After nine incredible weeks, five countries, countless kilometres and more food and wine than we’d probably like to admit, we’re home!
Our European adventure was something we had dreamed about for a long time, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. From long lunches in Italy and tiny laneways in Croatia to chasing the Tour de France, swimming in the Adriatic and discovering some brilliant little bars along the way, it was a trip full of unforgettable moments.
First stop – Malta
Our adventure began in Malta, where the holiday pace kicked in almost immediately. Beautiful old streets, warm Mediterranean days and plenty of time sitting around tables enjoying good food and a drink or two. Days on the crystal clear water and visiting the streets of our families past meant so much along with the best pastizzi we have ever eaten.
We also had a very exciting event happen whilst we were there with the engagement of our beautiful Daughter and soon to be amazing Son in Law! It was such a wonderful moment to celebrate with them whilst in Malta.
Overall it was the perfect introduction to the European summer – slowing down, wandering rather than rushing, and quickly remembering that some of the best travel experiences happen over a meal.
Eating our way through Italy
From Malta we made our way to Sicily, what an amazing next stop! We travelled to Taormina where food and culture combines for the ultimate experience and the amazing water once again to wash away the Australian winter, before continuing through one of the biggest parts of our trip – Italy.
We travelled through the Amalfi Coast, Rome, Montepulciano and Tuscany, Florence, Bologna, Venice and Turin, and each region felt completely different.
And, of course, we ate VERY well.
There was pizza and pasta, fresh seafood on the coast, beautiful cheeses and cured meats, gelato whenever the opportunity presented itself, and plenty of Campari & Cynar Spritzes along with the best Negronis.
The Amalfi Coast – la dolce vita
The Amalfi Coast was everything we remembered it to be – dramatic cliffs, colourful villages cascading down to the sea and that incredible blue Mediterranean water.
With Sorrento as part of our adventure, we explored some of the coast’s most beautiful spots. We wandered the picture-perfect streets of Positano, visited Amalfi and headed high into the hills to Ravello, where the views over the coastline were simply spectacular. we dined where the locals eat and enjoyed watching a travel show being filmed in the beautiful hilltop piazzas of Ravello.
A trip across to Capri was another highlight, with its glamorous atmosphere, gorgeous coastline and crystal-clear water giving us yet another taste of the Italian summer we had once enjoyed. We met some new friends along the way, a boat through the Blue Grotto and once again visted the best restaurant in Capri, Ristorante Il Geranio. Fresh seafood, pasta, limoncello and delicious wine overlooking the Mediterranean became the order of the day.
From Sorrento to Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Capri, this part of Italy was beautiful, busy, colourful and a little chaotic – but that was all part of its charm. La dolce vita at its very best.
Rome – history around every corner
Rome was an incredible mix of history, culture and, of course, amazing food. We explored the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Vatican City, with something spectacular seemingly around every corner. Visiting the Leonardo Mueseum was a highlight of this trip and the food tour that took us across the Tiber River to Trastevere, one of Rome’s most atmospheric neighbourhoods known for its cobbled streets, colourful buildings, traditional trattorias and lively bars.
Days of sightseeing were balanced perfectly with pasta, pizza, gelato, Birra, Campari and Negronis in little trattorias and piazzas. There’s nothing quite like wandering the streets of Rome and realising you’re surrounded by thousands of years of history.
Montepulciano – wine, history & Tuscan charm
Montepulciano was everything we hoped a Tuscan hilltop town would be – beautiful stone streets, incredible views and, of course, fabulous wine. We visited the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Piazza Grande and explored the historic Cantina De’ Ricci, with its incredible underground catherdral cellars carved deep beneath the town, followed by a tasting of the famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Another highlight was our Tuscan cooking class, where we rolled up our sleeves and learnt to prepare traditional Italian dishes using beautiful local ingredients – before sitting down together to enjoy everything we had made, accompanied by a glass or two of local wine!
