From Rome to Tuscany: A 14-Day Itinerary in Italy

Touch down into Rome and check into Hotel de Russie (just a 20-30 minute drive from Leonardo Da Vinci Airport) and wander around their lush grounds with a drink in hand. Their courtyard really has the wow factor for a memorable stay. Order the Amatriciana pasta from their bar and take a rest before you jump into your adventures.

Wake up to Hotel de Russie's generous breakfast and order the eggs a la Grecia. Yum. Don't eat too much before you meet your guide in the lobby for a food tour of Trastevere. Take an espresso like a true Italian style, standing up and throwing it back before you bounce out of the crowd. Wander around the farmer's market for fresh strawberries, stop at Suppli Roma to get their famous Carbonara suppli, pop into a bar for an aperol spritz on the go, and finish with an insider's recommendation on the best gelato spot.

Dive into Rome's vast history and stop at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You could spend hours exploring these 3 sites. Finish at the Forum and walk 14-minutes to Antico Forno Roscioli, the best pizza I had in Rome. With a crispy bottom, the crunch of these pizzas gave it that extra wow factor. Actually, just order one of everything here. You won't regret it. Their T-shirts and sweatshirts also make for fun souvenirs.

Go shopping down Via del Babuino, right near Hotel de Russie, get a personal shopper at Prada and buy that Cleo bag you've been eying ;). After a day of walking, have an easy dinner at the hotel's Le Jardin de Russie terrace surrounded by mature pine and flowering citrus, and order their delicious catch of the day with EVO oil mashed potatoes and artichokes.

Go early in the morning to the Spanish Steps to avoid crowds, snap those pics, and walk up to the nearby park Villa Borghese. Known as the green lung of Rome, stroll around the grounds, take a picnic or to have a laugh, rent one of their silly e-bike carriages for 12 euro an hour to cruise around the park. Book an afternoon wine tasting and dinner at Rimessa Roscioli for a fun, low key event.

Take a private, guided tour of the Vatican as early as you can to avoid the swell of crowds and stand in awe of the Sistine Chapel. Highly recommend this since there is a lot to navigate and your guide can zip you past all the lines while pointing out the most significant pieces in the museum collection. Grab lunch at Panificio Bonci pizza nearby, named one of Eater's best pizzerias in Rome. If you can brave the wait, jump into line at Da Enzo and snag a table at one of Rome's hottest restaurants. The bustling alley is full of eager diners, clutching their cocktails as they wait for a menu offering the very best of Cucina Romana.

Time to hit Tuscany! Jump on the high speed Italia train for a quick 2 hour ride to the city. Just a short 30 minute drive from Florence, stay at COMO Castello del Nero - with a sprawling property and a small olive oil and wine operation, you feel like you're living like Italian royalty. Take a dip in their outdoor gorgeous pool, enjoy aperitifs next to the fire in their bar La Taverna and stroll down to the 'al fresco' Pavilion.

It's not Tuscany if you're not hitting the local vineyards. Take a 15-minute drive to the modern and stunning Antinori nel Chianti Classico. It's signature spiral staircase and rooftop garden restaurant will leave you speechless. Take their historical tour, which books out weeks in advance, and finish in their tasting room. Their Chianti Classico Reserve can't be missed. I recommend shipping your favorite wines home with the help of their staff, which make for excellent gifts and a nice souvenir for yourself. Have lunch in the winery’s signature restaurant Rinuccio 1180 amongst the grapes.

Next stop: Castello di Verranzo has panoramic views, bright green gardens, a cellar with tunnels of history – this place has everything. I highly recommend going for the “Dinner at the Farm” option which includes a tour with a small group, tasting and a dinner with many courses. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable, and our experience was a hefty 4-5 hours (the website cites 3), but this was our main event of the day. We went home sleepy and extremely full after having an epic meal with new friends from San Diego.

If you're still up for more vineyards, Casa Emma is a smaller operation with a sweet staff and Castelo di Meleto has a fun, historic castle tour. Explore the nearby historical village of San Gimignano and dine at Bel Soggiorno. It can be easy to miss in a sea of sidewalk seating. What’s great about this place is the floor-to-ceiling windows with a countryside view and the melt-in-your-mouth lasagna.

