From Roman Ruins to Tuscan Magic
We covered some serious ground on our latest leg—about 600 km heading north through Italy!
The journey included another UNESCO stop, some wild weather, and even a surprise Lamborghini police car. Here’s a look at our latest adventures, from ancient ruins to picture-perfect Tuscan towns.
A Rainy Detour into Roman Grandeur: Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli
From our last campsite in Puglia, we made the long journey north towards Tuscany, with a leg stretch stop just outside Rome, at the ruins of Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) in Tivoli—a UNESCO World Heritage Site that completely exceeded expectations. This sprawling Roman complex once belonged to Emperor Hadrian, and walking through it today feels like stepping into a piece of ancient opulence. The remaining walls tower above you, hinting at what must’ve been an extraordinarily grand and luxurious retreat. We spent just over 2 hours exploring the site which worked well as a leg stretch. Happily the horrendous rain we’d encountered on our journey so far paused during our visit too.
Just before we arrived at Tivoli, something truly surreal happened: we were overtaken by an Italian police car—but not just any police car. A Lamborghini. Flashing lights and all, it pulled up beside us in full dramatic fashion. Turns out, the Italian police actually use Lamborghinis for transporting organs and emergencies—isn’t that amazing! Certainly the poshest emergency vehicle we’ve ever seen!
Tuscany Welcomes Us—with a Proposal!
After Tivoli, we continued north, hoping for those iconic Tuscan views to greet us, and the rain which had restarted to stop once more —and we were not disappointed. The rain stopped, and the rolling hills and golden light welcomed us practically the second we turned off the motorway! The views were everything we’d imagined. Our destination was Pienza, another UNESCO-listed gem perched high on a cliff, overlooking the Val d’Orcia countryside.
We rolled in late (for us!) and found a perfect overnight spot—just €6 for a car park right next to the old town.
As we settled in and walked into a bar with panoramic views, something magical happened.
A French traveler, who had just taken a photo for us, asked if we could film something. Moments later, he was down on one knee, proposing to his girlfriend—right in front of us.
It was completely spontaneous, incredibly romantic, and yes—she said yes! We toasted with champagne with the couple, who we enjoyed getting to know, and couldn’t believe our luck to witness such a beautiful moment! What a welcome to Tuscany. We wish Jérémy and Alexandra all the very best ❤️
We spent the rest of the evening wandering through Pienza, soaking in its charm. The quiet streets, warm light, and sweeping views over the Val d’Orcia made it feel like a scene from a postcard. It’s without a doubt one of Tuscany’s true gems.
Day Two: From Movie Scenes to Medieval Streets
After such a dreamy first day, Tuscany kept the magic coming. We had a short drive ahead—just 75 miles—but with a few important missions: a visit to the vet for Jazz (our dog) and a trip to see one of our favorite film locations.
Driving through the Val d’Orcia, we passed the landscape made famous by Gladiator—specifically the villa and fields of Maximus’ farm and farm house. The sweeping countryside really does feel cinematic, and we could see how it inspired Ridley Scott.
We arrived at our campsite near San Gimignano, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a chilled afternoon at the van (aka Trattoria Gandolfino after some delicious pasta meals recently cooked inside), we strolled into town just before sunset.
The campsite was a great strategic position for visiting San Gimignano, as it was on the outskirts, so nice and quiet, but had a shuttle running to and from town every half an hour for €1.30 pp. There is also a pavement the whole walk into town and the roads were quiet enough for bikes too. We made use of the shuttle!
San Gimignano is famous for its medieval towers, and the 14th-century frescos in its cathedral have their own UNESCO status, and are some of the most complete we’ve seen.
We ended our evening with wild boar sausages and local wine—Tuscan living at its finest.
While we both slightly preferred Pienza for its romantic charm, San Gimignano held its own as a must-visit spot.
Final Stop: Fabulous Florence!
Visiting Florence was a certainty, but we hadn’t decided how we were going to do it. I think we both thought we make use of one of the sostas on the outskirts rather than the more expensive campsite at Florence. However, when we arrived at our campsite at San Gimignano, it became obvious that actually we could travel to Florence as a day trip using public transport from there. Although the journey would take nearly 2 hrs each way, we’d save time on van packing up, driving and re setting up. Plus being Easter weekend, we weren’t confident we’d even get a space at Florence. So, timetables were poured over, and a plan was made. Florence via public bus from San Gimignano.
On arrival into the bus station, we made our way to the cathedral and we were instantly blown away. The Duomo is absolutely breathtaking, a true architectural masterpiece.
We followed the Rick Steves audio tour of Renaissance Florence which was wonderful and a great way to tackle the city.
The views of the cathedral and the city from the Rose garden beneath Piazzale Michelangelo were outstanding.
And yes, we found (and loved) the famous wine windows—tiny historical quirks that let you order wine through little hatches in the wall. Genius!
Florence is now officially one of our top cities—majestic, romantic, and full of surprises at every turn.
Golden Hills & Slow Moments: We fell for Tuscany
Tuscany had a way of sweeping us off our feet—with its golden hour hills, small and charming medieval towns, and the way life seems to slow down just enough to savour every moment. From spontaneous proposals to cinematic landscapes and the comfort of pasta shared in the van, this leg of our journey reminded us why we love life on the road. As we roll on to our next destination, we’re carrying with us full hearts, full bellies, and a growing love for this enchanting corner of Italy.
