When a person brings up Italy, some things that immediately spring to mind include delicious pizza, rich historical monuments like the Colosseum, and charming seaside villages like the Cinque Terre. Italy is truly one of the best countries you can visit on the planet.

I had the pleasure of spending two weeks traveling through Italy, from stunning Milan in the north down to the picture-perfect Amalfi Coast in the south of the country, and in that time, I barely scratched the surface.

My journey was action-packed, to say the least. I flew into Milan for a few days to see what the city had to offer before heading to Venice to visit the fairytale canals that many travelers dream of seeing. 

Following that, I ventured to Florence to see the breathtaking Piazza Del Duomo and sampled an abundance of Tuscan wine, which  I can still taste today. The next stop was Rome to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Seeing the things I learned about in school many years ago was a surreal experience. 

After my time in the capital, I wanted something completely different, so I took an unexpected trip to Naples, the home of pizza and the city that will make you feel like you’re not on Italian soil. 

This phenomenal trip ended in Sorrento along the Amalfi Coast, where I spent the last few days eating copious amounts of seafood and taking day trips to the affluent island of Capri and the picture-perfect village of Positano.

Two weeks was far from enough time in wonderful Italy. You could spend months traveling there and still not get to see it all. Every place you visit in Italy, you’ll feel like you’re in a different country; that’s how special it is. Just envision famous archaeological sites like Pompeii, flavorful gnocchi, fascinating coffee culture, and unmatched diversity.

You can visit Italy any time of the year, and it will hold the charm it’s known for. The weather varies from region to region during the winter, but once the summer comes, you’re in for a scorcher, so it’s best to bring your sunscreen. 

Traveling to Italy in the off-season is a great idea. If you have the opportunity, of course. The weather is nice, not too hot, and prices are lower as fewer people are traveling. 

Italy is a foodie’s paradise. Every city you visit has a unique cuisine, and chefs will have their own way of mastering the standard Italian dishes. There’s no way you’ll find arancini balls as good as the ones in Sicily or better cicchetti than in Venice.