When I moved to Viterbo, life became slower overnight. I was encouraged to embrace a completely different way of living than what I knew as an American. A new lifestyle of shopping at morning markets and getting my bread from the Antico Panificio Pianoscarano, a stalwart since 1930, and sipping my espresso at the local bar.

Viterbo is a living postcard of the medieval era, and the modern day city holds onto many elements from this time period. Memorabilia from its time as a conclave for the Catholic church and maps of the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome, are found throughout Viterbo. History is not only present, but in your face; the city embraces its roots around every corner. To integrate myself with such a culture, I learned to slow down, get a little lost and immerse myself in the daily life of its people.