Jeffrey, Sarah, Josephine, William & Eleanor — Rome sightseeing, a morning in Pompeii, and the rest of the week on the Adriatic with friends near Pescara.
Strictly gluten-free, plus a serious allergy to cashews and pistachios. "100% gluten-free" does not mean nut-safe — many dedicated GF bakeries in Italy use pistachio or almond flour, so screen every venue for both hazards separately.
Use AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) certified restaurants as the baseline. Find them on the go with the AIC Mobile "Welcome Access" pass — already activated for this trip.
Only fresh spatula from a sealed tub. Never a shared-water display scoop — cross-contact risk is real even at "gluten-free" gelaterias.
Ornella Colandrea, our Aug 12 walking-tour guide, is celiac herself and attuned to gluten-free needs — a good extra set of eyes that day.
Nonstop overnight to Rome, arriving the next afternoon. Party of 5, Delta Main Classic.
Check-in 2:00pm. Two nights a few minutes' walk from the Colosseum. Host Anna Maria D'Agata; call host +39 338 202 6566.
Full day in Rome. Plan the Colosseum and heavy walking for early morning or after 5pm to dodge the August heat — churches and museums make good midday shade.
Rome Airbnb checkout at 10am. Pick up the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (or similar) at Rome Termini at noon, then drive to Pompeii for the night — about 5 minutes from the Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri station.
Nominative entry tickets for all 5 (9:00am timed entry) followed by a 2-hour walking tour with Ornella Colandrea at 9:30am. €150 total, €75 deposit already paid — remainder due in cash after the tour. Afterward, drive to Silvi Marina and check into the beachfront house.
Two bedrooms, terrace/garden, direct beach access, just north of Pescara. Booked through a friend, no formal confirmation code. This is the stretch for visiting friends and slowing down.
Drive back from the coast, drop the Hertz car at Termini by 5pm, then check into the Trastevere apartment (self check-in, smart lock) at 3pm — 4-bedroom, hosted by Skylife Management.
Vatican Museums are closed Sundays, so Monday is the right day for this. Confirm tickets are booked at museivaticani.va (60-day advance release) before this date.
Checkout by 11am, arrive at FCO Terminal 3 with plenty of buffer. A pre-booked van transfer (~€60–75) is easier than the Leonardo Express for 5 people with luggage. Nonstop to MSP, landing 6:26pm.