Let me start by saying this: Italy is incredible. The pasta alone is worth the flight. But if you have done any research at all, you have probably come across horror stories about pickpockets. Someone’s cousin had their wallet lifted on the Rome metro. A friend of a friend lost their passport near the Trevi … Read more
Siena is among my favorite cities in Italy. Tucked into the rolling hills of Tuscany, this small city feels frozen in time. The red brick buildings, narrow alleys, and the famous shell-shaped main square have barely changed in six hundred years. My wife and I arrived on a warm September morning, and the first thing … Read more
The Amalfi Coast looks like a dream in photos. Pastel villages cling to cliffs. Turquoise water sparkles below. But getting between those villages? That can feel like a nightmare. First-time visitors often assume they should stay right on the coast in Positano or Amalfi town. But those places come with narrow roads, sky-high prices, and … Read more
You have booked your flights to Italy. You have mapped out your visits to the Colosseum, the Uffizi Gallery, and the canals of Venice. But have you thought about your luggage? Italy is not like other travel destinations. The country is a living museum, and museums were not built with roller suitcases in mind. Cobblestone … Read more
Let me start with something I learned the hard way on my first trip to Florence, years ago with my wife. We booked a charming-looking hotel near the train station because it was cheap and convenient. Big mistake. Not because it was unsafe or dirty, but because we completely missed out on the feeling of … Read more
Unlike Florence, Rome is big, and the attractions are spread out across the city and the Vatican City as well. It is also one of the best cities in the world. But your experience of Rome can be ruined before it even begins if you choose the wrong place to sleep. Many travelers look at … Read more
Let me start with a confession. On my first trip to Rome, I made a classic mistake. I booked a charming little hotel near Termini Station because it was cheap and looked convenient on a map. What I didn’t understand was that Rome isn’t a city you navigate by subway like New York or London. … Read more
I’ve learned the hard way that Italy doesn’t care about your perfect itinerary or your carefully curated packing aesthetic. What it does care about is preparation. On my first trip, I made mistakes that cost me time, comfort, and a fair bit of dignity. On my second, I showed up like a local—or at least … Read more
I have stood in front of some of the most famous paintings in the world, and I have felt admiration. But standing before a truly great statue in Italy is a different thing entirely. There is something about walking around a figure carved from a single block of marble that feels almost like a conversation. … Read more
The Amalfi Coast. Surely among the top 10 most beautiful places in the world. But here is the truth no postcard will tell you. This same stretch of coastline is also one of the most logistically fragile destinations in Europe. Small mistakes that would be mere annoyances elsewhere can derail an entire day here, or … Read more