They say all roads lead to Rome, which is great, because swapping busy city life for a sun-soaked Italian road trip couldn’t be easier. While it would take a lifetime to get to know all of Rome, renting a car online gives visitors complete freedom to see the rest of Italy in all its glory. Whether it’s hiking across craggy coastlines that drop away to brooding seas below, or wandering through color-splashed villages – dotted with blooming flowers – an Italian road trip can offer something for everyone.

There are two main options when setting off from Rome on a road trip – north or south? Starting with the northern option, take the E35 road – which becomes the A1 – and drive up to Florence. After a smooth two and a half hour drive, cutting through emerald green countryside, visitors will arrive at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as the birthplace of renaissance art, and people from across the world flock to see Michelangelo’s Statue of David, which stands defiantly in the Accademia Gallery. Magnificent architecture waits around every corner, with the cathedral providing the highlight – with an incredible, wrinkled façade, and the world’s largest brick dome. Climb to the top for an unbeatable view over the city’s red roofs – the 414 steps also help visitors to burn off excess calories, after overindulging in pasta and dark red Chianti Classico wine.

Reluctantly leaving Florence behind, continue the road trip by driving west to Pisa, where photo opportunities with the Leaning Tower await. By this point, the jaw-dropping Cinque Terre coastline is also within easy reach. Leave the car in the town of La Spezia before hopping on the local train and trundling into the forested mountains that hide the coastline’s five famous towns. Clusters of pastel-colored buildings perch on the Cinque Terre’s stunning cliffs, and the lack of road access lends the isolated towns an authentic feel. Hikers can move between the five towns in around an hour and a half, and feel the spray from turquoise waves crashing against dramatic cliffs as they walk.

Another option is to drive south from Rome, towards the sprawling city of Naples. Sandwiched between the brewing Campi Flegrei volcano and the ominous cone of Mount Vesuvius, the city’s spectacular natural setting is only beaten by its contribution to Italian culture. Wander through the narrow streets of Europe’s largest historical city center – another World Heritage Site – before biting into a slice of simple but stunning margarita pizza, drizzled with freshly pressed olive oil, in the birthplace of the pizza.

Visitors to Naples are also perfectly placed to discover Pompeii’s volcanic history, and can walk through the eerie remains of the Roman town, which was buried under ash in 79 AD. If some sun, sea, and sand appeals, the Amalfi coast is a 30-minute drive away. The town’s crescent shaped beach is an idyllic spot to lie back with a dripping ice cream, and watch as colorful fishing boats bob gently on the water. 

Post by Luke. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt! // Photography Credits: 1 and 2.

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So I’ve lately become Pinterest-obsessed. OBSESSED, I tell you. To the point where Dan and I will be sitting on the couch together, marathon-watching whatever TV show we’re currently into (right now it’s American Horror Story. Jessica Lange kills me. Forget Helen Mirren, I want to age into Jessica Lange. The woman is 64 and doesn’t look a day over 42. Those cheekbones! Stunning.), and I’ll be furtively sneaking peeks at my phone, refreshing the page over and over to see the latest pins.

It’s a sickness, and I am not ashamed.

Anyway, one of my favorite topics to search (after squee-inducing baby animals and bitchy SomeECards), is – you guessed it – travel. It’s pretty much the ultimate travel porn site. Lots of pretty pictures of lots of pretty places? SIGN ME UP.

One of my biggest regrets (if you could even really call it that) when it comes to our 2011 tour through Europe was our omission of Spain. Now, I’ve actually been to Barcelona, back in 2005, when my friends and I made a weekend excursion there whilst studying abroad in France. Even just those three days were enough to make me wish we’d had a much, MUCH longer stay. Of course, as broke college students traveling through countries where the exchange rate didn’t favor us, we ended up staying in some cheap, sketchy hostel, though if – ahem, when – I make my grand return to Spain, I’ll definitely choose one from amongst these gorgeous Barcelona hotels.

I’d definitely hit Barcelona again – the wild architecture of the city and the carnival that is Las Ramblas are too fantastic to never see again – though I’d also add in Madrid and Sevilla. More than anything, though, I’m dying to see the Moorish architecture in cities like Cordoba and Granada.

Supposedly a great deal of the beauty of Moorish/Islamic art is based in its sacred geometry – the idea that certain shapes and proportions are particularly meaningful or symbolic. I don’t know much about it, and I don’t think I need to in order to appreciate its inherent worth.

Besides, did you see that recipe for gazpacho? Delicious! (I pinned it twice, for good measure.) (No, I didn’t.) (Help.)

