I spent 6 days in Italy after dreaming of visiting my whole life. 8 moments made it worth the wait.
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- Italy is a European country I always dreamed of visiting. In 2022, that dream came true.
- I spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan — and some moments felt magical.
- From an art sculpture Airbnb to a gondola ride, here's what I'll never forget about my trip.
Growing up with my half-Italian family in a Manhattan suburb, I always dreamed of going to Italy.
While eating my grandmother's famous spaghetti and meatball dinners and listening to her stories about what it's like to explore the popular vacation destination, I remember longing for Italian experiences of my own.
My dream finally came true in October 2022, when I — at the age of 26 — spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan for the first time while backpacking through Europe.
Nearly two years after my Italian adventure, I'm still thinking about eight moments that made the long-awaited trip everything I hoped it would be.
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Then I traveled by train to Rome and Milan. I spent two days exploring each city.
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I found the rolling hills to be one of the most picturesque views I'd ever seen from a train. The scene looked like something straight out of my dreams.
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Venice is a 1,200-year-old city made up of islands connected by bridges on the northwestern edge of the Adriatic Sea, according to Britannica.
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I felt like I'd just stepped into a storybook with colorful buildings lining the canals.
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Being in a narrow canal allowed me to see homes from inches away, and the moment I spotted their foundations immersed in the water felt surreal to me.
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I had another special moment while wandering the castle's stunning grounds. They were filled with perfectly placed plants and sculptures that I thought looked enchanting.
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Looking up from underneath it made me feel tiny.
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The city of Rome is nearly 3,000 years old and known for its rich history and romantic vibes. And according to a recent study by Delta, it's one of the most-searched travel destinations for the summer of 2024.
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My host, Alessandro, told me he built the livable sculpture on the roof of his villa using recycled materials like car windows, scrap wood, and pieces of broken tiles.
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I'll never forget how amazing it felt to wake up inside this Airbnb with sunlight pouring in thanks to all the windows. I wish I could start every day with a moment like that.
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Seeing him in his own world in a public space among so many people was remarkable and inspiring to me.
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I thought this was such a unique form of art and found it fascinating to watch.
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The northern Italian city is known for being a world capital of fashion and finance, according to Britannica. But my favorite moment in this city had nothing to do with these things.
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It was Castello Sforzesco, a 15th-century castle built by Francesco Sforza, a duke of Milan who founded the Sforza Dynasty, according to Britannica.
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And since I wasn't expecting to find it in urban Milan, happening upon it by chance made for a special memory.
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And I can't wait to go back.