The Davis family
three-generation Italian viaggio
For their first viaggio all together - grandparents, parents, and grandchildren - the Davises wanted an adventure that would resonate with young and old. That requires a beautiful balancing act, and so the family reached out to Access Italy for support. What follows is Margaret Davis’ journal from their viaggio di famiglia…
PLANNING
TIME
Mar 8 - Where it begins
Coordinating 11 people across three generations for an Italian vacation? I should've known better! My mother wanted art and history. My teenagers wanted Instagram moments. My brother's kids were six and eight and needed to burn energy. My husband just wanted good
wine. I called my travel advisor in desperation: “We're 11 people with 11 different wishes,” I told Michelle. She called Maira from Access Italy. She smiled, replying: “Perfetto. This is what we do best.”
But Italians love big families.
We’ve got this!
Jun 2
A Rome we didn't expect!
We landed in Rome and I braced for chaos. Instead, two drivers whisked us into pristine cars and we were immediately on our way.
At the hotel, Maira had left personalized welcome boxes for each of us: Italian snacks for the kids, a wine guide for my husband, an art book for Mom.
Mom nodded her approval to me. “Someone was paying attention,” she said.
The next morning, Maira arranged an early-morning, private-access to the Vatican before the crowds arrived. We had the Sistine Chapel virtually all to ourselves. My nephew asked our guide 50 questions and she answered every single one. My mother sat on a bench beneath Michelangelo's ceiling and cried quietly.
Later, she told me it was the most beautiful morning of her life.
Jun 5
Gladiators & Gelato
Today we explored ancient Rome. The Colosseum could have been a nightmare with kids but our guide turned it into theater. My nephew dressed as a gladiator, my father debated Roman engineering with the guide, and my teenagers took a combat lesson worthy of Maximus.
Later, we visited an old gelateria near the Pantheon where we made our own gelato. My eight-year-old niece created a flavor she called ‘Rainbow Unicorn Explosion’. The gelataio played along like it was the best idea he’d ever heard.
NAPLES &
POMPEII
Jun 7
Naples welcomed us with wide skies and that unmistakable southern pace that makes you slow down without noticing. We began where the city speaks most clearly: through food. Mozzarella still warm from the morning, mouthwatering pizza, and simple local flavors made with fresh ingredients. Babà' and sfogliatella came first, as they should, followed by coffee in one of the city’s historic cafés. The younger ones watched the ovens and the gestures. The adults settled into the table, unhurried.
That evening, Naples revealed another rhythm. We wandered through illuminated piazzas and historic streets before entering the Cappella Sansevero after hours. Away from the crowds, the silence felt almost sacred. Some were drawn to the stories, others simply stood still. The Veiled Christ seemed impossibly precise. We left quietly.
Jun 9
Puglia unplugged
We arrived in Puglia and the colorful landscape changed: white stone, green olive trees, bright blue skies. Our masseria near Ostuni was 500 years old, with cool walls and quiet courtyards. That evening, Maira arranged an experience around what she called ‘the best sunset you'll ever see’. It was. A long table awaited us under an ancient oak tree overlooking the Valle d'Itria, while a local chef cooked bombette, burrata, and orecchiette over an open fire. The sun turned the valley pink. My father raised his glass: “To family. To Italy. To doing this again.” We all cheered.
Jun 13
The fairytale of Alberobello
For our last full day, we visited Alberobello and its storybook trulli. The kids thought they were hobbit houses and my daughter got to post all those Instagram stories she wanted. We ate lunch inside a tiny family-run trullo. We barely fit at one table, everyone squeezed in together, but my parents beamed. My brother whispered, “We should do this every year.” When done like this, how could I disagree?
CIAO
FOR NOW
16 days, 11 new Italians
At Bari airport, we may have looked like travelers heading home, but we felt like honorary Italians. We had eaten at family tables, learned from artisans, swam in hidden coves, and walked through centuries of history together. My mother kept saying, “How did Maira make it so easy?” The truth is that she didn't just handle the logistics, she created the space for each of us to feel at our best. We really flourished as a family.
Everyone needs variety without chaos. Plenty of activity, but enough breathing room so that
time together is always special (and welcome!). It takes more than one person to shape that balance. When you do it well, everything falls into place."