Travel Guide: A Love Letter to Italy
Travel Guide: A Love Letter to Italy
A travel post! Yes, you read that correctly! I am finally publishing a travel article all about Italy!
I’m usually so consumed with researching, planning and experiencing destinations that I never get around to featuring them here. It’s a terrible habit that I aim to stop this year. With the current state of the world and the pause that we have all taken, I find myself reflecting on travel destinations that I wish to return to and feel so grateful for being able to experience. I am well aware that travel is not a priority in everyone’s life. It is a very consuming passion and requires not only monetary commitment, but also a time commitment that so few have the luxury to spare. Time after all is our most valuable asset. You cannot buy more time.
Cayle and I have had the unique opportunity to choose how we spend our time, but that is a completely different article! We have made our way into travel quite organically. What started out as a far fetched plan in 2014, quickly became a dream realized. From the moment we stepped off the plan in our first country abroad I knew this was a love affair that would never end. So, travel is a major part of our lives. We have so much to experience and only one life to see it all. We once thought we would travel until...you name it, moved out of Louisiana, reached a certain age, had a kid and the list went on. There was always a set threshold that, once reached, meant travel had to stop. What we have realized is travel is not something we are willing to give up or postpone for retirement. As a matter of fact, I cannot picture a complete life without it! Travel, I have found you, I’m never letting go.
An Italian Love Affair:
I have had the chance to travel to Italy on more than one occasion and feel a return is very near! The truth is you will never be done experiencing Italy. It is without a doubt the most emotion-evoking country we have traveled to. I fall more in love with each visit. I know it is somewhere we will continue to visit through all stages of life. I would return once a year if it were up to me and plan to do just that once we are satisfied with other destinations! So, rather than listing off the obligatory checklist of tourist traps to see on your trip, I want to set the stage for you to see a deeper more unique side of Italy! Below you will find a small excerpt of our favorite experiences in each city we have visited! These are all things we have personally experienced and enjoyed enough for me to pass on as a recommendation.
When To Go:
Close your eyes and imagine a trip to Italy, visions of summer and sunning by the Riviera undoubtably come to mind. Am I right? You can probably feel the summer air on your sunkissed skin, and imagine eating gelato by the Colosseum. The truth is, your Italian summer dream can turn into a real nightmare and quick. The Summer crowds in Italy are a gauntlet, the ultimate tourist trap. You see, the difference between having an amazing trip in Italy and never wanting to return again is when you choose to go. Here’s my suggestion, choose a shoulder season! Not only will the crowds be fewer but the weather will be amazing and the airfare will be slightly cheaper. We usually head to Italy in late September-October. Late September will allow you just enough warm weather to swim in the Riviera and not faint from heat stroke in Rome! October is also a perfectly lovely month! It will be slightly chilly in the evenings and most Riviera towns are preparing for winter. If you’re not the type to swim or partake in water sports this won’t be a big hindrance for you. October weather is positively lovely! Of course the Italians think it’s freezing, but they are so cute bundled in their leather jackets! We visited Florence and Rome in October and it was a dream. Very few crowds and mild enjoyable temperatures! We plan to return in early May on our next visit as many of our Italian friends say the weather is amazing and the crowds are drastically less.
Touching Down in Italy:
We have arrived in Italy via Rome and also Milan. The truth is the airfare from the US to Italy will run you a bit more than other countries we have visited. Most destinations fluctuate in price throughout the year so the key is to pick a time of year and watch the ticket prices. Again, I would highly suggest watching the shoulder seasons, April-May and September-October will be just right! As for choosing an airport, this depends entirely on what part of the country you want to visit! If you’re trying to stay along the southern part of Italy I would recommend flying into Rome. However, Rome is also an amazing hub to hop around the rest of the northern and mid part of the country via train or car! On our last trip, we rented a car in Florence and drove to Tuscany! It was absolutely stunning, we had the dreamiest time, just us, cruising the Tuscan countryside. On that trip, we arrived from the States into Milan. This put us in the best position to get to the Liguria region and Florence since we would be spending all of our time in northern Italy. We have also accessed both of these destinations from the Rome airport by train! On the topic of trains, Cayle has become a bit of an expert. Below are some resources that we found helpful!
