In October 2022, I visited Italy for the first time as part of a two-week European train trip through Germany, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. It was my first time visiting each country and I spent a week in Italy with one night on a sleeper train, two nights in Venice, two nights in Rome, and one night in Milan. I left thinking I wished I had more time in each place.  

Rome, in particular, has been on my travel bucket list for years because of its deep history and romantic reputation. I thought the city would feel frozen in time, but I was surprised to find that it was much more modern than I expected. I saw a mix of old-world and contemporary architectural styles as well as trendy coffee shops galore.