Dave Does Italy
I help people make their Italian dream vacation a reality, without the hassle of planning and booking.
I offer private small group tours featuring authentic, adventurous itineraries. I take care of everything so you can relax and enjoy Italia!
14/10/2023
Today is my last day in Sicily and I finally made it to the famous Bam Bar for a traditional Sicilian breakfast of Granita and Brioche. It has been quite the adventure for me and I am grateful that I was able to experience it. Goodbye Toarmina, I will miss waking up to this view every morning.
14/10/2023
Today was the last day of Italian lessons. What better way to celebrate than a farewell dinner with my classmates!
12/10/2023
Another amazing experience tonight as I was able to have dinner at a chef Massimo's house. Met some great people and was able to eat 8 different courses that chef prepared for us, along with plenty of Sicilian wine of course!
11/10/2023
Mid-week afternoon at the beach with an Aperol Spritz (of course). I have been very fortunate that the weather has been 80-85 every single day with no rain. Only a few days left before I make my way back to NJ.
10/10/2023
Had a fantastic time experiencing my very first scuba dive. Paolo from Blue Sea Diving was a great instructor and guided me through schools of fish and amazing underwater rocks and caverns in Mazzaro Bay!
09/10/2023
After a busy weekend, decided to relax today with a walk through town to admire the architecture and do some souvenir shopping.
08/10/2023
Second adventure for the weekend was body rafting down the Alcantara River including quite a few leaps off of rock ledges. Afterwards, spent some time at the Alcantara Gorge marveling at the amazing sights. Back to class tomorrow morning.
07/10/2023
With no class on the weekend, I get to go on some longer adventures. Today was a hike around the craters of Mt. Etna which was like walking through another world. Of course pictures don't do it justice, but you can zoom in on some of the pics to see the people in the distance and appreciate the size. Also got a chance to climb down and through a lava tunnel!
06/10/2023
White Lotus fans will recognize the places I visited today. First a long walk down 354 stairs to the beach and Isola Bella, which is actually a protected nature reserve you can walk through. Lots of great paths and views as it is at the tip of Toarmina. Also from the show is the San Domenico Palace, which is the hotel where the guests from season two stayed.
05/10/2023
Had a great time on a food and wine tour tonight. Not only was it a fun group, but the traditional Sicilian dishes and drinks were fantastic and plentiful. To top it all off, our guide Alfredo (on the right) was a true superstar, filled with fun stories and tons of knowledge!
04/10/2023
Today I took a hike up the mountain to the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca, a ancient church built into the mountain. Views from both sides at the top are breathtaking, including Mt. Etna and the hilltop town of Castelmola.
03/10/2023
After language class, decided to have a relaxing day reading and checking out the public gardens of Taormina which offer unique sites, lots of different greenery and amazing views!
02/10/2023
First day of Italian language school and a trip to the Teatro Antico (Greek Theatre).
01/10/2023
Gonna steal this format from my wife who is in Bali:
3 hr. drive to JFK
8 hr. flight to Milan
2 hr. flight to Sicily
1.5 hr. bus to Taormina
Let the adventure begin, cheers!
28/09/2023
I will be in Sicily for the first two weeks of October exploring and researching a new tour as this is by far the location I get asked about the most. Home base will be Taormina on the eastern coast where the HBO series White Lotus was filmed. Stay tuned for lots of updates including a hike up Mt. Etna!
16/08/2023
With summer winding down, it's time to plan next year's vacation! How about a private small group tour to Venice where everything is planned for you? Join us next June for gondolas, glass blowing, food tours and more! Full itinerary and pricing on davedoesitaly.com/tours.
09/07/2023
You never know what you will stumble upon when exploring the streets of Venice! For info on our tour next June, DM or visit davedoesitaly.com/tours.
21/06/2023
One year countdown to our next tour in Venice and Bologna! DM for details or check out the itinerary/pricing on davedoesitaly.com/tours. Website link also in bio.
08/06/2023
Next June! DM for details, website in bio, [email protected].
01/06/2023
Art is everywhere in Venice, even the bathrooms!
25/05/2023
Once the daytime crowds leave, Venice at night is a spectacular sight. Sometimes you feel that you have the entire city to yourself. Even St. Marks Square, the most popular piazza in Venice, can be virtually empty, allowing you to take it all in at your own pace. Check out our June 2024 tour itinerary on my website (link in bio) or DM if you are curious about visiting Italy!
16/05/2023
One of the nicest surprises about Venice is that there are beaches! A short water taxi across the lagoon gets you to The Lido where you can relax at one of the many beach clubs. Fun fact: The world famous Venice Film Festival is held at The Lido. This great island will definitely be on the itinerary for our tour next June!
www.davedoesitaly.com/tours
09/05/2023
View from the back of a taxi in Venice. Travelling by boat instead of car is such a unique and fun experience! Come to Venice with us next June, DM if interested, www.davedoesitaly.com for more info.
03/05/2023
NEW TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT!
We are so excited to be offering a 7 day/6 night private tour to Venice in June of 2024!!!! Check out all the details on www.davedoesitaly.com/tours.
07/04/2023
One of our favorite swimming spots in Manarola, Cinque Terre. Yes, you can climb and jump off the top and yes we both did it! www.davedoesitaly.com/tours.
30/03/2023
Only 2 weeks left to get in on the August tour to Cinque Terre Italy. This pic was taken while eating dinner at one of our favorite places, Trattoria da Billy. www.davedoesitaly.com/tours.
23/03/2023
Just an accordion player serenading tourists as they climb the 300+ steps to Corniglia, www.davedoesitaly.com/tours.
16/03/2023
April 15th is the last day to reserve your spot on our August tour to Cinque Terre! www.davedoesitaly.com/tours
08/03/2023
How one of our favorite restaurants, Il Pirata in Cinque Terre, changed from 2018 (left) to 2022 (right)! The owner, Massimo is so genuine and always has time for a conversation over a glass of wine! This will definitely be one of the stops on the tour in August. www.davedoesitaly.com/tours
13/02/2023
6 months to go until the next tour! Come join us for an unforgettable trip! Pricing and full itinerary on www.davedoesitaly.com/tours
Videos (show all)