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As a unified state, the Kingdom of Italy only emerged in the second half of the 19th century, a fusion of the Latin (Roman) region and the more rural south. The name Italy can be traced back to ancient times, but was originally used by Greek settlers to refer to the southernmost part of the peninsula only. Its heritage is culturally rich, from the rise of the Etruscan, Hellenic, and Roman civilizations in ancient times to the key role Italy placed in the European Renaissance of the late Middle Ages; influential artists Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo left a legacy that continues to attract millions of visitors even today.

Over centuries, Italy has inspired artists, poets, writers and architects: for those looking for more contemporary inspiration, the country is home to some of the most inspiring fashion designers and popular cuisines in the world. With a landscape and a climate like Italy’s, it’s not that hard to see why. Explore this Mediterranean country for yourself and let the muse take you.

Most beautiful places in Italy

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s top tourist destinations and is home to some of the country’s wealthiest, glitziest resorts, including the glorious island of Capri.

The Aeolian Islands are a rugged collection of small, volcanic islands clustered between Naples and Sicily; the largest, Lipari is known for its pumice stone quarry, while Stromboli will strike a chord with Bergman aficionados.

The Italian Lakes region encompasses the lakes Maggiore, Como, Garda and Orta.  The area has been popular for over a century, with elegant spa towns and fin de siècle hotels making the perfect out-of-season retreat. Other towns, such as Torbole, fill up with water sports enthusiasts come high season.

Urbino was once the home of three Renaissance greats – the artists Botticelli, Piero della Francesca and Raphael. A World Heritage Site today, it’s not far from the popular resort of Rimini and affords glorious views from its hilltop location.

The Dolomite Mountains form the Italian range of the Alps.  They are a popular skiing destination in winter and for hiking in summer.

Popular attractions

The canals of Venice have long been synonymous with romance, and Venice attracts millions of tourists every year who travel to this ‘city of love’ for the unique architecture, the atmospheric passageways, the canals and the gondolas. As such, there’s no off-season in Venice: book a hotel well in advance to be sure of a room.

With its many antiquities, including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Castel Sant’Angelo, the ancient city of Rome is one of Italy’s perennial tourist attractions.

Around 2.5 million tourists each year visit Pompeii near Naples.  They come to see the spooky remains of the 1,700 year-old Roman city that was preserved in volcanic ash after the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is why most people visit this medieval center of commerce in northern Tuscany; it took more than a century to finish, having begun to sink into its poorly laid foundations shortly after construction began in 1173. It’s possible today to climb the 296 steps to the top of the tower.

Florence is like one vast outdoor museum, so numerous are its artistic and architectural treasures, which are scattered across galleries, churches and museums; Michelangelo’s David continues to leave onlookers in awe 500 years after it was commissioned, while the Uffizi gallery is home to one of the greatest collection of paintings in the world. The city’s beautiful cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore boasts one of the largest domes ever built.

Many visitors come to Tuscany for its beautiful landscape and stunning, well-preserved historic towns, such as Siena, which has managed to retain most of the masterpieces of art and architecture produced in the region’s medieval heyday.

In addition, cities such as Naples, Milan, Genoa, and Bologna are all fascinating settlements with a rich history, wonderful architecture and plenty of shopping and dining possibilities.

Getting to and around Italy

Most visitors from the U.S. and Canada arrive in Italy by plane, and there are numerous airports, including Venice, Rome, Naples, and Milan, that offer international connections. The best prices can be found by taking a little time to google flights to find the best deals. If arriving from other countries in Europe or wishing to tour the region, the state-owned Italian train network Trenitalia is remarkably comprehensive and very reasonably-priced. Hiring a car is also an option for those wishing to see the more remote parts of the country.   

Guest post by Aimee Claire. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt, Aimee!

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All right, all right. So Maryland and West Virginia aren’t really “The South” as we know it from TV, what with its charming drawls and sprawling antebellum architecture. But it’s south of New York and besides, “Scenes from a Few of the Mid-Atlantic States” just doesn’t have the same sexy ring to it.

Anyway, Dan and I took a road trip to these two states back in August and because this year is LITERALLY FLYING PAST ME (I know that this is not just me. Everyone agrees that 2013 shall go down in history as the year that could not wait to be over. And yet, I’m having a super great year and I don’t really want it to be over. Odd-numbered years are sort of my jam), I am just now getting around to blogging about it. 

So here she blows! Photos and recommendations from our long weekend, two months ago. Enjoy.

