Italy: Rome, Dolomites & Amalfi

• Depart Calgary on your Air Canada itinerary.
• Keep this as a pure travel day.
• Aim for carry-on friendly packing for easy train transfers in Italy.

• Sep 22: arrive at Rome Fiumicino.
• Transfer into Rome by Leonardo Express to Roma Termini or by taxi/private transfer.
• Spend this first night in Rome and keep the day light after the flight.
• Plan your Rome stay around Centro Storico or Monti for the easiest sightseeing flow.
• Good arrival flow: check in, easy walk in the historic center, early dinner, and rest.

• Sep 23: leave Rome for the Dolomites.
• Take your high-speed train from Roma Termini at 07:25 to Bolzano Bozen.
• Plan on arriving in Bolzano around 12:45-13:15 depending on the exact service and any connection timing.
• Pick up your rental car in Bolzano and drive to La Villa for your stay at App. Les Viles; the drive is usually about 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr 15 min depending on traffic and pickup timing.
• That should put you in La Villa around 15:30-17:00, so keep the rest of the day easy: check in, take a short village walk, and have an early dinner so you're ready for early starts.

• Full Dolomites day based in La Villa.
• Pre-dawn drive to Ortisei and take the first lift up for a Seceda sunrise morning.
• After the ridge walk and hut stop, keep the afternoon flexible for viewpoints or a relaxed return through Val Gardena.
• Make this your best-weather mountain day.

• Eastern Dolomites Cadini-focused day from La Villa.
• Leave early for the Rifugio Auronzo area, but skip Tre Cime and save your energy for a lighter day.
• Use the daytime hours for a relaxed arrival, scenic stops, lunch, and a long recovery break around the trailhead area.
• In the late afternoon, do the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike and aim to reach the viewpoint about 1 hour before sunset.
• Keep dinner simple on the drive back after golden hour.

9:00 AM

11:30 AM

12:30 PM

6:00 PM

7:45 PM

9:00 PM

• Sep 26: balanced Alta Badia recovery day based in La Villa; avoid strenuous hiking.
• The sequence is designed to keep the morning relaxed, allow a realistic transfer to Pozza di Fassa, and return to La Villa for an easy evening.

• Sep 27: drive from La Villa back to Bolzano and return the rental car there.
• Aim to leave La Villa around 10:30-11:00 so you have enough buffer for the drive, fuel, and rental return.
• Take Italo train 8963 from Bolzano at 14:42.
• Arrive in Lucca at 19:29 and head straight to your Airbnb on Via Cavalletti.
• Keep the evening easy after arrival.
• Use Lucca as your base for Tuscany and Ligurian-edge day trips.

• Sep 28: Florence day trip from your Lucca base.
• You will have the rental car for this whole Lucca stretch, so drive in and use a strategic parking garage or lot on the edge of the center.
• Focus on the historic center, major art sights, and a relaxed dinner before driving back to Lucca.
• Start early and expect city driving / parking to be the main hassle rather than the route itself.

• Sep 29: Carrara day trip from your Lucca base.
• Use the rental car for full flexibility and marble-focused stops.
• Keep the day centered on Carrara rather than trying to combine too much.
• Return to Lucca for the night at your Airbnb on Via Cavalletti.

• Sep 30: Portovenere day trip from your Lucca base.
• Use the rental car for the simplest routing and keep the day flexible for harbor views, a boat option, and a relaxed seafood lunch.
• Start early since this is one of your longer Lucca-base outings.
• Return to Lucca for the night rather than changing hotels.

• Oct 1: easy Lucca day.
• Keep this as your buffer day to enjoy Lucca itself with walks on the walls, the historic center, and a relaxed lunch.
• You will still have the rental car, but leave it parked unless you want a short local outing.
• Use this as a lower-effort reset before the transfer back toward Rome.

• Oct 2: check out of your Lucca Airbnb and drive to Florence.
• Return the Tuscany rental car in Florence after having it for the full Lucca stay.
• Continue by train from Florence to Roma Termini.
• Check in in Rome and use the rest of the day as an arrival/reset day.
• Centro Storico or Monti are the best-fit areas for your final Rome stay.
• Good night for an easy dinner close to your hotel.

• Self-guided Vatican City day; no tour guide needed.
• Your 8:00 AM Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel timed-entry pass is confirmed/booked. Bring the booking confirmation and ID, and arrive at the official entrance around 7:30 AM for the security and entry buffer; security lines still apply.
• Follow a sensible DIY museum route at your own pace: priority galleries, Raphael Rooms if open, and the Sistine Chapel, allowing roughly 2.5-3 hours rather than trying to see everything.
• Leave a practical transition buffer after the museums and reach Saint Peter’s Basilica in time for the fixed 11:30 AM booked entry. The dome access is included and is no longer optional; bring the Basilica booking confirmation and ID. Allow time for the Basilica and dome visit, including security and stairs.
• Continue to Saint Peter's Square after the Basilica and dome visit. Check the current visitor route and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered.
• Walk from Saint Peter's Square to Mama Eat Lab for lunch; use La Soffitta Renovatio only if Mama Eat is full or unavailable. For Andrea, confirm both gluten-free and dairy-free preparation and cross-contact with staff.
• Continue on foot into the Borgo Pio area for a gentler afternoon of sitting, browsing, and recovery.
• Return to your Rome base flexibly in the late afternoon or evening by walking, taxi, or public transport, followed by an easy dinner that accommodates gluten-free and dairy-free needs.

• Oct 4: Rome historic center + classic landmarks day.
• Early morning: see the Trevi Fountain before crowds, then walk to the Spanish Steps.
• Late morning / afternoon: continue through the center for the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and a long lunch.
• This is the strongest day to base yourselves in Centro Storico.
• Evening: keep your Roman night relaxed with dinner near the center.

• Oct 5: Ancient Rome highlights day.
• Morning: start at the Colosseum and continue through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
• If you stay in Monti, this is your easiest walkable Rome day.
• Afternoon: walk through the historic center toward the Pantheon, then keep time for Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori.
• Evening: dinner in Monti or Trastevere.

• Oct 6: departure day from Rome.
• Travel from your Rome base to Fiumicino Airport by taxi or Leonardo Express from Roma Termini.
• Monti can be especially convenient for Leonardo Express access via Termini; Centro Storico is better for classic evening walks.
• Leave extra time for the airport transfer and your Air Canada flights home.
• Keep this day unplanned beyond breakfast and heading to the airport.