Italy is a very strange place if you don’t understand it and it starts to make sense to you the more time you spend there. I found Italians to be spontaneous and practical – traits that make their run-down cities function and adapt despite poor maintenance of public facilities.
All of my early travels to the country were from when I lived in bordering Switzerland, which not only made Italy accessible but also very cheap when compared to Swiss prices. Despite Italy’s reputation for excellent food, it can be a bit of a hit and miss if you’re not familiar with local delicacies. The rules on the road and in the streets fell like they are only a recommendation as long as nobody else is inconvenienced or hurt.
Apart from wine and bread from the northern regions of Italy, I really enjoyed walking in their history as visitors are invited to explore the heritage and impact of the Roman Empire. Historic Roman sites can even be found in Switzerland, France, and Germany.