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/italy-rail-passes
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
What To Eat:
The thing about Italian cuisine is there is no such thing as a bad meal! It is also worth mentioning that their culture is extremely body positive. Being an American, and a young female, I have felt pressure my entire life to look a certain way and eat a diet that will aid in that appearance. I literally cannot tell you how refreshing it is to see how celebrated bodies are in Italy. Speedo’s and tiny bikinis all around! Now don’t get me wrong, the women there are beautiful, but they are also healthy and seem to have a good balance! They eat pasta and wine and delicious sweets! They also seem to be incredibly active as the physical demands of living in certain parts Italy are quite high. There is nothing cuter than a 80 year old grandpa with a pasta belly in a Speedo! So cute! Okay, back to the food! My best advice is try it all and eat for the region! When you’re by the shore, have their delicious seafood! When you are inland, stick with meat, pizza and pasta! I personally haven’t eaten red meat in 13 years, when we are in Florence and Rome I stick with pasta and pizza! When we are in northern Italy I eat prawns, fresh fish and lots of pasta and formaggio! My mouth is watering thinking about it! You should definitely have cappuccinos and espressos all across Italy. Always get the house wine, I’ve never had a bad glass! As for desserts, the answer is yes, you should try all of it! Here’s a hot tip, gelato is necessary for long strolls! My personal favorite is pistachio and Nutella! Fantastico!
Where to Stay?
When it comes to accommodations for all of our travels we love Airbnb! We have had the opportunity to stay in some really unique apartments and homes all over the world. My best tip for finding excellent Airbnb’s is to read the comment section and make the most informed decision that you can. For example, I really love an excellent host! I enjoy chatting with them and getting recommendations on the local area. I also ALWAYS check reviews for mentions of cleanliness. I am truly obsessed with making sure where I’m staying is clean. On occasion, due to timing, I may select a place with self check in. This can be extremely convenient if you are in a time crunch, or antisocial! When it comes to Italy, we like to live like a local! We want to experience every detail of Italian living, so renting a place helps us achieve that.
What To Do:
At the risk of this section getting touristy, I won’t bore you with the generic activities that you can find in a guide book. Of course you’re going to see the Trevi fountain and the Colosseum in Rome, the Duomo in Florence and Milan! Remember, we are going deeper! On our first trip to florence we knew we wanted to see the Tuscan countryside in a unique way that felt independent but still immersive with locals. This lead us to an amazing guided wine tour in a vintage fiat 500! We spent the entire day with two amazing guides, Niccolo and Mateo, who gave us a driving lesson ( 1960 fiats are bit different than modern vehicles) and brought us to private vineyards and gardens. We drank some of the Chianti Regions best wines, ate like royalty and learned the traditional ways of harvesting grapes and olives. Hearing our new Italian friends speak of the methods with such passion really gave us a deeper appreciation for the experience and flavors.
My personal favorite thing to do for a day in the Italian Riviera is pack snacks, choose a rock, and spend the entire day swimming and sunbathing. The best way to ensure you get a prime spot in a more private area is to get up early to beat the crowd. Mornings in the Riviera are my absolute favorite. Feeling the sea breeze on your skin before the heat consumes the day is a feeling like no other. It’s worth a few hours of missed sleep, besides my 2nd favorite thing to do is take a seaside nap! There is nothing quite like it if I’m honest!
When it comes to Rome, Milan, Florence or any of the bigger cities my best advice is take it slow. It can become a bit overwhelming if you let it. So don’t let it! Like I said earlier, you will eventually visit the sights and you should! Do yourself a favor and go early! Sights like the Colosseum, The Duomo and the Trevi fountain get insanely crowded around lunch and mid-day even in low season and shoulder season. So, to combat the crowd and actually enjoy your visit just get there early! Also, don’t be afraid to head back to a site in the late evening. For example one of my favorite memories is sitting for an hour or so just after dark with Cayle and having the Colosseum pretty much to ourselves! Dreamy moments like that take good timing and allowing yourself to be up early or late!
