What do you wish you'd known before your first trip to Italy?

There is so much I didn't know my first trip. Expect fantastic sightseeing, fantastic food and wine, crowds in many cities, etc. Go with patience, be friendly and courteous, and be curious (I talk with anyone and everyone and in many Italian cities you will find English spoken a lot). Bathrooms are small as are most hotel rooms. Don't expect Italy to be like your home country. I am always amazed at foreigners complaining that Italy is either not like "home" or what they expected. I wished I knew a few words in Italian before my first trip (now I speak Italian), as in any country except France they appreciate the attempt. Grazie and Scuzi go a long way. Don't take your eyes off your bags or purse (if female) ever. Don't rush, life is slower there. Restaurants/cafe's charge a cover if you sit. If you drive, learn the ZTLs or pay the fines.

I was very surprised to see so much graffiti. I don't think they paint over it once it is there, so there is a lot of it. I'm used to feeling like I'm in a "bad" neighborhood if I see it, so it took some time to realize it is just normal there, even in good neighborhoods.

There was also an adjustment period in each new city we were in. It took a few hours to feel comfortable.

Sorry, don't mean to be negative, but these are things I wish I new ahead of time.

Have a Euro in your pocket in case you need to use the bathroom!

Also, once you go, you may never want another vacation in the USA. Europe is amazing, addictive and wonderful! For us, it is just hard to get excited about anything else in life and we start planning our return trip when we are flying home. We save every penny and have a budget so we can get back there ASAP!

Have a wonderful time....you will love it!

This doesn't apply specifically to Italy, but to all my travels to foreign countries. I always wish i knew more about the history, culture, and political situation. There are two reasons for this:

• It provides deeper insights and broader context for what I'm seeing.
• It serves as a conversation starter with local people I meet.

In Italy, it's particularly valuable to understand their history as a region of individual city states that were unified about 150 years ago. To understand why there are so many great cultural centers, and how they were all at one time important political centers, will really enhance your experience. And know who their heroes were: Garibaldi, Victor Emmanuel II, and others. It will be so much more interesting for you walking on a street named for someone to know who that someone was. And in a country where art and architecture are a fundamentally important aspect of their heritage, do a little advance research on the painters, sculptors, and architects whose work you are likely to encounter.

Have a wonderful trip! What a great way to start out your life together! Congratulations!

1) Get euros at your arriving airport
2) follow the suggestions from the travelers on this site for dealing with jet lag.

3) since you've never been to Italy, strongly consider taking a cab from your airport to your first hotel when you arrive. I'm not exactly sure how that would work out if you are arriving in Venice. Make sure it's an official cab.
4) Guard your personal information, credit cards, passport and large sums of money via money belt or neck wallet under your clothes. Don't wear a wallet unless you want to worry about it getting pick pocketed. Carry your daily money in an easily accessible pocket. Make copies of your personal information and passport, keep them separate.

5) Some bathrooms cost less than 1 euro, make sure you carry small change.
6) We love Italy and we are going back this fall. But Italy is so different than the US, enjoy the differences and embrace the people.
7) The best gelato is flat in the pan (not raised up in a big pile).
8) Advice given to us by a young swedish man who spoke better english than most Americans, don't be hyper suspicious but don't be naive either. We must have had a "please take advantage of us" look about us when we arrived in Rome. Looking back he was an angel to us.
9) Phones will set to the time zone you are in, but if you carry a separate camera, remember to set the time to the European time zone and date when you get there. Otherwise the dates and/or times on your pictures or metadata won't line up with your memories of your days in Italy.
10) Most of all, have a great time and the best honeymoon ever.

It's much more common in Italy to find a public restroom with no toilet paper than it is in the US. It's more of an issue in the south, in my experience, but it's best to be prepared at all times. In southern Italy it is still possible to come across eastern (hole in the floor) toilets at small bus or RR stations, or occasionally at a bar.

Italians seem to prefer fizzy bottled water, so if you want still water, you'll need to ask for that specifically. Italians nearly always order (and pay for) bottled water in restaurants rather than drinking the perfectly fine tap water. You may feel more comfortable going along with the local practice.

