Venice, the Italian maze |

My favourite place in Italy was definitely Venice. With it's distinctive canals, romantic gondolas and beautiful architecture, it was the perfect place to visit in Summer. By the time we arrived in Venice we were just over the halfway mark for our trip, and had become well accustomed to starting our time in a new place with a guided walking tour (that and carrying big bottles of water around, looking like a complete tourist). 

Roaming about in Rome |

Rome. Home of the ancient ruins, the famous sights and the heart of the Italian heat wave. 

My memories of Rome involved walking around with a 2-litre water bottle in 40+ degrees heat, trying not to faint in the hot air as we admired the Colosseum and fought through the crowds at the Trevi Fountain.

Florence |

From the beautiful blue waters of the French Riviera, we wound our way to the top of the hills to cross the border into Italy. The landscape changed as soon as the bus drove through the border into the countryside of Tuscany, and we were greeted with lush green trees surrounding quaint houses with the distinctive terracotta roof, nestled in sloping hills that resembled giant steps in the mountains.

Piazza di Santa Croce