My Trip to Northern Italy in 2024 Emily Hampton   © Copyright 2024 by Emily Hampton

Photo courtesy of the author

When I was little, we would fantasize about all the foreign places we would visit together one day. She made sure my childhood was full of culture and domestic travel, but this Italy trip was the apex of all our adventures.

She is retired now, and I can barely keep track of her. Between her travels with her friends and golf outings, I have to check with her schedule before planning anything. And she’s often booked! This delights me because she devoted so much of her time and effort into my life as a kid.

It was a 10 hour flight. To pass the time, we both played trivia, journaled, and slept. You really do turn into your parents, I thought to myself as we both order Cokes to drink.

Once we arrived in Venice, a water taxi delivered us from the airport to the hotel. While anything can start to feel mundane, it is hard to imagine getting tired of navigating the Venice archipelago by boat.

The people of Venice were welcoming and friendly, and most of them belonging to families who have lived in the same buildings for generations. Many of these families have a trade or occupation that has been passed down as well.

We took a day trip to the surrounding islands Murano and Burano. The island of Murano is known for glass blowing while the families in Burano are responsible for hand woven lace. Both islands are adorned with brightly colored buildings. Walking the streets is like walking through a rainbow.

In Murano, we were greeted by glass blowers who gave a quick history lesson accompanied with a demonstration. I bought a glass vase that was made on the island. At Burano, we watched a woman work on a lace bridal veil. She said with a haughty tone that younger generations are too impatient to learn lace sewing. I bought a lace bookmark souvenir from her.

In every Italian city, a guided walking tour is a necessary piece of the trip. A local young woman named Marina showed us around Venice and explained the rich history of our surroundings.

There were more Venetian flags than Italian flags flying around the city. I made this comment on our walking tour, and Marina responded explaining there was a time when Venice was independent from Italy. She also informed us that Marco Polo and Antonio Vivaldi were not Italian, they were Venetian.

Cars, bicycles, horses, etc. are not allowed in Venice. The city is only accessible by foot. If you need to go to the hospital, EMS workers will bring a stretcher to your abode and carry you to the hospital. We saw this happen once.

The history embedded in the buildings, streets, and waterways is palpable. Each ‘island’ in the archipelago has its own church, hospital, and square, which is where most of the commerce took place. Before the islands were connected by (~400) bridges, each island provided these offerings so its residents’ needs would be met.

Other notable Venetian experiences were touring St. Mark’s Basilica, taking a gondola ride, and eating the oysters. Trust me, the oysters are an experience.

We took a train ride from Venice to Milan. Our hotel in Milan was very modern and beautiful, which juxtaposed our bed & breakfast building from the 1500s in Venice.

Our guide in Milan was a feisty, knowledgeable woman named Anna Maria. She took us to many breathtaking places I have only seen in history books, such as the duomo, the famous Italian arch created by Napoleon, and The Last Supper. The Last Supper is painted on a wall, not a canvas. It is painted in the dining hall of a church. I stood in the same room as Da Vinci did when he was creating one of the most referenced and recognizable pieces of art of all time.

Our next stop was the shopping district. Visiting the shopping district in Milan is like having a Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We were told that if you were a fashion designer and had a store in Milan, you’ve made it. Versace, Armani, Prada, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gucci were some Italian designers with stores. The only non-Italian designer I recall seeing was Louis Vuitton. What refined people to have given the world so many visionary, trend-setting designers.

In the center of the shopping district, there is a shallow hole which has been there for centuries. If you stick your heel in it and spin 3 times, legend says you will be back in Milan one day. I performed this ritual twice.

The next stop on our Italian adventure was Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is a collection of 5 seaside villages located by the sea in the hills. I can’t fathom why the Italians decided these steep sea cliffs would be a good location to build villages, but I am glad they did! The views of the Ligurian Sea are breathtaking and the villages are unique.

The five villages are connected by a train and hiking trails. We overestimated our stamina and prowess and had to turn around after the trail proved to be much more difficult than we anticipated. Traveling by train is the way to go in Cinque Terre, just trust me.

Each village has a different look, feel, and pride. We were happy to purchase souvenirs from each location, chatting with the locals while engaging in commerce.

One of my favorite excursions was visiting Lake Como. After locating our boat, we, along with 8 other American tourists, boarded a lovely yacht and were escorted along the Italian coast. Our guide, Giacomo, told us the history of the villages, the area, and the ancient structures along the coastline. One striking piece of art was a sculpture of Mother Mary that protrudes from the sea. She has been there since the 800s watching over the boats and crews. After a few days in the Monterosso village in Cinque Terre, we made our way to Florence, which is region of Tuscany. Florence is another Italian city, just like the others we visited, with an overwhelming amount of beauty, culture, and tradition.

Photo by the author.

I saw my first wine window in Florence. Wine windows have been in Tuscany since the 1500s. In those days, wealthier residents were permitted to sell wine by the glass directly to consumers.

While in Florence, we visited a famous bookstore. The second floor had stadium seating facing a projector at one end of the store, inviting guests to stop, relax, and enjoy the movie playing. There were people there alone, in groups, napping, working, reading, and watching the movie. The movie schedule was on the wall.

While in Florence, we visited the Uffizi, a popular art museum. We had the opportunity to view famous works of art in person, as well as Michaelangelo’s David. The masterpiece is larger than you would expect, and standing in its presence is inexplicable.

We noticed the Basilica di Santa Trinita would be hosting the North Carolina State University chorus group one of the nights we were in Florence. Although we did not understand the hymns they were singing, the acoustics of the cathedral and the reverence of the audience provided an unexpectedly memorable evening.

Any Italian trip should not be completed without taking an authentic cooking class! We took a Tuscan cooking class on our last day in Florence. Making pasta in Italy with my mom was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We worked together, and with about 8 other people in the class, had a 3-course authentic Italian dinner.

But obviously, all the food in Italy is authentic. Between the burrata, ravioli, pasta, caprese, oysters, and wine, I gained at least 10 pounds, but it was well worth it. I’m not sure if it is the ingredients, the food prep, the recipes, or if might just be placebo effect, but the food and wine in Italy are on another level.

We ended our last day in Florence by touring the Tuscan gardens and eating cannoli.

The flight back to America felt shorter than the flight to Italy. I read A Farewell to Arms while mom finished One Italian Summer. Looking out the window and resting on my mom’s shoulder, I reminisced privately about us making plans to see the world together when I was young. This was an experience was exceeded all expectations I could’ve imagined.

The flight back to America felt shorter than the flight to Italy. I read A Farewell to Arms while mom finished One Italian Summer. Looking out the window and resting on my mom’s shoulder, I reminisced privately about us making plans to see the world together when I was young. This experience exceeded all expectations I could’ve imagined. The elegance and sophistication of Italy cannot be overstated. The history, food, wine, art, architecture, and tradition engulf the senses. Italy’s main export is beauty, and its contributions to the world are staggering. Do not wait to experience this special place in person. I hope to be back soon. Ciao!

Photo by the author.

Nashville’s Emily Hampton developed an appreciation for and interest in writing after being an avid reader as a child. The emotions that can be stirred by simply reading words on a page are limitless. Whether her words inspire laughter, tears, or any emotion in between, Emily’s aim is for her readers to visualize beauty, imagine possibilities, and experience empathy for her characters.

 Emily was born in Chatsworth, GA, which is also known as Appalachia. After graduating college, she lived in Atlanta for 7 years working in the IT industry. She moved to Nashville in 2017 when she got an opportunity to work in the music business. Her passions include writing, travelling, volunteering, and trying new things. Emily hopes to continue pursuing her lifelong dream of being a writer.