The Perfect 9-day Italian Itinerary

Imagine strolling down cobblestone streets with gelato in hand, the warm Italian sun beaming down on you, knowing you have nine full days ahead of you to enjoy delicious food, experience a new culture, and explore Italy. This was my experience this past April. I had wanted to visit Italy for as long as I could remember, and it was everything I hoped for.

Last semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad in England, and we had nearly a month off for spring break. My friends and I decided to book a trip during this time,
and, influenced by the food, culture, and gelato, we chose Italy. In early April, we flew from Manchester to Milan. After some initial hiccups, like booking a train from the wrong airport, we arrived at our Airbnb. Starving, we rushed to the nearest open restaurant, having margherita pizza and tiramisu as our first meal of the trip around 11:30 p.m. It was delicious. 

The next day, we explored Milan, visiting the Duomo di Milano and Simplon Park, where we enjoyed the green space and people-watching. After a full day, we took an overnight FlixBus to Venice. Despite an uncomfortable six-hour bus ride and getting ready in the bathroom of a McDonald's, we made the most out of our day trip. We explored the city, stopping to take pictures of gondolas or to buy slices of pizza the size of our head. 

Next, we visited Florence, my favorite city on the trip. We ate our weight in gelato and pasta and
explored all the sights the city had to offer. This included the Piazza del Duomo, Boboli Gardens, and Ponte Vecchio. A highlight of this trip was hiking to Piazzale Michelangelo, a plaza overlooking the city, for live music at sunset. After three days, we headed to Rome! 

Compared to Florence, Rome was huge. We stayed in a charming Airbnb near Vatican City, equipped with its own balcony. On our first night, I had the best Alfredo I've ever tasted at a local restaurant. Over the next two days, we visited the Trevi Fountain (though it was too crowded to toss a coin), the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps.

Our last stop on the road trip was Camogli, a small beach town on the Italian Riviera. We explored nearby towns such as Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino, spending our days relaxing on the pebble beaches, eating fruit from the local fruit stand run by an older Italian man, who did not speak a lick of English, and our nights eating pizza in our cozy Airbnb. I am going to remember that trip for the rest of my life, and it will definitely be hard to top. I highly recommend visiting these incredible cities throughout Italy, you won't be disappointed!