent a sweet morning checking out Perugia’s famous ChocoHotel before hitting the road for Assisi and Gubbio,
🍫 The Destination: Etruscan ChocoHotel (Perugia)
Perugia is world-famous for its incredible chocolate tradition, and this unique hotel takes that obsession to a whole new level. Every single detail is chocolate-themed, making it a dream destination for anyone with a sweet tooth.
🕊️ Assisi: Highs, Lows, and Heavenly Views
Leaving the chocolate bliss of Perugia behind, we made the short drive over to the breathtaking hill town of Assisi. Bathed in history and incredible architecture, the town felt like stepping straight into a medieval painting—even with the moody winter skies.
The Epic View of the Basilica: Our journey to Assisi provided us with the most breathtaking approach to the monumental Basilica of Saint Francis. Nestled on the hillside, this massive complex dates back to the 13th century.
💡 Fun Fact: Because it’s built on a steep hill, the Basilica actually consists of two separate, stacked churches—the dark, mysterious Lower Church and the soaring, bright Gothic Upper Church!
A Mirror into the Past: Standing outside in the central square, we marvelled at the Temple of Minerva, an incredibly preserved 2,000-year-old Roman temple complete with towering Corinthian columns.
🏰 Gubbio: The Town of Huge Squares & “Madmen”
- The Imposing Palazzo dei Consoli: Next, we drove up to Gubbio and were immediately greeted by the jaw-dropping Palazzo dei Consoli. This massive 14th-century Gothic palace towers over 60 meters high!
Piazza Grande (The Hanging Square): The Palazzo sits on the spectacular Piazza Grande, a massive, open stone terrace that functions as the beating heart of the city.
Fun Fact: This isn’t just any regular square—it’s actually one of the largest medieval “hanging” or terrace-squares ever built, essentially acting as a giant roof over the lower part of the town to bridge the steep mountain slope!
The Fountain of the Madmen (Fontana del Bargello): Tucked into a charming stone courtyard, we found this beautiful 16th-century fountain. Gubbio is famously nicknamed the “City of Madmen,” and local tradition dictates that if you run around this fountain three times and get splashed by its water, you can officially apply for an honorary, authentic “Madman’s License”
🛢️ The Secret Wine Giant of Gubbio
Tucked inside the stone walls of the town, we stumbled upon an absolute marvel of history: La Botte dei Canonici (The Canons’ Barrel). This massive wooden structure is a masterclass in ancient engineering and one of the largest historic wine barrels in Europe!
- 💡 Fun Fact: Built in the early 1500s for the canons of the cathedral, this giant could hold a mind-boggling 20,000 litres of wine! What’s even wilder is that it was engineered completely without an internal iron frame or central support beam—held together solely by the perfect tension of its wooden staves and external timber arches.
🥔 The Grand Finale: Truffles and a World Record!
No trip to the Umbria region is complete without indulging in their most famous local delicacy: Truffles! We couldn’t resist grabbing a bag of authentic Giuliano Tartufi truffle chips for the car ride home.
- 💡 Fun Fact: As we munched on our truffle chips in the car, we looked out the window to see a colourful, sparkling light display on the slopes of Mount Ingino. It turns out Gubbio is home to the World’s Largest Christmas Tree! Built every year using over 700 massive lights spread across the entire mountainside, it stretches over 650 meters high and can be seen from miles away!
And with this, the tour of Italy has ended. We just got driving back to Bergamo to celebrate Christmas with the family, and then ready for another week and adventures in Bulgaria, before the Czech visit.
This visit was astonishing, beautiful and really Jummy… Really sad my son did not want to come to do this adventure together, he missed something that won’t be possible to repeat, unleass from himself.