Jeri May - Travel with the Magic

I expected Italy to be beautiful. I expected history, art, architecture, and unforgettable views. What I didn’t fully expect was how much I would fall in love with the food culture surrounding every single moment of the trip. The pasta was incredible, especially anything with truffles. I’m still dreaming about those creamy truffle pasta dishes. The bread was warm, fresh, and impossible to resist - and considering I rarely eat bread at home, that says a lot. The pizza was another surprise. In Italy when you order a pizza, it often arrives as a full unsliced pie, which felt so unusual to us at first. But after one bite, we understood. Every pizza tasted fresh, authentic, and somehow simple and perfect all at once. Even the salads felt elevated with fresh ingredients, amazing olives, and giant slices of Parmesan cheese. And then there was the gelato. Every single day. Different flavors. Different cities. Not one disappointment. Of course, we also completely fell in love with the wine. We loved it so much we actually shipped several boxes home so we could hold onto a little piece of Italy a bit longer. And I have to mention the limoncello. I honestly thought it was more of an American-Italian restaurant tradition, but no - it’s very real in Italy, and there was something so special about ending meals with a glass shared around the table. What made it all even more unforgettable were the places we experienced these meals: Roman streets… the Pantheon… the Colosseum… the Appian Way… the Tuscan countryside… the canals of Venice… Every meal became part of the memory. And every single one felt priceless.

If Florence stole my heart, the Tuscan countryside completely swept me away.

Rolling green hills, vineyards stretching for miles, winding roads lined with cypress trees… Tuscany somehow feels exactly the way you imagine Italy in your dreams.

Each stop along the way had its own personality.

Sienna felt rich with medieval history and timeless beauty, with narrow winding streets that seemed untouched by time.

San Gimignano looked like something straight out of a storybook with its famous stone towers rising above the hills of Tuscany. It was charming, peaceful, and one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever visited.

And then there was Pisa — so much more beautiful than I expected. Seeing the Leaning Tower in person was surreal, but the entire square surrounding it was absolutely stunning.

What I loved most about Tuscany was the slower pace. People lingered over meals, enjoyed the scenery, and truly seemed to savor life.

It’s hard to explain, but Tuscany didn’t just feel beautiful. It felt peaceful.

I already know I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to recreate the feeling of that day.

Florence felt like the kind of place you dream about long before you ever see it in person.

Waking up in our beautiful hotel room with a private patio just steps from the Duomo felt surreal. Every morning, we stepped outside into a city filled with art, history, leather shops, little cafés, and streets so beautiful they almost didn’t feel real.

Seeing Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera in the Uffizi Gallery was one of those moments where time seemed to stop for a minute. And standing in front of Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Museum truly took my breath away. No photo could ever prepare you for seeing it in person.

And then there were the sunsets.

Watching the sun go down from Piazzale Michelangelo while overlooking the Arno River and the rooftops of Florence is a memory I know I’ll carry forever. The whole city seemed to glow.

What amazes me most is that all of this beauty was just within the city itself.

Tomorrow, I’ll share one of my favorite parts of the entire trip - the magic of the Tuscan countryside.

Rome amazed me. Venice felt magical. But Florence completely stole my heart.

There was something about Florence that felt slower, softer, and incredibly romantic. The streets felt walkable and welcoming, the architecture was breathtaking around every corner, and somehow the entire city felt like living inside a painting. The Duomo especially left me speechless with its beautiful marble exterior in shades of white, green, and pink glowing in the sunlight.

Maybe it was the sunsets over the Arno River. Maybe it was the fresh pasta and wine. Maybe it was wandering through little side streets discovering hidden cafés and leather shops. Or maybe it was simply the feeling Florence gave me — peaceful, beautiful, and timeless.

Out of all three cities, Florence was the one I could most easily imagine returning to for a longer stay someday.

I already miss it.

For the next few weeks, I’m taking you along on one of the most meaningful trips we’ve ever taken…Italy.
From the ancient streets of Rome to the beauty of Florence and the dreamy canals of Venice, this journey reminded me why travel stays with us long after we return home.
What made this trip even more special is that it almost didn’t happen. After years of delays and cancellations, finally stepping onto those cobblestone streets felt emotional in the very best way.
We traveled through Italy with Railbookers, and I’ll be sharing everything over the next several weeks:
• what surprised us
• our favorite hotels and meals
• train travel tips
• must-see experiences
• and why Italy may be more doable than you think
If Italy has been on your bucket list, follow along. I cannot wait to share this incredible journey with you.