Out of all the countries I have visited so far, Italy has been my favorite. Not only for its beauty, but because of the joy the experience of traveling there was able to bring me after two years of feeling stuck due to Covid. The last time I went to Italy was 2019, therefore I was able to reminisce while also appreciating all that Italy had to offer.
My friends and I were able to stay in Italy for nine days and travelled to Rome, Florence and Venice during that time. I packed two small carry on bags and we traveled by train to each city. We were able to stay in amazing Air BnB’s all week that came to a very cheap price when we divided it between the three of us. Although there were stricter Covid guidelines to follow, it did not effect any of our plans. Most restaurants just required proof of vaccination and the trains required special masks.
Day 1-3: Rome
Our first three days in Italy were spent in Rome and it was a great start to our journey. We were able to see everything we wanted to see even though they were not necessarily close to one another. The Colosseum was a short ten minute walk from our Air BnB, which made it so easy to walk by on our way home at night. We were also able to see the Trevi Fountain during the day time (right before it rained) and at night as well. All I could think about was how many coins go into that fountain everyday and how many wishes have been made over the year. I wondered how many of them have been granted over the years, and how many have gone unnoticed. We also saw the Spanish Steps and the Roman Forum. Apparently Caesar essentially made an apology video for the countries he invaded. We were also able to walk around the Vatican City at sunset, which was stunning. After shopping all day and enjoying the beautiful buildings, it was very easy to fall asleep from exhaustion every night.
Favorite Food: Alfredo at Maria’s
Favorite Monument: The Trevi Fountain
Favorite Sunset Spot: Vatican City
Day 4-6: Florence
Florence was very different compared to Rome. My friends and I agreed that it was much less hectic compared to Rome. Our Air BnB was once again in the perfect location. We were right near the Campanile di Giotto, which included the large Dome and the tall tower that we were able to climb to see the entire landscape of the city. We also went on tours of various museums. We were able to go to an art museum (for free!). It had amazing works of art and I specifically remember the Medusa statues the most. I thought that the prettiest part of Florence was the bridge. When the sun set, it gave one side of the city a golden glow that was the absolute perfect shade of orange. On our last day there, we were also able to climb this hill to watch the sunset over the entire city of Florence. We were able to see that same golden light that cast itself over the entire city itself. On this walk, there was photographer blowing huge bubbles and it made for great pictures. It was another trip full of shopping and excellent food. I particularly thought that Florence was my favorite city when I came to the food. In other eventful news, I bought a small glass dolphin who became my partner on the trip and I named him Gill.
Favorite Food: Margherita Pizza at a Pizza and Grill restaurant
Favorite Monument: Ponte Vecchio (The Bridge)
Favorite Sunset Spot: Piazzale Michelangelo
Day 7-9: Venice
As someone who loves the ocean and lives for the smell of the salt in the air, I was most looking forward to going to Venice. I was not disappointed. When we got there, we were able to watch the sunset behind along the shore. The golden light followed us across Italy and it touched nearly every building watching over the water. On our first day, we were able to go on a gondola ride and it was absolutely beautiful. We spent the first day walking around, enjoying the warm weather, and shopping. We got to see that many people in Italy do not walk their dogs on leashes, yet they don’t run away. St. Mark’s Square was beautiful and had such unique architecture compared to the other cities. The next day, we went to many different art and history museums. All the ceilings were absolutely stunning. The coffee was definitely best in Venice, although that might have been due to the exhaustion from walking twenty thousand steps everyday. I also got pooped on by a bird in Venice so now I have an agenda against seagulls. On my last day, I was able to spend time in a cafe by myself while I read a book and journaled. It was the perfect end to a perfect spring break.
Favorite Food: Alfredo at Altrove SRL
Favorite Monument: St. Mark’s Square
Favorite Sunset Spot: Outside St. Mark’s Square
