Italy Turkey Greece 2025

A 15-day adventure by To Travel is to Live... Read more

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Trip start
September 22, 2025
Italy Turkey Greece 2025 Traveler
YEG
September 22 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Passport? Check. Luggage? Check. Food? Double-check. We are officially kicking off our Italy, Greece, and Turkey adventure right here at YEG! So excited to trade this view for ancient ruins, Mediterranean sunsets, and all the pasta and gelato we can eat. Next stop: Calgary, then Rome! ✈️🇮🇹🇬🇷🇹🇷 See you on the other side of the world!
Fun Fact: Did you know the Edmonton International Airport is the largest major airport in terms of land area in all of Canada? We’re flying out of a seriously big spot!Read more
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Sky views from Flight 1
September 22 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
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YYC
September 22 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Calgary pit stop! 👋 Quick change of planes at YYC and we are officially boarding the big one that will take us across the pond to Rome! The excitement levels are hitting maximum velocity now. Wish us luck on the long flight ahead! ✈️🇮🇹
Fun Fact: Calgary International Airport's distinctive control tower is one of the tallest airport control towers in Canada, standing at 83 meters (272 feet)!Read more
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Flight 2!
September 22 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Woohoo empty seat between us!
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Airbnb
September 23 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Ciao, Roma! So happy to finally be here. Our little Airbnb is the perfect welcome, and we’re already obsessed with this balcony view. It’s the ideal spot for morning coffees (for those who drink it) and evening wine. Feeling so ready to explore after getting settled!Read more
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La Prezzemolina
September 23 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
First official meal in Rome and we’re doing it like the locals! We swung by La Prezzemolina, a fantastic spot for pizza al taglio It did not disappoint. We took our selection of slices to go and are currently enjoying a perfect, easy dinner. Our taste buds are officially on vacation!Read more
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Wandering the Ruins
September 23 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Evening strolls hit different in Rome. Just took a wander to see some of the ancient ruins near our Airbnb and WOW. The Forum of Augustus, Forum of Nerva, and the Markets of Trajan are as incredible in as I remember them. Pictures just don't do them justice. It's like history is just… sitting there. What a way to spend the first day!
Fun Fact: Many of these forums were built by different emperors to celebrate their victories and provide public spaces for the Roman people—think of them as ancient town squares and victory monuments all in one!Read more
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Vittorio Emanuele II Monument
September 23 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
We've been surrounded by ancient history, so it was cool to see a more "modern" Roman monument! The sheer scale of the Vittorio Emanuele II monument is incredible. The photos of the monument itself are epic, but the views from the top, looking out at the Forum and the city, are what really put everything in perspective. Soaking up all the grandeur!
Fun Fact: A lot of the marble used for this monument was brought from Botticino, near Brescia, and it’s known for its bright white, sparkling quality, which is why the monument is so dazzling in the sun!Read more
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Colossal Statue of Constantine
September 23 in Italy
We visited the brand new reconstruction of the Colossal Statue of Constantine and it is incredible. You really can’t grasp the scale of Roman art and engineering until you’re standing in front of a 40-foot-tall figure! So glad we got to see this modern take on ancient history.
Fun Fact: The original statue was located in the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in the Roman Forum, which was the largest building in the Forum. It’s amazing to think that this statue was just a part of the interior décor!Read more
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Colosseum
September 23 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Look at that view! As we wrap up our day, we caught this perfect shot of the Colosseum from the Vittoriano. It's the grand finale of an incredible first day in Rome. Can't wait to get up close and personal with it Thursday, but for now, this perfect perspective will do. 🇮🇹
Fun Fact: The Colosseum's original name was the Flavian Amphitheatre. It only became known as the Colosseum because of the giant statue (the "Colossus of Nero") that used to stand right next to it. The Colosseum was built in just ten years, and it's estimated that it could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators for events like gladiator contests and public spectacles.Read more
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Regoli Pasticceria
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
We started the day at Regoli Pasticceria and indulged in some amazing pastries, including a fluffy maritozzo and a strawberry tart.
Fun Fact: Regoli is one of the most famous and historic bakeries in Rome, having been a neighborhood staple since 1916. You're eating a piece of local history!Read more
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Spanish Steps
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
Rainy days can’t stop us! We made our way to the iconic Spanish Steps and they were just as beautiful as always.

