Italian Highlights & Van Road Trip: Lakes, Venice, Florence & Tuscany

Park the campervan conveniently near Como's central district to explore the lakeside promenade on foot.

Grab freshly baked artisan focaccia loaded with rich toppings at this beloved local bakery.

Board the vintage funicular railway connecting Como to the hilltop village of Brunate.

Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views over Lake Como and the surrounding Alps from this elevated village perch.

Convenient overnight camper stopover with essential hookup facilities located right outside Bergamo.

Stroll around the scenic historic harbor in Desenzano del Garda, surrounded by colorful Venetian-style buildings.

Explore the exceptionally preserved 4th-century Roman residential villa featuring vivid geometric floor mosaics.

Walk inside a dramatic limestone gorge carved by subterranean glacial waters into roaring waterfalls.

Take in the grandeur of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace in the early morning before midday tour crowds surge.

Stop for an affordable traditional espresso and pastry away from the overpriced cafes on the main piazza.

Climb this hidden spiral exterior staircase for a breathtaking 360-degree panorama over Venice's terracotta roofs.

Admire the enclosed white limestone bridge that once connected the Doge's Palace interrogation rooms to the Prigioni Nuove.

Wander through one of the world's most whimsical bookshops, famous for stacking vintage volumes inside bathtubs and a full gondola.

Explore the historic Cannaregio neighborhood where the world's first Jewish Ghetto was established in 1516, featuring quiet canals and kosher bakeries.

Catch a water bus over to the renowned island of Murano to witness master glassblowers shaping glowing crystal by hand.

Explore the vibrant island of Burano, world-famous for its kaleidoscopic fisherman cottages, lace making, and laid-back canals.

Climb the 414 stone steps of Giotto's Campanile for unmatched close-up vistas of Brunelleschi's magnificent Duomo dome.

Rub the bronze snout of the wild boar fountain at Mercato del Porcellino and drop a coin into the grate for good luck and a guaranteed return to Florence.

Stroll across Europe's oldest medieval closed-spandrel segmental stone arch bridge, lined with gleaming fine jeweler boutiques.

Ring the bell at one of Florence's most famous historic wine windows (buchette del vino) to receive a freshly poured glass of Chianti right onto the street.

Grab a classic panini and a glass of house wine placed on small sidewalk shelves at this tiny, historic takeaway spot operating since 1875.

Admire the resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli framed by breathtaking Giotto frescoes inside this grand Franciscan basilica.

Stand in awe before Michelangelo's original masterpiece David and the haunting unfinished Slaves sculptures.

Climb up to Florence's premier panoramic lookout to catch the golden hour sun setting over the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Arno river.

Park the van in this open municipal area located just a short walk below Castelfiorentino's upper historic quarter.

Enjoy a quiet vantage point gazing over classic rolling Tuscan hillsides, vineyards, and cypress alleys.

Park below the upper town in the designated lower lot before boarding the funicular into walled Certaldo Alto.

Ride the incline funicular ascending steeply from the lower piazza up into the pedestrian-only medieval center of Certaldo Alto.

Dine on hearty Tuscan fare like wild boar ragù and fresh ribollita inside this historic red-brick hilltop village.

Relax in this peaceful green park with nature trails, picnic tables, and panoramic vistas of Certaldo's castle walls.

Gaze across at the famous 'Medieval Manhattan' skyline adorned with 14 surviving stone feudal towers rising dramatically above the Tuscan vineyards.