Hello dear readers, after reading my review of the places in Italy I was able to visit, are you ready to check it out for yourself?
Italy is a wonderful country, and well worth the experience of visiting at least once in your life. However, like every country out there, there are aspects of the country that tourist focus on, such as some of the best wine in the world, incredible food, and historical ruins like the Colosseum. However, there's so much more than just that!
I spent some time before embarking on this journey doing as much research as possible so I could be properly prepared for my second visit here. From travel blogs to Buzzfeed articles, to Facebook groups, I was able to glean especially helpful tips on what to expect and how to avoid scams. Because many of these tips are common, if you have been doing similar research before leaving, you will very likely see notes here in other media. While that may be true, I am not attempting to plagiarize, but to offer my own perspective on popular opinions and hazards that you may come across.
And now, let us start with what to look for in Italy!
Hazards and Scams
It may seem a bit of down to open with, but this is one of the most important topics to discuss in this post, and I would like to get it out of the way before continuing to the good meat.
Transportation
The tourism industry is huge part of Italy's economy, and let's face it, tourists are quite often easy to take advantage of. Most visitors won't be renting a car and will be relying on public transit or taxis to travel from point A to point B. One of the many tips my group was given about taking taxis was to agree on the fee with the driver before leaving for your destination. Making this agreement before the trip prevents them from purposefully taking longer routes to tack more cash onto their fee.
But wait, what about Ubers?
Unfortunately, Ubers are illegal throughout most of Italy, though they are available in both Rome and Milan. When you're in those cities, I would highly advise using Uber, as that company is more reliable.
Pickpockets
These little stinkers congregate in high-traffic areas where they can easily slip past you and snatching items without you realizing it. I have already covered the subject of traveling with a messenger bag or a purse with a strap that goes across the body, but if you don't have either of these, and have a backpack or tote, you should flip the backpack around to the front, and keep the tote close to your body.
Then there's trains and the Metro. Both areas are high risk for pickpockets as well, so it's best to keep your items or luggage as close to you as possible in these regions. With so much hustle and bustle from both locals and visitors, it's easy for someone to make quick work of you.
Thankfully, the Italian government has signs posted at high-risk areas to be on the lookout for pickpockets, but these are in areas that have the most foot traffic. When in popular areas, you must be on high alert. Don't keep anything of value in your pockets or in any side pockets in whatever bag or tote you have with you.
Peddlers
No matter where you go, you will always find people trying to sell cheap knockoffs to visitors. And these guys are sneaky!
Many times, these peddlers will try complementing you to get your attention, and then you find yourself sucked into checking out their less than competent products. Others will try to guilt you when you try to walk past them. It's sad to do, but it's usually best to keep walking and to ignore these sellers because it's really not worth looking at their wares.
Then there are the ones trying to sell things like toys and roses. If you give them too much attention, they can hand you one of their products, tell you it's a gift, and then not leave you alone because they still want you to pay them. Don't fall for their tactics! Sweet talking is a very prominent tactic out here, so anytime someone tries handing you something, politely decline and keep moving.
There are also people who will try to buy tickets for you at kiosks where you can purchase your fare, whether it's for the Metro, bus, or any other train. They will literally keep you from putting your coins in unless you give it to them first. This is yet another situation where you will have to be a little more aggressive, because once you hand over any coin, they'll keep trying to gouge you. Don't allow them to take advantage of you!
Restaurants and Menus
The closer you are to the city center, the more likely it is that you will come across a restaurant that will overcharge you for their menus. What you want to look for are restaurants that have menus in both Italian and English that show the same prices for their options. If they have one menu in Italian and another in English, ask for the Italian menu and use a translator app to determine the selections and prices.
Many restaurants will also offer outside menus with pictures of the dishes they offer. These menu boards will often look generic and offer less than stellar food for ridiculous prices. No matter how hungry you are, if you are in a popular area, try to avoid the venues that tourists are flocking to and try to find where the locals are going. They will know the genuine restaurants with the best service. Or check Yelp, because many Italians will take the time to rate the best restaurants in the city.
Keep in mind that sometimes these types of restaurants will often be the only ones open later at night. When you're in that situation, and it's well past your dinnertime, stay vigilant. The night my group was in Milan, it was after 9:00pm that we were finally able to grab some dinner and found ourselves at a restaurant that was a tourist trap because there weren't many options available.
