10 days in Italy: castle wedding & road trip - Episode 57
This episode of Create & Consume is the fun, gossipy FaceTime-style catch-up version of my recent trip to Italy! I’ll be sharing the real behind-the-scenes moments from Nora’s wedding and our road trip through Tuscany.
If you want more details and visuals, stay tuned for my vlog and blog post coming soon—but this one’s for my podcast besties who want all the funny stories and chaos in audio form.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating this week: videos from Nora’s wedding and lots of quick-hits Italy content on reels and TikTok like this and this
What Austen is consuming this week: catching up on YouTube—been watching Samantha Randazzo’s moving series, Amber Burns week in my life vlog, and finishing up Allana Davison’s everyday May videos
In this episode:
Nora’s fairytale wedding in Italy
First off, Nora’s wedding! It was held at Castello di Magrano in Gubbio, Italy, and yes—it was literally in a castle.
Getting there was quite the mission. We got so lost on the way (should’ve downloaded an offline maps app), but once we arrived, it was like stepping into a dream.
The morning of the wedding, we all got ready together in the castle doing our own hair and makeup, which made everything feel intimate and special.
Nora looked amazing in her black gown while we all wore white—such a cool twist.
Of course, there had to be a little drama: her dress zipper broke just before the ceremony (panic!!), but we rallied and got it sorted.
The ceremony itself was incredibly personal, with readings in multiple languages and a beautiful Scottish handfasting ritual where they literally “tied the knot.”
The food was next-level—pasta and pizza served family-style during dinner, and the appetizers were chef’s kiss.
We danced all night (until 2am!), played the shoe game, and I even made them a little wedding video with clips I filmed.
You’ll see snippets in the upcoming vlog (so be sure to subscribe on YouTube!), but it was such a meaningful day.
Tuscany road trip adventures
After the wedding, we hit the road for a mini Tuscany tour.
Montepulciano was our first stop—a gorgeous hilltop town with insane views.
We had coffee at Caffè Poliziano and wandered through the cute shops.
Fun fact: they filmed the Twilight: New Moon Volturi scenes there! I still regret not buying olive oil and pasta to bring home.
Then we made it to Montalcino, where we stayed at the sweetest B&B (Le Scalette di Piazza).
We did a wine tasting at Enoteca di Piazza and tried different Brunellos.
We almost went to Re di Macchia for dinner, but it was fully booked—even on a Monday!
We ended up at Il Moro, and despite just wanting a light dinner, we got bruschetta, secondi, and they surprised us with biscotti and limoncello.
On our way to Siena, we stopped in San Gimignano, had lunch at the restaurant at Hotel La Cisterna (best pizza of the trip), explored shops, checked out the historical fountain, and of course, got gelato.
Siena to Florence
In Siena, we stayed at Palazzo Ravizza—this place was perfect.
Huge rooms, AC (important), and a gorgeous terrace with views of the city. Highlights included climbing the Torre di Mangia, a cooking class at Fonte Giusta, and a wine tour through the Chianti region.
We visited wineries like Azienda Agricola Casanova di Bricciano and stopped in charming towns along the way. Siena had such a lovely, relaxed vibe—I even took a solo camera walk while Andrew went for a morning run.
Florence was our final stop. We dropped off our rental car and kicked things off with sandwiches from All’Antico Vinaio.
We squeezed in visits to the Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, and even popped into the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum.
One morning, we booked a 30-minute photo shoot via Local Lens (highly recommend!) and got gorgeous shots at Piazza Michelangelo.
We also tried a traditional bistecca fiorentina at Osteria del Proconsolo, snacked on more gelato and sandwiches (Pino’s truffle brie combo was a hit), and had Mexican food on our last night—which honestly hit the spot after all the pasta.
The journey home (cue chaos)
Our travel day home was a mess.
We flew from Florence to Frankfurt and our flight was late, so we had to sprint through the airport to make our connection.
We made it, barely, but it was very much a movie-style airport chase moment.
This trip was equal parts magical and chaotic, and I loved every second.
From dancing in a castle at Nora’s wedding to wine tasting across Tuscany, it was a whirlwind of joy, carbs, and a little bit of drama—just the way I like it.
Summary
TL;DR: A dreamy Italian wedding + a pasta-fueled road trip through Tuscany = unforgettable memories and some hilarious travel chaos.
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