10-Day Road Trip in Italy

The Cinque Terre is a collection of centuries-old villages on the Italian coast.

Rooted in the past, these five fishing villages (Monarola, Riomaggiore, Montessoro, Corniglia, Vernazza) seem to remain apart from modern influences. Their charm comes from the colorful, typical, and picturesque houses. In the past, the villages were mainly home to fishermen. Seafood is therefore part of the local gastronomy. The cliff-side hiking trail Sentiero Azzurro connects the villages and offers a panoramic view of the sea.

Monterosso is undoubtedly the most important village of the Cinque Terre, with a very large beach where you can relax in the sun. The Capuchin Church is the village’s must-see monument; its beauty has remained intact through the ages.

Vernazza is an ancient stronghold that had a strategic position to control the coastline. The Doria Castle is one of the only remnants of the village’s military past. The maritime landscapes will surely not leave you indifferent as they are breathtaking!

Now head to Corniglia with your camper van! The first thing you notice is that the houses are slightly different from the other villages; they are smaller and concentrated around the same area. You’ll also notice that unlike the other villages, it doesn’t open directly onto the shoreline.

Once in Manarola, you can’t miss the Gothic Church of St. Lawrence, which is an architectural marvel from the 14th century. What’s interesting about this village is that to develop, the houses had to cling to the hillside, creating a rather unexpected setting.

Then head to Riomaggiore via the Path of Love (Sentiero dell’amore). After walking about a kilometer, you arrive at the village of Riomaggiore. On the heights of the village is the Montenero Sanctuary (Santuario di Nostra Signora di Montenero), which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. And there you have it, our journey through the Cinque Terre ends beautifully!

To extend the pleasure of the places: take a trip to Portovenere, a charming small village with turquoise waters and colorful houses!

Tips for your nights: you can trust Park4night and spend the night on the parking of the strada provinciale. Or if you want more comfort, you have the option to spend your nights at the Acqua Dolce camping in Levanto.

Head to Lucca, a medieval-style city with a lot of charm.

Indeed, as you wander through its streets, you’ll be able to admire its ramparts that encircle the city, as well as its church-cathedrals. The most unmissable monument in the city is undoubtedly its Clock Tower (Torre delle Ore) which dominates the city. If you want to stop for lunch, we invite you to taste the grilled pork, which is a typical specialty from around Lucca. For dessert, we recommend the Necci crepes, made with chestnut flour, which will delight your taste buds and offer you a gourmet moment.
After filling your stomach, it’s already time to leave to see the famous Leaning Tower. Off to Pisa!

Tourism in Pisa focuses on the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) and of course includes the famous tower. The advantage of such a place is that there isn’t just one monument to see but at least three. You indeed have the choice between the Tower of Pisa, the Duomo (the large building on the square which is the cathedral), and the Baptistery (dome-shaped building). The latter two will allow you to enjoy a welcome coolness as the square heats up in the full sun.

A little less popular but worth a look: the Camposanto, which is a closed cemetery in the city and houses some popular works from Tuscany.
Now we take the road to Siena to continue our road trip.

Tip for sleeping: If you want to get off the beaten path and away from the city, you can spend the night in a small square in Buti on the edge of a very quiet mountain road from where you’ll have a magnificent view of the Tuscan plain.

Let’s continue our journey through Siena, a splendid Gothic city located in the heart of a valley.

The Piazza del Campo, the historic center of the city with its main activities and attractions, where you can, if you’re lucky enough to catch Tuscany’s most famous event in early July and mid-August, participate in the Palio. The peculiarity of this square is that it’s sloped like an amphitheater. Walking down the square, you can admire the Palazzo Pubblico, which is a perfect representation of the region’s architectural style. To finish your visit to Siena, you must also visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (or Santa Maria Assunta). The Romanesque and Gothic styles blend to give an impressive result!

On the way to Florence, we strongly recommend a stop at the pretty village of San Gimignano built on a Tuscan hill. You can even spend the night there and sleep in nature. More info here.

First of all, you should know that it’s difficult to park for the night near the city center, and the streets are narrow. You might try the stadium parking, 30 minutes from the center of Florence.

Florence is a breathtaking and culturally rich city. Several monuments are absolute must-visits, and fortunately, they are very close to each other!
You just need to go to Piazza del Duomo (Dome Square) where the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is located. A large part of the building was made with marble of various colors (green, white, and pink-red), so the exterior is magnificent, but the interior is just as striking. You can discover the interior for free and almost in its entirety. Indeed, to access the largest dome in the world (nearly 45m), you’ll need to pay €10*, however, this fee also gives you access to the large tower you must have seen when passing in front of the cathedral. This is Giotto’s Campanile. You can climb the numerous steps to the top and discover Florence from very high up, dominating the city!

Also cross its famous Ponte Vecchio.

For lunch, we can recommend some local specialties: – A bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine T-bone steak), a quality meat prepared just right! A true delight for the palate.
– For pasta and meat lovers, we recommend Pappardelle sulla lepre. These are very large pasta often accompanied by rabbit and a hare sauce.
And of course, you can taste (in moderation): Chianti, a local wine known worldwide. Fruity, sweet, and pleasant on the palate.

It’s already time to think about returning and heading towards the Franco-Italian border. Before saying goodbye to Italy, we make a stop in Genoa.

Genoa is a port city above all, so we can only advise you to stroll along the port and let your eyes marvel. If you have time, you can visit the city’s aquarium (the largest in Europe). Species of all sizes and colors are to be discovered in this unique place.

And if Italy attracts you again, why not try the largest island in the Mediterranean?! Feel free to check out our 14-day road trip in Sicily :)!