Lemons & Learning

Two weeks in Florence, Tuscany, and Sorrento during Summer Break 2025

Sep 04, 2025

With eight weeks of Summer Break, we wanted a mix of at-home time and travel time. A two-week break between summer camp options was the perfect opportunity for travel, so our go-to travel agent helped us plan a two-week trip to Italy. We had a general idea of locations we wanted to visit, and she helped with lodging and activity suggestions. The end result was four nights in Florence, six nights in Tuscany, and five nights in Sorrento in late July/early August.

FLORENCE

Our flight from Frankfurt to Florence was fairly smooth. After taking a taxi to our hotel, Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, we checked in (where my kids were thrilled to see gummies in the lobby) and settled into our room. I was thrilled to find a complimentary book in the room. In all of our travels, I think this was a first.

We had a dinner reservation but needed some nibbles. My husband, an expert at finding good places to eat and drink, found a wine bar where we were lucky enough to get a table outside.

NOTE DI VINO Firenze: The crusty salt on the foccacia and the bruschetta were highlights.

After fueling ourselves, we wandered the city. We’d been given a tip to find the bronze boar statue and rub its snout for good luck.

And of course, we had to visit the local Lego store.

One thing we’ve learned is that many European cultures eat dinner later than we are used to as Americans. When traveling, we’ve learned to adjust with having late lunches and/or afternoon snacks to tide us over. We’re often among the first diners at a restaurant when they open, which can actually be a pleasant start to the meal. Trattoria Da Ginone 1949 was our first restaurant meal of the trip, and it set the bar really high with food and service.

Of particular note is the bottom left picture: gnudi - the inside of ravioli! and the top right picture: wild boar ragu.

We ended the first day with some time at the hotel’s rooftop bar.

They have a cocktail menu inspired by Dante’s Inferno.

Full Day #1:

One of our biggest travel lessons is to have a mix of pre-booked activities and free time. Even on a day with nothing booked, we usually have a plan. For our first day in Italy, our plan was museums. But these weren’t typical museums.

Museo Leonardo Da Vinci: I had forgotten that Da Vinci specialized in more than art. The museum was fun for the kids and parents because it was interactive.

For lunch, C chose a market. I’ll admit that I was overwhelmed at first (probably because I was hungry). We wandered among multiple stands and eventually lucked into a table on the edge of the bustle and in front of a giant fan (a bonus for the Italian July). A wine bar adjacent to our table offered an array of small bites. Other market finds included risotto balls, seafood, and of course Limoncello Spritzes.

C and I often like to share a glass of wine after the kids go to bed, so we’ll usually try to find a wine shop early in a trip and choose a local bottle. C had heard about a wine shop that filled to-go containers, sort of like growlers.

Museo Galileo: I don’t have any pictures of this museum because I spent most of the time carrying L so he could see things better. There was a large display of developing fetus models that illustrated different challenges (e.g. being breech, being face down, and more). L wanted me to explain each situation to him and while I hadn’t encountered any personally, I knew enough about fetal development and childbirth (two-time C-section mama here!) to have an age-appropriate conversation with him. I loved how interested he was and was grateful to have that experience with him.

We had some time to fill before our dinner reservation, so we went to a local bookstore. It had a small selection of English books, and they had a hidden nook for kids.

Although we enjoyed our food at dinner, there are other restaurants we’d return to before Nugalo. It may be a better date night restaurant or friend-catch-up restaurant. We chose the tasting menu, so C and I each received multiple courses with a wine pairing.

Full Day #2:

Having a food tour booked for that evening meant we wanted to take it easy earlier in the day. We spent a little time at a train museum.

Later, the food tour offered a welcome apertif for those of age.

One of the highlights was learning about Florence’s wine windows, which was the solution for safely serving wine during the Plague. For us, it was a fun way to receive our Negronis.

We went inside the shop for a cocktail demonstration then waited outside for the drinks to be passed to each of us one at a time.

Again, we ended the day enjoying the view from our hotel’s rooftop bar.

Full Day #3:

Before this trip, I had told the kids about my experience taking a cheesy photograph in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa 15 years earlier. They looked forward to their own opportunity. This was the day!

After taking the train from Florence to Pisa, we found Osteria dei Cavalieri for lunch. I enjoyed one of my favorite pasta dishes of the trip.

Then we walked to the Tower, where everyone was taking photos in front of the same area, although not everyone posed the same way.

After checking that box, we took the train back to Florence. After a hot day, we were happy to relax at yet another cozy restaurant, Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco.

I chose the Cake of the Day for dessert, and it was an almond cake that proved one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. No exaggeration. The inside was a marzipan texture that reminded me of the Almond Burst cookies at a grocery store bakery near my parents' house.

TUSCANY

After checking out of our hotel in Florence, we picked up our rental car to drive to Tuscany. The drive from Florence to our hotel in Tuscany was only an hour, so C had booked a tour, tasting, and lunch for us at Fabrizio Pratesi Winery on the way. When we arrived, we were greeted and given a tour of the vineyards and grounds.

The tour ended in the tasting room, which also had a small kitchen. It’s always fun to look at different ways that wineries have incorporated wine paraphernalia into their decor.

C and I received a tasting of some of their wines while we all enjoyed starters and lunch.

Each of us had a bread and cracker plate waiting when we sat down. Everyone also got their own individual charcuterie plate. The pasta was served later and was simple and comforting. The dessert was a unique presentation of tiramisu. Everything combined to create a delightful car-nap-inducing meal (for me, at least).

When we arrived at Hotel Tenuta di Artimino, we explored the grounds and scenery.

There were multiple dining options at the hotel, but we ate most of our meals at The Cantina del Redi because it was closer to our room. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and they enhanced the experience.

Why did I include a picture of something so common as fries? Because we ended up ordering multiple bowls each night because all four of us were concerned about getting our fair share. They were that good.