Thoughts on Italy in Three Lists

Things I Loved About Italy

The history. Florence is over 2,000 years old and Rome is almost 2,500 years old. You are walking where some of the most influential people in history have walked, and are seeing things that people were seeing 2,000 years ago. You can see where Caesar died, stand on the hill where Vespasian used to live, and walk through the gardens of the Vestal Virgins. Peter and Paul are buried in Rome. You can see the bodies of three popes in St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s surreal.

The art. Italy was the center of the European Renaissance, plus every emperor and pope since before Augustus built stuff in Italy to show their power and their wealth. The most famous structures in Rome—the obelisks, the Trevi Fountain, even the Colosseum, were built by men who wanted to “flex.” It may have not been the best financial decision at the time, but we get to enjoy the fruits of their egos hundreds of years later.

The wine and the coffee. Wine is plentiful and delicious; I am now a devotee of Chianti. The espresso was also really good, even in tiny little shops that do not look like places you’d find good coffee.

Things I Was Surprised by in Italy

Rome is the most chaotic place I have been so far. Even in the low season, there were so many people and so many cars. The cars do not stop for pedestrians, and most crosswalks don’t have stoplights, so you just have to fling yourself in front of the car, avoid eye contact with the driver, and hope they don’t hit you. It sounds dangerous, but it’s the only way to cross the street.
There really is no café culture in Italy, at least not like there is in Denmark and Belgium. People finish their espresso in about three minutes after the barista hands them the tiny cup, and then they leave. There’s not a ton of seating in most cafés either.

Italians eat coffee and croissants (called “cornetto”) for breakfast. I typically like more substantial food for breakfast, so I wasn’t a huge fan of this, but I did like the cornetto. Most shops will have four types of cornetto: plain or filled with Nutella, pastry cream, or jam.
I shouldn’t have been surprised by this, but Italians LOVE to smoke. The air quality in Rome is not great, probably because everyone is constantly lighting up. I think the smoking is worse in Italy than in northern Europe.
I personally didn’t think the food was any better than the food I had in Denmark. It’s better than American food just because everything is fresher and higher quality, but it didn’t blow me away. This might be because I didn’t go to higher-end restaurants—because I was scared of the waiters, didn’t want to eat alone, and wanted to eat before 8pm—and because I am a vegetarian, so you will have to judge this one for yourself!

Things You Should Do When YOU Go to Italy

Carry cash. Espresso is only a euro, and if you try to pay with card, they will look at you like you are wearing your underwear on your head. Vending machines, street food vendors, Christmas markets, and some restaurants and bakeries only take cash.
If a dude starts talking to you on the street, asking you where you are from and if you are liking Italy, just keep walking. This is a problem especially in Rome. I would hesitate for a moment and get sucked into some kind of weird sales pitch. Just ignore them, don’t even look at them.
Be bold when crossing the street, like I mentioned above. Jaywalking is the norm. JUST DO IT!
If you are taking the train from Florence to Rome or vice versa, do not take the “regional” train. Take the train marked “Freccia” to save yourself two and a half hours. Yes, I learned this from experience.
Get out of the cities and into the countryside, especially Tuscany! It’s so beautiful and peaceful.

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