You can often, though not always, order a small ice cream (cone or cup) and try two different flavors.

Service in restaurants can be different, and good, but in a different way - your waiter will look after you, but will wait on you when they believe it's your turn (and that's ok - go with the flow). If you are able to catch their eye when you need something, they may still not come by immediately. They will come to your table - be patient.

Being polite in Italy is always a good policy especially in Tuscany - a little courtesy and a smile goes a long way. The customer is not always right, but if you are polite, people will help you out. Lots of times there are rules, but people will do what makes sense and will likely do what you need as long as you are polite about it (eg. my sister and I once got a deeply discounted family rate meant for a couple with children because of course, sisters are family! Once I asked politely if we qualified for the family rate as we are sisters, the two women handling ticket sales had a brief animated discussion with each other and concluded that yes - sisters are a family)

For some reason, every cashier will want you to hand over the exact change or the smallest bills you have. I don't understand this - I did when I was a teenager visiting Italy and they still used lire and you got candy for change, but now that they have the euro, it seems that they should have unlimited access to whatever coins and small denominations they need. I once handed over a 20 euro note with the exact change expecting a 5 euro note back. Instead the cashier asked me if he could have the 10 euro note and the 5 euro note he observed in my wallet! I said no- nicely and with a smile.

Venice is full of tourists and the limited number of local people serving all of us can get understandably testy at times and may not be as helpful as in other places.

You can't judge the quality of the wine by the price. Lots of decent wine for very good prices can be had in Italy.

Eat gelato every day. Make sure the prices are listed so you aren't overpaying, don't buy at places where the gelato is extremely brightly coloured (ie super vibrantly green pistachio - likely dyed) or piled high (lots of air) - try to find the shops where the gelato is hidden under a cover in a round container or at least where the pistachio is paler green or maybe even just a tinge of green. Most traditional shops will give you 2 flavours even on a small serving although there is a decided trend to only giving 1 flavour on a small. (Sigh...)

Enjoy every minute which includes down time just sitting and watching the world go by.

We absolutely love Italy and are returning again this year. Tips: realize that everything there is much older than the USA, so you may be staying in old historical buildings and eating in restaurants that at first glance might seem like something to pass over. Venice can look run down or magical- your choice. We'll be back to Venice for the 4th time, so come with an attitude that there's so much historical, architecture, art, and culture to explore and enjoy! Ditto on the gelato advice you received! And be sure to take the evening walk in each town.

A lot of little and sometimes not so little cultural differences. In all places prices at the stand up bar will be cheaper. If you sit, it will be higher. And don't buy something at the bar and then try to sit down. Many gelato, coffee bars, etc., will require you to pay first, get a slip for your order, and then give the slip and order to person behind the counter. If counting with your hand - your thumb is one, thumb and forefinger is two, etc. If you hold up just your forefinger as is common in the US you might get two items.

Bring a small flatten roll of toilet paper with you and be prepared for no toilet seats. So practice holding the squat position long enough to finish whatever you need to do. Also, there will be unisex bathrooms where all the stalls will have floor to ceiling doors and dividers used by anyone. The wash basin area will be used by everyone. Also make sure you know how to lock and unlock the door. Practice before closing the door. Toilets are toilets - not restrooms, bathroom, little girls room, necessity rooms and the abbreviation is often WC for water closet.

Pizza is eaten with knife and fork. Lattes are generally considered a breakfast drink and rarely ordered later in the day.

I prefer to have a hundred euro in my pocket when I land so that I don't have to find an ATM at the airport. One less thing to be concerned with.

Just take your led from other locals and tourists.

And, I wish I had packed even lighter during those early trips! Leave a fourth of your luggage room empty to bring home some souvenirs. Enjoy your trip!

My additions.... Toilets that charge almost always have toilet paper, or a staff person with it.. Those that are free, usually don't..

Make a photocopy of your drivers license, passport, credit cards (front and back) and any itinerary and keep on your phone/IPad as your backup.

