Italy is a country that has been on the top of my travel bucket list since I was a child (before I actually had a travel bucket list). As an individual with a love for art, nature, and delicious food, and a family heritage that is almost entirely Italian, it always seemed like the ideal place to explore. I took 6 years of Italian language classes before graduating high school, Italian history classes as electives in college, and online Italian classes last year to brush up on my knowledge, but nothing could have truly prepared me for all that we experienced once we were immersed in the culture.
Long story short, our trip completely exceeded my expectations, and our long days of sight seeing were one hundred percent worth the exhaustion that we experienced at the end of many days. We stayed in 7 different locations in two weeks, and saw Naples, Positano, Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, Pisa, Tuscany, Lake Como, Venice, and the Dolomites. If I had to pick one favorite place, it may be Florence due to the breathtaking art scattered throughout the city, but the landscapes in the Dolomites, the Tuscan countryside, and both Italian coastlines made all of those locations tough contenders.
The food was absolutely incredible, especially in the major cities where more unique vegan options were available, and I have been attempting to recreate some of the dishes since our return to the US. We even had the opportunity to take a sourdough bread making class on a beautiful balcony in lake Como, and I am eager to start making my own at home in the upcoming weeks!
All in all, Italy was everything I dreamed it would be, and I am incredibly grateful for our entire experience. We already cannot wait to return, but plan to only visit a few different places in future in order to take everything in in those locations and enjoy a more relaxing trip. Here are a few of my favorite photos from our adventure:
