My Teenage Italian Summer
Written By: Lily Mahoney
Leading up to our summer vacation to Italy, I didn't really know what to expect. My mind was preoccupied with exams and freshman year of high school ending, and summer was just kicking off with all kinds of plans in the works. Before the vacation, I looked at Instagram and Pinterest for “European tourist fashion trends” and inspo for my Instagram posts, but I quickly realized once I got there that Italy was much more than taking photos of scenery with cute outfits! Over the next 10 days, my family and I traveled through Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, and Positano, and I experienced Italy in a way I never could have imagined from social media.
We arrived first in Rome after an overnight flight. My family and I were so exhausted from the long flight, but we rallied for a tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. We enjoyed learning about the history of the Roman ruins and the tour guide was very informative, but in my opinion, as a 15 year-old, it was not the best timing, especially on the first day. I thought the tour felt like a lecture that I couldn’t really digest on little sleep. The next day, we went on a tour of The Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Cathedral - this was so interesting and one of my favorite tours. I enjoyed that we were with another family (small group tour) and that it kept moving. Later that day, we took a golf cart tour of Rome - our favorite way to see the city! I recommend doing this when you first arrive to “get an idea” of the city. Next, we took a day trip to Orvieto for a wine tour and to wander around the small Umbrian town. My parents loved learning about wine, but it may not be the best choice for families with kids. The town and underground caves were definitely a piece of interesting history and culture. Our hotel in Rome was beautiful and in a great location for all of our favorite activities and I really enjoyed Rome overall as far as the food and energetic city vibe.
We also took a train from Rome to Naples and were picked up by a private driver for a tour of Pompeii. Our tour guide was vibrant and intelligent, but a little bit of ruins goes a long way! Pompeii was a very immersive, educational experience telling the stories of those who lived there, and how they were trapped under the gas and ash of the Mount Vesuvius eruption. We spent 2 hours there (but it felt like four), which was tiring since the stories started to feel repetitive. Overall though, Pompeii WAS worth seeing on a family vacation to Italy.
Our private transfer then transported us to Sorrento, where we checked into an amazing 5-star Relais & Chateau hotel - a real treat, and the service was definitely up to par. Anything you could think of wanting in your hotel room was already there! We strolled around the main square of Sorrento and had a bite to eat before we got ready for our dinner reservation at Donna Sofia. The meal was superb with authentic pasta dishes - this was my personal favorite meal. The next day we had a free day, so we took a cab up to Ravello, which was a very memorable day. We visited Villa Cimbrone with beautiful views and had a great pizza lunch up on the hilltop. The way up to Ravello had very windy roads, but the trek is worth the view and small town. Capri was next, by ferry. In Capri, we walked around and somehow made a wrong turn, becoming one of the hardest hikes my family and I have ever done! We were not prepared at all – no water, wearing sandals, carrying shopping bags. Eventually, somehow, we made it to our lunch reservation which was a memorable meal. Capri is a great island, but next time we’d like more time to relax and enjoy the island (possibly stay overnight). The last day of Sorrento was the best! We had a small gourmet and village tour that taught us how they made mozzarella, olive oil, limoncello, pizza, and more! We had great food and the family business of the tour really made the entire trip - they were so full of love and dedication, and this felt like a true cultural experience. I would recommend this tour to all traveling families.
In Positano we stayed at another amazing hotel with a great view from the well-known hillsides of Positano. The service and room was perfect for our two-night stay. We took a sunset boat cruise where we swam in the Tyrrhenian sea and sailed along the coast. I loved seeing the Amalfi coast at sea from a different viewpoint. The next day we enjoyed the hotel pool and amenities for a relaxing Italian day, something I definitely recommend for families since a lot of our vacation was on-the-go.
Rome and Southern Italy is a MUST for families with teenagers because you get a chance to not only see an amazing part of the world, but also learn and experience real history, culture, and food. What I thought would be another “Instagrammable vacation” was so much more than that.
