🏙️ Genoa: High Views, Low Bounce

Italy started with a win—literally. We landed in Genoa, checked into our hotel B&B that we specifically picked for it’s pickleball court on the rooftop. The view? Incredible. The surface? One of those plastic snap-in tile situations with a few questionable bounces—but I managed to beat Damon, so clearly it played just fine.

Apparently, we were the first guests ever to bring our own paddles, which made us instant celebrities. The hotel manager was sent to ask if they had the “correct balls” (spoiler: no). We gave a quick rules-and-equipment crash course and introduced them to the Franklin X-40 like the traveling pickleball evangelists we are. Genoa is best known for its pesto (yes, the pesto), especially on focaccia bread, grand old palaces, and its gritty, charming historic port. It’s the kind of place that feels chaotic at first but wins you over by the second vino.

🌊 Portofino Area: Scenic, Slippery, and… Clay

After Genoa, we took the scenic drive down the coast near Portofino, stopping at a club to check out the courts. The location was stunning—turquoise water, colorful buildings, the whole Under the Tuscan Sun vibe—but the courts? Mostly clay or carpet, which might be great for dramatic sliding tennis moments, but not ideal for pickleball. It’s also known for its upscale, yacht-club energy. I even found my own Castle!

🌊 Cinque Terre: No Courts, Just a Breather

After all the court-hopping and driving, we took a detour for some much-needed relaxation in Cinque Terre. No scouting, no court surfaces to assess—just colorful cliffside villages, seafood, and no one arguing about directions in a tiny Fiat rental car.

If you've ever driven in a tight foreign town while trying not to get frustrated with your partner’s navigation mishaps, you’ll understand why this was the perfect pause. Honestly, just like pickleball—sometimes you need to reset and not blame your partner.

I’ve wanted to see Cinque Terre (5 lands) for years, and I’m so glad we carved out two nights to explore the towns, (we made it to 4 out of cinque terre). It was a literal and figurative breath of fresh air between all the bouncing balls.

🌴 Forte dei Marmi: Stylish People, Friendly Courts

Next up was Forte dei Marmi, which is basically the Italian version of a beach town that wears linen unironically. We dropped by Tennis Raffaelli Country Club, a friendly multi-racquet sport facility with pickleball, tennis, and padel.

The club was welcoming, the people were lovely, and it’s just a five-minute drive to the beach. It’s not the one for us yet, but it’s firmly on the “keep an eye on it” list. If you love walking to the beach and high end shopping then this would be the place for you.

🍷 Lucca: The Villa We Might Never Leave

Then came Lucca. Just outside the walled city, in a tiny hilltop village with more olive trees than people, we found a villa that had everything: privacy, charm, incredible views, and a backstory straight out of a Netflix period drama.

The family has lived there for over 500 years. The owner is a personal driver, and his brother? Oh, just a professional chef who not only cooks for guests but offers full pizza and pasta-making classes on-site. I mean… come on.

And the location? Chef’s kiss.

30 minutes to Lucca
45 minutes to Pisa (yes, with the Leaning Tower)
1 hour to Florence
Near Chianti
Day-trip to Siena

We could already picture our retreat there: morning matches, afternoon pasta-making, sunset wine on the patio. It’s hands-down our favorite find from the entire trip.

🎾 Florence: Dinks, Drinks, and Dedicated Courts

We wrapped up the trip in Florence, where we visited Chimera Pickleball Club—the first and only pickleball club in the city. The owner built four dedicated courts last year and invited us to their Friday Dinks & Drinks social.

Naturally, we showed up. The vibe was welcoming, the games were solid, and it was a great reminder that pickleball is growing in Europe, one court at a time.

🍝 What a Future Italy Retreat Could Look Like

If (when) we host a retreat here, you can expect:

Morning court time (with proper balls, we promise)
Pizza and pasta-making with a real Italian chef
Wine tastings in Chianti
Day trips to Florence, Pisa, and Lucca
A villa that makes you question your entire life back home

And don’t worry— we’ll make sure you go home fitting into the same clothes you came in.

✈️ Final Thoughts: Italy, You Win

Italy delivered everything: quirky courts, killer food, a villa that felt like home, and the kind of memories we’re still laughing about. We’re already planning how to bring a crew back with us next summer.

Next up? A full retreat calendar, registration details, and—hopefully—you.

If you’re interested in joining us next summer let us know.

Part 3: Rooftop Courts, Pasta Dreams & the Villa We Might Never Leave