Today, I’ll tell you all about one of my all-time favorite travel destinations so far, Italia! Believe it or not, but this land of beauty was not on top of my must-travel list; I’ve no clue how! Like I’ve always known I’d visit someday, but it wasn’t just one of my top dream destinations, but now, it’s one of my favorites. The funny story is that my trip to Italy wasn’t planned in advance and it was all, let’s say, a coincidence. I had three weeks to travel around Europe; I had my first and last few days planned but I had an 11-day gap. When a friend of mine told me about his plans to travel to Italy, I thought to myself, why not?

So, going over my itinerary quickly, I was in Grenoble in France at the time; I’ll tell you all about it in another post later, then I took off to Turin. The Italian city was only 3 and a half hours away from Grenoble by bus since both cities are pretty close to the borders. I spent Christmas in Turin then I head off to Milan, then to Florence; and I went on a day-trip to Pisa from there, and ended my trip in Rome.

At the beginning of my trip, I thought that I could pick a favorite city when I’m done visiting all, but ironically, in the end, I couldn’t. Each city had its own persona making Italy seem to be more of a person taking me on a discovery ride on all aspects of its personality, all of which I relate to and was fond of. I’ll take you on a virtual tour in each city; I’ll tell you about its persona from my humble point of view, its must-visits, and any extra tips that might be useful.

Torino

Turin is surely not the number one touristic option, but my first stop really reminded me of home. Italy, in general, had a huge resemblance to my homeland, Egypt; the people, the love for food, the hand gestures, and more. However, I related to Turin in particular from the moment I stepped foot in it. Things they had in common from my first hour there, were cars honking impatiently when the lights were obviously still red and the architecture of the neighborhood where I stayed; it was exactly like my neighborhood back home. But other than these things, there was something even more Egyptian in Turin, the city’s most important touristic attraction as I quote my receptionist, The Egyptian Museum! YES, you just read that!

Museo Egizio, which was also written in Arabic at the gates, houses more than 26,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts. As much as it saddens me to find our properties on display in another country, my curiosity killed me and I just had to get in. I even had to pay €13 to get in! I didn’t even get a discount for being Egyptian *lol* or for being a student at the time; all places I went to in Italy didn’t give me discounts when I showed them my student card. Anyways, the multi-story museum has a lot to show and tells the stories of the land of the Pharaohs, from the predynastic period to the Ptolemaic and the Roman eras. So until you visit the treasured land of Egypt, this museum will do well as a warm-up.

Moving on to the place I loved the most in Turin, The National Museum of Cinema. This one is obviously a must-visit to all film lovers. The motion picture museum lies under the roof of the Mole Antonelliana tower, a 167.5-meter high tower which happens to be the tallest masonry building in Italy.

It houses everything from the simplest rules of physics that lead to the invention of the camera to all the magic of the cinema world and beyond. Movie sets, old filming equipment, vintage movie posters, and lots of archives were definitely worth the visit. The entry ticket at the time cost me €11; I got the panoramic lift one that gave me access to the rooftop.

What’s worth mentioning is that the city is known as Italy’s chocolate heaven. I got some really nice truffles from the Christmas market which was located near Piazza Castello where you’ll find The Royal Palace of Turin. There, you’ll find Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, the street you’re looking for when it comes to food and shopping. I remember that Amsterdam Chips was where I had my late night bites. Super delicious nuggets, wings, and chips for really cheap prices.

As for accommodation, I stayed at Hotel Italia Torino. It’s a really nice 3-star hotel in the center that cost me €55/night back then. Since Turin is not a very touristic destination, I had to stay in a hotel as I couldn’t find any hostels.

Milano

Soon after Christmas was over, I took off to the city of fashion and glamour, Milan! Yes, as cliché as this sounds, but Milan represented the fashionable side of Italy’s persona. I promised myself not to shop there as it would probably be more expensive, but I couldn’t keep my promise. I remember I was looking for an outfit for NYE. I couldn’t find anything worthy on my previous stops, but I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I tell you that the collections in Milan’s store were more and better. They were the exact same stores for God’s sake, but Milano’s branches were more privileged. And honestly, shopping was not even expensive when it came to brands like Zara or Stradivarius.

I stayed at Madama Hostel & Bistrot; it’s definitely one of my favorite hostels. I won’t be talking much about it here as I have already done a detailed evaluation for it. Check out my article about My Favorite Hostel Picks in Europe I Highly Recommend for more information about the location, prices, my entire experience, and more.