To use wifi in Italy usually you have to show ID. When you check in to a hotel they make a copy of your passport, and while they may ask to keep it even for a short period, I say no, and ask them to make their copy immediately.

Notify your cc companies that you will be in Italy and to NOT call you to verify first charge unless you plan to take your cell with you to receive the call. It once took me 9 hrs of calling Bsnk if America to resolve this, even after I had called them before traveling, AND I had to speak with the branch manager to resolve a specific issue.

1-TRANSPORTATION. You should rent a car while you are in Montepulciano, if you haven't done so already. Personally I would rent one for lake Garda as well, that way you can swing by the Dolomites.
Renting a car deserves a separate post (or search for the many already in this site).
2-PREZZI AL BANCO/TAVOLO. Two sets of prices at coffee bars. At the table (with waiter service) or standing at the counter. The former are twice as high. Both are posted. This practice applies only to heavily touristed areas, like the historical centers of Venice, Florence. Elsewhere it doesn't apply.
3-RESTAURANT SERVICE. You will get no service unless you call the waiter and ask. Don't be afraid to raise your hand to call attention. The waiter will not come to take your order unless you call him/her. Italians would consider a waiter who comes uninvited bad service, a sort of an attempt to rush you out of the table. Same applies to the check. It won't come unless you specifically request it. Bringing the check without your asking would be considered an attempt to rush you out. An Italian customer will start a fist fight if the waiter brought the check before he was asked. Actually often Italians just walk to the cash register and pay when they are ready to go. No tip necessary or required (I never left one).
4-CAFFELATTE & CAPPUCCINO. I don't know how Americans can have those in the afternoon. That's for breakfast and I can't fathom having them after 11am. Latte means milk. Ask for caffe latte or you'll just get a glass of milk.
5-PARMESAN. Parmesan cheese does not go on seafood. If you must put parmesan on seafood pasta at a restaurant, do so while Italian customers are not looking, or some might be grossed out and puke at their table.
6-Don't buy fake knock off merchandise from those illegal vendors in the street. It's illegal to buy knock off merchandise and the fine is high.
7-Pickpockets operate mostly on crowded public transportation. Walk or use taxi and you will greatly reduce the chances of being a victim of theft. Florence I'd small and you can walk anywhere. Venice is safe even aboard vaporetti (water buses)

On my first solo trip, I validated my train ticket the day before I used it, and had to pay a fine. I thought I was being efficient. That was almost 40 years ago.

I'll respectfully clarify Mary's comment that "restaurants/cafe's charge a cover if you sit." This is really only true at bars, as Roberto noted.

We've also routinely ordered cappuccinos in the afternoon with nary a raised eyebrow (sorry, Roberto!) We don't eat lunch so a bit heavier pick-me-up isn't out of order. The milk is also soothing to a stomach (mine) which can be touchy about strong coffee. I wouldn't order it after dinner, though.

Utilities are more carefully conserved than in the U.S. For instance, you may have to insert the key card for your room into a slot inside the door to activate the lights. This ensures that when you leave for the day - and have to remove your card - that the lights are out.

Accommodations rarely have coffee/team makers outside of those on the luxe scale. We travel with a small, dual-voltage kettle, instant coffee and two lightweight camping cups for getting the eyes open first thing in the morning.

The hype about pickpockets and scams shouldn't have you looking over your shoulder all the time. Precautions for Italy apply to any tourist-magnet locations anywhere in the world so just secure your valuables via any number of methods and relax; you'll likely be just fine.

Yes, yes, yes, save your change for pay toilets, and use any and every available 'free' one (museums and having meals/beverages at cafes/restaurants) whenever the opportunity presents itself. Get used to toilet seats in public places being the exception and not the rule.

Cash is still very much in vogue: credit cards are not accepted everywhere, and especially not for small purchases and some entry fees. Always have a good amount with you for whatever the day may bring.

