Tour de Italy

STUDY ABROAD SNIPPET

When deciding out of three possible places to study abroad -Denmark, England (UK), or Italy- it was quite obvious to me that Italy was the one. To keep in mind though, trying to figure out where to study abroad isn’t always that easy. Factors to consider are:

How long is the program? - 2 weeks, 4-6 weeks, a semester, a year?
Is there a language barrier? If so, do I have to study that language while abroad?
Is the cost (tuition) relatively the same or more than an average semester?
Can I fulfill credit requirements while abroad?
Is it difficult to travel to other countries while abroad?

And the list of questions goes on…however, they’re all important things to research, know/understand, and consider when trying to find the best fit for you!

If you’re planning to travel while studying abroad, check out Smart Trip + Bus2Apls for student planned weekend trips + tours! (I did Bus2Apls for my trip to Amalfi Coast + Smart Trip for Cinque Terre)

LETS TRAVEL ALL OF ITALY

Whether you’re studying abroad or just visiting, I’ve highlighted the top places to hit on your tour through Italy! Are you ready to embark on an experience you’ll never forget? Lets go explore all of Italy’s beauty + history, consume incredible, authentic food, hit wine country, and so much more.

NOTE: On the first Sunday of every month, museums are free!

From North to South + East to West, listed below are only the best ↓

MILAN

To me, Milan was the most modernized city I visited in Italy. From the buildings to the restaurants, I felt “home” in the way that it looked. However, when deep diving into Milan’s cuisine + historical monuments, it was nothing like America.

My friends + I were only in Milan for one day before spending the rest of the weekend in Lake Como, however, there are a couple important spots to hit while you’re there!

Here are a list of places to hit while in Milan:

Duomo di Milano or also known as Milan’s Cathedral (shown in the pictures above)
Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (shown in the right picture)
Walk down Naviglio Grande - great options for restaurants
Santa Maria delle Grazie - de Vinci’s “The Last Supper” masterpiece hangs

LAKE COMO

Lake Como was one of the most beautiful + unique places I visited. It’s located in the northern part of Italy (close to Switzerland) and is known for it’s natural landscape + beauty.

While there, we took a tram (I believe it was €5 roundtrip!) up to the top of the mountain. Up at the top, there were more shops, restaurants, and a lighthouse to climb. After a pretty good hike to find the lighthouse, we paid €2 to climb to the top! Let me tell you, the view was worth every penny! The top overlooked the Swiss Alps + it was surreal for someone who has never seen mountains before! ↓

Lastly, you need to make a trip (or 30) to Caffè Monti!

I had *A LOT* of gelato while abroad, but without a doubt, Caffè Monti had the best. I dream about going back there one day to get some more.

VENICE

Venice is full of colorful buildings, canals, + bridges to get across various parts of the city. If you’re getting tired of the constant up + down from the bridges, take a Gondola! They are the most popular attraction (costing €80 for 40min ride), plus who wouldn’t want to see Venice + all it’s beauty from the water.

Places to visit in Venice:

Piazza San Marco + St. Mark’s Basilica
Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)
Walk around neighborhoods for amazing views of colorful buildings - Dorsoduro
Carnival of Venice- end of January/early February; famous masks worn

CINQUE TERRE

Cinque Terre (“cinque” meaning 5 in Italian) is located on the northwest coastline of Italy. It’s 5 seaside villages that you can take a tram/train to visit - Riomaggiore, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, + Manarola. Though if you’re feeling really ambitious, there’s a hiking trail that connects them all together if you’d rather walk.

I spent a 1/2 day there and was only able to hit Riomaggiore, Monterosso al Mare, + Vernazza. I would suggest 1 day/ 1.5 day there if you’re interested in hitting all 5 villages. Keep in mind, Cinque Terre may be beautiful, but there’s not a ton of attractions. If you’re looking for a couple shops + restaurants, this place is for you!

PISA

I remember learning + seeing the Tower of Pisa in history books when I was younger. It was something that always amazed me because how can something be ‘leaning’ but not fall over?

Pisa is an incredibly small town. If you plan to visit, I would recommend 1/2 day trip! When I went, I climbed to the top of the tower in the morning + made it back to Florence in time to climb to the top of the Duomo di Firenze too!

View from the top of the Leaning Tower ↓

FLORENCE

MY FAVORITE! Well I am a little bias because I spent 4-5 months in this city, but it’s filled with tons of history (Renaissance) + culture.

There’s too many stories I have about this magical place + I’ll save you from the rant! So, here’s my extensive list on all things to visit in Florence:

The major attractions
- Ponte Vecchio (pictured below)
- Piazzale Michelangelo (pictured below)
- Duomo di Firenze - can climb to the top too! (pictured below)
Piazza’s / Churches
- Piazza della Repubblica (pictured above)
- Piazza della Signoria
- Piazza di Duomo
- Piazza Santo Spirito - where I went to school!
- Basilica of Santa Croche
- Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Palace(s)
- Pitti Palace
- Medici Palace
Galleries / Gardens
- Ufizi Gallery
- Gucci Garden
- Boboli Gardens (pictured below)
Restaurants
- Ciro + Sons - my all time favorite place!!
- 4 Leoni
- Osteria di Santo Spirito
- Mister Pizza
- Il Bottegone
- All'Antico Vinaio - famous panini place

ROME

Everyone learns about Ancient Rome during school at some point. I remember flipping through a book in Social Studies only to come across a massive Colosseum. From the book to seeing it in person, it’s so surreal. If you’re a history buff, Rome is the place for you! It’s filled with rich stories, ancient monuments, and roman catholics.

AMALFI COAST

The coast of Italy is a DREAM! Views of nothing but the beautiful sea, houses built into the mountain, and beaches for miles. The Amalfi Coast is a must-visit destination with 13 seaside cities. However, these are the most popular places to visit - Sorrento, Capri, Positano, + Pompeii.

While in the Amalfi Coast, my friends + I stayed in Sorrento, took a boat out in Capri, had a beach day in Positano, went to Pompeii.

If you can, definitely sail the sea in Positano or Capri. In Capri, you can also see the Blue Grotto - which is a natural sea cave that illuminates bright blue. In Pompeii, there’s not much to do besides see the ruins. Any more questions about the Amalfi Coast? Drop questions in comments below ↓

SICILY

Sicily was definitely in my top 3 places I loved while traveling abroad. If you have the time to go there, I HIGHLY recommend a visit! There are a couple different cities on the island I went to while I was there - Catania, Noto, Siracusa, + Taormina.

Taormina was a place I actually went to twice during one semester. We went there on a school trip for a week and then I went back after my program ended when my mom came out to visit (for her 50th!). Its beauty is indescribable.

NOTE: Different regions of Italy are known for different foods, much like each state Ex. Wisconsin - cheese, Florida - oranges, Idaho - potatoes.

Sicily is known for arancinis + cannolis. You MUST try them both!! I’ve dreamt about them everyday since I left. They are amazing. Period.

Sicily is a great place to explore - restaurants, wine, seaside activities, neighboring cities in the area to visit, exploring/climbing Mt. Etna, etc. If you have more questions about things to do in Sicily, drop them in the comment below ↓

Ready to take a trip to Italy? I hope a couple of my recommendations have been added to your itinerary or at least helped answer any of your questions or hesitations. Italy is my favorite place on the planet, I hope you’re able to visit this beautiful, rich-historic country sometime soon :)

LETS TRAVEL ALL OF ITALY

Leah LaLiberte

All Things Apartment