Traveling Italy
Flags, Bags, and Italy
Italy is obviously a must see in any visit to Europe. It has history, art, food, beautiful landscapes, literally everything you could want in a trip. As far as European countries are concerned, I believe that Italy offers the most variety for visitors. So let me introduce you to Italy through its flag and a brief history.
Flag: Tricolor of green, white, and red.
History: The flag in its current form can be first seen by the end of the 1700’s and had some changes done to it during Napoleon’s reign over Europe. By 1848, the rectangular tricolor united the Italian states, but featured various eagles and other royal emblems. This was until 1946, when the Italian flag that we know and love was accepted as the official flag.
My experiences there
I have been to Italy technically 4 times, but two of those times were cutting through on a road trip. I have spent a total of about 3 weeks traveling everywhere north of Naples. I have been to all the major cities and explored the countryside and coasts too. I absolutely love Italy, and hopefully you’ll understand why by the end of this article as I walk through my top cities and sights in the country!
Rome
The birthplace of so much — some would even say modern Europe — is a great place to start an Italian vacation. The airport is large and offers connections to pretty much anywhere. You can catch a train to pretty much anywhere in Italy from Rome. If I had to decide where to start my Italian vacation, Rome is where I would begin.
If you’re a museum buff and depending on how long you are going to be there, the Roma Pass could be the right option for you. It allows you to skip lines and be flexible with your museum seeing. When there, here are some of my favorite places and tips for visiting the city.
Coliseum and Palatine Hill: These are usually done together and offer a glimpse into the most preserved parts of ancient Rome. The coliseum speaks for itself, but the Palatine Hill is also something not to be missed. This was pretty much the hear beat of Rome, and walking its paths is like taking a time machine back to the future.
Vatican and St Peter’s: The spiritual heart of Rome and home to so much history. Even if you aren’t Catholic or religion isn’t your thing, there is so much more to this little city-state that goes beyond the bounds of religion. Soak in the artwork of Raphael and Michelangelo, look into the statues and busts of Rome’s greats. Contemplate all that has happened here — the good and the bad — over the last 1700 years. It is a definite can’t miss.
Art Museums: This may seem redundant, but there are so many art museums in Rome to visit. I really enjoyed the Capitoline (with its view from the top) and also seeing Bernini’s David at the Borghese Gallery and Museum.
The Pantheon: For me this is less about an actual sight and more about the importance of the building. As the Roman empire fell, so did a lot of their technical expertise and discoveries. One of these was how to build a dome. The Pantheon is the only structured dome of its type and size to have survived the test of time. This was most important when it came time to build the first dome in modern history — in Florence. Brunelleschi studied and used the Pantheon as his inspiration for the first closed dome since the Roman’s time. So, while the Pantheon is certainly special, what it meant for Italy and the world during the Renaissance is what I find incredible.
Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain: The Spanish Steps aren’t really all that incredible, but the views are. Climb to the top for a rooftop view over Rome. Then, take the 8–10 minute walk to the Trevi Fountain and toss in a coin for love — and the locals who take it after.
Day Trip to Naples and Pompeii: Ever since I was a kid I was fascinated with Pompeii. It boggled my mind and continues to amaze me to this day. While this isn’t technically Rome, I feel that Naples is worth a day trip, with Pompeii being the main focal point. Go to the historical museum in Naples for a primer, then head to the ruins and be blown away. If you start early, book a trip up to the top of Vesuvius to look into the belly of the beast.
Florence
Florence was at the heart of the Renaissance, and it is in my top 3 European cities, if not number 1. It is smaller than Rome, offers amazing history and art, and every time I am there something magical happens. If I could only choose one city in Italy to visit, it would be Florence, and here are my favorite things to do there.
The art: When you think about the 1300s, you may think about wars, stifled church dogma, etc. etc. When you come to Florence, however, you begin to see a different story — or at least a more complex one. Florence is regarded as the home of the Renaissance, and we owe so much to those great men and women who were changing history. The Renaissance started mainly with art, and it started in Tuscany as artists in the then powerful Florence began breaking the rules surrounding art at the time. With museums like the Uffizi, the Accademia, and the Bargello, you get the best collection of Italian Renaissance art. Period.
