5 things I wish I knew before Traveling to Italy

I'm taking the family to Italy in Dec. we are going to Rome and Venice. (8 day trip)

I just moved here from the US over to Pordenone. Watched almost all your videos to prepare myself. People are lovely but they stare because they are intrigued. Roads are okay but people drive like there are no rules. They are either in island time or no time left it’s quite funny. Bureaucracy truly is the worst with things taking weeks to months. I love it so far, beautiful landscape, everything is old and no kidding held on by espresso but that’s the thing. It’s amazing and you gotta love it.

Gregor. Heading there in less than 2 weeks. Starting in Palermo and the Catania. Any current recommendations on bars and restaurants there? You do a phenomenal job on vids making getting ready for a first time trip super. Excited to be spending in Easter there too. Thank you.

Dude amazing video! Bang on. I look at the bureaucracy here like a video game without a save point. You might get so far in the level, then have to start all over again from square one. But then, once in a while, you find a magical shortcut that gets you right through to beating the final boss immediately.

I will be visiting Italy next year. in the fall season. I would LOVE to go on a truffle hunt while there. And if I could I would love to stay in Italy for a few months out of the year.

Vegetarian and vegans are actually quite well accommodated in Italy even special specialized diets like a gluten-free. There are a lot of options for even most restaurants you can build quite a nice meal with the addition of contorni. What you might find is that the variety of what’s available gets a little bit limited after a while. I definitely recommend checking into some self catering accommodation going to the supermarket and there’s a lot of vegan foods that are available there.

So in a nutshell Italy isn’t for the American pansies

Been here in Italy a week and Italians seem very chill overall!! But yeah, agreed the sidewalks hurt my feet. Very crumbly sidewalks

Hey Gregor, why won’t you make any cycling videos anymore? I like to go back and rewatch those cycling videos of yours and still enjoy them!

You seem to spend an inordinate amount of time in post offices.

I’ve been thinking about moving for a while. Ever since my Dad studied abroad in Florence, Italy has been his favorite thing to talk about. He even made my middle name Lucca (like the town). I really appreciate your videos with both advice and honest first hand perspectives. I’d love to have a more extended chat at some point (no worries if not ofc)

Make a video about the healthcare system and how it differs from region to region, and sometimes from town to town.

My wife and I will be in Palermo Sicily April 29th and working our way to Florence for a month. All accommodations have been reserved. We plan on making another trip in 2026 to look for a small place to buy for a vacation home. We will probably spend 4 - 5 months a year in Italy. As for the contractors we have lived in several areas of the US over the last 10 years. I can tell you California contractors are very eager to work. Central Western Idaho and Eastern Washington contractors are more like the Italians it sounds like?

One thing that I really loved about Southern Italy is the hospitality of the people. I call it generosity of spirit. My recommendation is for people to visit Campania and really spend time there. Go to cities such as Castellamare di Stabia and just relax and get to know the people. You will be shocked at how kind, generous, and wonderful the people are. It is a side of Italy that you often don't see in the Northern cities.

Oh yeah lively vision is so real and people live it and survive for the most part the towns people are quiet and shy but they will be there for you as they understand the system and learned to accept it. Thanks for sharing your story. It's nice that people aren't out to sue each other, people are struggling in the italian economy and have to walk away from their destroyed areas and be placed under tents depending on circumstances
They have the right to be heard too
In the italian noise
Life and beauty is all around
No speed limits anywhere
Watch out for steep high curves
Oh Lord
I guess that's why it takes A long time to get a license
Maybe
But once they have the autostratta is a race road
Its so true
🎉

Yes, pretty soon I will visit for first time😊

I love the panda cars I mean the really old ones like the one in your video near your motorino 🛵

Hey, Gregor, it sounds like the roads in my State!!
Chuck in Northern New England

Italy is moust beautiful country in world, biggest problem is Italian, trying to make living ed advantage from Mather nation

1) The country is "broken," i.e., potholes, uneven streets, etc.; 2) government offices are often closed; 3) people drive crazy; 4) ?; 5) food is very good but not varied.

😊

Thanks for all your Italy videos. My wife and I will be visiting Italy in October and your videos are a huge help. Hope to run into you while in Florence!

