A trip with three other couples to the Monte Carlo Tennis Open in Monaco inspired my husband and I to extend our trip for a beautiful tour of Italy. This would take us 15 days to complete with stops in Paris, Nice, Monaco, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Pisa, Florence, and Tuscany.
Itinerary Summary:
- Paris – 2 Days
- Monaco – 3 Days
- Cinque Terre – 3 Days
- Florence – 6 Days
- Paris – 1 Day
Day 1 & 2 – Paris
Personally, I think Paris is the perfect way to start (and end) any trip but logistically it was easiest to fly in and out of Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport to head to Monaco and return from Florence. Our Airbnb in Paris turned out to be a real gem! We stayed at Sourire Boutique Hôtel Particulier bed and breakfast in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. With five bedrooms and five baths there was more than enough room for our group of four couples. We were delighted to find a gorgeous rooftop and winter garden at the top of the B&B which was perfect for happy hours and unwinding after dinner.
So much to do in Paris! In order to do it justice you need to stay more than the short time that we were there on this trip. We happily spent our short time in Paris shopping, taking in some art and of course eating and drinking at Cafe du Centre.
Day 3 – Travel to Monaco via Nice
On this day we took a quick flight from Paris (airport code: ORY) to Nice (airport code: NCE) via Air France and then caught the train to Monaco (Gare de Monaco Station). We stayed at a beautiful Marriott property, Le Méridien Beach Plaza, right on the Mediterranean Sea and within walking distance to the Monte Carlo Country Club where the tennis open is played.
TheTrainline.com proved invaluable on this trip. You can download their app here.
Day 4 & 5 – Monte Carlo Open
If you don’t know already, the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters is the first clay ATP 1000 Masters event of the year and probably the most picturesque event of the entire tour. The Monte Carlo Country Club is situated right on the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco. The view from the seats is almost as impressive as the players. This mid-April tournament begins in mid-April with over €5,000,000 in prize money.
Day 6 – Travel to Cinque Terre via Train
Our next stop, via train, were the charming villages in the area of northern Italy called “Cinque Terre”. Cinque Terre literally translates to “five lands” meaning the charming villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. If your looking for hiking and a taste of rural Italian life this is the place for you! All of the villages are linked by rail, so you can easily visit as many as you like with a short train ride. The trains run every 15 mins every day and stop at each of the villages so getting around the area is super easy. More information on the Cinque Terre express here.
Day 7 & 8 – Cinque Terre
We decided to make the village of Riomaggiore our home base for our stay in Cinque Terre and found a lovely hotel, I Limoni di Thule” with stunning views. Aside from swimming and soaking in the atmosphere of unspoiled fishing villages, the most popular activity in the Cinque Terre is hiking from one village to the next along centuries-old goat paths, which are now maintained as a national park. Trails meander through vineyards and groves of olive and lemon trees and loom over seaside cliffs, guaranteeing heart-stopping views of the coast and the charming little villages ahead in the distance luring you to come and visit. The hikes are well marked from village to village and range in difficulty and length. Most of the trails are free but the two most popular trails, Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia require users to purchase a Cinque Terre card to hike. You can find trail maps and more information on the Cinque Terre hiking card here.
We happily spent our days in Cinque Terre exploring all five village via hiking and rail. Also not to be missed is a boat tour of all five villages. The view of the villages from the water is phenomenal!
Day 9 – Travel to Florence via Train
We departed Cinque Terre by a train bound for Florence but not without stopping first at Lucca and then again at Pisa. We stashed our luggage at the Lucca train station and rented bikes to spend the morning exploring this gorgeous walled medieval city. After a delicious lunch in Lucca we got back on the train to Pisa where we again stashed our luggage to explore the iconic tower. Once we had our fill of photos we caught the next train to Florence. We settled into the beautiful Westin Excelsior in Florence for the last leg of our trip.
Day 10 – 14 – Florence & Tuscany
Early tickets to see the statue of David at the Accademia proved to change the course of our first day in Florence. After David, I had planned for us to visit the Uffizi Gallery followed by Gelato and a tour of the Bolbi Garden but my best planning neglected the fact that it was Easter Sunday–in Florence. Turns out Easter Sunday is quite a day in Florence Italy!
After exiting the Accademia we were drawn in by the sounds of a slow drum beat and the sight of a crowd forming in front of the Duomo – The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. After making our way to the Duomo, we were delighted to learn that we were about to witness a centuries old tradition, the Scoppio del Carro, or the Explosion of the Cart.
For over 350 years on Easter Sunday, a giant cart standing two to three stories high is paraded through the streets of Florence to the square between the Baptistry and the Cathedral by a pair of white oxen decorated with garlands. The cart is accompanied by an large processional of people all dressed in elaborate costumes, some on horseback, some playing drums, others carrying large flags. The processional was so colorful and the costumes so varied I didn’t know what to look at!
The Cart was placed at the doors of the cathedral where mass was already in progress and broadcasted to the square. At around 11 am, during the singing of the “Gloria” inside the church, a lighted dove–shaped rocket came flying out of the church down a wire and collided with the cart in the square. This set off a spectacular firework display because, (to our surprise), the cart had been loaded with a literal arsenal of fireworks. This proved to be one of the highlights of our trip.
Other recommended activities for Florence and Tuscany are: A vespa tour of the city; a cooking class in Tuscany; and a wine tour in Tuscany.
Day 15 – Travel to Paris for Flight Home
Our trip ended with a short flight back to Paris where we spent the night to catch our final flight home. We of course spent our day in Paris shopping and then drinking and eating at our favorite cafe!