Honeymoon Diary: Italy

After their May 2011 wedding in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadians Amy Pelletier Beck, a photographer and producer, and Stephen Beck, the creative director of a digital agency, jetted off for an unforgettable road trip through Italy.

Follow their trip as they lapped up city life in Rome, sipped vino in the Umbrian countryside, sunned themselves by the sea in Pesaro, and ogled art and architecture in Florence.

Mode of Transport
A trusty Fiat; Here are Amy and Stephen posing with their car.

Trip Length
10 days: three nights in Rome, two in Umbria, two in Pesaro, and three in Florence

Airline
Air Canada

Travel time
10 hours

The Triton Fountain, snapped by Amy in Rome, was sculpted by Bernini in the 1600s.

As for hotels? "Torre Di Moravola in Umbria is a 12th-century watchtower outfitted with modern amenities by an architect-and-designer couple," says Amy. "When we arrived, I actually shed a tear -- the view of the rolling hills was just so romantic. I felt lucky to be taking it all in with my new husband. And Excelsior in Pesaro is right on the Adriatic, with a hydrotherapy spa and two great restaurants. It's heavenly," she says.

Sampling prosciutto (here at Note di Vino in Florence) became a favorite pastime. "It was unlike any we'd ever tasted before -- melt-in-your-mouth delicious," says Amy.

"At Taverna Trilussa in Rome we tried bucatini all'amatriciana, a dish that's hundreds of years old. It's made with guanciale, Pecorino Romano cheese, tomatoes, pepperoncini, pepper, and a little wine," says Amy. "Then in Umbria, it was all about the black truffles: I had a porcini-and-truffle risotto at our hotel that was absolutely to die for."

Amy and Stephen left every spot they hit with something special. At Gilli in Florence, they picked up regional truffle salt as a savory souvenir, pictured here. 

On the road between Umbria and Pesaro, the couple pulled into Montone: "We bought some Sagrantino di Montefalco wine, which we'll open on our first anniversary," says Amy.

And, inspired Italy's many charming, fashionable older men, Amy picked up some great gray-leather pumps in Pesaro, and Stephen got a silk tie in Florence.