I spent 6 days in Italy after dreaming of visiting my whole life. 8 moments made it worth the wait.

Joey HaddenMay 2, 2024, 00:34 IST

Business Insider's reporter spent a week exploring Italy by train, from Venice, to Rome, to Milan.Joey Hadden/Insider

Italy is a European country I always dreamed of visiting. In 2022, that dream came true.
I spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan — and some moments felt magical.

Growing up with my half-Italian family in a Manhattan suburb, I always dreamed of going to Italy.

While eating my grandmother's famous spaghetti and meatball dinners and listening to her stories about what it's like to explore the popular vacation destination, I remember longing for Italian experiences of my own.

My dream finally came true in October 2022, when I — at the age of 26 — spent six days exploring Venice, Rome, and Milan for the first time while backpacking through Europe.

Nearly two years after my Italian adventure, I'm still thinking about eight moments that made the long-awaited trip everything I hoped it would be.

I visited Italy during a two-week train trip through Europe. To get to the country, I took an overnight train from Vienna to Venice.

The author gets ready to board a Trenitalia train in Venice, Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While taking trains between cities, I remember looking out the windows and being stunned by the Italian countryside.

Business-class seating on a train from Venice to Rome.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My first stop in Italy was Venice.

Gondolas line the water on the coast of Venice.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'd heard of Venice's canals and car-free streets, but I'll never forget the moment I saw the city myself for the first time.

A canal runs through Venice.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After wandering the streets of Venice, I took a gondola tour to see the city from a different perspective.

A view of Venice from a gondola.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For my stay in Venice, I booked an Airbnb stay at Castello de Roncade, a castle and winery just outside of the city.

The grounds of Castello de Roncade outside of Venice, Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My favorite part of the grounds was a massive tree I found alluring. It was a 250-year-old Lebanon Cedar tree, a representative for Castello de Roncade told me.

The grounds of Castello de Roncade.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

From Venice, I traveled to Rome — one of this summer's most popular tourist destinations.

Archaeological sites and historic buildings in Rome.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During my stay, I slept in a livable art sculpture I found on Airbnb, and I thought it was the most unique accommodation I'd ever experienced.

A livable sculpture in Rome that the author found on Airbnb.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Before booking this Airbnb, I'd never even heard of a sculpture home. I imagined it would feel like sleeping in a giant piece of art, with quirky design elements in every corner. Turns out, I was right.

Inside the livable art sculpture.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Before booking this Airbnb, I'd never even heard of a sculpture home. I imagined it would feel like sleeping in a giant piece of art, with quirky design elements in every corner. Turns out, I was right.

While exploring the city on foot, I remember spotting two alluring street artists. Under the shade of a tree near the Roman Forum, I watched an artist paint a chapel across the street.

A man in Rome paints the 15th-century catholic chapel in front of him — Santa Maria di Loreto.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While exploring the city on foot, I remember spotting two alluring street artists. Under the shade of a tree near the Roman Forum, I watched an artist paint a chapel across the street.

A few minutes later, I spotted another artist sculpting dogs from sand.

An artist sculpts dogs from sand on the streets of Rome.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The last stop of my trip was Milan.

Snapshots of Milan in October 2022.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My favorite moment here came from an aimless walk around the city when I stumbled upon a red brick castle that looked massive.

The entrance gates of Castello Sforzesco in Milan.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the castle looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

Snapshots of Castello Sforzesco in Milan.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Thanks to these unique moments, I don't think I'll ever forget my first trip to Italy.

The author enjoys her time in Italy.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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I spent 6 days in Italy after dreaming of visiting my whole life. 8 moments made it worth the wait.

I visited Italy during a two-week train trip through Europe. To get to the country, I took an overnight train from Vienna to Venice.

While taking trains between cities, I remember looking out the windows and being stunned by the Italian countryside.

My first stop in Italy was Venice.

I'd heard of Venice's canals and car-free streets, but I'll never forget the moment I saw the city myself for the first time.

After wandering the streets of Venice, I took a gondola tour to see the city from a different perspective.

For my stay in Venice, I booked an Airbnb stay at Castello de Roncade, a castle and winery just outside of the city.

My favorite part of the grounds was a massive tree I found alluring. It was a 250-year-old Lebanon Cedar tree, a representative for Castello de Roncade told me.

From Venice, I traveled to Rome — one of this summer's most popular tourist destinations.

During my stay, I slept in a livable art sculpture I found on Airbnb, and I thought it was the most unique accommodation I'd ever experienced.

Before booking this Airbnb, I'd never even heard of a sculpture home. I imagined it would feel like sleeping in a giant piece of art, with quirky design elements in every corner. Turns out, I was right.

While exploring the city on foot, I remember spotting two alluring street artists. Under the shade of a tree near the Roman Forum, I watched an artist paint a chapel across the street.

A few minutes later, I spotted another artist sculpting dogs from sand.

The last stop of my trip was Milan.

My favorite moment here came from an aimless walk around the city when I stumbled upon a red brick castle that looked massive.

I thought the castle looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale.

Thanks to these unique moments, I don't think I'll ever forget my first trip to Italy.