6 Things We Loved About Italy 🇮🇹

On a mid-Febuary Saturday morning, my husband and I’s dream trip to Italy became a reality as we clicked the “book” icon to a destination we knew very little of, or better said, nothing at all. This was the beginning of many hours spent researching the must-see’s and must-do’s of this iconic country in Europe. Little did we know that this was going to be everything we’ve ever dreamed of and more!

Within the two weeks that we were there, we stayed in 4 major cities: Venice, Florence, Rome, and Amalfi. If you followed along my Instagram stories, my favorite destination was certainly Amalfi, without a doubt! We got around by train from city to city. And with the help of a taxi to and from the train station and our hotel. Simple enough.

We’ve always cooked Italian dishes at home but I knew it was nothing worth comparing to the cuisine in this foreign country. And undoubtedly, it was different. No, like really different.

1) We LOVED the food! Can I just say that again? WE LOVED THE FOOD! There is so much to be said. It was fresh. It was authentic. It was different. We ate croissants, prosciutto sandwiches, gelato, pasta, pizza, and the catch of the day, pretty much everyday. Oh, and drank espresso 2-3 times a day. That was a dream come true for Val.

2) The architecture. The details are beyond words! Every turn you take in every city, there is something to glance at. Columns, domes, and arches encircle every corner of every building. Whether it’s the splendor of Saint Peter’s Square or the picturesque cliffside villages of the Amalfi coast, you’re surrounded by pure beauty.

3) The history. Italy has a very lengthy history. The existence of civilization in Italy dates back to 8,000 BC. Rome was only founded in 735 BC. At one point Italy was divided into separate kingdoms after the death of emperor Augustus. It was only reunified in 1861. The different eras of time(including the kings and emperors who were ruling) affected the architecture, the culture, and religion at the time.

4) The culture. It’s rich. Italians are huge on family. We didn’t come across any mafias like we’d hope to see in the movies but we did witness scenes of people kissing each other in the kitchens and tiny local restaurants. We knew some parts from the movies had to be real and this was it.

So the scenes we witnessed in movies of all those crazy drivers in Italy, yeah that’s also real. Not so much reckless but more like they know how to get around town pretty darn quickly. We didn’t see very many large cars. Smart cars, Fiats, and Mini Coopers were very common. Now I’m having second thoughts about getting my own Fiat 😄.

5) The people. They have a passion for food, family, and walking. We saw many people walking to and from work with the exception of some driving. Val and I walked an average of about 5 miles a day to restaurants and to touristic sites. Walking is a way of life for most Italians.

From restaurant owners, to musicians, and bus drivers, we found everyone to be extremely friendly and down to earth. Something we found to be surprising was the slow-paced culture. From eating meals to explaining directions, it seemed to us that everyone preferred to take their time.

Family is priority to the average Italian. Many small boutiques, shops, and restaurants closed at noon so families can go home and have lunch together. And on Sundays, just about everything was closed.

6) The art. The spectacular works of art attracts million of tourist to this day. The Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica was filled with pieces of art that were unmistakably breathtaking.