Villa Le Botti, Montespertoli
Our home for the week was the beautiful Villa Le Botti in Montespertoli, nestled high in the Tuscan hills amongst vineyards and olive groves. It was the perfect place to celebrate my brother’s 50th with family – days by the pool, exploring the surrounding villages and evenings sharing wine and watching the sun set over the Tuscan countryside. We created delicious meals we love to eat and cooked with simple local produce, purchased from small villages surrounding our villa. Beautiful meats, pasta, good wine and no reason to rush away from the table. Another wonderful Tuscan experience was our visit to Fattoria San Michele a Torri, where we toured the historic cellars and tasted their beautiful organic Chianti wines and olive oil. Surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and the rolling Chianti countryside, it was another one of those quintessential Tuscan moments. We also visited the famous Antica Macelleria Cecchini, home of Dario the Butcher where we were entertained and dined on his Panzano lunch, truly a feast to remember.
Florence - Renaissance Beauty & Tuscan Flavours
From Tuscany we headed into Florence, and what a beautiful city. Everywhere you turn there seems to be another incredible building, piazza, church or piece of history.
We wandered the streets taking in the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and climbing the Duomo in nearly 40 degree heat! Afterwards while making plenty of stops along the way for gelato and, naturally, a glass of wine and cold birra. And then there was the food! Florence delivered everything we love about Italian eating – simple ingredients done exceptionally well. Fresh pasta, Tuscan meats, pecorino, prosciutto, crusty bread and beautiful local wines all featured heavily. One of the things we loved most was the Florentine approach to eating: find a great little trattoria, order a few local dishes, order a carafe of the house wine and settle in. No rushing, no fuss – just really good food and good company.
Bologna - A Food Lover's Paradise
Bologna was another foodie highlight. It’s a city that takes food seriously, and we happily embraced it! Fresh pasta, rich ragù, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano and all the wonderful flavours the Emilia Romagna region is famous for. A visit to San Luca and the Portico di San Luca, a spectacular covered arcade that runs from the city up to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. It stretches for almost 4 km and has 666 arches, making it the longest portico in the world.
Then there was Venice – wandering the canals, stopping for cicchetti and drinks, and simply soaking up one of the most unique cities in the world. A magical gondola ride at sunset and visits to Murano and Burano were a highlight!
Turin – royal history, aperitivo & chocolate
Our final Italian stop was Turin, a city that felt quite different from everywhere else we'd visited in Italy, grand, elegant and full of fascinating history.
We explored the beautiful boulevards and piazzas, including Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo, and discovered Turin's strong connection to the House of Savoy. The Savoy family ruled from Turin for centuries and later became the royal family of a unified Italy, which explains the magnificent palaces and regal architecture throughout the city. The impressive Royal Palace of Turin was once their principal residence and sits right in the heart of the historic centre.
We also visited the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, home of the famous Shroud of Turin, before spending plenty of time simply wandering beneath the city's beautiful covered arcades and taking in the atmosphere.
Of course, we couldn't visit Turin without embracing its food and drink culture. The city is famous for aperitivo and vermouth, so pre-dinner drinks with delicious little plates were definitely on the agenda. We had a wine tasting that included the famous Peidmont regions and then there was the chocolate! Turin is renowned for gianduja, the irresistible combination of chocolate and hazelnuts, so naturally some taste testing was required.
After travelling through so many different parts of Italy, Turin was the perfect final stop, completely unexpected for the wonderful experiences we would have there, a mix of royal history, beautiful architecture, great food, chocolate and aperitivo before we crossed into France and headed for Voiron and the Tour de France.
Chasing the Tour through France
From Italy we crossed into France, with one very important item on the itinerary – the Tour de France.
We headed to the French town of Voiron, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where we experienced the excitement of the Tour de France. The village was buzzing with excitement and getting to experience the Tour in person was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We soaked up the atmosphere, watched all the pre & post race activity and presentations, and saw the best riders in the world, finish and then head off the following day. Such a great experience and a true tick off the bucket list! Voiron itself was a lovely surprise. With its relaxed French feel, pretty streets and cafés, delicious cold crisp rosé and welcoming hospitality, we would love to return!
