Solo Italian Adventure Hotels
Where I Stayed in Venice, Florence, Siena and La Spezia
My Solo Italian Adventure began with a flight from London to Venice. After touching down at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, I made my way to the Alilaguna dock to be whisked out on to the Lagoon and down the Grand Canal, under Rialto Bridge to my hotel. I did quite a bit of research into finding hotels that were easy to get to with luggage, with a minimum of fuss and effort, my plan worked beautifully!! The lovely Hotel Rialto is right on the Grand Canal, vaporetto stop just outside, (almost), and the beautiful Rialto Bridge at the door. I was shown up to my room, which was tastefully decorated in typical Venetian style.
The Hotel Rialto is a rabbit warren of corridors, that go on forever…..the hotel seems to have gathered up all the buildings next to it and connected them all together to form the hotel that is there today. There are steps everywhere as the floors of the various original buildings were all on slightly different levels. I quickly found my way to the terrace and stood there for ages, in the rain, mesmerised by the action on the Grand Canal, before ambling off to Piazza San Marco. I hadn’t been to Venice for 8 years, it was so lovely to aimless wander the lane ways, bridges and piazzas acclimatising myself to my new surroundings.
My room in the Hotel Rialto was very comfortable, space for a desk and a small ensuite bathroom. Breakfast was served buffet style in the dining area looking over the canal, after enough coffee and pastries I felt I was fuelled up ready to spend the day exploring. I did have to check in on some work back at home in Sydney before I went out – the internet was very patchy up in my room, possibly because I was surrounded by Venetian palaces with very thick walls. The concierge gave me a corner of the reception area to set myself up with a temporary office, sitting underneath a Murano glass chandelier! I did what I had to do, packed up my temporary office, put the reception furniture back where it came from, re-displayed the hotels brochures and pamphlets on the table, and disappeared out of their way for the day.
The Hotel Rialto was a great base in Venice, so convenient, easy to find my way back to with Rialto Bridge so close, the staff were lovely. Many evenings were spent on the terrace, chatting with other guests or just looking at the amazing view. When it was time for me to leave to catch the vaporetto to the railway station for the next leg of my Solo Italian Adventure, it was sad to say goodbye (but I was coming back again for a few nights before catching my flight back to London).
Next stop – Florence
I had studied Google maps and done plenty of research on the best way to walk to the Hotel Atlantic Palace from the station in Florence. Once you are in the main station area, look for an escalator going down, then walk through the shopping mall then up a ramp on the left that gets you across the main road without having to worry about the wheels of your luggage getting caught in the tram tracks. From here I just had a short flat walk up the road and around the corner to my hotel, I checked in to Hotel Atlantic Palace and immediately dashed to the sister hotel, Hotel Machiavelli Palace, just a few doors down the road, they have a roof top terrace with a cocktail bar and bar menu of delicacies, and not so delicacies, (I had a hamburger!!) that go very nicely with an Aperol Spritz. I was starving having not eaten since breakfast and with a train delay, this became a late lunch/early dinner with an amazing view over the roof tops of Florence, with the domes of the Cathedral and Basilica right in front of me.
I then went for an evening stroll around Florence before heading back to Hotel Atlantic Palace for the night. My room was simple but very comfortable, the shower was good, I was then ready for a good nights sleep. The buffet style breakfast here was delicious too, very relaxing way to start the day. Again, the staff in the hotel were very friendly and helpful, it was early in the season. I imagine as spring becomes summer and the crowds arrive, they would get a bit frazzled!!
I spent four nights in Florence, it was the perfect hotel to stay in, safe, comfortable and easy to get to and from the station. Surrounded by restaurants, so you wouldn’t starve!! I do develop the habit when travelling by myself of eating breakfast in the hotel, then having a late lunch somewhere fabulous, then when in Italy, Aperitivo o’clock comes around and that’s dinner sorted.
Then off to Beautiful Medieval Siena
The railway station in Siena is at the bottom of the hill, and the town is at the top – not a problem, there is a series of escalators to get you up to Porto Camollia, the entrance gate to the medieval town. From here you just follow this path to Hotel Relais degli Angeli, a slightly more difficult walk that I had anticipated, some cobbly sections were hard going with luggage. When I left, I did wimp out and caught a taxi back to the station.
