Monte Faito, Italy.

Italy delivered. Gelato and pizza, touring Pompeii, boating around the island of Capri, swimming, wine, sunshine, stunning views, cool mountain air. We even braved the bustle of Rome and visited the Colosseum and the Vatican. The best part is we got to do it with our friends! Dave, Amy, Elodie, and Emerie joined us for a 9-day Italy experience.

We home based in a little mountain town called Monte Faito. The Airbnb looked and felt like it had been in the family for several generations and with four bedrooms, it suited us perfectly. Despite the 45-minute winding, very narrow drive to sea level, we appreciated beating the summer heat by about 10 degrees just by traveling UP.

In between Napoli pizza joints, we sourced our meals from small, village grocery stores with fresh meat, cheese, and produce. A breathtaking panoramic view could be reached just short hike from our house. On a clear day, you could see Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Sorrento, Capri and other nearby islands.

Leo thought it would be fun to do a murder mystery as a belated birthday activity, so we bought one from the Murder by Post and all 8 of us worked on piecing the clues together. It was tough, but fun!

The cows came every day, up and down the mountain

We can't stop taking photos of the views

Cows on the hill

The cows again

Beautiful views from Monte Faito

Small, winding streets up the mountain

Views of Mt Vesuvius