This probably doesn't apply to everyone but I had a terrible reaction to mosquito or gnat bites in Florence. We left the window open one night and they ate me alive…but didn't touch The Husband. I'm used to being chewed on where we live but not the extreme (!!!) swelling experienced from those bloodthirsty critters. It was so bad on my feet that I couldn't get my shoes on! If sensitive at ALL to bites, pack extra-strength Benadryl as you may react differently to Italian mozzies than to those at home.

But most importantly, Italy will probably exceed almost all of your expectations. As delicious an experience as you think you're going to have, triple that! What a country… :O)

A word about mosquito bites - people build up immunities or sensitivities geographically. A friend from Italy was visiting me in Miami and got a mosquito bite that caused such a reaction, I called CDC for advice.

Thank you for these ideas so far- very helpful! We are renting a car from the last day in Venice till the first day in Florence and will be on the lookout for ZTL signs. I've been practicing Duolingo Italian- I don't know how helpful it will be in listening/speaking, but I think it will help with recognizing written words, at least! We used to live in Manhattan, so hopefully we have our "don't mess with us" vibe down, but we will still take precautions. Thank you for all the tips on cash and needing a Euro for the restroom, too- very good to know!

You most likely will make mistakes with trains. We had a few whoppers on our first visit to Italy in 2008 (which was our first trip anywhere outside Canada and the US).

These whoppers include : 1. getting off at the wrong stop for Herculaneum in Naples and having to wait an hour for a train to take us back the right way. 2. Getting off the train at Ferarra (at a stop in the middle of nowhere) while heading to Cinque Terre - because our ticket said 'via Ferarra' and we thought that meant we had to get off and change trains - no, that's not what it meant; yes, we had to wait an hour for another train. 3. Missing our connection in Milan by mere seconds on our way to Bologna...had to wait (you guessed it) an hour for the next train. Thru a series of blunders that I won't go into much detail, someone in the train office wrote the wrong number on our ticket when we went to get our ticket adjusted...we subsequently got on the correct train, showed our ticket, was told we were on the wrong train, change trains (it hadn't left the stn yet), show someone our ticket on the train that has now left the station, told we were on the wrong train (we had been on the right train in the first place - this is where I broke down in the bathroom and started crying) and we would have to change trains in Verona. Andddd...we missed that train because our train was 15 min late arriving. Another hour - we finally got to Bologna about 4-5 hrs after we had intended (so 10pm). They make for funny stories now, but I was super stressed at the time...if you make a train mistake, just tell yourself it'll be funny in about 6 mos.

Also - carry some Kleenex or a partial roll of toilet paper with you - got caught in Manarola in a bathroom with no TP - or paper towels (disposable hand wipes or sanitizer - also a good idea). Thank goodness it was only #1. And in Monterosso - unless something has changed in the last few years- avoid the train station bathrooms unless you want to try out one of those lovely hole in the floor toilets...ugh. Not my idea of fun.

Mistakes will happen. Be aware of your stuff - we almost left a computer bag behind on a bench while waiting for a train because an announcement came on that the train was leaving from a different track and we hurried over to the other track...so don't carry more stuff than you can keep track of (and we were travelling light!). Take time to sit and relax - I'm finally learning the benefits of longer stays and less rushing. Wear comfortable shoes! Be aware of your surroundings if you don't want to be a victim of pickpockets. (There are many discussions on this topic here - please look some of them up).

Oh - was my 3rd trip to Venice before I understood how amazing it is in the morning. Go out at 7am and go to Rialto and St Marks and see it almost people free. Then go have breakfast. Then go back at 10am and see them swarming with people. If the crowds are overwhelming you, walk about 5 min away in any direction and enjoy a decided lack of people - most people walk the well-worn trail from Rialto to St M (me included the first time).

Most of all - have fun!

Just noticed you won't be using trains much...maybe my stories will help others...

Just wanted to add - yes to gelato everyday, and if you are used to drinking Coke when you eat out, it is damn expensive. Hubby and I don't do wine - we learned after a few orders of Coke and thinking about how much we just paid for said glass of Coke to order a litre bottle of water and share it for some big savings on eating out.