Hotel Relais degli Angeli is in a lovely old palace, part of which has been converted to an eight room boutique hotel, it was magnificent, it was like getting out of the lift into paradise. My room was spacious and airy, with French doors opening out on to a terrace, where the afternoon sun came streaming in. The medieval city of Siena is pedestrian only (apart from a small section at my hotel where the taxi could come and pick me up, then get out again) therefore exploring Siena is so easy, and it doesn’t matter if you get lost, you’ll be found again in no time! Again, it was very sad to leave Siena, I could have stayed forever, everything about the place is fantastic. The staff in the hotel were so helpful and lovely to chat with, three nights was not long enough….
Out to the Coast to La Spezia
Hotel Firenze e Continentale was about 50 metres from the station, perfect, so handy. My plan of making it as simple as possible to get everywhere I was going without needing help with luggage had come together perfectly. I checked in, my room had a dressing room and an enormous bathroom, with a bath and a little container of bath salts to add to it. There was plenty of room for me to set up my portable office, catch up on a bit of work to keep things ticking over back in Sydney. I made myself at home then went for a walk down through the town to the waterfront. The Hotel Firenze e Continentale has a really nice restaurant, so that was dinner sorted for my first evening.
The hotel is very conveniently located, close to the station, close to the town centre, a great base for exploring Cinque Terre – and lovely to come home to once you’ve had enough of the maddening crowds in the Cinque Terre villages. Exploring Cinque Terre and the surrounding areas was easy, trains nearby, buses nearby, and a pleasant walk through the town to the waterfront if going by boat.
The restaurant in the hotel, the Terminus Cafe, regularly has musicians playing in the evening, so if you just wanted to stay in after dinner and sit at the bar having a drink and listen to the music, it’s perfect.
And then back to Venice
The train arrived back in Venice right on time, I walked straight out, down the ramp and on to the vaporetto, and off we went down the Grand Canal to Rialto. I was welcomed back into the Hotel Rialto like a friend coming home, the staff all wanted to chat about where I had been in the few weeks since I left before showing me up to my room, I asked for a room that I didn’t have to walk up so many stairs to get back to at the end of the day. After I’ve walked 25,000 steps all over Venice, walking up 3 flights of steps was a bit much!!
It was a warm day in Venice, so the first thing I did was fling open the windows, only to find they opened on to a little square in the centre of the hotel, and half the staff were smoking out there! I quickly closed the windows and went back down to reception to see if I could swap to another room – they gave me a room, up one floor in the lift, then up a half flight of stairs to a smaller, in fact tiny room, but…… the window opened looking over the Grand Canal – aaaahhh, the magic of Venice!!
To read about The Art of Train Travel in Italy The Art of Train Travel in Italy between Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, La Spezia and Cinque Terre – all possible on your own, with luggage!
For ideas on places to visit in Florence and Venice, and more to come!!
Itinerary for my Trip Over to Italy
Flew from Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore, with Qantas on QF1, then QF2 to come home.
Stayed at the Royal Overseas League in St James’s.
Flew from London to Venice on British Airways.
Travelled Venice on Alilaguna Water Bus and Vaporettos.
Travelled from Venice to Florence, to Siena, to La Spezia and back to Venice by train.
Flew back to London on British Airways.
Had a quick run around Prague after a 4 hour train trip from Vienna. I was last in Prague 9 years ago, all seems familiar except Wenceslas Square....apart from the statue of Good King Wenceslas on his horse, the rest of the square that used to be an elegant collection of historic buildings, hotels, cafes, etc......has now turned into Oxford Street, London...Primark, C&A, Half Price, the list goes on......who thought that was a good idea????
#prague #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #charlesbridgeprague
The Hungarian Parliament Building from across the Danube at night ❄️ It was a freezing cold evening, but a quick trip under the Danube on the Metro to get a few photos is just what needs to he done!
#hungarianparliamentbuilding #budapest #soloteavel #traveltheworldwithme
Another short bus trip from Palermo in Sicily, up the coast to Mondello Beach✨️ lovely to walk along the promenade, but I have never had so many Indian market stall holders trying to sell me a sarong, and this was a quiet day in early spring, peak summer must be horrendous!!! I was hoping to have lunch at Alle Terrazze, a beautiful castle like restaurant just off the beach, but sadly they were closed for a private event, but further along I found a lovely seafood restaurant🥂
#solotravelinsicily #journeywoman #traveltheworldwithme #mondellobeach #sicily
In Erice, I stumbled upon Sicily`s ultimate pastry haven, but what should I try??? The struggle to resist buying it all was very real😋 I was not disappointed with my choice!!
