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Just back in Singapore after a memorable trip to Italy and Turkiye with Mrs yflyer!
In May 2025, we celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary by heading to Italy and Turkiye for a 3 week vacation. We explored Rome, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Bologna, then Sirmione on Lake Garda, before departing from Milan's Malpensa Airport to head to Istanbul for a 3 day stopover on our way back to Singapore.
We flew SIN-IST-FCO then MXP-IST-SIN on Turkish Airlines Business Class, with all sectors operated by their Airbus A350-900 aircraft, except for IST-FCO, which was an A321.
Turkish had very attractive sale fares for the dates we were looking at, and as an added bonus, TK would also provide a free Istanbul stopover, with 2 complimentary hotel nights in a 5 star hotel as part of the deal. The hotel offered to us in Istanbul was the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, and I added a 3rd night's stay with a Hilton redemption.
I had previously flown TK's A359 Economy Class to Melbourne and had great flights (TR here). I was looking forward to checking out TK's Business Class, especially their much-lauded catering.
It was approaching the busy tourist season in Rome, and everywhere else in Italy for that matter, and visitors were back in force. We braved the crowds to revisit Rome's many attractions.
"If this is what it's like now, I can't imagine what it is like when it's peak season" I remarked to Mrs yflyer.
Mrs yflyer had another reason to head to Rome this year: she was Roman Catholic, and 2025 was a special Jubilee Year for Catholics, with many pilgrims and faithful heading to Rome to walk through some or all of the 4 Holy Doors open at 4 Basilicas there. She also wrote in to request tickets to attend a Papal General Audience at Vatican City, where the Pope addresses an audience of typically thousands or 10's of thousands.
When we booked the the trip, it was Pope Francis presiding, however, sadly Pope Francis passed away earlier this year, with a new Pope, Leo the XIV, elected soon afterwards. We were very elated and privileged to attend the first General Audience of Pope Leo's Pontificate.
After Rome, we headed to Sorrento and then the Amalfi Coast. What amazing views, hospitality and cuisine!
Bologna was next -- many friends told us that Bologna was the food capital of the region, and they were not wrong.
After that, we headed to Sirmione, a picturesque old town on the banks of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, for a few days before heading to Milan Malpensa Airport for our flight to Istanbul.
We had 3 days to explore Istanbul before our flight back to Singapore. This was our first time there and it was a fascinating glimpse into the history, culture and cuisine of the city, which has a mindboggling history dating back thousands of years, to the days of Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire.
Along the way, we had lots of good food, and there were great opportunities for walks, hikes and runs.
In May 2025, we celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary by heading to Italy and Turkiye for a 3 week vacation. We explored Rome, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Bologna, then Sirmione on Lake Garda, before departing from Milan's Malpensa Airport to head to Istanbul for a 3 day stopover on our way back to Singapore.
We flew SIN-IST-FCO then MXP-IST-SIN on Turkish Airlines Business Class, with all sectors operated by their Airbus A350-900 aircraft, except for IST-FCO, which was an A321.
Turkish had very attractive sale fares for the dates we were looking at, and as an added bonus, TK would also provide a free Istanbul stopover, with 2 complimentary hotel nights in a 5 star hotel as part of the deal. The hotel offered to us in Istanbul was the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, and I added a 3rd night's stay with a Hilton redemption.
I had previously flown TK's A359 Economy Class to Melbourne and had great flights (TR here). I was looking forward to checking out TK's Business Class, especially their much-lauded catering.
It was approaching the busy tourist season in Rome, and everywhere else in Italy for that matter, and visitors were back in force. We braved the crowds to revisit Rome's many attractions.
"If this is what it's like now, I can't imagine what it is like when it's peak season" I remarked to Mrs yflyer.
Mrs yflyer had another reason to head to Rome this year: she was Roman Catholic, and 2025 was a special Jubilee Year for Catholics, with many pilgrims and faithful heading to Rome to walk through some or all of the 4 Holy Doors open at 4 Basilicas there. She also wrote in to request tickets to attend a Papal General Audience at Vatican City, where the Pope addresses an audience of typically thousands or 10's of thousands.
When we booked the the trip, it was Pope Francis presiding, however, sadly Pope Francis passed away earlier this year, with a new Pope, Leo the XIV, elected soon afterwards. We were very elated and privileged to attend the first General Audience of Pope Leo's Pontificate.
After Rome, we headed to Sorrento and then the Amalfi Coast. What amazing views, hospitality and cuisine!
Bologna was next -- many friends told us that Bologna was the food capital of the region, and they were not wrong.
After that, we headed to Sirmione, a picturesque old town on the banks of Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, for a few days before heading to Milan Malpensa Airport for our flight to Istanbul.
We had 3 days to explore Istanbul before our flight back to Singapore. This was our first time there and it was a fascinating glimpse into the history, culture and cuisine of the city, which has a mindboggling history dating back thousands of years, to the days of Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire.
Along the way, we had lots of good food, and there were great opportunities for walks, hikes and runs.
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