In Venice - try to avoid the restaurants near Rialto and along the waterfront past St Marks/Bridge of Sighs - the food is OK and the prices are double/triple what you'll pay if you wander about 10 min away. I swear one place we ate at just past St Marks was charging 12 euro for a glass of Coke (we knew by that trip not to order soda pop) - we only ate there because we were hungry and didn't want to look any further.

A word about mosquito bites - people build up immunities or
sensitivities geographically. A friend from Italy was visiting me in
Miami and got a mosquito bite that caused such a reaction, I called
CDC for advice.

'Zactly, Zoe, and something I wasn't aware of until after the fact. The pharmacy wasn't much help either; had to perform emergency self surgery on my clown-sized feet with a sterilized sewing needle to get the shoes on. It worked, though!

I wished I would have known how much I was going to like Venice. I would have stayed there longer. You will love Italy. I found the Italian people to be very friendly and helpful.

The graffiti as another poster mentioned is very true and is quite a shock when not prepared, it is common even in the best neighborhoods. To me eyes it often made places that were amazingly pretty, less so which I thought was unfortunate but you get used to it and I never saw someone actually "tagging" anything.
I cannot put it into words but walking around feels like an open air museum, everything is just older and has so much richer history than we in the US can comprehend since our country did not exist when the infrastructure of Italy was built.
This also results, in the fact that no street is straight and you will get lost on even the most basic walks, you need to learn to embrace this fact and discover something different that you would not have seen had you not gotten off track.
You need to wear comfortable shoes and plan on more walking than you are used to.
How much of a neighborhood and lively each town and even the big cities have. In the US after dinner families are at home watching TV, in Italy they seem to be walking the streets of their town and hanging out in the piazza on nice evenings.
Just gives it a different atmosphere, in the very best way.

Cash is king. There are many more places in Italy where credit/debit is not accepted compared to here. Not saying everyone does not accept credit cards, but some places you would expect to do not so you will need cash and for very small purchases cash will be expected. Here people charge a $.50 newspaper.
You will also commonly get stories from places that accept credit that the machine is down so they ask you for cash instead, I suspect if you truly had no cash the machine would miraculously be fixed but expect taxis and restaurants to have a strong preference for cash. Probably more to avoid taxes than the credit card processing fees.
This need to carry cash brings up the point about buying mindful of your belongings, there are professionals that are looking for easy tourists to pick pocket. Nothing to be fearful of as you are not in physical danger just be mindful about.
The busier the place, the more likely they are at work, so places you would not think of like a busy city bus ride, waiting on line, etc.. is when you are the most at risk.
Don't talk to someone trying to engage you as you walk by or let them hand you anything like flowers and the like.
Definitely true about restrooms, they are just not commonplace like we have here and especially those with children need to be mindful of this and try and plan accordingly.
Great point mentioned above to get those train tickets validated, that and ZTL fines when driving seem to be the biggest and most costly gotchas for unprepared tourists.
Biggest of all is how addicted you will become and start dreaming of your return trip the moment you get home!
Lastly, one that got me and is more commonsense than anything else, if taking the bus in a smaller town, you must be on the correct side of the bus ; don't wait on the other side of the street because there is a nice bench and pullover dedicated area are present, if you are headed the other direction, you must wait on that side even if there is nothing but a small sign there as the bus will not stop.

Happy Honeymoon km727. We are also heading off to the Cinque Terre and Tuscany in a few weeks and this will be our 3rd trip. I did toss the coin in the Trevi fountain during the first trip in 2012 so it does keep me coming back.
I echo what a lot of other people on the forum wrote. I remember my husband getting impatient after dinner waiting for the check. LOL I didn't know at the time that it would be considered rude for a waiter to rush you and also took me some time to get use to not tipping. I still have to reassure myself that tipping is not expected although most times round up the check.
Definitely agree about the bathroom advice, try to go when you are in a museum or restaurant and carry tissues. I love being able to drink the water from all the fountains. I think a nice balance between activities and then just sitting and enjoying a meal or a gelato.

This sounds pretty dumb but last summer in Italy I never learned the coins well. I should have laid out all 8 coins at once in a row to get a better idea of the differences since they look rather similar. I felt like a 3 year old fumbling through a fistful of change and turning them over looking for numbers. In the US there are just the 4 coins in common use and they look quite different so not something I considered would be an issue.