Fun Fact: The fountain at the base of the steps is the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Ugly Boat), which was designed by Pietro Bernini, the father of the famous artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.Read more
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Window Shopping
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
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McDonalds
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
When in Rome... you duck into what's supposedly the most beautiful McDonald's in the world to get out of the rain! ☔️ We found this spot not far from the Spanish Steps... who knew a McDonald's could look like this? It’s a whole new meaning to "fast food with a view."
We had a drink and let our clothes dry off a bit before heading back out again.

Fun Fact: This particular McDonald's, located near the Spanish Steps, is often lauded for its elaborate interior design, which includes marble, frescoes, and a grand piano, making it a famous spot for tourists and locals alike!Read more
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Starbucks
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
We of course had to stop and grab a mug to add to our collection!

Starbucks here also has a bar serving coffee flavored alcoholic drinks!
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Cantina di Papi
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Lunch was a simple and perfect stop at Cantina di Papi. We shared a beautiful charcuterie board and it was absolutely delicious. Sometimes the best meals are the ones that let you just sit and enjoy great company and local flavors.
Fun Fact: Pecorino romano cheese, a classic on Roman charcuterie boards, is an ancient cheese made from sheep's milk. It was a staple in the diet of the Roman legions and is still a favorite today!Read more
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Trevi Fountain
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
The Trevi Fountain is pure magic in person. The scale of it is just so much bigger than in photos. The statues are incredible, and the water is so clear and beautiful.
Fun Fact: An estimated 3,000 euros in coins are tossed into the Trevi Fountain every single day! All of that money is collected and donated to a local Roman charity that helps support people in need.Read more
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Ruins
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
Some misc. photos of more ruins we saw on our walk back.
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Rooftop Garden Restaurant
September 24 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
Talk about ending the day on a high note! 🌆 Dinner at the Rooftop Garden Restaurant was pure perfection. The views of the city centre were incredible, and the food was out of this world. That buffalo mozzarella and mortadella appetizer was so fresh, and the carbonara was everything I dreamed of. Even though we were too full for dessert, they surprised us with a little taste of gelato!
So delicious.
Wore a dress tonight for our dinner with a view! It's fresh out of the suitcase, so the wrinkles are just part of its 'traveled' look. (Oops? 🤷‍♀️)

Fun Fact: Carbonara is one of the most famous dishes of Roman cuisine, but it only has four key ingredients: pasta, cured pork cheek (guanciale), raw egg, and grated pecorino romano cheese!Read more
Never see you in a dress but you are rockin it. Shirley [Shirley]
9/24/25Reply
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Breakfast
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Yesterday we picked up some pistachio creme filled cornettos (similar to a croissant) for us to have for breakfast today. They were good but also really sweet. It was hard to finish a whole one..
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Views of the Colosseum
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Look at this epic view to kick off our big history day! Standing here in front of the Colosseum is just surreal. Loving the energy of Rome this morning!
Fun Fact: The Colosseum's original name was actually the Flavian Amphitheater, named after the Flavian dynasty of emperors who had it built.Read more
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Views from the Palatine Hill
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Trading stone streets for green views! Our guided walk took us up Palatine Hill and wow, the perspective up here is unbelievable. You can see straight down into the Roman Forum. This is officially Rome's best viewpoint! 📸
Fun Fact: Palatine Hill is considered the most ancient part of Rome! According to legend, this is where Romulus supposedly killed his brother Remus and founded the city in 753 BC.Read more
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Views from the Roman Forum
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Talk about walking through a postcard! We spent time wandering through the incredible Roman Forum. It's crazy to think that these crumbling columns and ruins were once the thriving, chaotic, absolute heart of the most powerful empire in the Western world. Every stone here tells a tale!
Fun Fact: The Forum served as the central marketplace, meeting place, and center of religious and political life in ancient Rome. If something happened, it happened here.Read more
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Inside the Colosseum
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Finally, inside the mighty Colosseum! Our tour was absolutely fascinating. Standing in the stands and looking down at the arena floor is so humbling. You can almost hear the roar of the crowds. What a powerful and impressive piece of human engineering!
Fun Fact: The complex system of underground tunnels you can see was called the Hypogeum. It housed the gladiators, slaves, and wild animals, and was equipped with elevators and trap doors to bring them up to the arena floor!Read more
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La Locanda di Pietro
September 25 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Refueling for the afternoon! We had lunch at Li Locanda di Pietro. Started with a beautiful board of meats and cheeses, but the star was the Amatriciana pasta. Absolutely savory and delicious. Ready to tackle the Vatican now! 💪
Fun Fact: Amatriciana is one of the four classic Roman pasta dishes. It gets its amazing flavor from guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino cheese, and tomato!Read more
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