First, they set up a table for us specifically, and handed us English menus that didn't include prices for drinks. I ordered a Negroni, and the waiter asked me, "small, medium or large?" My Spidey-sense was tingling, so I ordered a small, while others in my group ordered larges. My small drink, which was roughly the size of pint, cost €10! And those larges that were practically half the sizes of buckets ordered by my friends? €30! And they were completely hammered before they finished them!
Now there are other types of scams out there, but these are the ones that I had first and secondhand experience with. Thankfully, most of the issues I had were with the peddlers since they operate smarter, so I only lost a few coins from meeting them at their game. Just because I had extremely small losses don't mean it can't happen to you. Keep your eyes opened in the popular areas!
Drinks
We all know that Italy is renowned for some of the best wines in the world, but there's more to their drink menu than just wine! Let's have a look at some of the other drinks you can find here.
Water
This is another subject I briefly touched upon in yet another post. Throughout Italy, water is free and available through easily accessible fountains (but not always decorative fountains!). Bring a water bottle with you everywhere you go to keep hydrated.
Now, when ordering water in a restaurant, there are two types of water that are available. There is still, which is the filtered or mineral water served. Then there's sparkling water. Italy is also known for being a top seller of sparkling, or carbonated, water. It's not a particular like of mine, so I always order still. Often, you'll be seated at a table that has both options available.
When you request water, the waiters will usually ask if you would like still or sparkling, so you can order based on your preference. Some places won't offer you that option, so if all they offer is sparkling, you can request still directly, and vice versa.
Alcoholic Drinks
If you're a wine lover and that's all you plan to consume, that's a perfectly good preference. However, there are other drinks that are specific to Italy and worth the taste test. Here's a few that I was able to try out while out there.
Aperol Spritz
The Aperol Spritz is a cocktail of prosecco, Aperol, and sparkling water, garnished with a slice of lemon or orange. I loved this spirit and ordered it as often as possible. It is also available here in the States though it's not as popular, nor is it as good. It's a very refreshing drink with just enough of a kick, and pairs well with many entrees.
Negroni
The Negroni is a bitter drink that is made of Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth, and garnished with lemon or orange. If sweet cocktails aren't to your liking, this one is nice alternative. As stated previously about the "small" size I had ordered earlier, you may want to try ordering a traditional size to see if you like it first.
Bellini
A Bellini is essentially an Italian mimosa made with prosecco and peach juice or puree. This one is refreshing at any time of day, particularly on a warm afternoon. If you are a fan of mimosas with brunch, give this one a try with a croissant or crepe.
Grappa
Waiters are apparently amused when tourists order this drink. The friends and I who ordered this drink all reported the same experience: when saying we'd like grappa, the waiter's face would light up, and they would say, "oooh! The grappa!"
Grappa is best described as grape tequila. Tequila is usually served in a shot glass, but grappa comes in a flute. And this stuff is potent! It does tend to be a little pricier than other drinks offered, but I'd say try it at least once, if only to see if your server gives you that reaction. Just be prepared for it to burn like tequila!
Limoncello
Lemons are almost as big of a part of Italian culture as grapes. Limoncello is a liquor made from lemon, and is often served straight up, or with sparkling water as a spritz. If lemon drops are a favorite of yours, or even just plain lemonade, give this one a try!
Non-Alcoholic drinks
If you don't drink alcohol for any reason at all, I salute you. So let me introduce you to two options that you should try if you don't drink. And if you do drink, still try these out!
Cioccolata
This is the Italian answer to hot chocolate. Although I had it in the summertime, it was still a fabulous comfort drink. This elegant drink is made from a thick drinking chocolate and is extremely rich and bittersweet. Don't leave the country without trying this!
Lemon Soda
There's brand of Lemon Soda by Freedea that you can find in just about any restaurant or store. I'm not much of a soda drinker, but I love this stuff. Not only is it non-alcoholic, it's also cheap. I don't think I paid more than €2 for a can of the stuff. It's cool, refreshing, and a good compliment to most Italian food. The carbonation is also lighter than most American sodas, so if carbonation is a reason for you to not drink sodas, maybe try this one just to see if you like it.
Wines
I may have focused on the non-wine drinks so far, but hey, if you're gonna write a post about Italy, you must discuss the wine at some point.
Most restaurants will offer red and white wine options, as expected, but many times they will offer the "house wine." The house wine changes often and is supplied by a local vintner. If you would like to know the name of the wine, the servers will usually provide you with that information. Ordering the house wine is a good means of trying independent brands.
There are also some restaurants that don't sell wine by the glass. They sell wine in liter increments: 1/3rd liter, 1/2 liter, and full liter. Being an American that is still getting the hang of the metric system, I went ahead and ordered a half liter at a restaurant because it was at the unbeatable price of €6. What I forgot is that a liter of wine should be compared to a liter of soda!