#ericesicily #grammaticomaria #solotravelinsicily
Perched atop a hill in western Sicily lies the medieval city of Erice ✨️. Most of the current structures, including churches, castles, and the main entrance, date back to the 1100s. And yes, the ice cream is a more modern delight, made fresh that very day!!
#ericesicily #sicily #solotravelinsicily #medievalsicily #sicilianicecream
After catching the tram across the river, I strolled through Letna Park, there are stunning views of Prague`s Vltava river, the bridges and the castle, not to mention all the flowers in the park.
#flowerseverywhere #viewsfordays #praguelife #solotrip #walkinthepark
St Matthias Church in the Castle District near Fisherman`s Bastion. Climb the steep stone spiral staircase for a stunning view into the main church and explore the artifacts on display. This historic church dates back to the 11th century.
#solotrip #stmatthiaschurch #budapestcastledistrict
Hofburg Palace, the Habsburgs` stunning Vienna residence until 1918. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) indulged in royal luxury here and spent summers at Schonbrunn Palace. What a life!
#hofburgvienna #sisimuseum #soloadventure #vienna
As usual, when it cones to museums, I usually find the building more interesting than the exhibits!! Vienna Natural History Museum was no exception!!
#viennanaturalhistorymuseum #vienna #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
The largest synagogue in Europe, built in the 1850s, has been witness to unmentionable horrors during WWII including being bombed. It borders the ghetto where the Jews were left to die. In the garden cemetery there are tens of thousands of nameless bodies and a few that could be identified.
There us a very powerful museum housed here too.
#dohanystreetsynagogue #budapestarchitecture #budapest #soloadventure
Cesky Krumlov, a quaint medieval town in the south of the Czech Republic, a simple day trip by train from Prague....then lots and lots of walking on cobble stone paths!!
#ceskykrumlov #daytripfromprague #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Perched in the hills behind Palermo, Sicily, lies the charming town of Monreale. Easily accessible by bus from Palermo`s Porta Nuova, it makes for a delightful day trip.
1. Monreale Cathedral
2. A couple of well dress Sicilian police men.
3 & 4. The streets of Monreale
#monreale #monrealecathedral #italianpolice #solotravelinsicily #traveltheworldwithme
Aimlessly wandering around the streets of Prague - beautiful💖
#prague #praguelife #solotrip #praguearchitecture
Started off this morning heading to a market, but as I was passing St Stephen`s Basilica, the bells were ringing to signal a service was about to start. I figured that would be the way to get in without paying the hefty admission charge ✨️I took a few quick photos before things got underway! Then realised I was the only person there who didn`t know the words, or the actions, so when everyone stood up as part of their routine, as I was in the back row, I just backed out completely.....
#ststephensbasilica #budapest #solotravel #sundayinbudapest
On a day trip to Agrigento from Palermo, I had about 2 hours or more to wander around the ancient Greek ruins in the Valley of Temples ✨️Is it just me, or do you love walking around places knowing that others have been walking there for more than 2000 years too?
#agrigento #valleyofthetemples #solotravelinsicily #daytripfrompalermo #sicily
On a chilly Budapest morning, but the blue sky was a nice touch ✨️. I was planning to visit the Hungarian Parliament Building today... but Saturday crowds got the best of me! The exterior of this building is stunning, can`t wait to explore the inside.
#solotravel #hungarianparliamentbuilding #budapest #budapestarchitecture
On my solo adventure in Palermo, Quattro Canti became a familiar spot I visited almost daily ✨️ This iconic intersection of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the center of the city`s historic quarters - Kalsa, Seralcadi, Albergaria, and Castellammare all meet here.
In the evenings, it`s the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and plan a night out at one of the many restaurants on Via Maqueda.
#solotravelinsicily #palermo #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip #quattrocantipalermo
A day trip from Palermo to Sicily`s south coast took me to Agrigento, to visit the Valley of the Temples, an ancient Greek archeological park ✨️The Temple of Concordia is the most complete of these ancient ruins, with it`s very own Fallen Angel!!
#agrigento #valleyofthetemples #templeofconcordia #solotravelinsicily #daytripfrompalermo
Yesterday evenings stroll to walk off my enormous Christmas lunch ✨️ past Fortnum & Mason, up Bond St, past the Royal Arcade, then past all the fashion shops dressed up to the nines. Chanel was my favourite 💖 Then Oxford St and back down Regent St to Piccadilly. Londin really knows how to do Christmas lights 🥂✨️💖
#londonatchristmastime #christmaslights #streetsoflondon #bondstreetlondon #regentstreetlondon
Delicious Christmas lunch🎄 @royaloverseaslondon ✨️
We started with a few glasses of bubbles, and a variety of finger foods 🥂while making new friends.
