A three-week summer loop through Tuscany, Sicily, and the Aeolian Islands, starting in Florence and rolling through Cinque Terre, hilltop wine towns, and Saturnia’s thermal waters before hopping south to Palermo, coastal Trapani, and Cefalù. Fast ferries carried us to Lipari, Salina, and fiery Stromboli for sunset volcano views, then back to mainland Sicily for a guided high-altitude push on Mount Etna and a mellow historic finish in Siracusa. The trip blended city wandering, coastal swims, vineyard drives, canyon and crater hikes, and island time—capturing Italy’s range from Renaissance streets to raw volcanic landscapes.
👉 Find all the places we’ve visited on Google Maps
Trip Summary
✈️ Day 1: Heading to Firenze → Overnight flight, train to Florence, settle in with bistecca and spritz.
🚆 Day 2: Heading to Monterosso al Mare → Train to Cinque Terre base in Monterosso.
🌦️ Day 3: rainy day equals slow day → Forecast flips; groceries, laundry, planning, lemon spritz.
🥾 Day 4: hiking time that turned into beach time → Levanto–Monterosso hike, then a hard-earned beach session.
🚆 Day 5: the San Gimignano adventure → Delayed trains, bus misadventures, medieval payoff.
🚆 Day 6: transit through Siena → B&B hiccups, Michelin dinner save.
🚘 Day 7: Driving to Montalcino → First Tuscany driving day, Brunello tastings.
🚘 Day 8: from one hilltop to the next → Cypress grove detours, Montepulciano views and vino.
🚘 Day 9: looking for warm stinky water → Saturnia’s cascades and spa, slow dinner with a view.
🥾 Day 10: not according to plan → Etruscan ruins hike in blazing heat, Tarot Garden, dinner win.
✈️ Day 11: Hello again, Sicily → Car drop, trains, lounge, flight to Palermo.
📷 Day 12: Palermo is one noisy city → Palazzi, catacombs, street-crossing “sport,” shakeratos.
🚘 Day 13: driving in the south of Italy → Salt ponds, seafood trilogy; Sicilian driving decoded.
🏖️ Day 14: beach day in Cefalù → Umbrellas secured, swim–read–swim rhythm, sunset dinner.
⛵ Day 15: sailing to Lipari → Toll-road time save, smooth crossing, garden aperitivo.
🥾 Day 16: the island of Salina → Hot hillside hike, granita recovery by the port.
🥾 Day 17: first volcano day → Sunset guided ascent on Stromboli; ash, glow, sandy descent.
⛵ Day 18: travelling to Mount Etna → Boat–train shuffle, late arrival in Catania.
🥾 Day 19: Mount Etna → Cable car + bus, guided summit hike, hail at noon, crater line.
🚆 Day 20: Heading to Siracusa → Easy train; palazzi and coast win the day.
📷 Day 21: Last day in Syracuse → Greek/Roman theatres, Dionysius’ Ear, granita and goodbyes.
✈️ Days 22 and 23: Heading home.
