A Journey Through Italy and Croatia, One Bite at a Time

Some trips are remembered through landscapes, others through hotels or historic sites. This one, for me, was remembered through food: warm maritozzi in Rome, truffles in the Umbrian countryside, Orvieto wine sipped in a hilltop town, and oysters pulled straight from the sea in Mali Ston.

Rome

Rome was the perfect beginning. On a food-focused walk through the Campo de’ Fiori area, the day unfolded in small, delicious stops: almond cookies from a tiny bakery, a traditional Roman maritozzo filled with whipped cream, supplì and pizza rossa, and pizza bianca with mortadella. It was the kind of tour that reminds you Roman food is not just about pasta. It is about neighborhood bakeries, family recipes, simple ingredients, and the joy of eating something exactly where it belongs.

Sampling different dishes in Rome

Umbria

From Rome, the flavors shifted as I entered Umbria. In the countryside, I joined a truffle hunting experience with Peka, a young Lagotto Romagnolo dog, leading the way. After learning how truffles grow and how hunters know where to look, we sat down to a truffle-filled lunch with wine. It was earthy, generous, and deeply Umbrian.

Later, near Spello, an e-bike ride through olive groves ended at a family-owned winery, where we tasted Grechetto, rosé, red, and orange wines alongside cheeses, bruschetta, olive oil, and local jams. The setting alone would have made the experience memorable: vineyards, hills, mountains, and two truffle dogs running around nearby.

Orvieto was another personal highlight. The town itself is stunning, perched high above the surrounding countryside, but the wine is what made it unforgettable. Orvieto wine has long been one of my favorites, and tasting it at the source, surrounded by caves, stone streets, and sweeping views, made it even better.

Truffle hunting in Umbria

Tuscany

Tuscany brought its own kind of abundance: polished winery experiences with excellent food and wine, more intimate family-run atmospheres, a traditional cooking class in Siena, and a bike ride through Montepulciano, Monticchiello, and Pienza. Somewhere between pici pasta, pecorino cheese gelato, and Vino Nobile, it became clear that every region tells a different story through food.

A vineyard and rolling hills in Tuscany

Croatia

Then came Croatia. The most unforgettable bite of the entire trip may have been in Mali Ston. On the way from Dubrovnik to Korčula, we stopped for an oyster experience and went by boat out to one of the many oyster platforms in the bay. The specialty here is the European flat oyster (the famous Mali Ston oyster) with a history stretching back to Roman times. On the boat, we had grappa, candied almonds, and candied orange peel. Then, out on the water with a glass of wine in hand, we learned how the oysters are farmed before tasting them fresh from the bay alongside freshly cooked mussels in garlic and butter.

Both were exceptional. Sitting on the water, eating oysters and mussels with local wine, was one of those travel moments that feels both simple and completely whole. It deserves to be a highlight of any food-focused itinerary in southern Croatia.

Korčula continued the theme beautifully. The island’s wineries felt sophisticated, warm, and personal, with family-run producers specializing in white wines and offering excellent charcuterie plates. One olive oil producer, Marija, brought us into her grove, introduced us to her trees, and then led a tasting with food pairings. It was humble, heartfelt, and genuinely special.

A tray of fresh oysters

The Meal That Was the Journey

By the end of the trip, what stayed with me most was how food opened the door to each place. Rome was lively and layered. Umbria was earthy and soulful. Tuscany was elegant and abundant. Croatia was fresh, coastal, and full of surprises. The meals, tastings, markets, wines, oysters, and small local producers were not just stops along the way. They were the heart of the journey.

Fresh pasta in Rome

Ready to taste your way through Italy and Croatia? Contact a Vaya Destination Specialist today.

Explore Croatia and Italy