Then moved on to a celeric and truffle foam amuse bouche (that I forgot to photograph!!). Follwed by smoked salmon, roast turkey and Christmas pudding.
I won`t need to eat for a week 💖
#christmaslunch🎄 #christmastimeinlondon #perfectday❤️ #londonlife #londoneats
A quick ferry trip across the Grand Harbour from Valletta to the area known as the Three Cities. Grab a seat up on the top deck forthe best views. Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua are all worth exploring on foot, cobbled streets, little parks, the maritime museum just near where the ferry arrives, and the Knights of St John HQ at the amazing Fort St Angelo, not to mention the harbour full of yachts of all shapes and sizes.
Read more about my solo 10 day trip over to Malta by clicking the link to my website in the bio.
#malta #valletta #threecitiesmalta #solotravelinmalta #solotravelwoman
Finally a sunny day in Budapest, strolling on Margrit Island, great weather, no complaints, perfect!
#margritisland #budapest #soloadventure #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
More sculptures in the streets, and I found another one of the minitures that are dotted all over the city. It`s hard to tell what it is, but perched on the wall near the castle, the little guy in the last photo is looking through his telecope at the city below!!
#streetsculptures #budapest #artinthe streets #solotravel
Back to Schonbrunn Palace to see the Imperial Apartments. Gold was definitely the order of the day ✨️ but I reckon I could live there quite comfortably with a few more mod cons!!
#schönbrunnpalace #imperialapartments #traveltheworldwithme #solotrip
Popped into Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly yesterday evening ✨️ mainly to have a look at the new double helix staircase built up the middle of the store. Disappointed that they had no feature decorations hanging down the centre of it!!
The lower floors were absolutely packed with people, if one person moved, they all had to. I took a few pics and made a run for it!!
#fortnums #shoppinginlondon #doublehelixstaicase #londonlife #solotravel
Exploring Erice ✨️ a medieval city perched high on a hill in western Sicily. It`s a beautiful spot to wander around for a few hours. The city has roots in the pre-Roman era, but most of the structures standing today date back to the Normans in 1148.
I was going to make my own way there on the train from Palermo to Trapani, then up to Erice on the cable car, but I found a small group tour that went to Erice, Trapani Salt Pans and Segesta so joined that instead. It meant I missed spending time in Trapani town centre, but I wouldn`t have been able to get to the Temple of Segesta by myself. You win some, you lose some!!
That just means one day I`ll have to go back to Sicily again 💖🥂!!
#erice #ericesicily #sicily #solotravelinsicily #medievalsicily
.....further to my previous post. I walked past Hochstrahlbrunne, a fountain built in 1873 to celebrate the opening of Vienna`s high pressure water system. Then once I arrived at Schloss Belvedere, I found that this was not the place to be at Easter. There was one long queue to buy a ticket to stand in one of 3 other long queues to get in!!! Even one of the staff on crowd control said he had never seen it like this - I`ll go back after the Easter weekend crowds have left.
#vienna #viennaeaster #soloteavel #changeofplans
Sunrise on my last day in London, after a few very cold, cloudy days, today we are going with a freezing 2 degrees, and sunshine ❄️❄️❄️
#sunriseinlondon #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #londonlife #coldmornings❄️ #solotrip
Panoramic views from the medieval city of Erice, gazing out towards Palermo, far away and over the hills, across the north coast of Sicily. ✨️ My thoughts are with those in Sicily, Malta, and southern Italy who have lost so much due to Cyclone Harry.
#ericesicily #solotravelinsicily #viewfromthetop #medievalsicily
The Design Museum over in South Kensington, the `Malta` paving stone was front and centre!!
#londondesignmuseum #southkensington #seeeverythingdoeverything #londonlife
Explored the stunning Belvedere Palace in Vienna, a former imperial residence that`s truly breathtaking. The gardens were gorgeous, especially with the ponds and fountains coming to life now that winter`s loosening its grip, slightly....!!
#belvedere #schlossbelvedere #vienna #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
A morning walk through St James`s Park on Christmas Day✨️all rugged up and ready for anything 3 degrees throws at me. A beautiful blue sky day in London. Then we eat, drink and be merry....then, maybe, go for another walk.....
