Well Traveled: The Italian Edition

After a whirlwind year launching Well Found and refining and photographing nearly every corner of our home, we pressed pause for a much-needed reset—and there’s no better place to do so than Italy. With the expert orchestration of Louisa Vann Travel, our 12-day trip unfolded like a dream: rich with beauty, layered in history, and sprinkled with sourcing stops for an upcoming volume of Well Found. Below, I’m sharing a glimpse into each chapter of the journey, from slow mornings on Lake Como to opera in Venice, epic sunsets in Florence, a Vespa ride through Rome, and the calm, grounding final days in Milan.

Lake Como

There are beautiful hotels, and then there’s Passalacqua. Tucked along the shores of Lake Como in the village of Moltrasio, this one-of-a-kind property set the tone for the entire trip. We were upgraded on arrival (a perk of booking through Louisa Vann), and from the lush gardens to the frescoed dining rooms, every detail whispered timeless Italian elegance. A day spent boating aboard a vintage 1979 Riva Aquarama with a private guide remains a highlight—there’s simply no better way to experience Lake Como. Stops at Villa Balbianello and Locanda La Tirlindana (order the lemon ravioli!) made for a perfect afternoon. Passalacqua is one of those stays that lingers with you long after you leave—a truly unforgettable place which was named the World's Best Hotel for 2023. 

We intentionally kept one day unscheduled here, spending it at the spa and wandering the gardens. With a somewhat busy diary for the remainder of the trip, this pause—built into the itinerary with thoughtfulness—was exactly what we needed.

Venice

Venice is magic. Arriving by water taxi to Aman Venice, tucked into a 16th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal, felt cinematic. We took in the architecture by boat along the Canal Grande, dined on truffle pasta at Ristorante Da Ivo, and dressed up for a night at the opera at Teatro La Fenice—a recommendation I’d share with anyone visiting Italy. The theater alone is a masterpiece.

We also spent a day on the Venetian Islands, stopping for a glass-blowing demonstration on Murano and wandering the vibrant streets of Burano. It was in Venice that the sourcing began for me, quietly and intentionally, with an eye for Well Found. While Aman’s location is unbeatable and the property itself stunning, the vessel sinks in our bathroom and noise levels weren’t our favorite—but the experience of Venice more than made up for it.

Florence

Florence feels like a Renaissance fairytale. We checked into Four Seasons Firenze, nestled in a historic palazzo with acres of parkland, and dove right in with a guided tour of the city’s highlights: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and of course, Michelangelo’s David (a must). That evening, we splurged on a Michelin-starred dinner at Il Palagio within the hotel. While we’re not typically drawn to fine dining for its own sake, this meal was an experience—every course exceptional.

The next morning, we toured a private aristocratic residence with panoramic views of the city. Standing on a rooftop, overlooking Florence, was one of those surreal moments that still doesn’t feel real.

That afternoon, we took a detour from our plans to the Lucca Antiques Market—a large flea market held the third weekend of every month in the town of Lucca—which proved fruitful for Well Found. A brief stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa rounded out the day.

Dinner that evening was at Trattoria Da Ruggero, a tiny local favorite filled with Florentines. The spaghetti and cheesecake were genuinely life-altering. We’d return to Florence for this meal alone.

On the shopping front, I recommend Loretta Caponi, Ginori’s flagship, and CB Made in Italy (I ordered a pair of mules once we returned home). As a pharmacist, I couldn’t miss the world’s oldest pharmacy, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (dating to 1221). It lived up to the hype—and then some.

Before leaving, our taxi driver took us up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic sunset over Florence. Sweeping views of the Arno and the Duomo in golden light—it’s as romantic as it sounds.

Rome

There’s no better (quintessential) way to see Rome than from the back of a Vespa. Our private guide and drivers (arranged through Louisa Vann) made it both exhilarating and safe, and the views from the city’s hilltops were unforgettable.

We stayed at Palazzo Talia, which offered the perfect location for evening strolls—one night, we wandered to the nearby Trevi Fountain just because we could. It felt like something straight out of Roman Holiday. The neighborhood of Trastevere felt especially charming, and we found some of our favorite gelato nearby at Otaleg (get the mascarpone, strawberry, and cocoa nibs if available). We were also told to sample gelato at Giolitti and Ciampini—both worth a stop.

We toured the Vatican and Colosseum with a private guide, and while no photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel, many of the quiet corners of the Vatican museums left a deeper impression on us. Lunch in between tours at Il Bocconcino was delicious and equally restorative.

For a bit of shopping, I made a point to stop by Schostal—a tiny boutique known for its luxurious pajamas. I brought a few home as gifts (and may or may not be pairing the tops with jeans now).

Milan

Our final stop was Milan, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to land than Portrait Milano. Housed within one of the oldest seminaries in Europe—a 16th-century Lombard Baroque masterpiece that once served as a library, printing shop, and even more recently the creative workshop of architect Mario Bellini—the property is steeped in quiet history. Today, it’s thoughtfully designed with incredible service and offered just the right balance of luxury and calm to close out a busy itinerary. We even had time to stop by Marchesi 1824 at Via Santa Maria all Porta (the original location), where my husband declared the cappuccino “the best of his life.” I recommend the bomboloni filled with custard cream.

Milan is a shopper’s paradise. We visited the world’s original Prada store inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and explored Via Monte Napoleone and Corso Buenos Aires. A stop at the Cabana store (yes, from Cabana Magazine) was a design lover’s delight. I also squeezed in a sourcing visit to Di Mano in Mano, a vintage and antique dealer with some beautiful finds. And yes—pieces sourced along the way will make their way into a future Well Found volume, carrying with them the storied details that only a trip like this can offer.

We toured the Duomo terraces and visited The Last Supper—though I’ll admit, while fascinating, it’s not something I’d need to see twice. Dinner at Ratanà was also a highlight of the trip.

Travel Notes

A few quick things worth mentioning for anyone planning a trip of their own:

– Train travel in Europe is generally wonderful—and for us, it made getting between cities easy, efficient, and scenic.

– I ate more Caprese salads, fresh bread, and dairy- and tomato-heavy dishes than I ever do at home… but the food was so fresh and authentically prepared, I never felt weighed down.

– English was widely spoken throughout the trip. We never had trouble communicating—except, charmingly, at the local flea market outside Florence.

– We brought home bottles of olive oil and vinegar as gifts, and one of our hotels even went above and beyond to help purchase and ship them back for us. A sweet gesture we won’t forget.

Favorite stays? Passalacqua easily stole our hearts, followed by the newer Portrait Milano (impeccable service), Four Seasons Firenze (a total fairytale), and Palazzo Talia in Rome (a perfect location). Aman Venice was undeniably beautiful but falls last on the list—only because we weren’t fans of the vessel sinks or how much noise traveled between rooms.

Final Thoughts

Not to be dramatic, but this wasn’t just a vacation—it was truly an immersive, soul-filling experience. Thoughtfully paced and seamlessly organized by Louisa Vann Travel, it gave us time to recharge, reconnect, and find beauty in both the expected and unexpected. From spontaneous flea market stops to opera at La Fenice, every moment was layered in beauty and inspiration. The entire trip was planned through Louisa Vann Travel—not sponsored, just a wholehearted recommendation after an incredible experience.

If Italy is on your list, let this be your sign: go.

— Lauren