Yes I Would Like To Plan A Second Trip

New subscriber here! ✋️ 🍷

I gotta say Italy and the Philippines have similarities ie the driving, pot holes, government, slow moving people 😂 etc. It’s hard to adjust moving from 🇺🇸 where most everything is efficient. I tried to buy a property in Italy but I gave up because of the red tapes. Hopefully someday I will try again if it’s in God’s will. Great video 💙

My wife and I are traveling with 4 young children. 10 and 8 (triplets). We will be in Italy a week, we are traveling around Europe for 6 weeks. Any thing we should be super concerned about? Appreciate your content.

I am leaving for Florence tomorrow. I watched many of your videos and wanted to say thank you so much for the knowledge you have imparted on me and my family on italy!

I lived there 3 years, in Formia/Gaeta and feel so in love with the people, and the culture, and the fresh wholesome food, but;I found myself exhausted at the end of the 3 years. The love is still there and I would move back. I just prefer warm weather yearound and I am moving back to my native tropical country.

I'm planing my first trip to Italy in Oct 2025.. checking out a few places, my grandfather's village in Calabria, because I would like to eventually move there from Canada.

I have been involved with Italy and her BS since 1994. She is like a high maintenance woman who knows you want her more than she wants you. You will wait, you will try to work with her needs and distractions but in the end you will not get what you want but will have been able to look at her beautiful form, her gorgeous perfume, and her smile and die with contentment. Run before her siren song captures you too!

Once in Rome, on Armed Forces Day the first of June, I wanted to take a photograph from atop some roped-off bleachers. A guard was standing there, and I asked permission. He said no, and then turned his back. I got the message that he couldn't say yes but he wouldn't look. That is so different from the whole rest of my life experience!
Another time I was practically broke but definitely hungry. I counted out my lire (yes, that was before euros) and asked a vendor near the Fontana di Trevi how much pizza I could buy with that much money. He marked out a certain quantity, and I agreed. Then he gave me twice as much as I had paid for. You know, in Italy, the person in a hurry is soon frustrated, but along the way so much humanity bursts out that you can hardly believe it.

lol. the tree trimmer...ummm it means exactly that they're unreliable, hello! Your massage story - that's why I just pretend to be a tourist sometimes. I don't care if I have to pay more; I don't wanna deal w/the nonsense. I value my time more than them.

Having lived in Italy in the 80s/90s for 12 years (Bellosguardo above Porta Romana for 4 years) I rather enjoyed this summation and its undeniable usefulness to those considering a move. Regardless of all the negatives in the end it is still my favoured place.

Hey Gregor, my family and I are heading to Florence today. We've been in Venice the last few days and are loving our trip. I'm looking forward to trying some of your local cafes. Thanks for your tips on travel and coffee. Cheers, Craig from Australia.

We were in Italy for 2 weeks march 26-April 6 stayed in the mountains of a ski resort traveled everywhere no major issues- had a blast!

Have been loving your videos for last 12 months in lead to our trip. We have five days Rome, 4 in Florence…3 in Stresa and 3 Lake Como ending with 2 in Milan..before our European tour continues …..already looking to plan a 6 week holiday in Italy.

Massage story is interesting. 😊 Do you know why she needed those info for the invoice?

We’re looking to move to Italy in a couple of years.

My grandparents came to the US from Avellino . I never met them. I journeyed to Avellino tracing my ancestors footsteps. We saw trash everywhere on roads on the way to the B&B at the vineyard. Trash made me feel sad.

going to Milan from April 21-may1 id love to buy you a glass of wine!

I gotta agree with the "ghosting" part. We Italians are relaxed and sometimes this becomes laziness, like the electrician I called last month showed. Asked for an estimate for house works, invited him to my home, and then he disappeared like a fleeting dream.

Love your videos......
Help me get there

Yes heading to Italy in 2026. I’ve been to Florence,Rome, Bracciano and a small town somewhere by Rome to swim. I love the food and people. This time I’m heading to the Puglia region for 10 days. I’m excited to see the architecture, to eat the pasta again, the pastries and to drink the coffee. I’m excited!!!!

Italians voted to continue the monarchy after WW2, but the CIA and corrupt Italian "elites" changed the results. Italy functions solely with a patriarchy.

Come to Medellín, Colombia. You Will see worse things in everything. Besides a lot of crimes and thieves oh, and tons of homeless

I’m Canadian living in Costa Rica. Talk about pot holes.

🤢burrito??? Wrong country

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