Stuff to do in Italy
I'm not going to go about calling myself some kind of expert on Italy, but I thought I'd give you a quick and dirty list of what to do if you ever find yourself in the big ol' boot.
10 Things you should definitely do in Italy
- 1. Go to a small town, it doesn't matter which. This is the equivalent of coming to America and visiting Smalltown, USA. Some people love the big tourist attractions, but to me the best part of Italy is the normal part of Italy.
- 2. Go to Florence, the architecture is beautiful and worth the trip alone.
- 3. When in Florence, go to the large church in the middle of the city, Il Domo, and climb the stairs to the top. It's a long hike, but the view is awe inspiring. Plus it will burn off all the calories from my next tip.
- 4. Get gelatto. I don't care if you've had it before. Get gelatto in Italy, I promise you it's better. This leads nicely to number five.
- 5. Eat. Eat frequently. Italian food is always good, and no one makes it better than the Italians.
- 6. Go to Pisa. The tourist attractions are still tourist attractions, but you have to go to them.
- 7. Don't take the stupid "holding the tower of Pisa up" picture. It has been done to death. Be more creative.
- 8. When in Pisa, don't confine yourself to the tourist zone. Walk around, the city has quite a bit of architecture that is beatiful and foundationallly sound.
- 9. Check out Milano, it feels more modern while maintaining the time-earned charm of Florence and Pisa.
- 10. While in Milano do your shopping. The city has some great stores.
I just want to stress that you don't have to act like a tourist to be a tourist in Italy. The most fun to be had is in trying to adapt to the culture.