^^ Tootsies on the dash and the open road. My nail polish looks fabulous, if I do say so myself. (Color is Jelly Apple by Essie.) ^^

^^ Arriving in historic Thomas, West Virginia. Most towns call themselves “historic” because they have no better claim to fame, but Thomas is, quite literally, historic – walking down the main (only!) street feels like stepping back in time. It was a coal mining boom town in the early 1900s, and while it’s a sleepy little place these days, the shops along East Avenue have been lovingly and carefully preserved. ^^

^^ Miners & Merchants Bank, the only bank in town. ^^

^^ We stayed at the Purple Fiddle Hostel & Guest House (again, the only one of its kind in town, which you’ll notice is a trend around those parts). Don’t you just love the giant red faces on those beautiful sunflowers? ^^

^^ Snacks at Tip Top Coffee Bar, which were almost painfully delicious. When we arrived in Thomas, we stopped first at the Purple Fiddle Cafe, where Dan was playing, figuring we could drop off his equipment and grab a coffee there. We asked for coffees at the counter and the girl goes, “You don’t want our coffee. Go to Tip Top, out the door and to your right, about 40 paces. They make the best coffee in town, like a real Brooklyn cafe.”
The reasons I loved that were twofold: one, because every store in town can be described by the number of paces to get there. And two, because it was literally the best coffee I’ve ever had outside of Paris. Far better than any Brooklyn cafe. ^^

^^ This gave me a throw-my-head-back, deep belly laugh. Who needs a glass when you can put the citrus right on the can? Heretofore referred to as, “West Virginia style.” ^^

^^ My cute guy doing his thing at the Purple Fiddle. In addition to seriously delicious sandwiches and a whole heap of craft beers, the cafe serves what they call “karma soup.” Anyone who’s hungry and doesn’t have money to eat can ask at the counter for a bowl of karma soup and it’s free, every time, no questions asked. Good karma, indeed. ^^

^^ Frederick, Maryland was all pretty town house after pretty town house. I loved this one especially for its crimson door and Mini Cooper (my fave!) parked out front. Every time I pass a place like this I think, I could live here. ^^

^^ One of the coolest things about Frederick was the abundance of murals gracing the sides of its buildings. This one actually startled me at first, when I turned a corner and came upon it. The painted man has “Mona Lisa eyes”: you know the ones, they watch you and move when you move. The white shapes behind him aren’t ghosts; they’re his wings. And if you haven’t read the Gabriel García Márquez story “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,” you should just stop whatever you’re doing and go read it because it will break your heart in all the right ways. Go ahead, we’ll wait. ^^

We stayed overnight in Thomas because of Dan’s performance schedule there, but both Thomas and Frederick are perfect towns for lingering in for a few hours and then passing through. The shop owners keep regular hours and they all do only one thing, but they do that thing very well. Towns like these are small and simple and lovely, like a daydream you had on a cool, cloudy day, and it’s not easy to find this kind of America anymore.

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One of the strangest things about having a normal schedule again (“normal” meaning that I work approximately 20 hours a week at times varying from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and anywhere in between) – really I should just say “job” – one of the strangest things about having a job again is how quickly time passes. I mean, you guys, a month has passed since my last post. YOU GUYS.

Anyway, in that time we moved to a new apartment in Manhattan that I pretend is the Upper West Side (yuppies!) but is really Washington Heights (papis!). No one who lives outside of New York will get or care about that joke and yet, I am not changing it. 

Our new place is pretty fab: it’s got the original crown molding, hardwood parquet floors, and three – count ’em – THREE huge closets, as well as a bathtub that I can legitimately lay down in. The only problem with having an apartment that is significantly larger than any place that I’ve lived in throughout my entire adult life is that we have hardly any furniture. So it looks pretty . . . sparse.

Living out of a suitcase for a year would give anyone a deep appreciation for the minimalist aesthetic (that’ll teach you to pack LIGHT, that’s for sure), but after five weeks of being here, it’s bordering on slightly unfortunate. Not to mention the corner of stacked DVDs and other assorted crap, plus the as-yet-unpacked box of frames that will remain so until I get proper prints of our wedding photos, sigh.

The biggest challenge is our living room. Essentially, we want it to be a truly multi-purpose room: appropriate for entertaining guests, for Dan as an office/workspace, for me to practice/teach yoga in, and finally, a cozy nook for reading would be nice.

I’ve been thinking that something like this Fiera Chaise would be perfect for the corner by the window – I’ve always secretly longed for a chair like this for napping, daydreaming, pretend-fainting. (“My word, this corset is simply too tight! Oh! Maeve, be a dear and fetch my smelling salts!”)

I love that it’s a fairly substantial piece of furniture, but the white sandy color keeps it light and airy – always a plus in my book. Anyone seen anything like it in the U.S.? Anyone? Bueller?

Anyway, holler at yer girl if you have thoughts, ideas, home photos to show, design expertise to share, life advice to impart…making decisions is hard work. :-/

(<< It’s hard to tell here, but I organized our bookcase by color! If you look closely, you can also see the Mexican Day of the Dead skulls we picked up from our honeymoon in Cancun. Yay for souvenirs!)

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