I am Stephen Muchiri. I own this website, but the real owner of my heart is Italy. The food, the light, the unhurried pace of life, the way even a simple plate of pasta feels like a celebration. I fell for it slowly at first, then all at once.
Our (my wife and I) first time in Italy was for our wedding anniversary, and we did the classic Rome, Florence, and Venice circuit. We ate so much good food, saw amazing art, walked more than we thought we could, and by the time our 2-week vacation was over, we knew we would be back.
My wife, Marline, and I travel to Italy as often as we can manage. We have eaten gelato at midnight in Rome, gotten lost in the backstreets of Venice, and sat on a stone wall in Val d’Orcia watching the sun sink behind cypress trees without saying a word. Those quiet moments are what I try to capture on this site.
I have always loved travelling, and I have been to more than 20 countries, but I have never been to a country I have loved more than Italy. Luckily, that is something my wife and I agree on 100%. Although she is not into history as much as I am, she is a foodie and an art lover. That works out pretty nicely as it helps balance the content on this website.
We keep going back to Italy, and every time we do, we discover something that we didn’t even know existed. It could be a snack, a little town on a hill, a dish, or even a family-run restaurant.
Seeing Italy exists to share all of our experiences with you, so that you can go there and see it for yourself. I believe Italy is a country that everyone should see at least once in their life.
How It All Started
When my girlfriend (now wife) and I were dating, an interesting topic came up one night as we were having dinner in my place. I asked her where she would want to travel, if money wasn’t a problem. “Italy. Specifically, Tuscany and Lake Como,” was her response.
As a student of history, I had always wanted to visit Rome. And because I am a romantic, Venice and the Amalfi Coast were also very high on my list.
Marline wasn’t very sure about Rome since, in her own words, “The city was full of old buildings and ruins”. That perspective was, however, changed after we watched Roman Holiday later that night.
That night, we made each other a promise that once we were married and had saved enough money, we would travel to Italy and cross it off our respective bucket lists.
And so we did. We went to Italy and had a fabulous time, but we didn’t stop there. We kept going back again and again.
On those trips to Italy, we made so many mistakes and learned from them. And that is how I decided to start this blog, as a resource for other people preparing trips to Italy to learn from. From my experience, travel isn’t all glamorous. Some mistakes can ruin your entire trip.
Read this blog with an open mind, knowing that these are just my opinions and I could be wrong at times. In case you would like to get back to me, kindly do so on the contact form and share what I can do to make this blog even better.
Why Seeing Italy Is Different
There are plenty of websites that will tell you the names of famous landmarks and recommend the same crowded restaurants. That is not what we do.
I write for people who want to see Italy the way we have learned to see it. That means slowing down. Staying in agriturismos instead of chain hotels. Eating where the locals eat, even if the menu is only in Italian. Taking the back roads instead of the highway and getting lost on purpose.
My wife is my quiet editor and my sharpest critic. She is the one who reminds me that not everyone wants to hike three miles for a view, and that mentioning bathroom access matters to real travelers. She keeps me honest. When I write something that sounds like a guidebook instead of a friend, she tells me.
The Promise I Make to You
Everything I recommend on this site, we have tried ourselves. That bottle of Brunello? We drank it. That little trattoria with the handwritten menu? We ate there twice. That scenic drive through the Crete Senesi? We took it, got lost, and figured out the right way so you do not have to.
I do not accept free stays or meals in exchange for positive reviews. If a place disappoints, I say so. If a famous site is overrated, I tell you. You are spending your hard-earned money and precious vacation days. I will not waste them.
Who This Site Is For
You will like Seeing Italy if you are tired of rushed itineraries and want to experience the country like a thoughtful traveler rather than a tourist. You care about good food, beautiful landscapes, and authentic connections with local people. You do not need luxury, but you appreciate comfort. You are willing to drive a small car on narrow roads if it means seeing something unforgettable.
You might be traveling with your partner, just like we do. You might be going solo or with friends. Either way, you value honesty over hype and experience over checklists.
Our Favorite Italy Moments So Far
It is hard to pick favorites, but a few stand out. Drinking espresso at a bar in Naples, standing up like a local, surrounded by shouting and chaos and life. Watching my wife try burrata for the first time and seeing her eyes go wide. Finding a family-run winery in Montalcino where the grandfather still tends the vines by hand. Sitting in a piazza in a small town we cannot pronounce, eating gelato, and feeling like we belonged there.
I will, however, never forget the day (early morning) when I was walking along a narrow cobblestone street (my first time in Italy) when I took a corner and came face-to-face with the Pantheon. No picture does that 2000-year building the justice it deserves.
Eating carbonara pasta in Trastevere, watching the sun set from Piazzale Michelangelo, staring at the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, standing a few feet away from the Birth of Venus, walking the narrow streets of Siena, are just a few of my best memories I will never forget.
Those moments are what I want for you.
Let Us Travel Together, Sort Of
You will not find pop-up ads, sponsored posts disguised as recommendations, or AI-generated fluff on this site. I write every word. I pay for my own travel. I do this because I love Italy and I love helping other people love it too.
If you have questions about a specific region, a train connection, or whether a certain hike is worth the effort, reach out through the contact page. I answer every message eventually. My wife says I spend too much time on email. She is probably right.
Contact Information
Name: Stephen Muchiri
Email: muchiristeve1@gmail.com
Or just use the Contact Us form