I love Italy. It’s that simple. I love the people. I love the beauty around every corner. I love the food. I love the churches that look so plain from the outside, but once you walk inside, will blow you away.
I think I can safely say that Florence is my favorite place in Italy. I love Tuscany in general, but Florence is just too amazing to miss. Once you go to Rome and Venice and check those off your list (they are great for a trip or 2), base your trip in and out of Florence and you will be so glad you did.
On my latest trip to Italy in April of 2022 I learned a few tips that I’d like to share with you.
Don’t go to Italy during Easter.
It’s really a grand idea to be in this wonderful place with all these gorgeous churches and see how the Italians have celebrated Easter for thousands of years, but you’ll be celebrating with all of Italy and parts of Europe too. I think everyone wants to be in Italy for Easter. It seemed that way. All of the things I love about Florence: the duomo, the Uffizi, the gardens — are so crowded that you can’t get from point A to point B without a huge crowd — even on the tail-end of a pandemic. I loved witnessing the explosion of the cart (see photo below) but I was packed like a sardine in the crowd with my cell phone high over my head just trying to get a photo of it. Now that I’ve checked that off my list, never again. Note: I did not take the photo below. We were not that close.
My actual photo is below.
Don’t Overpack!
I promise myself every single time I travel that I will limit my packing to one easy to manage suitcase and a tote that is considered a personal item. I pack a collapsible bag in my suitcase for all of the stuff I’m going to bring home. The problem is I start off with a suitcase full of stuff I just will never need–every single time. For this latest trip I actually packed 5 pairs of shoes — cute flats, sneakers, sandals, slides for around the Airbnb and a pair of strappy heals that looked really comfortable. And I am not even a shoe person. I just wanted to make sure I had comfortable shoes. Guess what I wore–the sneakers and the slides. No matter how great of shape you are in (and I am not), everywhere you walk is a hard surface. Those cobblestone streets are beautiful and just make you think about all the feet that have trod before you, but they are uneven and just murder on your feet. My sister, who was an interior designer and dressed very well, once spent several days in Florence walking around wearing white men’s crew socks and the world’s ugliest Birkenstock-looking shoes because it was the only thing she could wear that did not kill her feet. We laughed until we cried but she kept wearing those socks and shoes and very dark glasses the whole trip. Thus my excuse for packing so many shoes.
At the start of the trip, we did a quick 2 day detour through Venice and my cute flats left the biggest blisters on my feet that were no joke. How do you say band-aid in Italian? I wound up wrapping my feet with tape and gauze and could barely squeeze them into my sneakers. The good news…white sneakers are everywhere and everyone is wearing them–with dresses and pants and jeans or whatever your attire of the day is. Just get some nice looking ones–in leather that you can wipe off at the end of the day. And if you’re like me, get some cushiony inserts that will give you an additional layer of comfort. I wound up leaving 2 of my 5 pairs of shoes behind because I was running out of room in my suitcase and didn’t want to start dragging a 3rd bag on and off the excellent Italian train system.
For packing, really, really consider a capsule wardrobe. Look on Pinterest. Pick a few solid tanks or short sleeve tops and a couple of cardigans, 3 pair of pants–1 pair of jeans that are comfortable (!), 1 pair of black stretchy pants that you can dress up or down and 1 pair of black yoga pants or something comfortable to wear on the plane. Take a sweater that you love that is neutral and can go with anything (I like my grey long sleeve slip-on sweater that has some warmth and can be tossed in my tote bag while I’m walking around seeing the sights). You can buy scarves and anything else you need there–and you’ll want to. I love to shop in Florence south of the Arno, away from the Gucci temptations. There are so many small artisan shops you’ll have to make yourself stop shopping. Tip: save some money for the small shops in the Tuscan hill-towns. The prices are better and you’re supporting a local economy.
Take a tote or small backpack
You should definitely take a tote that can hold your wallet, passport, a sweater/jacket/scarf or take a small, cute mini backpack. If you don’t, you will wind up buying one. My friend Kina had the most adorable black leather mini that was just perfect and it could double as a purse. Drop it into your larger tote to carry on the plane and you’re all set.
Streamline your make-up and hair products
You don’t need 3 mascaras and 4 eye shadow palettes. I thought I did but I didn’t. First of all, Italy has great stores and pharmacies where you can pick up any missing items along the way. They have really great skincare and hair products. Don’t take up valuable packing space by packing like you’re a glam squad. And, do pack a small magnifying mirror to put on makeup. Trust me on this one. Most European bathrooms are not going to have a large counter top to cram full of all your make-up and hair stuff. Just don’t take it. Embrace the more natural, beautiful you.
Use the Trainline app
It’s really handy and allows you to purchase your tickets, follow your journey to see how many stops you have before your destination and you can save your train tickets to your Apple wallet. You don’t need to scan your tickets at the train station. Just get on the train and the conductor will come around and scan them. Probably.
Learn a few basic phrases
Italy is easy and there are signs in English and you’ll find lots of English speakers in the larger cities. It’s just a courteous thing to tell someone good morning, thank you in their language. Italian is not hard and it doesn’t take a lot to say buongiorno (good morning) or grazie (thank you). Try it. The Italians are very kind and helpful–be kind back.
Just go!
Italy is so easy and lovely and everything you dream that it is. You can go on a budget (like I do–booking Airbnb’s and eating like a local and watching those airfares for months) or you can splurge. Just go. You will not regret it.
Life is a journey 