Italy was everything (and more)

I’ve just returned from Italy, and I’m still carrying the sights, sounds, and flavors with me, all those pieces of a journey that felt both familiar and completely new.

We moved from city to city by train, from Milan to Lake Como, to Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples. We toured Capri, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and the Amalfi Coast. Walking through cobblestone streets, exploring bustling piazzas, and losing ourselves in quiet corners made each place unforgettable.

In Milan, we marveled at the Duomo and stood before The Last Supper, feeling the weight of centuries of art. Venice was enchanting. St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and a gondola ride through misty canals that felt suspended in time. San Gimignano and Siena in Tuscany offered a slower rhythm: rolling hills, a winery lunch, and the pleasure of savoring every flavor.

Rome and Vatican City held the most personal moments for me. I finally stood before Michelangelo’s Pietà: the very first artwork I ever saw as a ten-year-old in a family artbook. Tears came as I remembered that moment and the clarity I felt then: I wanted to be an artist like him, to stir people’s feelings through art. Walking through St. Peter’s, beneath the Sistine Chapel, and exploring the Colosseum only deepened that awe. Naples, Pompeii, and Herculaneum offered a glimpse into lives frozen in time, and Capri, well…despite a sudden downpour, it left us breathless with its cliffs and sparkling sea. We need to come back.

Visiting the small towns where James’ Nono and Nona were from (Albi and Nicastro in the region of Calabria) was profoundly moving. Walking those streets, tasting local dishes, and feeling the warmth of the people made his family history come alive in a way we’ll never forget.

Another of the highlights for me was the beach in Catanzaro, Calabria. The water was this amazing mix of turquoise and deep blue, sparkling in the sun, and the sound of the waves rolling in made me feel at home. We grabbed gelato and walked the seawall, taking it all in. It felt like a little slice of perfect Italy.

…and Rome at night, before our flight home, was the perfect closing: the city glowing, alive, a reminder of why Italy has inspired artists for centuries. Every meal, every alleyway, every piece of history reminded me how inspiration comes from presence, curiosity, and wonder.

I’ve returned with sketchbooks full of ideas, collages in my mind, and a renewed sense of curiosity for the work ahead. I can’t wait to share this journey with you through new artwork.

This trip was incredibly special for both of us. The sights and history, the way it connected us to family, to each other, and to life’s simple pleasures. Now, back home, we’re excited to bring Italy with us and start a new tradition. We are planning to go back to making pasta from scratch, try our hand at homemade pizza again, and even adventure into making salami for the first time. Mornings are soon to be filled with the ritual of the moka pot (that I will purchase) and imagining ourselves savoring rich, flavorful café with warm cornettos, recreating a little of that Italian magic in our everyday life. It feels like a way to keep the spirit of Italy alive, and it makes this journey even more special.