11 Nights in Italy: Milan, Lake Como, and Umbria (Where We Stayed and What We Loved)
One dog, three white truffles, and a plate of pasta I am still thinking about.
That was Umbria, and it was the part of this trip I knew the least about going in. We're home from Italy now, and I promised in my mid-trip recap that I'd report back on the truffle hunt. So here is the whole trip: where we stayed in Milan, Lake Como, and Umbria, what we did, and what I actually wore out of that suitcase.
Our Italy Itinerary at a Glance
Milan: 2 nights at Hotel Principe di Savoia
Lake Como: 4 nights at Villa d'Este
Umbria: 5 nights at Borgo dei Conti
This was my fourth trip to Italy and my first time in Umbria.
Where We Stayed in Milan: Hotel Principe di Savoia
We started with two nights at Hotel Principe di Savoia.
I'll be honest. Milan wasn't our favorite. We did a day tour and it was good, but we were there during fashion week and the city was so busy. It was hard to even walk through the streets.
Where We Stayed in Lake Como: Villa d'Este
Then four nights at Villa d'Este, and Lake Como was wonderful. The views. The shopping. All of it.
We also took a day trip to Lugano, which is such a pretty city on the lake.
Where We Stayed in Umbria: Borgo dei Conti
We ended with five nights at Borgo dei Conti, and this is where we slowed down.
The spa was wonderful. It has a sauna, a steam room, and a heated spa pool with so many jets. It was almost like a big hot tub, but just warm.
My favorite hotel? It's hard to choose between Villa d'Este and Borgo dei Conti. They are so different, but both are so beautiful and relaxing.
A White Truffle Hunt in Umbria
Before we went, I told you I had no idea what to expect. It was so much fun.
It's white truffle season in Umbria, and we went with @sevenrestaurantcafe. There was one dog on the hunt, and we found three white truffles.
Afterward we sat down to a wonderful lunch of pasta with white truffles. So yummy. And the best tiramisu.
The Best Cooking Class I've Taken in Italy
On our last night we took a cooking class with Il Fontanaro. It was truly one of the best cooking classes I've ever taken.
What made it so great was the teacher and the setting. She was entertaining and funny, and she kept all of us engaged the whole time.
We made:
Vegetable lasagna
Spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli
Fresh pasta with bolognese sauce
By far my favorite meal of the trip.
Small Towns in Umbria We Visited
We had a car in Umbria and drove to several small towns close by.
Castiglione del Lago. A cute town near the lake. We strolled and had lunch.
Solomeo. This is the town where Brunello Cucinelli lives, and he has a small boutique there. I bought a couple of special pieces.
Panicale. We went here for dinner.
One thing to know: driving at night wasn't the easiest with the curvy roads. But we made it.
What I Wore in Italy (and What Stayed in the Suitcase)
I overpacked. I thought it might be cooler than it was, and the weather was perfect every day. You can see everything I brought in my Italy packing post.
What I wore nonstop:
My tennis shoes
My M.Gemi flats
The other thing I took and never linked was this shirt. It was perfect.
What I never wore: my Burberry jacket. Not one time. I would still bring it in case the weather wasn't good. We were just lucky.
Until Next Time, Italy
Milan was busy, Lake Como was beautiful, and Umbria surprised me the most.
Have you been to Umbria? I would love to hear your favorite town.
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