Day 5 - MILAN

Time to splurge in the fashion capital of Italy. Quadrilatero d’Oro takes the word luxury to a new level, offering designers Prada, Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, and Valentino, all well ahead of current fashion trends.  I tend to be a bit of a fashion snob and plan to purchase a few items for bragging rights when I return to Canada.  I will use Elena’s La Bella Citta blog to discover the best cafes, boutiques and nightlife near my hostel.  The following morning the train to Venice awaits.

Day 6 - VENICE - Gondola ride and St. Mark's Square

Day 7-9: SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO
The 7 hour train ride to Foggia offers constant cascading views of the Adriatic Sea.  After Foggia, a 45 minute bus ride will take me to the small town of San Giovanni Rotondo.  This is the birthplace of my grandmother, mother and current retiree Zia Lucia Pirro.  My great aunt owns a condo here, where the beaches are hot and bustling during the summer.  Here I will relax on the beaches for two full days, enjoying home cooked Italian meals. I will also pay visit to a shrine dedicated to Padre Pio, a recently canonized saint and local priest during my grandmother's childhood. 

Shrine of Padre Pio

Day 10: VATICAN CITY and Departure

Early morning, I will travel 4.5 hours by bus and train to Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.  I will tour the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.  The former contains frescoes that bring new meaning to the word grandeur while the latter is yet another architectural marvel.  Both will provide me with the photography opportunities of a lifetime.  From Vatican City I will either taxi or bus to Leonardo DaVinci Airport and board the red eye back to Toronto.

Piazza di San Marco

St. Peter's Basilica