I wound up with a small pitcher full of wine! Thankfully, I had a friend with me, and he gladly accepted some of my wine whilst I polished off about 2/3s of that sucker by myself (and still wasn't even tipsy). So, I will reiterate: my American readers, if you see wine offered by the liter, remember how big a liter of soda is here in the States!
And finally, we have toasting. Every country has a different toast, whether it's a specific word or phrase when toasting, or including an action of some kind. In the Venezia region, it's customary to toast, and then tap the bottom of the glass on either the table or countertop if you're seated at one or the other, or to tap the ground if you don't. The reasoning? If you don't tap the bottle of the glass before taking a drink, you'll never have sex again.
No joke.
I don't know what other Italian regions go by that tradition, but if you ever see someone standing with a glass of wine who toasts with their friends, and then drops down into a squat to tap the ground with their glass, you now know why!
Food
Just about everyone in the world is familiar with Italian cuisine and how it also is some of the best in the world. We love the pizza (even though that originated in Greece, it was just perfected in Napoli), the spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, gelato, and pesto, to name a few of the popular dishes.
Naturally, we're going to discuss some of the other dishes that are served in Italy that aren't as popular in Italian restaurants here in the States. It may be possible to find these items elsewhere, but many are specific to Italy. Make sure to try all of these when you go there!
Appetizers and Entrees
Calamari
Calamari is a common enough dish throughout the world, especially in the coastal areas of North America. However, the Mediterranean calamari fished and served in the coastal regions of Italy are second to none. Normally breaded and deep fried, they are usually served with lemon wedges or marinara sauce on the side. The meat is tender and flavorful and must be experienced here.
The best calamari was found at WEnice in Venice.
Polpette
We all know about meatballs, but did you know there are other types of balls served for meal and snacking purposes?
Don't laugh, I know where your dirty minds are going!
Polpette, or Italian meatball, is a breaded ball that is either baked or deep fried, and is usually made of meat, but can also be made in vegetarian options featuring cheese or vegetables. Though many restaurants feature polpette with mixtures of the listed items, vegan options can also be available in certain restaurants. The sizes can be smaller for when you just want a flavorful snack, or in larger sizes as a main course. And they are delicious!
Most restaurants will sell them in packs of 1-8 pieces. My favorite place to find them was at Bocconi Street Food in Verona.
Cicchetti
Many restaurants in the Venice region will promote cicchetti, which is a small appetizer. These will often be small fish or meat portions, crostini, polpette, cheese, or veggies, to name a few.
The term is rather broad instead of focusing on one type and is up to the restaurant's discretion to what they'll be serving. The more venues you visit, the more varied the cicchetti will be. One restaurant our group visited had crostini with a fish spread made from an imported Norwegian fish breed that had been served in an unchanged family recipe for hundreds of years!
This option is popular with diners who want a simple snack to accompany their evening wine. If you would like to try the fish spread cicchetti, it can be found at the Ostaria Antica Dolo in Venice.
Burrata Salad
You can never have enough cheese, right? Well, the cheese addict in me nearly died in the Shakespearean sense when I came across this blessed dish.
The burrata salad is a salad of arugula, tomatoes, and green olives with an entire ball of burrata cheese slathered in pesto on top. Never in my life had a seen such a beautiful cheese dish. And I ate that sucker with so much relish. It was positively glorious.
This salad isn't always offered, but if you come across a restaurant that has it on its menu, order it! You will not be disappointed! To find this one specifically, you can find it at Il Porticciolo in Manarola.
Desserts
Cannoli
You've probably heard of this dessert from the famous line from the film, The Godfather: "leave the gun. Take the cannoli." However, many people aren't aware of what cannoli is. It is a deep-friend pastry shell stuffed with a sweet ricotta cheese filling, and usually has either dried fruit or chocolate chips in that same filling and dusted with powdered sugar. If you want to take a break from eating gelato, this makes for a good alternative.
Make sure you have a plate and plenty of napkins on hand when eating this, for the pastry portion will often break and spill the contents. Catch every precious crumb and piece of filling, for it shall be worth it!
Lemon tiramisu
Tiramisu is popular throughout Italy, and is served in several flavors, but the rarest flavor to find is the lemon. I only found one cafe that sold the lemon variety, and it was amazing! Since I found this toward the end of our trip when we were in Positano, I would assume that it can be found in coastal cities since I hadn't seen it anywhere else prior to this, nor was I able to find it anywhere else after leaving the region.
