“Matteo
So sorry I have not given you feedback on our trip yet. I meant to do it when you sent the email and then got busy and just forgot – apologies! Your email this morning reminded me!!
We had a fantastic trip. We loved Forte dei MarmI. It was exactly what we needed. The Villa Grey there was beautiful – by far our favorite hotel we stayed in. The people there were so nice and helpful. It was funny because everywhere we went and met people, they asked where we had been/are going in Italy and we would tell the FD – always the reaction was “Why Forte dei MarmI?” It was nice because it was not crowded with tourists – never saw an American, we had bikes from the hotel and could ride all around, and the hotel had it’s own beach club where we had our own cabana. It was expensive! But what I would expect from a resort town. The boat trip up to Cinque Terra was very nice and the people on the boat were great. We went over to Lucca (loved)and Pisa one day as well.
On the way up to the beach from Rome airport (a bit long of a trip) we stopped at the Tarot Garden done by Nikki de Saint Phalle. It was spectacular. You should direct anyone to stop by who is headed in that direction – very fun!!
Loved all the wine tastings (all three very different).
Our favorite place was the cheese farm and lunch. Ulysse the owner was fantastic – gave a great tour and demonstration and just very interesting. Such a beautiful setting!! And much was divine. Everything grown and produced there on the farm – including the rosato!
Siena was good – we were probably there about a day too long. The hotel there was nothing to compare to Villa Grey. The only thing that saved it for us was the pretty garden in the back where you could gather. The rooms were very basic and the hotel very outdated. But it was in the neighborhood I used to live in and that was fun to wander around in. Our tour guide in Siena was very nice but very hard to understand …. my kids lost interest very quickly.
One complaint would be that our destinations were a little far away from Siena – especially the cooking class. It was beautiful but we probably could have found something a little closer …. it was fun tho!
Rome was crowded but fun. Hotel was nice and in a good location. We loved the vespa tour. Had a great tour guide for the vatican. If you put guests up in that same hotel again, definitely suggest that they eat a Circo – it is right around the corner and was the best meal we had in Italy. Delicious food – great atmosphere.
I will try and send some photos in a separate email. They are on my phone.
Thanks again for all your help. We had a wonderful trip.
Ciao!
Mary Hahn”
Mary Hahn Fetter (Charlotte, NC) – JUNE 2019
Cinque Terre Boat Tour
Visit in Tuscany
Wine tasting in Tuscany
Tarot Garden by Nikki de Saint
