In November 2021, our family of four set out on our very first trip to Italy — a journey that would take us from the foothills of the Alps to the ruins of Rome. With ten days, rail passes, and a shared sense of curiosity, we experienced the country’s incredible range: the quiet elegance of Bergamo, the fashion pulse of Milan, the canals of Venice, the Renaissance heart of Florence, the volcanic drama of Naples, and finally, the eternal beauty of Rome.

Italy’s history unfolded at every stop. We saw how its art and architecture shaped the Western world, how its cities rose and fell with empires, and how even today, echoes of the past linger in every piazza and stone. The trip also carried quiet reminders of American history — from the U.S. Fifth Army’s role in liberating Naples and Rome during World War II, to the postwar friendship that still connects Italy and the United States through culture, tourism, and shared stories.

Every day was different: one moment we were eating gelato beneath Milan’s Duomo, the next gliding through Venetian canals, climbing Florence’s domes, or standing in Pompeii’s ruins. We cooked pasta by hand in Rome, explored salt-stained harbors, and watched the sunset from rooftops where empires once ruled. What began as our first family trip to Italy became so much more — a deep dive into history, art, and the simple joys of discovery together.