Cultural Italy — Local services in San Diego

Our family vacation to Italy was a magical surreal trip of a lifetime. Throughout the entire experience, my family, and I felt like we were experiencing a beautiful dream, living in a movie or living through a beautiful painting. Our family trip included my wife and our two teenage sons who are 18 and 14.

First the trip was made possible by our travel planner, Luana La Croce, who did a magnificent job planning the two week trip and organizing everything sensibly and efficiently. Looking back we would’ve not changed a thing. For the pre-trip planning instructions and guideline, she provided excellent detailed information and helped us prepare for every part of the trip. Every logistical part of the trip that she plan was executed flawlessly. This included private transportation to and from airports, hotels, and between cities and destination, private tours and Boat day trip I was very impressed that there was not one hiccup and I’m pretty sure I would’ve never been able to accomplish this on my own.

Second, Luana organized the trip very sensibly. We started the trip in Rome touring of the historical sites so it was a little more hustle in the beginning. Then we enjoyed more relaxation when we visited Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in Positano later in the trip. She made sure not to overload us with our daily itinerary and tours.

In Rome one day we did A Vespa and sidecar tour which was a great overview of the city. Thank god we had skilled and careful drivers because you do not want to drive on unfamiliar roads through Roman traffic. We always felt safe. The next day we toured the Colosseum, and the day after we toured the Vatican. The ancient sites, art, history, architecture and of course the cuisine are a must see while in Italy.

As much as we enjoyed Rome, we definitely looked forward to the next leg of our trip traveling to Sorrento and then Positano and the Amalfi coast . It was a relaxing time at this breathtaking vacation site on the ocean. We stayed at the hotel Continental in Sorrento which was our favorite. It had breathtaking views from our balcony overlooking the Sorrento shoreline below, and Vesuvius in the distance. We were happy to spend several days there. We did a day trip boat tour to Capri which I think is overrated because it’s so overcrowded with tourists. The views of the island, and the views from the top at the Augustus Gardens were breathtaking.

The next part of our trip, we went to Positano and visited the Amalfi coast. In Positano, we did a path of the gods hike which was for me one of the most memorable inspiring portions of our trip. The views overlooking the valley were unreal and felt like we were in a dream. Also, Positano, we did a boat trip along the Amalfi coast. I found this boat trip a little more pleasant than the Capri boat trip.

There are many things to appreciate in Italy and the Italian culture, the people and history. Italians going back to the ancient Romans, know how to build and create amazing things with their hands. Italians have a love of planting and growing beautiful flowers and greenery, and fruits and vegetables. In many places we visited, Italians, integrated the plants, green vines, flowers, and lemon fruit trees into the sides of buildings, city walls and along the streets.

Of course the Italians have a passion and love for cooking second to none. No matter what city you were in you could throw a rock and hit a good restaurant. If a restaurant was full and booked up, we would walk to the next one and get an amazing meal regardless. The shopping can also be amazing and you can find some unique, jewelry, clothing, and apparel.

And finally, the Italian people were the nicest, most hospitable people I’ve encountered.

This trip was one of the most amazing trips we’ve had and would likely do it again and explore different regions in Italy

Thank you for the trip...

OVERALL COMMENTS ON THE TRIP AND TRAVEL COMPANY: FIVE STAR RATING First and foremost, I can't say enough about how wonderful and easy the entire process was with Cultural Italy and their fabulous, personable, and meticulous designer, Pia Accardo. We even spoke on the phone a few times (from Sicily) to discuss questions we both had for our 12-day Italy trip.

During the entire trip, the details were flawless and most impressive; from private drivers and professional guides, to the most lovely and architecturally significant hotels in 4 cities: Rome, Naples, Florence, and Venice.

WHAT WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE OR MEMORABLE PARTS OF YOUR TRIP? The most memorable parts of the Italy trip, besides the absolutely beautiful country, were the details that unfolded as we travelled. There were private drivers for pick-up/drop-off) and professional certified guides in each city (sometimes two-a-day) who had all the paperwork/vouchers already in hand when we met for the itinerary for the day. All transportation within the country was pre-arranged (cars, trains, water taxis, etc.), even skip-the-line tickets for destinations, an important consideration given how much time we could spend in each city.

IF YOU COULD TAKE YOUR TRIP AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? The ONLY thing that we could have done differently would have been to plan for more time. Barely 3 days in each of 4 cities was all we could allow this time, so we will definitely try to plan another visit. We have already recommended ZICASSO to all our friends as the best way to travel. CULTURAL ITALY AND PIA ACCARDO...

For me, La Dolce Vita was not only about the beauty, culture, and flavors of Italy, but also the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Italy has been on my list of places to visit since I was a child, but it wasn’t until my late husband (retired US Army) served with the Italian Navy in the Sinai in 2012 that I learned more deeply about the country and promised myself I would get there someday.

Although my late husband was only there with me in spirit, I was able to finally experience Italy with my new love. For me, La Dolce Vita was found in the small, unplanned moments that made Italy feel alive, the morning espresso at a quiet café, watching the sunset over the Ligurian Sea, or strolling cobblestone streets where history and daily life blend seamlessly. It was savoring meals that felt like celebrations, from homemade pasta to fresh seafood, paired with local wines that told their own stories. Life is short so take that trip. The soul of Italy revealed itself in the warmth of the people, the rhythm of each city, and the balance between beauty, history, and joy. It wasn’t just about the iconic landmarks, it was about how Italy invited us Americans to slow down, to notice, and to fully live in the moment. I’m deeply grateful to Cultural Italy and Rita Di Stefano for making this dream a reality and for helping me experience the true...