Moving on to what to see in Milan; of course, the first place you should head to is the Duomo Cathedral. The holy building dedicated to St. Mary was by far one of the most beautiful historical complexes I’ve ever laid my eyes on. The entry ticket; that included access to the cathedral, the Duomo Museum, and San Gottardo in Corte Church, cost me only €2! You could pay more; up to €13, if you’d like to access the terraces. The beauty of the place made me so curious about the details of the details; so I actually rented an audioguide instead of just reading about the history online. The guide had a map that I followed giving me more information about the stories behind stained glass paintings and even the tiles on the floor.

Near the Duomo square, there are plenty of shopping outlets as well as the famous Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel II where you get to check all the high-end brands that will sweep you off your feet. It’s also a walking distance from another museum which I personally found super interesting, The Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia “Leonardo da Vinci”. The museum was obviously dedicated to the work; both inventions and paintings, of the late Italian legend. It cost me €10 to experience the interactive games, paintings, and maquettes on display.

For more artsy vibes, you could go to Brera district. The alleys and buildings are just out of this world. There are several restaurants there where you can drink and dine as well. Another artsy neighborhood is definitely Navigli; dubbed as Milan’s Venice thanks its canals. There are also several nice restaurants over there and if you’re going during the Christmas vacay, that’s where they hold the Christmas market.

As for transportation, I’m usually more of a walker as I love to take photos and explore places on foot. I normally walk only in small cities, but Milan was a big one so I had to take public transportation sometimes. The metro ticket cost €1.5.

Firenze and Pisa

Next, I headed to the city of art, Firenze. To me, Florence was like an open-air art museum. Due to my love of photography and thanks to the relatively small size of the city, I walked everywhere and didn’t use public transportation at all. I remember the day I arrived, I walked 21 km; my friend’s phone calculated it, from around 4 pm till 11 pm!

I arrived at my hostel, Ostello Gallo d’Oro, mid-day. It wasn’t on top of my favorites, but it was neat and clean. I paid €27 per night including breakfast which is good, but I honestly didn’t like the food. The hostel’s advantage though was its location; it was a 13-minute walk to the center and a 7-minute walk to the train station.

Anyway, as soons as I arrived, I checked in and immediately went out to explore the city. My first stop was Galleria dell’Accademia; the ticket cost me €12.50. You’ll easily find the place thanks to the long queues of people waiting impatiently to lay their eyes on the era’s most iconic masterpiece, Michaelangelo’s David. The sculpture is mostly admired due to the vivid details; the muscles, the veins, even the facial expressions, it all looks incredibly real! You can also a find a replica of the statue in front of Galleria degli Uffizi and at Piazzale Michaelangelo; both of which I’ll talk to you about later on.

As I waited in line; also to see David, I met a group of Egyptian students. They were dorm mates and they were all from different governorates; that was like a new level of cultural exchange to me, believe it or not. They came from cities I never got the chance to get in contact with of their people before this incident. After our museum tour was over, we all went to have lunch at a super cool diner called 1950 American Diner. I loved this place to the extent that I dedicated an entire post to it. You can read “This Retro Diner Brings America All the Way to Florence and You’ll Love It!” if you’d like to know more information about it. There, you’ll find all what you need to know about the place, its concept, its food, and I even attached a link to the menu.

I ended the night hiking all the way up to Piazzale Michaelangelo; that I previously mentioned, on the other side of the city. It’s a famous uphill spot with a breathtaking view of the whole city. Most people go during sunset. But since I knew I was on a very tight schedule and because I never took my traditional panoramic shot at night, I thought that there has to be a first time for everything.

On my way back to the hostel, I stopped again for one of the street performers, as usual. I just couldn’t help myself from stopping whenever someone is singing or performing on the streets. I even end up dancing along! However, Giovanni Bassano was like no other; he had me at Avicii’s Wake Me Up! That’s why I think you guys should check him out and show some support for real talent.

The next morning, I woke up early to catch the 9 am train to Pisa. There’s a train every half an hour from Florence to Pisa for only €8.40. It was only a matter of an hour and a half to reach the destination where the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa was located. The route from the train station all the way to the tower was very picturesque. Tuscany, in general, emitted good vibes because of its beautiful buildings, artsy atmosphere, and warm colors.

As soon as I was back in Florence, I went to visit Galleria degli Uffizi. The entry ticket cost me € 12.50 and more than an hour in the queue. However, I made friends again, but this time, one was Turkish and the other was Greek. They also met an hour earlier than they both met me. That’s actually one of my favorite aspects about traveling; meeting people from different walks of life and being friends for life, for a day, or for a couple of hours in an Italian art museum. What was so special about this one; Uffizi, was that it’s home to the world’s greatest collection of Italian Rennaissance art. If you’re an art lover, you shouldn’t miss it whatsoever!

Moving on to the most iconic site in the city, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore which is in the center, at Piazza del Duomo. The Cathedral is the third largest church in the world; after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Flower; obviously the lily, the symbol of Florence. You can add to your visit several other places in the complex other than the cathedral; the dome, Giotto’s bell tower, the baptistry, the crypt of Santa Reparata which is beneath the church, and the Museum of the Opera.

