Ridhima and Lalit – Italy
Ridhima and Lalit relished custom-made pizzas, ancient architecture and romantic gondola rides on their honeymoon in some of Italy’s most historic cities
After a beautiful wedding in New Zealand, Ridhima and Lalit headed to Italy for their honeymoon, and here they share their memorable experiences.
Honeymoon Planning
“Lalit is a history junkie and I am a lover of arts, so Italy won our hearts instantly with its magnificent architecture and stunning art. Plus, Italy has one of the eternal destinations for romance – Venice. We had shortlisted Egypt, Paris, Greece and Italy as all these locations offered what we liked, but Italy won hands down thanks to Venice,” shares Ridhima.
Honeymoon Highlights
The couple visited Rome, Vatican City, Naples, the Ruins of Pompeii, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Milan, FoxTown Outlet stores in Switzerland during their honeymoon. In Rome they stayed at Hotel Caprice, while in Florence they booked into Hotel Universo and Santa Maria Novella. From Florence, they went to Pisa on a guided tour. In Milan, Ridhima and Lalit put up at the Hotel Carrobbio and enjoyed exploring the city and shopping. The couple stayed at Hotel Paganelli in Venice, and loved the famous gondola ride and live music as Piazza San Marco (Saint Mark’s Square).
Best Meal
“We were visiting Piazza Navona in Rome which is a large and lively square, and there was a whole street of pizzerias opposite it. We decided to dine at the Panzirone pizzeria and joked to the waiter that we wanted a Chicken Pizza. By the way, there is no Chicken Pizza on any pizza menu in Italy! The waiter agreed to serve us exactly what we wanted saying that the restaurant would not deny a special request and that one custom-made onion and chicken pizza was coming up. We were so excited to have a pizza customized to our tastes. We had a great view of the piazza from our table, and we relished the pizza, delectable cups of coffee and live violin music – all of which made this our best meal in Italy,” recollects Ridhima.
Romantic Moment
“After months of stressful wedding planning, there is nothing more relaxing than cruising through Venice on a gondola with the one you love,” shares Ridhima, adding, “We opted to take the gondola cruise in the evening as we felt that the setting sun would make the whole experience more romantic and unforgettable. Our moments on the gondola were truly memorable as we witnessed the beautiful sunset and were surrounded by the breathtaking view of Venice.”
Advice for Couples
Ridhima and Lalit share their city-specific recommendations, must-try experiences and advice for other couples who are planning to visit Italy on their honeymoon.
City-Specific Recommendations
Rome
“Rome contains many picture-perfect surroundings for romance with its beautiful churches, historic piazzas (squares), charming gelaterias with tables for two, and the ancient ruins which look striking at sunset. Rome is the hub for rich history, delicious food, latest fashions and above all, love and romance. For lovers of history, must-visit places include the Colosseum, Piazza Navona and the Spanish Steps. There is a saying that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ – and this certainly seems true when you visit this beautiful city. There is something about Rome that makes you fall in love with Italian culture as well as the person you are with. The city makes you feel that you are living in another era altogether.”
Vatican City
“The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica and Saint Peters Square are must-visit places. We recommend booking a guided tour as the walls and halls of the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica are covered with richly detailed tapestries, frescoes, sculptures and paintings that may overwhelm you. There is so much to absorb and discover in these places, so a good guide is a must.”
Florence
“Florence is the birthplace of gelato, has charming narrow streets and exudes the historical vibe of the Renaissance. Couples should definitely add this city to their Italy itinerary.”
Pisa
“Have fun taking cheesy, touristy photos at the Leaning Tower of Pisa which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We recommend booking a guided tour to learn more about this attraction – it is worth every penny.”
Milan
“Milan is a paradise for shoppers with top brands like Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo… you name the designer brand and it is here. Also worth visiting is the Milan Duomo (Cathedral of Milan), which is one of the biggest and grandest Gothic cathedrals in the world. The beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, and you feel like you are walking and shopping inside a painting.”
Venice
“The gondola ride is our top recommendation in Venice, hands down! The pizzerias in San Marco’s Square play live music so the ambiance becomes very romantic during the evenings.”
Must-try Experiences
Food
“The wine, cheese, coffee and gelatos! I still remember our tour guide in Pompeii asked if we could imagine our lives without mozzarella? I cannot!” says Ridhima.
Exploring
“Ditch the cabs and try to explore different locations in Italy on foot. There are so many interesting street corners and the beauty of the place won’t make you feel tired one bit.”
Relax:
“It’s your honeymoon, not an expedition. At the end of the day, it’s all about spending time with your partner, relaxing together and not fussing if you miss out on anything. We spent two to four days per city on our honeymoon. That way we had one day for sightseeing and the other for relaxing which allowed us to have the best of both worlds.”
Where They Stayed
Hotel Caprice, Rome
Hotel Universo, Florence
Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Hotel Carrobbio, Milan
Hotel Paganelli, Venice
To book a bespoke romantic trip for two, click here
