Winter Holiday Trip to Italy December 2023
December 27 2023- January 2 2024
We decided to go to northern italy for an easy and relaxing holiday, we only booked our accommodations with nothing else planned.
December 27 2023
couple hours of driving and we arrived at lovere, the upper part of lago di iseo.
Snowy ride to Italy
Snowy views
Lago di Iseo
Sunset at Lago die Iseo
Bruno Bozzetto illustrations
Paccheri with pancetta
Risotto with truffle at Ricci e no Bistro
Bruno Bozzetto illustrations
RICCI E NO Bistro
Via A. Gramsci, 2, 24065 Lovere BG, Italy
+39 035 962100
December 28 2023
we decided to explore the other areas around lago di iseo, so we drove and walked around and had a delicious lunch at sarnico and Paratico. we had a little break at the hotel and had a very tasty dinner at Osteria La Torre to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Christmas decorations in Sarnico
Sarnico
Streets of Sarnico
The tasting- Octopus, anchovies with stracciatella, tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, scallop at L’Approdo Ristorante
Seafood stew- Small tastings of steamed fish and vegetables on pea cream at L’Approdo Ristorante
Rocher dessert at L’Approdo Ristorante
Lungalago Sarnico
Lungalago Sarnico
Polenta with cod at Osteria La Torre
Cacio e pepe with prawn tartare at Osteria La Torre
Night view of Lago di Iseo
Osteria La Torre
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 6, 24065 Lovere BG, Italy
https://www.osteria-latorre.com/
December 29 2023
we decided to visit the little island, monte isola, that sits in lago di iseo. we took a ferry over and decided to walk around the whole island. it was nice to explore and we almost had the whole island to ourselves as it was pretty quiet, but i am sure it is completely different during the summer and peak season. we definitely want to come back to experience when the island is full and more lively.
Monte Isola
Monte Isola
Trees on Monte Isola
Siviano at Monte Isola
Siviano at Monte Isola
Artwork at Monte Isola
Isola di San Paolo
Carzano Port at Monte Isola
Sale Marasino
Sale Marasino
Assortment of cold cuts at Flour
Paccheri with pistachio pesto, bacon and burrata at Flour
Bruno Bozzetto illustrations
Flour
Piazza XIII Martiri, 25, 24065 Lovere BG, Italy
+39 035 238546
December 30 2023
we drove up the mountains to see the view of the lake before heading to florence. after a few hours drive we ended up in florence in the late afternoon, so once we unloaded our things at the hotel we wandered around the old parts of the city. we were quite lucky with the weather, it was raining a bit but then cleared up, we walked by ponte vecchio, florence cathedral duomo and many different piazza. but we definitely got overwhelmed, there were so many people on every street corner we kind of missed the quietness and calmness of being by the lake. we decided to only have a little snack because we were waiting for our much anticipated dinner at oderria cinghiale bianco.
Last view of Lago di Iseo
Santa Maria Novella (Basilica di Santa Maria Novella)
Busy city streets
Florence Cathedral Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
Florence Cathedral Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
Brunellesch’s Dome (Cupola di Brunelleschi)
Florence Cathedral Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio
Christmas decorations in Florence
Christmas decorations in Florence
Tomato bruschetta and Tuscan crostini at Osteria Cinghiale Bianco
Pappardelle with wild boar ragù at Osteria Cinghiale Bianco
Florentine steak at Osteria Cinghiale Bianco
OSTERIA CINGHIALE BIANCO
BORGO S. JACOPO, 43, 50125 FIRENZE FI, ITALY
HTTPS://CINGHIALEBIANCO.COM/HOME-ENGLISH/
December 31 2023
Right near our hotel we spotted a store that always seem to have a line outside, as we walked by there was no line in the morning so we decided to stop in. We found out that it was a historical place, that the dominican friars started selling rose water as a disinfectant in 1381 and then after that started selling essences, elixirs and ointments now they sell fragrances, soaps, essential oils. it not only smells good inside but the building itself is beautiful and there are artifacts too, almost feels partly like a musuem and walking back in time. we bought some stuff too! we then walked to Piazzale Michaelangelo, where you have a nice view of the city. we had a gelato break then got ready for our new years feast and party at La Leggenda dei Frati.
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Special exhibition at Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
View of Florence from Piazzale Michaelangelo (Vista paoramica di Firenze)
View of Florence from Piazzale Michaelangelo (Vista paoramica di Firenze)
View of Florence from Piazzale Michaelangelo (Vista paoramica di Firenze)
Ponte Vecchio
Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi)
Ponte Vecchio
Gelato from Gelateria Artigianale La Sorbettiera
Wine Window
Cappasanta- Cooked raw, celeriac, green apple at La Leggenda dei Frati
Cotechino di Babbo Mario at La Leggenda dei Frati
New years fireworks
New years fireworks and floating lanterns
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Via della Scala, 16, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
https://eu.smnovella.com/it
Gelateria Artigianale La Sorbettiera | Santa Maria Novella
Via dei Banchi, 49r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
+39 337 120 9756
January 1 2024
Happy new year! we had a late start to the new year as we had a late night (or late night for us), so we went for an early lunch at ciro and sons to finally have my first pizza in italy. it was worth it, i Can’t believe I didn’t eat more pizza in italy. then some walking around, eating more gelato and savoring the last day and moments in florence and of our vacation.
Window display at Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
History about Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Vesuvio pizza - buffalo mozzarella, truffle, cherry tomatoes, arugola, Tuscan ham at Ciro and Sons
Pizza Portofino - cherry tomatoes, burrata cheese, mozzarella, pesto sauce and basil at Ciro and Sons
City street
1950 American Diner
Gelato from La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale
Christmas decoration
