From Rome to Venice: Jayanthi’s First European Adventure with Thrillophilia
Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDKJZLFOS0
Rating: ★★★★★
Traveller: Jayanthi Raju
Trip Duration: 9 Nights | 10 Days
Trip Duration: 19 Oct 2022 to 29 Oct 2022
Destination: Europe
“This was the first tour. My anxiety was high. The staff was very patient and were very communicative, understanding and great. The trip was well planned and delivered.”
For Jayanthi Raju, Europe began with a little anxiety.
It was her first tour, and the idea of travelling through several Italian cities, changing destinations, following a packed itinerary and keeping up with everything could understandably feel overwhelming. Then Rome happened. Over the next several days, the journey moved through mediaeval hill towns, Renaissance cities, coastal villages, mountain lakes and some of Italy’s most famous landmarks.
The route had a wonderfully chaotic variety to it. One morning could begin among centuries-old stone streets, another beside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and another on a boat sailing towards Portofino. By the time Venice appeared at the end, Jayanthi had crossed much of Italy and collected an entire album of places that looked as though they belonged to different stories.
Rome Starts the Story
The first glimpse of Italy came in Rome, where Jayanthi had free time after arriving at the hotel. The following day introduced her to the Eternal City with a panoramic tour before the journey continued towards St Peter’s in the Vatican.
The evening took a completely different turn in Trastevere, one of Rome’s liveliest neighbourhoods. Cobblestone lanes, colourful buildings and traditional restaurants gave the district an atmosphere far removed from the grand monuments of the daytime. After a day of discovering Rome, it was the kind of place where the city could simply be enjoyed at street level.
A free day followed, giving Jayanthi time to slow down and experience Rome at her own pace before the tour left the capital and headed towards Tuscany.
Tuscany in Mediaeval Colours
The road into Tuscany brought a dramatic change in scenery. Rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves surrounded the route as Jayanthi travelled towards Orvieto, a mediaeval city perched high above the surrounding landscape.
The first view of Orvieto came from its viewpoint, where the entire hilltop settlement appeared above the countryside. Reaching the historic centre involved escalators and ramps before the group continued towards the cathedral, whose façade became one of the day’s architectural highlights.
Then came Castiglione del Lago, sitting beside Lake Trasimeno, where the group had time for lunch and a stroll. By afternoon, they had reached Siena and Piazza del Campo, one of Italy’s most recognisable mediaeval squares. The day had crossed three destinations, each with its own personality, while the Tuscan countryside kept changing outside the coach windows. The next morning brought Monteriggioni, a tiny mediaeval village enclosed by historic walls. Its cobbled streets and little shops gave the place a storybook quality before the journey continued to San Gimignano.
San Gimignano is instantly recognisable for its tall mediaeval towers rising above the Tuscan landscape. After exploring the town, the route moved towards Florence, setting up the next chapter in Jayanthi’s Italian adventure.
Florence, Pisa and Five Villages
Florence brought the art and history of Renaissance Italy into focus. A local guide led the city tour before Jayanthi had leisure time to explore further.
The following day moved quickly again. Pisa appeared first, with a tourist train taking the group towards Piazza dei Miracoli. There stood the Leaning Tower, one of those landmarks that feels familiar from photographs and yet looks entirely different when it appears in front of you.
From Pisa, the journey headed towards the Ligurian Coast and Cinque Terre. The UNESCO-listed region consists of five villages scattered along a dramatic stretch of coastline, with colourful houses rising above the Mediterranean.
The group travelled by train to Vernazza, one of the five villages. Its compact harbour, seaside setting and Church of Santa Margherita created a classic Italian coastal scene. After lunch, another train carried the group to Levanto, where the coach journey resumed towards Genoa.
In just two days, Jayanthi had moved from Florence’s Renaissance streets to Pisa’s famous tower and then to a collection of tiny villages clinging to the Ligurian coast.
Boats, Portofino and Milan
The next morning brought another boat ride, this time from Santa Margherita Ligure towards Portofino. The approach by water revealed the famous coastal village gradually, with colourful buildings clustered around the harbour and green hills rising behind them.
Portofino offered time for a leisurely stroll before the journey continued north towards Milan. The change was striking. Portofino had the relaxed atmosphere of a seaside village, while Milan brought the energy of one of Italy’s major cities.
The following day introduced another side of northern Italy through the Italian Lakes region. At Lake Orta, the mediaeval town of Orta San Giulio became the first stop. A train ride brought the group towards the historic centre, before a boat carried them across the lake to the tiny island of San Giulio, home to a monastery.
From there, the route continued to Lake Maggiore and the lakeside town of Stresa. The mountains, blue waters and elegant lakeside surroundings created yet another landscape before the group continued towards Verona.
Romeo, Juliet and Venice
Verona added a touch of romance to the final stretch. Known around the world as the city associated with Romeo and Juliet, its historic streets provided the setting for the last leg towards Venice.
Arriving in Venice meant trading roads for waterways. A boat carried the group towards St Mark’s Square, where a local guide introduced them to the famous City of Canals. The streets, bridges and waterways created a completely different rhythm from every destination that had come before.
There was also time to admire Murano glasswork, a craft closely associated with the Venetian islands. And, of course, Venice offered one final temptation for the trip: a gondola ride through the canals.
From Rome’s ancient streets to Tuscany’s medieval hill towns, from Cinque Terre’s coastline to Portofino’s harbour and the Italian Lakes, Jayanthi’s first European tour kept changing its setting right until the final boat ride in Venice.
Why Jayanthi Recommends Thrillophilia
For a first-time traveller, a multi-city European tour involves a lot of moving parts. Transfers, sightseeing schedules, local guides, trains, boats, hotels and inter-city travel all need to come together smoothly for the traveller to enjoy the journey.
Jayanthi specifically appreciated the patience and communication of the Thrillophilia team throughout the planning and execution of her trip. Priyanka Paw, Thrillophilia’s Europe Destination Expert, played a key role in supporting the planning and coordination of the tour.
Her review captures the journey beautifully. She began with high anxiety because it was her first tour and finished by describing the trip as well planned and well delivered. Somewhere between Rome and Venice, the nervous first-time traveller had found herself travelling through mediaeval villages, Renaissance cities, Mediterranean coastlines and Italian lakes, with a whole lot of Europe in between.