Introduction

The second stop on my summer of 2022 European cruise was Italy, where we spent the vast majority of our time. For the few days my parents and I were there, we made it our goal to see every famous landmark or location possible, no matter how grueling the journey. Every day was a new adventure that blew our minds and taste buds; that Italian pizza did not disappoint!

Pisa

Our very first, and one of the coolest, stops was that of Pisa, the home of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (known as the Campanile) alongside the sadly often forgotten Pisa Cathedral, Pisa Baptistry, and Camposanto Monumentale di Pisa. Here we learned tons of facts regarding these buildings, especially of the numerous feats architects took in an attempt to straighten the inclined tower with no luck. However, without a doubt, the best part was climbing it! Despite my dad and I’s previous beliefs, the tower was taller and narrower than we had thought. Still, we made it all the way up and down while my mom took ground-level pictures where she felt it was less scary.

Vatican City

Our next stop was the world’s smallest state, Vatican City! Unfortunately, our tour only spent a few minutes here, which is why it is coupled with Italy, but it surely did not let us down. Learning about its history, seeing modern-day guards in ceremonial uniforms (and being surprised by their swords), and watching as the countless columns merged into one whilst standing on the Centro del Colonnato was truly breathtaking. Before leaving, we waited a few moments in order to see the Pope wave in St. Peter’s Square but barely missed him. So close!

Rome

My personal favorite stop was the grand capital of Italy, Rome. Here, we saw and did the most in the shortest amount of time. For the first time in many years, I felt like a little kid when my mom and I each threw a coin into the Trevi Fountain and made a wish. Then, my family and I wandered off into a local area of the city and scarfed down two of the most delicious pizzas we had ever had in only fifteen minutes. If I had the time, I would’ve savored it for hours! Before heading to our home away from home, we just had to stop by the Colosseum and get our breath taken away. This moment was one of the most intriguing and informative parts of our journey because we learned much more than we ever thought possible about the monumental city.

Mount Vesuvius

On the day we climbed the volcano that buried Pompeii in ash, my dad swears we almost died ourselves. But, in my opinion, for someone with a metal hip, he did a fantastic job because he, my mom, and I were all able to climb up and down the entirety of Mount Vesuvius!

Pompeii

Later, on the same day we scaled the volcano, we also got to tour the whole excavated city of Pompeii, which was such a treat. The whole site was spellbinding, captivating us and making us giggle as we were told of the purposes of each individual room in the town. Finally, before heading back to the ship for some much-needed rest, we bid farewell to the largest statue of man I had ever seen, acting as a symbol for the city with his giant, protective spear.

Sicily

For our final taste of Italy before moving on to our next stop, my mom, dad, and I shopped at a local jewelry store and ate as much Sicilian pizza as we could get our hands on as a reward for our tiring daily efforts wandering through the most gorgeous locations in all the country.

Conclusion

To conclude, this part of our vacation is a challenge to sum up. Before arriving in Italy, I had high expectations for their local pizza and gelato (which were very much met), but knew little about their culture and history. This location was by far the most spectacular of them all! Both my parents and I learned the most here, ate the most here, and became inspired here. Part of the legend of the ancient Trevi Fountain is that if you throw one coin in, you will return to Rome. I think the saying just might be true.

Il Mio Primo Taste of Italy