Afterwards, it was dinner time; I was starving! I went to another restaurant the Egyptian guys also recommended, but this time, it was purely Italian. Lorenzo de’ Medici’s cozy atmosphere will help you enjoy the delicious mouthwatering food. Its prices are also really good for a decent meal; they range from €6.50 to €18 including food and drinks. The menu offers a wide selection from salads to bolognese to T-bone steak Fiorentina style! The coolest thing about this place is that you ask for a menu in your native language!

Speaking of food, one thing that I literally over-ate on my trip was McDonald’s Nutella burger! I remember it was first launched a couple of months earlier when I was in France and I was dying to try it. Those who know me know about my chocolate addiction; especially my obsession with Nutella. And of course, the hazelnut chocolate spread tasted way better in Italy; motherland of Nutella, than anywhere else. I remember having Nutella crepes on the street as well and they were out of this world, chocolate heavenly!

One thing I noticed about Florence, was that it was privileged with really nice local stores hidden between its alleys. The street where my hostel was located alone had two super cool stores; their style was so me but I was super dumb not to buy much, I only bought a couple of boho-chic necklaces. If you’re a bohemian minimalist like me, make sure to check out Brandy Melville; an Italian International brand, and Dico; a local one, on your next visit.

Roma

Like Florence, Rome was like an open-air museum as well, but not just an arts museum. It was a museum of history, architecture, street art, culinary art; Roma just had it all! I stayed at The Yellow; a super cool hostel in the center. I also talked about it in details in My Favorite Hostel Picks in Europe I Highly Recommend so make sure to read it for my review. There’s a restaurant right next to it called Taverna Pretoriana. You might arrive super hungry and resort to it for food, but honestly, I really didn’t like it so I wouldn’t recommend it at all.

By the time I arrived in Rome, I was just in time for the New Years celebration. I woke up early on the last day of 2016 and headed to see Rome’s most popular historic site and one of the seven wonders of the world, the Colosseum!

Getting there was really easy; many bus stops take you there as well as both metro lines; the blue and the red. I hopped on a metro for €1.50 that dropped me off right across the street. I paid €12 for the entry ticket that included entry to the 2,000-year-old amphitheater, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine. The Roman Forum is a forum surrounded by ruins of governmental buildings in the old city center. As for the Palatine Hill, it’s one of the most ancient parts of old Rome that is also found in the same area.

Afterwards, I started walking down Via dei Fori Imperiali passing by the famous Piazza Venezia to Via del Corso, one of the best streets for shopping in the city. There you can find lots of stores and restaurants that you’ll really like. One Italian store that I loved was Suite Benedict; I got a set of rings from there. I kept on walking all the way to Piazza del Popolo; where you’ll find another Leo Davinci museum, then I headed back to the hostel after having lunch at one of the local pizzerias.

I went back to the hostel on NYE not knowing what in hell am I going to do or how am I going to celebrate! Even though a friend invited me over for a dinner party, I bailed and decided to go with the flow, I knew something cooler will come up and it did. I met 3 people at the hostel; a Colombian girl, an American girl and a guy. We hung out for a while and then headed to The Drunken Ship bar at Piazza Campo de’ Fiori and watched the fireworks there at midnight. Afterwards, we headed to a super fancy party at Babel in Villa Borghese. We had the time of our lives; it was super spontaneous, we met a lot of people, and even our Ubers were Mercedes! NYE’17 was definitely the best I’ve ever lived so far!

I hung out with my new friends for the rest of the trip. We visited all the important sites; the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps, the Pantheon, and the Vatican City. Visiting the famed Trevi fountain was a teenage dream come true; a Lizzy McGuire kind of dream. The legend says that if you throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder giving your back to the fountain, you’ll return to Rome one day.

A newer version of the method implies that you should throw three coins; the second will spark a romance on your next trip, and the third will lead to marriage. And of course, you’re thinking about all the money that comes from that tradition. Well, they say that thousands of coins are collected every night and are given to charity. You can visit any time of the day but you might have some trouble snapping a decent photo or even a selfie because of the endless crowds. It’ll take you some time to nail it.

The Pantheon is a former Roman temple that was later transformed into a church. It’s one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of the time and one of the best preserved. I didn’t get to see if from inside though because I was on a tight schedule. So, you can find more useful information about tickets and guided tours here. The surrounding neighborhood is very nice for a walk and it’s full of restaurants and bars where you can hang out. As for the Spanish steps, they’re supposed to lead to the Trinità dei Monti church that used to be under French ruling. But why Spanish? Well, it’s because it links it to Piazza di Spagna which was named after the Spanish Embassy that used to be located there.

