The Cities of Italy

As a first-timer visitor, Brittney Garland made the most of every opportunity on a whirlwind tour of Rome, Florence, and Milan, topped off by a gondola ride in Venice

My husband, Greg, and I had never been to Italy. Excited to make the most of our forthcoming trip around the country’s most famous and historic cities, we spent weeks researching the experiences and sights not to be missed. As we quickly discovered, social media can be a great place to start. On TikTok, hundreds of videos are at your fingertips – not just in posts from other travelers, but also local people keen to show off the highlights of their neighborhood. We didn’t just learn where to go, but also what to eat and where to eat it, and even found tips for what to pack.

Our adventure began in Rome, where we were immediately captivated by the city’s culture – its history, religious sites, and rich artistic heritage. To learn more about the gorgeous and historic places we were experiencing, we booked a personal tour with Divine Horizon, which provided us with the most passionate and knowledgeable storyteller, Fabi, as our guide for the day. She effortlessly weaved a captivating narrative, bringing the history of the city alive as we toured the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine and Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica. We were also delighted to discover that Fabi was as passionate about photography as we are, and relished the opportunity to take pictures of my husband and me in the most picturesque locations.

Fabi left us with a profound appreciation for Rome’s cultural richness; we then took a day by ourselves to get lost in its ancient streets. We made our way to the Spanish Steps, sampled the famous sandwiches from All’Antico Vinaio in front of the Pantheon, and threw coins into the beautiful Trevi Fountain. Before we left home, we wrote our kids’ initials on a coin for each of them and asked them to give us one wish. According to local legend, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain means you’ll come back one day. I’m looking forward to bringing the children with me and showing them around this remarkable place.

Many of the TikTok videos we’d seen featured mouthwatering pastas being cooked in a cheese wheel. We found a cute restaurant, Il Vicolo Nel Corso, with string lights and music playing, and I couldn’t believe my luck when they said their special was tagliatelle pasta cooked in a cheese wheel topped with truffles. It was exactly as good as I’d imagined

Our taste buds already piqued by our culinary experiences in Rome, on arrival in Florence, we booked a pasta cooking class at the well-known Mama Florence cooking school. Guided by our skilled teacher, Chef Filippo, we enjoyed an interactive, hands-on journey of flavors, laughs, and a delicious meal that we took pride in making.

Florence is best known for its Renaissance art and architecture – and the big hitters turned out to be just as awe-inspiring as I’d hoped. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a breathtaking masterpiece of Gothic architecture, while the craftsmanship and lifelike detail of Michelangelo’s David had me enraptured.

According to the TikTokers, another “must-do” experience is to hike to the top of Piazzale Michelangelo, a hilltop square on the south bank of the Arno River. In the company of hundreds of others, my husband and I gathered here to watch the sunset above panoramic views of the iconic city skyline. “This is just perfect,” I whispered, as we looked out over Florence Cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and all the picturesque red-tiled roofs across the city.

I had one more goal for our time in Florence and that was to buy a glass of wine through a buchette del vino (“wine window”). These small openings in building façades allowed for the sale of wine directly to the public as far back as the Renaissance era. Only a few are still open today, but it’s worth seeking them out for the simple delight of ringing a bell and ordering a glass of delicious Italian vino.

Our next train journey brought us to the dynamic and cosmopolitan metropolis of Milan. Just a two-minute walk from our hotel was the iconic Duomo di Milano (Cathedral of Milan), dominating the skyline with its stunning Gothic architecture. Ever conscious of Milan’s reputation as the global capital of fashion design, we strolled through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, where we ogled at the style and elegance of each shop we passed.

Normally you need to buy tickets to view Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper months in advance, but the wonderful concierge at our hotel was able to snag us tickets to see this masterwork in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. I’ve seen reproductions many times, but to finally see this masterpiece in person was a mesmerizing encounter, and one I will not soon forget.

Another life goal ticked off the list, we took one more train to our final destination: Venice. From the moment we boarded our water taxi to the hotel, a smile never left my face. It was off-season, so quieter than I anticipated, but the sun was shining and the weather was perfect. Immediately we could feel the uniqueness of this enchanting and famously romantic city, made up of 118 small islands and linked by 438 bridges.

Walking around bridge by bridge, we found cute cafés, restaurants, and gelaterias. We also took a private tour to gain a local’s insight into the history of Saint Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and finally the glass-blowing museum, where we watched a skilled glass-smith turn a blob of fiery molten glass into a unique and beautiful piece of art.

To complete our list of iconic experiences, we took a ride on a gondola, which proved to be the ideal way to experience the charm of Venice’s picturesque canals and elegant bridges. Told that it was good luck to kiss under the Bridge of Sighs, we seized the opportunity with glee.

And so, the last day of our trip arrived. We spent it wandering Venice’s narrow streets, buying souvenirs, grabbing takeaway pasta, and enjoying a few more Aperol Spritzes, and one final gelato from our favorite gelateria. My smartwatch told me I’d logged a grand total of 171,348 steps during our days in Italy, but I also knew that the rich tapestry of experiences we had was immeasurable. Grazie, Italia!