#stjamesspark #londonatchristmastime #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #traveltheworldwithme #blueskiesandsunshine
Chilly morning in Vienna today, but apparently its going to warm up big time tomorrow! First stop Naschmarkt, then strolling past Karlskirche on my way to Schloss Belvedere.......
#naschmarkt #karlskirche #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
The streets of Valletta, Malta. Endless hours of exploring this amazing place. A wonderful place for solo travellers, easy to get around and very safe. Something for everyone, especially for history buffs!!
#solotrip #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #solotravelinmalta
Sicily`s hidden gem! Strolling through Cefalu`s ancient rock arches, where the Mediterranean waves crash against the rocks on one side and calm awaits for a swim on the other.
#cefalu #cefalú #cefalubeach #cefalusicily #Sicily #sicilylife #historicsicily #soloadventure #solotrip #solotravelinsicily #traveltheworldwithme #exploretheworld
In the London Bridge area on the south side of the Thames, after visiting the Versace exhibition at The Arches, I walked down past The Shipwrights Arms across to Hay`s Galleria....used to be Hay`s Wharf....now shops, restaurants, Christmas stalls, and a giant Christmas Tree.
Went to the Gianni Versace exhibition over at The Arches, near London Bridge ✨️ Not many people there, so a lovely break from the crowds.
#gianniversace #thearches #londonbridge #highfashiom #londonlife
In search of somewhere to have lunch, I walked down from Piazza del Duomo in the heart of Cefalu, there were many restaurants to choose from. I settled into a lovely place with a deck surrounded by the waves crashing over the rocks and a delicious meal, before continuing to explore the lovely town of Cefalu.
#cefalu #cefalucathedral #cefalusicily #piazzadelduomo #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #tableforone #visitcefalu #crashingwaves #exploretheworld #solotravelinsicily #SoloTravelMagic
At this time every year Sydney Harbour is filled with light for Vivid Sydney.
#vividsydney #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After visiting the Easter Markets at Schonbrunn Palace , I went for a walk up through the gardens, all the way up to the `Gloriette` at the top of the hill way off in the distance.
The Gloriette was built in 1775 for no other reason than the view - when the Habsburgs were sitting on the balcony of their summer Schloss, they wanted something nice to look at, so they had the Gloriette built along with a few ponds and fountains. The world became a better place!!
#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #solotravel #habsburgfamilyresidence #vienna
Just a short hop from Palermo, the markets in Monreale were getting ready for the day, filled with traditional Sicilian Moor`s Heads, or Testa di Moro.
#moorsheads #testadimoro #monreale #solotravelinsicily
Beautiful day to have another amble around the gardens at Schonbrunn Palace after exploring the Imperial Apartments, in another month these gardens will be in full bloom☀️☀️☀️
#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #palacegardens #solotrip
Exploring Prague with lots of walking and lots of tram rides! Walking across Charles Bridge, up to the castle, through Lesser Town, into New Town, and historic Old Town.
#prague #praguelife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
At the top of Wenceslas Square stands the National Museum in Prague, an impressive building with breathtaking views from the Cupola.
#praguenationalmuseum #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
After visiting the Duomo di Cefalu, I followed the path behind the Duomo, which leads to the path to walk up Rocca di Cefalu. The giant rocky headland that promises amazing views and remains of old castles. By the time I was at the half way point, my knees were saying `nope, we`re good, here is enough`!! No need to go further up, I went back down to sea level and continued to explore the beautiful town of Cefalu.
#cefalù #cefalucathedral #roccadicefalù #amazingviews #oceanviews #historicsicily #solotravelinsicily #solotrip #traveltheworldworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything #exploretheworld #traveladdict
Arriving in Vienna, I found my hotel at set off exploring the neighbourhood, the architecture is all gobsmacking, but hard to get far enough away from to photograph!!
#vienna #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring #solotravel
After visiting Monreale Cathedral and marveling at all the gold✨️ I enjoyed a serene walk around town. With most people still attending the service, I had the place almost to myself.
#monreale #monrealecathedral #solotravelinsicily #traveltheworldwithme #neverstopexploring
Vienna is magnificent to just wander around aimlessly, the buildings, the parks, everything, just perfect.
#vienna #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme
Caught the train from Vienna to Bratislava for a day trip. Walking up the hill to visit the castle is not for the faint hearted!! And the walk back down 🥴 brutal on the dodgy knee!!! But I made it 😃!!!
#bratislava #daytripfromvienna #daytripfromviennatobratislava #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
