TrekBytes

Verona was a perfect place to begin our Italian adventures. It seemed like a blend of multiple Italian cultures, with Roman architecture like the Verona Colosseum and Venetian influence evident in the abundance of decorated churches with winged lions. It has amazing wine and food and is known as the city of romance due to its narrow streets and picturesque balconies with flowers. It was lovely strolling around the city streets for a day, shopping, sightseeing, and trying different local foods. We enjoyed the homemade pastas, pizzas, and the pinot grigio from Verona, of course. About an hour's train ride away was the famous canal city of Venice. We opted to travel to the famed city for one day, which seemingly was not enough time. Upon arrival, I was immediately taken aback by the beauty of the buildings' architecture. The Venetians loved their statues and seemed to put them on the tops of every building. Piazza San Marco was incredible, with St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, exuding opulence. Every pillar and column was handcrafted with precision and excellence. It was incredibly artistic, and I appreciated the attention to detail displayed at each square inch of the plaza. Venice is tragically plagued by overtourism (we were culprits), which mars many experiences of the beautiful city. Being one of the most popular cities in all of Europe, there simply isn't enough space for the demand. Lines for popular attractions and museums and foot traffic through the narrow streets are sadly the norm for this city. After spending a few hours there, we were exhausted by what seemed like an amusement park experience. We spent a few more days in the Verona and Vicenza areas, then headed a few hours south to the epic city of Florence.

Florence was the crown jewel and epicenter of the Renaissance art movement. Once the capital of Italy, Florence thrived as a central hub for commerce, home to an abundance of wealth, brilliant artists, politicians, and inventors. Because of this, the Tuscan capital was circled on our list of cities to visit in Europe before we even had a loose itinerary. Similar to Venice, Florence absolutely suffers from overtourism, with lines to popular attractions taking multiple hours to get into. It is an absolute zoo, and I would not recommend coming on a whim like we did. Most reserved tickets for the museums sell out months in advance, so we were stuck taking the general admission queues. For us, we spent many hours in lines to see iconic museums; they were well worth it, in my opinion. Being a relatively small city, you can see most of it within a few days despite the crowds. We were able to see the Statue of David by Michelangelo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and other important monuments. Just walking around the streets is mesmerizing, as almost every cobblestone road is decorated with statues, churches, or plazas built during the Renaissance period. The food in Florence was unforgettable, and we opted to splurge on a wonderful authentic Italian restaurant. I can confidently say that it was the best pasta I have ever had, but it wasn't just the pasta; it was the secret sauce that seemed to melt into a flavor explosion in my mouth—so good! Northern Italy was indeed crowded, but for good reason. It offers an unique portal that allows you to seemingly transport back to historic periods. With some of the most opulent, beautiful, and stunning architecture, historical context, and incredible food, there is good reason for the abundance of tourism. Traveling through these areas are moments that will last a lifetime for both Thalia and me; we feel so lucky to have been able to do so.