If you find it on the menu, and you love lemons, be sure to order it!
Nutella
Nutella is everywhere.
You'll find it served in just about any pastry shop, in all the convenience stores and service stations, and even at McDonald's! And you can find them in so many different varieties: stuffed biscuits, muffins, crepes, gelato flavors, and flatbreads!
One of the reasons why Nutella is so popular over here is because there's no peanut butter. When you look at most American menus and shops, you can find peanut butter options offered. If you find yourself craving peanut butter in Italy, unfortunately you'll be out of luck, because there's only Nutella. You could be sick of it before you leave!
Manners
Being one of the top-visited countries in the world, Italians deal with tourists on a regular basis. Most of the time, they are very cordial and welcoming, and in this Covid era, are very happy to see people visiting again. They love their country and, despite having some scammers in the bigger cities, try to enhance your experience.
However, they are also very direct.
If you step out of line or make and inadvertent faux pa, they don't beat around the bush, they tell you flat out, and the tone is a bit on the aggressive side. Now this almost never done in a rude manner, but in a way to keep visitors from breaking any rules, avoiding hazards of any kind, staying out of the wrong areas, or needing to see documentation of any kind. Once they get the point across, if you adhere to their words, they'll usually go right back into their warm selves again.
Directness is never personal with the Italians. Yes, you will come across rude people there from time to time, but Italians value communication, which is why they can come across as a little brusque. Just remember that they're not being mean, they're just looking out for you in their way. Unless you're directly breaking the rules (in which case, shame on you!), they won't hold your transgressions against you.
Driving
Despite the locals being courteous, the driving in another matter entirely. Driving in Italy is insane. There are no passive drivers in Italy, only aggressive. However, just like the manners, aggressive doesn't mean that everyone has road rage. Yes, sometimes a driver will be too aggressive to the point of jeopardizing someone's safety, in which case another driver may lash out, but everyone here drives the same and it's up to you to determine if driving here is for you.
A lot of the roadways in the bigger cities are narrow, so you will see almost as many Vespas as you will cars. Traveling by Vespa tends to be a quicker option for bigger cities and more convenient regarding parking. These drivers do have to be aggressive as well but can weave in and out of traffic like motorcyclists.
Taxi and Uber drivers though, they can get you from point A to point B in very fast time, but you will definitely want your seatbelt on and to hold on to something! Most of the time you'll have a driver who is aggressive but safe, but every now and then you'll come across one who drives like an absolute maniac!
In one of the cities that offered Uber, a group of friends and I requested a van pickup back to our hotel. Our driver was a nice and chatty guy, but we were clinging for dear life as he sped through those streets! One of the other girls in this group was a Disney cast member, so I asked her during the ride, "is it just me, or does this feel like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?" She nodded emphatically and said, "YES."
Though the driving here is insane, remember that everyone who grew up here learned how to drive like this. It may seem unsafe to anyone who isn't used to this kind of driving, but they know what they're doing.
One other thing that needs mentioning though is that pedestrians do not have the right of way. You must wait for the streetlights to give you the walk sign to cross the streets safely. In certain areas, such as Naples, not even that is enough to cross. You need to hold out your hand with your palm facing toward the drivers to indicate that you are crossing. And sometimes the drivers won't even heed that. Crossing the street is sometimes at your own risk!
Stairs
The moment you book that trip to Italy, go to the gym and get on the stair stepper. One of my previous posts on how to build your physical endurance before your trip touches on the subject of how using the stair stepper is a great way to prepare for any trip you take. Well, it is an absolute must for Italy.
There were stairs everywhere.
There are towers that you can climbs, domes to ascend, cities built into the sides of hills, churches with multiple tiers, and hiking trains with cut stone stairways. People, if you don't practice on a stair stepper beforehand, you are going to be sore when you're out and about!
Even I, who has hiked over 400 miles in the span of the last two years, was unprepared for all of this. Now I'm in decently good shape, and have no problem with most inclines, but my knees aren't great, and my asthma tends to flare up when going up steep inclines. Continual ascents up all these stairs take a serious toll on your body!
I will say again that once you have this trip booked, either seek out a stair stepper at the gym, or do a Rocky and practice by going up and down stairways you have access to. Even if you're in good shape, many stairways can catch you off guard.
Another point about the stairways though is how picturesque they are. Not all of them are winners, but many are worth taking pictures in, whether going up and capturing the walkways, or going down and snapping the gorgeous background emerging from the between the buildings.
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