Whatever will I do in Italy?

ADMIRE. Art lovers love Italy. Important: High-profile works like Michelangelo's David and Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper require a reservation.

SAVOUR. Join a wine tour in Tuscany to sample great Chianti. Wannabe chefs will enjoy cooking classes in Bologna, birthplace of bolognese sauce.

ROMANCE. An (overpriced) gondola ride in Venice is a must, with or without a special someone. A more economical option: take vaporetto 41 or 42, water buses that cruise the canals.

PRAY. Witness a Papal Mass given by the Pope himself every Wednesday at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

TREAT. The gelato in Florence: Yum. Make sure it's handmade ("produzione propia"). Or peek at the banana flavour. If it's yellow, go elsewhere -- it's not handmade.

AWE. Relax in the Amalfi Coast, where the intense blue waters of Capri's Blue Grotto have been enchanting visitors for centuries.

SHOP. Milan may be a darling of the fashion world -- but for truly unique leather finds we recommend the Scuola del Cuoio in Florence.

HIKE. Explore the five villages of Chinque Terre, just north of Tuscany, on foot. Hiking is perfect in the spring!

EAT. Discover why great pizza should "melt in your mouth" in Naples, where margherita pizza was born.

EXPLORE. Sure, The Roman Colosseum is a must see. But we find the ruins at Pompeii, an ancient city outside Naples, eerie and fascinating.

WISH. Don't forget to toss a penny over your shoulder into Rome's famed Trevi Fountain. According to tradition, it guarantees you a return visit!

The Price of Tuscany

The cost of sipping Cianti in an olive grove while looking out over the green, rolling hills, the breeze still hinting the scents of summer, the sun warm on your wind-kissed cheeks (from the exhilerating ride to the market on the vespa earlier in the day) ... priceless, some might say...

In reality, though, not all Mastercard Moments come as dear as others. A rough estimation of costs for the Italy adventure are detailed below. This does not include any museum passes, leather purse/shoe shopping, putting gas in the car or that overnight jaunt to Venice, of course. This is a conservative estimate of what you should plan for. For some of us, that means: Save your money! Prices are estimated in Canadian dollars.

Villa: - 1700$ for 2 weeks per room
Flight on Zoom direct to Rome: $1000.000
Car rental: $750 for 2 weeks, includes insurance and a map
Spending @ 100 Euros per day per person for 14 days: $2100

Total estimated cost: $5546