Architecture: Florence is littered with beautiful architectural gems. My absolute favorite is the Duomo, or the main cathedral in Florence. Its green and white striped exterior is recognizable worldwide, but what really makes the Duomo famous is its dome. The first modern dome since the Roman’s time was built here, and it was designed by Brunelleschi. It is said that even Michelangelo, when he was designing the dome for St Peter’s in Rome, said that he would make something larger, but not more beautiful than the dome in Florence. High praise from the master. Then, throw in the other churches and cathedrals around Florence, plus the Ponte Vecchio, and there is so much to see.
The view from Piazzale Michelangelo: This view alone is worth a trip to Florence. I have sat here and watched the sun set a half dozen times, and I could do it a hundred more times and not get tired of it. From here you truly get an idea of just how large the dome and the Medici masterpieces are and how they hang over the city.
Tuscany
While in Florence, don’t miss a chance to explore the hill towns of one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. There are so many cities to explore, here are just a couple of the main ones that deserve at least a day:
Siena: Hands down my favorite in Tuscany. I mean wow. It is perched on a hill, with these winding streets showcasing some of the best residential architecture I have seen in Italy. The main Town Square is large and stunning, and the hike to the top of Siena’s Duomo rivals Florence’s, as the views are unbeatable.
San Gimignano: A much smaller hill town, this one is unique for its 14 medieval towers that survive to this day — out of a whopping 70 something mind you. When push came to uncomfortable, the rich built upwards in this city, and the towers served as protection during times of unrest. You can see these towers from literally miles away.
Volterra: Another old medieval town, this one is quite unique with its views over Tuscany, plus some well preserved Roman buildings. The highlight here for me was climbing one of the towers (a la San Gimignano) and grabbing a bite to eat near the park that houses the Fortezza Medicea. Yes, that is the Medicis of Florence. They had their hands in all of Tuscany.
Here is a video look at Tuscany, that is how much I love it there.
Venice
Alright, onward and upward. Obviously, a trip to Italy without Venice is unheard of. With canals, crumbling architecture, and the constant fear of sinking, Venice is worth a visit. I have been three times now, and I do have to admit, I think it is only really worth one visit over 2–3 days. With that said, here are my highlights:
San Marco — the main cathedral at the main town center is an obvious highlight. With its golden interior and stunning façade, this cathedral has been at the center of Venice for hundreds of years.
Taking a Gondola ride — This is the perfect thing to do with multiple people as it is pretty expensive. Or if you want to impress a date. You can catch them from pretty much all over, but in front of the Doge’s Palace is a pretty good place to start.
Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs — The famous Doge’s Palace, from an architectural and historical perspective, is my favorite place in Venice. The inside is like any other palace, but crossing over the Bridge of Sighs, where it is said that the prisoners being held in the Doge’s Palace would sigh as they made their last walk across the bridge to a certain demise, provides a unique twist to this European palace.
Rialto Bridge — The other famous landmark in the city is best seen from the river, but deserves a walk over. I actually play a fun game to see how many different angles I can see the bridge from, be it water or land. So far I have topped out at 7, just in case you were curious.
The Rest
Cinque Terre — the best part of these 5 hillside coastal towns is the hike between them. In a couple of hours you can traverse one of the best hikes that I have ever done. The views are absolutely stunning, and the colors of the houses are so picturesque you may need a full SD card to take all of the pictures you will most surely want to.
Lake Como — Explore the town of Varenna and then Bellagio by boat. The old castle at the top of Varenna is definitely worth the hike if you are feeling up to it. Eat along the lakeside at Varenna too if you can, the view is incredible.
The End
Well that is it. Italy has so much to offer, from history to art, from landscape to cities. The most famous highlights are obviously Rome and Venice (when you talk to most people), but Tuscany is my for sure can’t miss area. You can spend 8 days there and still have things you don’t see. So, if you are trying to figure out where you’re going for your next vacation in Italy, start with Florence and Tuscany. You won’t regret it.
