#Travel Diary# Glimpses of Italy by Wang Xiaomei Zizi

I'm @Wang Xiaomei Zizi, just back from a trip to Italy. The micro-travelogue is a real-time record of my journey; the full travelogue will be organized and published on PC soon. Thank you for your continued attention. If you support me, please give me a thumbs up 👍

This is Wang Xiaomei's second time in Europe. After Spain 🇪🇸, I've visited another country rich in world heritage. This time I traveled to 15 cities and 11 world heritage sites. Italy 🇮🇹, the place I've been longing for, I've finally arrived.

Milan Cathedral, construction started in 1386 and completed in 1965, a representative building of the late Gothic period.

Hello, Milan 🇮🇹! 'Duomo' means cathedral. Many places in Italy are called Duomo, which can also be remembered as 'how big' a cathedral. If you ask 'Duomo', locals will tell you where the cathedral is. So getting lost in the center of Milan is not that easy!

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is named after the first king of Italy. This arcade connects Piazza della Scala (Opera) and Piazza del Duomo. It features a high glass roof design, and the center of the four walls has paintings representing the four continents (Oceania had not been discovered at that time). Located in the core tourist area of Milan, the arcade is lined with various restaurants, cafes, and fashion stores, making it lively all year round.

The most romantic city in Italy — Venice. The most stunning part of Venice is Burano, the colorful island. A random shot captures a beautiful scenery!

Burano is not big; it takes about 20 minutes to walk along the main canal. Every casual shot is full of breathtaking beauty!

The main island of Venice is really crowded with tourists. I visited in May, not even the summer peak season! The number of people is definitely comparable to China's Golden Week!

I trotted through the alleys of Venice, heading to the Grand Canal I had been dreaming of. Unfortunately, I didn't prepare well... 😓 The Rialto Bridge was under renovation, covered completely... Otherwise, the sunset on the Grand Canal 🌇 would have been as beautiful as in the movies.

Leaving Venice, passing through Bologna, we drove into Tuscany... heading to the art capital — Florence.

Florence — A day in the 'City of Lilies'. I've always believed that if you haven't visited an art gallery, you haven't truly been to Italy. The most important thing to do in Florence is to visit the galleries and appreciate Renaissance architecture and art. I deliberately adjusted the photos to give them an old-time hue.

The entire old town of Florence is a World Heritage site. Exploring the city mostly relies on walking. Distances are short, and stunning historical sites are everywhere. For this trip, I still used the 'Dream Travel' app, a must-have travel tool I always bring. Before leaving, I checked the attractions in Florence on the app, including introductions, addresses, transportation, reviews, and especially the must-visit spots it recommended. Every place is super beautiful, perfect for photography enthusiasts as photo spots.

These days, I've been having an ice cream 🍦 almost every day. I plan to do a special gelato feature at the end!

One of the most important destinations on this trip — Manarola in Cinque Terre is a must-visit for photography 📷 enthusiasts in Italy 🇮🇹.

Monterosso has the only natural beach in Cinque Terre and is a true fishing village. At the western end of the beach, there is a giant sculpture.

A journey through a thousand-year-old city — World Heritage site San Gimignano.

World Heritage site — Siena.

The Sky City — Civita di Bagnoregio, the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki's animated film 'Laputa: Castle in the Sky'. This thousand-year-old ancient city was once an important post station, but due to geographical constraints, it now serves mainly tourism with no permanent residents. If you encounter a misty weather ☁️ and walk along the path leading to the sky, it really feels like a movie.

Capri Island — At first, my knowledge of Capri was limited to the 'Blue Grotto'. Only after visiting did I realize that Capri itself has great scenery! Take the funicular up the hill to enjoy the beautiful sea views! There are stylish Capri Watch shops and various unique boutiques on the hill, which are absolutely as attractive as outlets! I read on the 'Dream Travel' app that some tourists mentioned the slow boats here are very cheap and the scenery is great. Plus, there are many other places worth seeing nearby. If not for time constraints, I would have explored every corner.

To enter the Blue Grotto, you need to check the sea conditions; it's basically only accessible in August–September during summer.

The Amalfi Coast is popular among travelers for being listed by National Geographic as '50 Places of a Lifetime'. It is also a World Heritage site. However, taking a boat from Capri Island, the views along the way are all sea scenery, which might cause some aesthetic fatigue. You can compare the Amalfi Coast to Highway 1 in the USA 🇺🇸 or the Great Ocean Road in Australia 🇦🇺. The photos I brought back are still gorgeous!

Naples, in Italian: Napoli, has a name that sounds quite pirate-like (childhood game sequelae 😄). The grand square of the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola resembles St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, which was the inspiration for Gian Lorenzo Bernini's colonnade design at St. Peter's.

Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, is the most worthwhile micro-state to visit. It houses the world's largest Catholic church, the Vatican Museums and souvenirs, and guards in bright and stylish uniforms 💂!

The most stunning thing in Rome is the Trevi Fountain (make a wish: I want to return to Rome...). The most awe-inspiring is the Pantheon (for someone who hasn't been to Greece, the Pantheon feels so grand). The biggest regret is the Spanish Steps (still under renovation 😓)!

Time was tight; 15 cities still didn't feel enough. Next time I'll make a more thorough plan: spend a week in Rome and Florence, visit Pienza, Urbino, Rimini, San Marino, Ferrara, Bologna... and my long-cherished Sicily and Alberobello. Returning from Italy 🇮🇹, my world map has two more countries stamped!

On the way back, I transferred in Zurich and had an aerial view from the plane. Switzerland is truly beautiful, with patches of yellow-green rapeseed fields... After the rain, the mist and clouds created a fairy-tale feel 😍. Switzerland 🇨🇭, I've got my eye on you!

Finally, talk about the Swiss airport. In the 🇨🇭 souvenir shop, I casually picked up a finely crafted smooth Swiss Army knife and examined it carefully, trying to figure out how to open the blade. After finally finding the button, I pressed it... and a flame shot out! It almost burned my hand (T_T). The Swiss airport actually sells Swiss Army knives and lighters!!!!! Scared the heck out of me.