From there we travelled on to Béziers, where we stayed in the incredible Hôtel La Prison, a former prison overlooking the city and the beautiful Saint-Nazaire Cathedral. We happened to be there to watch the Le Souffle De La Pierre, a spectacular light and sound show projected onto the buildings of Place de la Madeleine. Watching the historic façades come alive after dark with colour, movement and music was such an unexpected and memorable experience. We explored the magnificent Saint-Nazaire Cathedral and the incredible stone artwork overlooking the Orb River, with spectacular views across the surrounding countryside.
France brought another change in food – pastries, cheeses, charcuterie, wine and those wonderfully simple French dishes that somehow taste so much better when you’re sitting in a restaurant in the French counrtyside!
A taste of Barcelona
Next came Barcelona, which gave us another completely different food experience.
Tapas, jamón, seafood, little plates designed for sharing, local wine and some fantastic hidden bars and speakeasies. We loved finding places away from the obvious tourist spots and eating where the locals eat. We ventured out on a bike tour, visited Gaudí’s incredible buildings and the breathtaking Sagrada Família.
We ventured out of the city exploring the old town of Girona and the beautiful Costa Brava, and it gave us a completely different taste of Spain. We loved wandering through the historic streets of Girona, with its colourful buildings lining the Onyar River, beautiful old stone laneways and impressive Girona cathedral. The medieval Old Town was gorgeous to explore, with hidden courtyards and little streets around every corner – not to mention a few familiar locations for Game of Thrones fans! They were also filming a number of scenes for a new film whilst we were there!
From Girona we continued on to the Costa Brava, where rugged coastline, sparkling Mediterranean water and gorgeous seaside villages made for a beautiful change of pace from Barcelona. And, as always, food was a big part of the day! Fresh seafood paella, tapas, local Catalan flavours and a cold glass of wine overlooking the Mediterranean, with a dip in the ocean to cool off, exactly how the Spanish coast should be.
Barcelona was vibrant, busy, colourful and a lot of fun – and once again, so much of our time revolved around deciding where we were going to eat next!
Island life in Croatia
Then it was on to Croatia, beginning in in the old town of Split, historic Trogir, where we met up with friends before boarding our cruise.
Over the following week we travelled through Milna on Brač, Hvar, Vis, Korčula, Mljet and Šipan in the Elaphite Islands, before arriving in Dubrovnik.
This part of the trip was hard to beat. Swimming straight off the boat into crystal-clear water, exploring little Croatian towns, watching sunsets from the deck and heading ashore each evening to discover local landmarks, emerse ourselves in many local events that were happening and finding the most authetic and delicious restaurants for dinner was a pretty wonderful way to spend a week. The food was fresh and uncomplicated – grilled fish, seafood, octopus, beautiful meats, local cheeses, fresh bread, olive oil and Croatian wines.
We finished our Croatian adventure with several days in Dubrovnik, exploring the Old Town, walking the ancient city walls, taking in those incredible views over the Adriatic and, naturally, finding a few more great restaurants and bars. We were not expecting to love Croatia as much as we did but we made some wonderful connections with people and places. Most notably, our head chef at the Excelsior Hotel, Petar Obad and his delicious food and hospitality was exceptional.
The best part? The experiences around the table.
Looking back, some of our favourite memories aren't necessarily the famous landmarks.
They're the little restaurants we stumbled across, the afternoon drinks and aperitivo that turned into dinner, the conversations with locals, the meals shared with friends and family, and those moments when nobody was in a hurry to be anywhere else.
Travelling through Europe also reminded us just how much food brings people together.
Everywhere we went, food was about more than simply eating. It was about sharing, slowing down, celebrating local producers and appreciating where something came from, whether that was a beautiful bottle of wine, handmade pasta, locally produced cheese or something made by a small family business.
Sound familiar?
It's probably why we loved it so much.
After 9 weeks, 5 countries and one incredible European adventure, we've come home with full hearts, wonderful memories, plenty of inspiration…and perhaps slightly tighter clothes!
Now the suitcases are unpacked, holiday mode is officially off, and we're back at Hamper Culture, refreshed, inspired and ready for the next adventure – Father's Day!
Peta x
Hamper Culture
