Anyone who knows me knows how proud I am of my Italian heritage. Naturally, when I visited Florence, Gubbio, and Todi last year I took several Instagram photos of my short trip to Italy. Florence is in Tuscany while Gubbio and Todi are in in the Umbria region.
Though the October weather didn’t cooperate completely, I still managed to capture several places we visited on Instagram. When I was younger I did a semester abroad in Florence, which I think is why it remains one of my favorite places in the world. I have been back several times, but on this trip I took my wife for the first time.
Here are some of highlights of our Italian journey!
Florence with Il Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore) in the background
Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Meandering the streets of the old town in Florence
Can’t control the urge for gnocchi on our first day in Florence
Fontana del Porcellino in the Mercato Nuovo
“Visitors to Il Porcellino put a coin into the boar’s gaping jaws, with the intent to let it fall through the underlying grating for good luck, and they rub the boar’s snout to ensure a return to Florence”
-Wikipedia
Facade of Il Duomo in all its gothic glory
Ponte Vecchio at dusk – Definitely one of the most famous vistas in Italy
Sushi in Italy?! This is Fusion, one of Florence’s best restaurants
Florence by night is a great break from daytime tourist crowds
View from the roof of our hotel apartment in Florence
Closer look at the Ponte Vecchio from the bank of the Arno River
Charming street in Florence
Had to make time to do some shopping at the infamous fashion outlets outside of Florence. The Gucci store is quite impressive in size!
A warm welcome of fiore di zucca (zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese and fried) at my aunt’s house in Gubbio
Planning to visit Gubbio and want to know the favorite things to do here? Here’s a list of top things to do in Gubbio.
Weekend flea market in Gubbio
Medieval buildings in Gubbio as a backdrop to the flea market
Piazza Grande, or Piazza della Signoria, is Gubbio’s main square
Fascinating architecture in the old town of Gubbio
More homemade Italian food courtesy of my aunt
Riding up in the Gubbio funicular to get panoramic views of the town
The Gubbio funicular – a must-do when in Umbria!
From above you can really see the Medieval quarter of Gubbio
And my aunt cooks again, this time it’s thinly sliced roasted pork topped olive oil, fresh herbs and spices
A jug of my uncle Aldo’s homemade wine
Prosciutto ham to start off another fantastic homemade meal
Goodbye, Gubbio! Todi here we come.
We have arrived it Todi, another amazing Medieval town in Umbria and where I have family
A dynamite plate of ravioli with tartufo (truffle) cream sauce topped with grated truffles
Cathedral in the Piazza del Popolo (“People’s Square”)
View from a lookout point in the old town on a very foggy morning
Il Tempio di San Fortunato, one of Todi’s most magnificent churches dating back to the 13th century
Todi’s Piazza del Popolo with its unusual bell tower is one of Italy’s oldest intact public buildings
Truffle pizza lunch, anyone?
The quintessential Italian snack – prosciutto, salami, and parmesan cheese slices
Have you visited any towns in Tuscany or Umbria? Tell us about it! Leave a comment below.
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Melissa says:
I’m planning my honeymoon trip in Italy and you have really changed my impressions about Gubbio. Love the pictures and feed us more please!
Melissa
David says:
Hi Melissa, Thanks for your comment and my apologies for getting back to you so late. I’m so glad that you loved the photos. Gubbio is authentic and charming so I do hope you’ve added it to the honeymoon plans 🙂
Pamela Anderson says:
Italy should be on everyone’s bucket list, beautiful country. Truffle pizza sounds amazing!
Sakkar says:
I loved the duomo in Siena, there is nothing like it. It is the most beautiful cathedral i have ever seen and I have seen many all over Spain, Florence, England, etc, Cinque Terre is worth a visit and so is San Gimiano and Assissi in Umbria.
Alfred says:
It’s quite unusual to see a small island like Giannutri mentionned here, but, definitly , it’s one of the last untouched real mediterranean places.
Sand In My Suitcase says:
Truffle pizza? Yes, please! Your photos make us want to visit Italy again soon!
David says:
Thank you! That truffle pizza was out of control!
Barry says:
Hi
We spent two summers sailing down the Italian coast and a lot of the adjacent islands as we went of which the Tuscan Islands of Elbe and Giannutri were our favourites. With crystal clear water and plenty do places to anchor they were idealic.
Would go back tomo we had such good fun in Italy.
Love the pics Barry
David says:
Thank you for the comment, Barry. I’m glad you liked the pictures of my family’s towns in Italy. I would love to visit Elbe and Giannutri one day. That’s how Italy is – it makes you addicted so you keep going back!