Wake up fresh and get ready for truffle hunting! Spend 2 hours roaming around the on-site forest with adorable pups training to find truffles in the ground. Our guide Mateo provided insight on how labor intensive the process is and delighted our toddler with his interactions. Your truffle hunting experience wraps with a 3-course tasting menu with found truffles. The fried, poached egg in cream sauce with shaved truffle was one of the best things we ate. So good, we asked for it again at dinner!

Relax with an Aperol Spritz at La Taverna - the bartender will become your very good friend, before you head to your dinner at the Michelin-starred La Torre. You know you're in for something when they bring you a water menu and prepare an Italian gin and tonic at the table. The chicken agnolotti was in a delicious cream sauce and the playful amuse-bouche were my favorite.

I like to have one day of total relaxation and leisure. Start your day with complimentary yoga. Schedule a 60-min deep tissue massage in the hotel's spa COMO Shambhala Retreat and keep the vibes going with a dip in their outdoor hot tub. Take a nap (or a cocktail) by their outdoor pool. COMO Castello del Nero offers evening wine tastings in their cellar so take full advantage of this property's vast menu of activities (and of their sommelier's vast knowledge!).

Sharpen your chef skills with a cooking class at the nearby Antica Scuderia. They offer pasta or pizza classes, so choose your fave. In the pasta course, we learned how to make hand-made pici, ravioli and maltagliati along with the sauce. Finish the course while enjoying locally produced wine.

Rent e-bikes and coast around the property to abandoned buildings, snapping photos along the way. Bike to the charming and local Osteria La Gramola for lunch. Flip through the owners' book of recipes and the story of their restaurant.

You must go off property to the magical La Cantinetta di Rignana for dinner. Why? Because you will feel like you are with your imaginary Italian friends on their private Tuscan estate. Peaceful and beautiful, you reach this restaurant by driving down an endless gravel road. Keep going, you will make it! You will need to order the local pig lardo specialty – cured underground with salt for many months, this appetizer is soft, buttery and great on crusty bread. But the star of this meal was the truffle taglierini pasta. With truffles shaved as thin as tissue paper and a thick, but light cheesy cream sauce. I don't know about you, but I don't tire of truffle.

I recommend not lining your train ride up with your flight home. You never know what can happen. Enjoy the final train ride with snacks and an espresso. When my trip is about to wrap up, I like to consider what might be missing from my trip. Is it a type of food you are still wanting to try? Or do you need to return to a food you loved? Is there a neighborhood you haven't seen that is calling to you? What else are you looking for? Let me know and I can dive into my trove of global experts and find you that experience you’re craving.

Take that final espresso, finish the final bite of Caio e Pepe and say so long to everything that Italy offered. A morning or early afternoon flight home is my preference so I get back right back on Eastern Standard Time, but you tell me. Ciao, bellissima!

Bonus: Looking for more adventure? Only 2 hours away from Florence, Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old, picturesque Italian seaside villages that is certainly worth a visit if you have the time. If you enjoy hiking, prepare for epic hiking views. Take at least 3 days to visit the sights.

Starting in Corniglia, going north to the neighboring Vernazza and finishing in Monterosso, the total hike time was four hours (with one break in between towns) and the views are stunning, like movie set/sappy proposal setting stunning. The hike is adventurous – there was a lot of steep inclines/declines and minor “rock climbing”. You might be going uphill sweating all over your sunglasses, then you will run into a man in a stall selling Limoncello directly from his farm and you'll think, "Wow, this is magical."

Heading south towards Manarola and Riomaggiore, the terrain is different in intensity from the north hike. These hills spike all the way up so it almost feels like you are crawling vertically and then drop down straight down. A shorter hike overall, but more challenging. While you're in Manarola, have a celebratory drink and wine and cheese plate while listening to Italian opera at Nessum Dorma, which overlooks the ocean. The terrain also slightly differs – while you still have epic views of the towns, you are hiking next to vineyards with unobstructed views of the ocean. Sound like fun? Add on this portion to your trip and you will have no regrets. Caveat - while the hiking is not toddler friendly, you can jump on the train from town to town for views and exploration!