After six months of navigating the narrow streets, the “Great Pasta Aisles,” and the stunning coastlines of Italy, we’ve officially reached the end of our Italian chapter. It’s been a journey of high expectations, physical exhaustion, and “happy detours” that we never saw coming.
Wysteria at Sosta Camper Prajola, where we also found fellow English Speakers – from Canada and Ireland.
As we prepare to board the ferry for Country #10 (Spain!), we’re looking back at our final days in the “Bel Paese.”
While parked on a “Helipad” at Park Morano Calabro, we saw this “Pile of Logs” that turned out to be a Welcome and Education Center and a great place to get breakfast and sandwiches to go!
Pompeii: Mentally, Physically, and Emotionally Exhausting
They call it an archaeological park, but it’s really a city frozen in time. Standing in the oldest Colosseum in the world (built around 70 BC!), you can almost hear the echoes of 20,000 people. We were floored by Roman technology—heated floors, plumbing, and even water jets for fountains—all from 2,000 years ago.
Pro-Tip for Travelers: Wear your best walking shoes. We logged over 10,000 steps in a single afternoon, and those ancient cobblestones are unforgiving on the ankles!
While we loved the history, it was a bittersweet day for Salsa. Because she’s a 23kg “brave dog,” she exceeded the 10kg weight limit for the park. She spent the day guarding our motorhome, Holly, at the fantastic Camping Spartacus, which is literally across the street from the ruins.
The “City of Popes” and a Historic Slap
The next leg of our trip led us to Anagni, known as the Città dei Papi. This medieval hill town produced four popes in one century! We learned about the “Slap of Anagni”—a 1303 territorial dispute where a Pope was actually struck in the face, signaling a massive shift in European power.
It’s Easter Sunday, and we need to make our way closer to the port, that meant braving the GRA (Rome’s Ring Road) on, did I mention, Easter Sunday. Thanks to some AI advice and a bit of luck, the traffic wasn’t the nightmare we expected, though the local grocery stores were a different story (Conad was closed, but the parking lot made for a great lunch spot!).
Finding a Happy Detour
After rejecting the first choice for parking, we found camper parking at the Santa Severa Castle. After the Easter Sunday and Easter Monday Crowd left, we hit the beach, the castle, and it’s Museums!
Taking Care of “Cousin Eddie”
Vanlife isn’t all sunsets and ancient ruins. Our final day in Italy was a masterclass in logistics:
The Gas Bottle Gamble: We finally found a local shop to take our Italian gas bottle since we’re heading to Spain and won’t need it.
The “Cousin Eddie” Special: We hit the service station to drain the tanks and fill up, though Casey nixed the water refill because the spigot was a little too close to the toilet cassette cleaner for comfort!
The Ferry Staging: We spent hours in the “waiting game” at the port, watching lorries and motorcycles board before we finally got Holly onto the ship.
Italy: Our Honest 6-Month Review
Looking back, Italy was a “mixed bag.” We started with sky-high expectations fueled by Instagram, and while some parts were a shock (the winter cold in the north and the crowds), the country grew on us.
Our top picks?
Sicily: The open feel, the history, and (of course) the IKEA trip!
Gargano National Park: A hidden gem that felt like our “groove.”
The Food: We are going to miss those entire aisles of pasta and the passata sauce that has become a staple in our tiny kitchen.
What’s Next?
We are officially boarding the ferry for Spain! It’s country number 10 for Empty Nest Adventures TV, and we can’t wait to see what the next 90 days of the “Schengen Shuffle” bring.
Are you Team Beach or Team History? Let us know in the comments below!
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