That there is a lot of graffiti almost everywhere and that it doesn't mean "urban decline" like it does in the US. Heck, there's 2000 year old graffiti at Pompeii. It is an Italian word, after all. It helps if you think of it as public art. They just don't have enough money to maintain all those heritage sites AND stay on top of graffiti removal.

Minor language point - What we call graffiti in English is actually called "scritte" in Italian if it's just writing. To be true "graffiti" in Italian it needs to be drawing/painting.

I read through this forum months before my trip. That is how to prepare for a first time visit. I had no surprises :-)

I wish I had known how much I would love Italy.... and that I would have traveled to Europe years earlier...

With that said... I always have surprises and things I don't know, but I decided if it was not life threatening, it would all work out!

Pack lighter than you think. You don't need as much clothing and accessories as you think. Our first trip we, we took our big suitcases plus carry-ons. Lugging them on trains was a pain. Each trip, we pack less. We are planning on only small carry-ons (back pack type) on our next (fourth) trip. Always wondered how you see people with only back packs do it. It can be done.

I echo what Terry kathryn wrote. I wish I had known how much I would have loved Italy. Will be my third trip in May. First trip 2012. I like what Rick Steves says about cutting back in other lifesyle choices so you can travel. I'd rather have the experiences than the possessions.

Something you are desperate to see will be closed or inaccessible during your visit (being restored, etc). Prepare now to avoid disappointment.

You WILL make mistakes, no matter how hard you have studied, prepared, etc. Again, accept this now, and don't let mistakes ruin the trip.

All my other tips have been covered above (my mistake was buying something at the counter, then taking it to a table).

Don't waste your money on bottled water. Either bring a re-usable bottle and refill at many of the outdoor spigots/fountains or buy a bottle there and keep refilling it. There will be signs if the water is non-potable. The water at the spigots is perfectly fine.

If going to a corner grocer/grocery store, bring your own bag or you will pay for one. I bring a reusable bag from home that takes up almost no space in my luggage. There are no baggers in a European grocery. You bag your own stuff. Also, lay your money down on the small tray by the cashier. Your change will be placed there as well, so don't hold out your hand as you would in the US.

If at a farmer;s market/fish market/flower stall , DON"T TOUCH and pick things out yourself. Indicate what you want and the vendor will select the merchandise. If you don't like their selection, tell them so and they will select another.

Be aware of the people who want to "help" you find your seat on a train or otherwise "help" with luggage in general. They will help but expect to get some money for the effort. And they can be very annoying. Ditto with the street vendors who constantly approach you with crap. Just say over and over "No".

Have fun and enjoy the trip.

Agree with those about the realization of how much I would love to visit Italy--can't wait to get back.

Don't know if this has already been mentioned, but bring your own washcloth, as, unlike US accommodations, you won't usually find them in your room.

Good point Eric. I take disposable washcloths with me as Italians don't use washcloths. I also second the suggestion about keeping toilet paper with you. You can purchase little travel rolls here which come in a little plastic container and don't have the cardboard tube to take up room.

So many good suggestions here! I am going to Italy in October for the first time so taking notes for my trip. Gelato and travel toilet paper strike me as good ones.
Graffiti was prevalent in Berlin I noticed so I will be prepared for it in Italy too. I read the posts here fairly regularly and learn so much from everyone who have more travel experience than I. I've been to Europe 4 times, 2 times with Rick Steves tours so my upcoming Italy adventure will be #5!
I wish you a wonderful honeymoon! You may come home addicted to Europe. I am even now before going to Italy thinking about my trip next year. Europe is endlessly fascinating.
Please post a trip report to share your experiences with us, we can travel vicariously with you!
Happy travels,
Judy B

You've gotten tons of great advice here. And what a great itinerary! A couple of additions - one of the specifics of being polite is to greet the people working in a business establishment first thing, before examining the merchandise. In lodgings, you will be asked for your passport upon check-in (they need to make a copy for the local police), and it might be a couple of of hours before you get it back. Upon check-out, in addition to paying for your lodgings, you need to pay a small 'city' fee in cash. Anyhow, have a fabulous time!

