2 weeks in italy

I'm surprised I currently have the energy to write this post, despite the immense jet-lag I’ve had since my return back to the U.S. yesterday.

The past two weeks, my family embarked on a grand tour of Italy, the country where my grandparents were born and where a majority of my extended family currently lives. My mother’s parents, my Nonno and Nonna, both were born in Italy and lived there until they got married and moved to the United States. They both still own their childhood homes there, both in different regions. Despite this, I have never actually been to the country myself.

So, my family decided that this would be the year where we all travel there together for a much needed vacation, as well as to initiate some formal (and overdue) family introductions.

We traveled around the country for a total of 13 days, which was definitely a lot. My dad, being the numbers guy he is, decided to round up some statistics from the trip. We traveled a total of 9920 miles, visited 7 different places, took 6 train rides, 2 water taxis, and 8 ferry rides total. And yes, it was as crazy as it sounds, but we do not regret it one bit.

I’m going to outline each of our stops on the trip, with photos included, of course. I hope you enjoy!

Rome, ITALY

Starting off with a classic! We began our journey in Rome, and stayed there for about a day and a half. I honestly wish I was able to spend an extra day here exploring the ancient Roman ruins, but Rome is also pretty quick to bang out in a couple of days. We went to the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain (had my Lizzie McGuire moment), and all the typical sites. My favorite part was walking around Travestere, a bustling neighborhood filled with restaurants, gelaterias, bars, and shops. It was so cute at night and definitely a highlight for me.

amalfi coast, italy

The next stop was the Amalfi Coast region, one of the more well-known and touristy summer destinations. However, my family stayed in Salerno, a city a bit more east of Positano and Amalfi. My Nonno was actually born in Salerno, in a little town called Acquavella. We took a day trip there to visit my mom’s Uncle Ammadeo (Adam) and Aunt, as well as her cousin Miguel and his wife. I’ve never met them before, but they treated us as if they had known us forever. We saw my Nonno’s childhood house, visited my great grandparents cemetery site, and saw their local beach and restaurants. I actually had my favorite meal of the trip in Salerno, a pasta dish with pesto and fresh anchovies. Yes, I know anchovies are a strange choice, but they were INCREDIBLE!

My family decided to book a private boat tour as a way to explore the other parts of Amalfi, which I 100% recommend if you have the flexibility. It was so fun being on the boat all afternoon, especially having the flexibility to see the beautiful towns from the water. We even got to explore some of the gorgeous caves and grottos that the coast is so well known for.

The next day, we took a ferry to visit the more popular island of Capri. Let me tell you, this was an absolute highlight. My family got a day pass to a hotel in order to use their pool and other amenities, and it was so worth it. The mountains overlooking the crystal clear blue ocean was something off of a postcard! I seriously want to go back just to spend more time in Capri. The shopping was also fantastic, with tons of little boutiques and luxury names like Prada and Gucci, if you’re into that.

isola di ponza, italY

Next up was Ponza, the blip-on-a-map island where my Nonna was born and lived until she was 18. With a population of only 2500 people or so, we knew we weren’t heading anywhere touristy. However, as you’d expect, getting to such a remote island takes a little work. We had to take a 2 hour train to Formia, a coastal town where you catch the ferries to the island. The ferry rides themselves also take 2 hours, and believe me, it feels longer. Even as someone who loves boats, I needed to pop a dramamine in order to feel a little more zen during the ride.

However, it was completely worth it. The island has everything the stereotypical Amalfi Coast towns have, except the crowds, the tacky tourist traps, and did I say the crowds?! We visited my Nonna’s childhood home, and met her cousins who still live there - even more family members who I had never met! It was truly so heartwarming being surrounded by such wonderful people. Despite the language barrier (none of them know English), we were still able to communicate thanks to my mother’s flawless Italian-speaking abilities.

While we were there, we took a little boat to a remote beach called Frontone Beach, covered in rocks, seaglass, and shells and surrounded by impressive rock formations and cliffs. The water was as blue as it can get, and incredibly clear. Spending the afternoon there was absolutely amazing, and literally felt like something out of a movie screen.

florence, italy

Our next major stop was in Firenze, Italy, a city I have heard nothing but amazing things about. A few of my close friends studied abroad in Florence, and literally had the time of their lives. So, safe to say, I had incredibly high expectations, and they were absolutely met. I loved the city’s architecture, layout, and never-ending list of things to do. However, I still felt like it was incredibly quaint and easy to navigate.

Of course, we went to go see the statue of David and went to the Duomo. I reluctantly climbed to the top of the Duomo, and let me tell you, that journey was not for the faint of heart. I usually don’t get claustrophobic, but I’ve never wanted to get out of a confined staircase more. However, I lived to tell the tale, and I can say that it was actually worth it.

We also got dinner with some of our family friends from my hometown, who were also traveling to Florence at the same time as us! It was incredibly fun and definitely a highlight of the trip. Overall, I wish I got to spend time in Florence, as we only spent 2 days there total. I will definitely be back!

Venice, italy

Of course we had to make a quick stop in Venice. The entire city honestly blew me away, simply because of how foreign the lifestyle is. I can’t imagine having to take a boat to get everywhere! I also feel incredibly grateful I had the opportunity to visit when I did, considering the climate crisis the city is dealing with.

We took a mandatory gondola ride around the canals, learning facts about the city’s past and present. It truly felt like something out of a dream. Our hotel also had a rooftop bar/lounge, which provided some of the most beautiful views of the city.

Venice was definitely a must-see. However, I think that once you’ve done it, you don’t need to do it again.

milan, italy

We ended our tour in Milan, the fashion-capital of the world and my potential future business-trip destination. Safe to say, Milan stole my heart, even though we were just there for a day. I loved the city-like architecture and the bustle it had compared to the other places we visited. My mom’s cousin Sara, as well as her Uncle Tony and Aunt live in Milan, so we met them for apertivo one night we were there.

While we were only in Milan for one whole day, I know I will be back eventually. I am incredibly excited and lucky that I have the prospect of traveling there for my job!

While Milan marked the end of our trip, I think it was the perfect end to a wonderful, dreamy vacation. This trip meant so much to my family, as we had never traveled to the country together before. Meeting so many relatives for the first time was an experience I am so grateful for. My family is already talking about when we’re going back next!