If I’m honest, my fondest memories from our travels around Italy are actually the most simple. Going for a passeggiata ( a short walk after meals) is so memorable. Italy really unfolds when you go slow and allow it to take you somewhere. Simple things like walking around florence, holding Cayles hand and eating gelato are the activities I cherish the most. Pure and simple yet elegant and grand in memory.
The Italian Way of Life:
I have quite frankly fallen in love with the Italian way of life. Truly my favorite thing to do in Italy is take part in the Italian mindset! To put it simply they go slow and live each minute with passion. They never seem to be in a rush about anything. When they have espresso they savor each sip. When they eat they linger over each bite and with no urgency to finish. They sit and chat as though time does not exist, and when they interact with one another it’s as though they are reunited with a long lost friend. Each time we return we are greeted as though no time has passed between our last visit. Their passion for every detail of life, love, family, food, and their home has irrevocably altered my mindset about life. I want to live with that much passion and respect for time.
Where We Want To Go Next:
Just thinking about our next trip to Italy has me overjoyed! There are so many more places to see and experiences to have there. At the very top of our Italian travel with list is Sicily! I have been researching Sicily for a while and cannot wait to see it’s unique terrain with my own eyes. My plan is to spend a few days in a charming Airbnb, far from tourist, soaking up that sweet Italian dolce far niente! I would love to travel there during late spring while the temptures are mild and the days are enjoyable. I also plan to have nothing on the “to-see-list” while there. I want to simply enjoy the locals, wander the little towns and eat delicious and authentic meals prepared by locals. That is my normal goal while traveling regardless of the destination. I truly feel like each destination has something to teach you, if you get out of your own way to experience it.
Be a Responsible and Mindful Visitor:
Last but most importantly I cannot stress enough the importance of being a responsible traveler. On our many trips abroad i have found myself saddened by the lack of respect trourist have for these amazing destinations and the locals and wildlife that live there. To put it simply, Italy is not Disney World. I have literally watched tourist walk around looking for attractions to be entertained. Their blatten disregard for locals and their culture is mind blowing to me. Most of the tourist we encounter are not even trying to embrace the culture or experience the local way of life. Truthfully, they approach the experience like a theme park, not trying to speak the local language or eat the local food. Again, if you’re looking for that experience please visit Epcot in Disney. I often feel that the bad tourist ruin it for those of us who want to experience a new way of life, who want to unplug from our day to day world and witness something fresh and unfamiliar. My goal while traveling is always the same, find something real. I want to connect to someone I’ve never met, navigate the language barrier and be present in the moment with them. The same can be said about nature, the oceans and the land. It breaks my heart to see the waist left behind by disrespectful and irresponsible tourist. Trash bins overflowing, plastic lining the shore and trash left behind.
Keep Our Ocean Clean And Our Planet Green!
The following excerpt was penned on our first night back in Monterroso after walking about all day and seeing the state of the charming village. So much had changed from the year previous, I found myself with a full range of emotions. “Pollution and waste are a huge issue across the world. Here in the Cinque Terre it is devastating and senseless. The amount of plastic bottles, disposable cutlery, partially eaten food in plastic bags from cruise-ship passengers and general trash is so infuriating. A huge effort has been made to encourage recycling and keep this gorgeous place pollution free, but tourist season still brings about so much waste. I cannot stress enough how important it is for the ocean and it’s beautiful creatures that we make our footprint as minimal as possible. If we do not take responsibility now the fate of beautiful places like the Cinque Terre will cease to exist as we know it. It’s honestly heartbreaking. Clean up after yourself people, be a respectful traveler.”
Grazie Mille, Arrivederci!
I am so excited to finally have my thoughts on Italy travel in one place! I will defiantly be updating this article as we continue our travels around Italy in the future. If you are considering a European destination I would urge you to add Italy to the very top of your list! A small piece of my heart is there and I always long to return.
If you have any questions about travel, please feel free to post them in the comments below and we will try to answer to the best of our knowledge!
Take a quick morning stroll with me through Monterosso Al Marre in the beautiful Italian Riveria!