Who: Madeline, Mallory and Meghan Plachy of Centennial
Where: Castle St. Angelo in Rome
Best meal: Le Trebbiano in Florence. A traditional Florentine restaurant with wonderful ribbolita, bistecca Fiorentina, roasted potatoes and pastas. Of course, the kids loved to eat gelato every afternoon!
Best deal: Half liters of house wine at restaurants in Rome and Florence were typically very good and cheap, often less than $8.
Best time to go: April was an excellent time to go. The crowds were not as large as they are at other times of the year. The weather was cool but nice.
Best travel tip: Cover as much of this very diverse country as possible. Our kids loved Pompeii and Cinque Terre, a series of towns along the Ligurian coast with beautiful hiking trails, dramatic ocean views and beaches. For adults, Rome, Florence and Venice are fascinating, with great history and restaurants. If possible, travel by train. The Italian train system is efficient, reasonably priced and clean. We rented a car for part of our trip, but wouldn’t recommend it to others. Driving was crazy in the major cities, especially Rome.