Moving on to one of Italy’s most iconic touristic attractions; the Vatican City. I got a ticket for €8 to see the museum. My main advice to you is to book your ticket online if you want to see everything. When I arrived the queues were horrific, I can’t even remember for how long did I have to wait. The problem was that the museum had a queue and St. Peter’s square had a totally different queue on the other side. Since I was forced to give up one, I had to choose the queue for the museum; I was dying to see the Sistine Chapel, the main reason for my visit was Michaelangelo’s famed ceiling.

I walked through halls and corridors of magnificent artworks; paintings, sculptures, and more, until I arrived in the Sistine Chapel! I stood in awe in front of it, but I have to say, the guard ruined the moment. He hit the lens of my camera so hard and walked away to the next person with a camera, and my camera wasn’t even on. That was very rude of him, he could’ve at least said it nicely. I don’t even see the point of banning photography in there, to be honest. Yes, you need to preserve the painting, but we can simply turn off the flash. How would a mobile camera even do any harm? I just felt that there was something fishy about it.

And of course, how would I talk about Rome without mentioning Italian Gelato? Venchi and its jaw-dropping chocolate fountain wall could surely be one the most popular gelato place, but if you ask me, I’d definitely recommend Gelateria La Romana. The place was super close to my hostel, it was super cozy, and most importantly, it served premium quality gelato for prices starting €1.50 only. Speaking of food, there’s another restaurant close to my hostel and Roma Termini that I would highly recommend. Meid in Nepols was simply a taste of Neopolitan cuisine in the heart of Roma. The staff was really friendly, the atmosphere was warm and cozy, and my pasta was delicious!

Speaking of Roma Termini, it’s worth mentioning that you’d stay somewhere near it like I did. It’s not just where one of Rome’s train stations and the bus station are located, it’s also the only metro station that has both lines in one place. There’s also a small nice mall in the metro station; t-shirts are pretty cheap there, get them from there instead of other touristic spots. It’s also worth mentioning that there was a Flying Tiger branch in the station! I bought a set of highlighters that look like a director’s clapboard. I also bought a pair of super cool gloves that allow me to use the touch screen of my phone while staying warm. No more navigating on Google Maps with one freezing thumb.

One thing that I found super interesting and I would highly recommend is visiting the optical illusions of Rome. This sounds a bit peculiar, right? Well, yes, and unfortunately, I only heard about it from one of my friends on my very last day. I only had the time to go and see two; the keyhole and the shrinking St. Peter’s Dome.

What’s so bizarre about the keyhole? Well, you take a look from a keyhole in a door while you’re standing in a country; Italy, and get to see two other countries; The Knights of Malta, and The Vatican City! Let me break this up to you. The keyhole belongs to the closed door of the property land owned by the Knights of Malta, a Roman Catholic religious order of crusader knights which is also a sovereign entity under international law. As you take a peek through the keyhole located on the Aventine Hill, you can see the garden inside viewing the dome of the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.

Also on the Aventine Hill, only a few meters away from the keyhole, there’s an open space with the view of the Basilica. As you get closer to the balcony-like fence, the dome keeps getting smaller. The trick lies in the elevation of the ground that changes as you get closer or further. You can also see that from another street known as via Niccolò Piccolomini.

To wrap things up,

Italy just felt like a second home to me; I simply felt like I was in a European version of Egypt. They say that Mediterranean countries, in general, have lots in common. Italy has so much to offer, mindblowing history, fascinating architecture, beautiful art, warm culture, amazing food, friendly people, and plenty of good vibes.

Another aspect that I really liked was that not all places were strict in closing and opening hours/days like other European countries. For instance, on a Sunday in France or Germany, it’s too quiet and nothing is ever open. Sundays weren’t that dead in Italy; you’d still find something interesting to do. Also as an Egyptian, I have different lunch or dinner hours according to my culture. In France, I was forced to have lunch 3 hours earlier than when I normally would! If I decide to eat lunch at 3 pm, I’ll find plenty of restaurants with their doors wide open in Italy, in other countries, I would’ve probably starved to death.

Additionally, Italy is relatively cheaper than other Western European countries. Take McDonald’s as an example, a meal that cost me €9 in France, cost me €7 in Italy! Both were way too expensive for McDonald’s back in Egypt *lol* but I couldn’t even compare. As for transportation between Italian cities, it’s relatively cheap; whether buses or trains. Even though buses were cheaper, I chose trains because they weren’t that expensive anyway and were still a faster and more comfortable option. I went with Trenitalia; they have clean and decent trains and I remember they gave me a Christmas treat on one of my trips!

Let me know if you found these things useful and don’t forget to tell me how it goes when you visit Italia!

Buon Viaggio!