As I read through the other posts I was amused that my top two pieces of advice are also about gelato (eat a lot of it, every day) and toilet paper (take travel packs of kleenex). One of my best travel stories is about the very stern lady dispensing individual squares of TP at a little hill town - 1 euro per square of TP - and they were old school squat toilets. To be fair, she did come in and mop down the stall after each person, so she earned the euro :)

I'd also be prepared with some patience - it seems there is always something closed, under construction, or on strike. Google "scioperi italy" before you go to see if any are planned. On a 3 week trip I encountered train, ferry, and metro strikes. None impacted my basic routes, but they did add some inconvenience.

I also wish I'd slowed down. Especially in Venice - my best advice is to buy a cup of gelato at La Botique del Gelato on Salizzada San Lio and take a walk off the beaten path. You won't regret it.

Instead of looking for special toilet paper, you could take a pack of Kleenex tissue - or buy one at any newsstand and many bars.

For some reason, every cashier will want you to hand over the exact change or the smallest bills you have.

Hahaha! This is such a common thing here and soooo irritating, but even the Italians give up and hold out palms full of change and allow the cashiers to take what they want. They hate €50.00 bills, too. try to have 20s and hoard your 5s and 10s.

Things I wish I knew before our first trip:

• That I can wear my jeans for 3 days before washing and although I packed light, I really didn't need as many clothes as I thought.
• To spend more time in fewer places

Buon viaggio!

Open your eyes, look up at the architecture, how roofs are made, painted, for instance in Uffizi in Florence, I see many foreigners having a fast look at the paintings and not watching at the marvelous ceiling in Uffizi.
Try everything, if you do not know sth ask for a plate and say you will divide it in between 2-3.
Go to markets. Speak with the people, they will tell you how to prepare things.
I wanted to add sth about prices in bars. If you feel like having a spremuta ( juice) or a coffee, if you want to pay less, order it from the banco and take it to a nearby little table of you wish to sit.
you will if the waiter brings it to you. If you are in posh areas, however, they might not allow it. Just look what others do.
Speak to others frankly, look people in the eyes.

We were well prepared for all the little stuff on our first trip to Italy (bring a washcloth, always carry TP, speak enough Italian to get by, etc.) but what we were not prepared for was being totally overwhelmed by the art, architecture and entire history of western civilization right before our eyes every hour of the day and night, and not being able to fully appreciate/comprehend it as we would have been able to if we had spent more time reading/studying before we went. Happily, we haven't made this mistake twice, so read as much as you can about the history of Italy, about the cities & towns you will visit and about the historical context of the incredible paintings, sculpture, churches, palaces you will see - who made them, when and why. It will all make so much more sense, "old bones and stones" will come to life for you and you will be so much more greatly enriched by the experience of visiting Italy.

Invest in clothes you can wash yourself and this will help you pack light, most important! And I hope people still travel in our own US, so much beautiful scenery here as well as cultural cities. Two trips in the US for every one trip to Europe!

I wish I'd known that on every train trip, there would be Italians sitting in the seats that we had reserved. Every time I initially assumed that we had done something wrong - that we were in the wrong car, didn't have the right seats, but every single time an Italian couple was sitting in our seats. On one occasion, the elderly couple flatly refused to move and the conductor directed us to other seats. If I had been aware that this was not a one off, I would have been more forceful in asking people to get out of my seat!

trayla - that reminds me of the time me and hubby were on the train - I can't rem where in Italy, but we reserved seats and it was one of the 6 seats compartments. There were already 4 people in the compartment and of course they were in odd seats. Hubby and I were obviously together, but no one would move so we ended up sitting with someone in between us. We then proceeded to chat across this person and pass a bag of potato chips back and forth (I'm very passive aggressive..lol). They eventually got up to go to the washroom (I think) and I moved over beside hubby into my 'proper, reserved' seat.