I've Lived in Italy for 16 Years and This Is My No. 1 Travel Tip

"If you make your vacation-and remember, it's a vacation- all about ticking off sights seen and landmarks photographed, shuffling through crowded museums, and then catching a train to your next city, you're likely to return home more exhausted than when you left. And while you may leave with the satisfaction of having seen a long list of destinations, you may never slow down long enough to really experience and appreciate the slower, sweeter pace of life for which Italy is so well known and loved."

"If your list of must-see places is 10 items long, cut it in half and spend more time in each destination. For example, if you've budgeted two full days in Rome, make it three (at the very least!). Keep your schedule open on at least one of those days, to allow time to get lost walking around, wander into random churches and cute boutiques, enjoy a long lunch, and sit in a piazza sipping a cold drink and watching the world go by."

Many visitors pack Italy itineraries with too many landmarks and cities, treating the trip as a checklist rather than a vacation. That approach results in exhaustion from shuffling through crowded museums and racing between destinations. Spending more time in fewer places enables deeper appreciation of Italy's slower, sweeter pace, local food, wine, and street life. Cut must-see lists in half and add at least one extra day in major cities. Keep part of the schedule open to wander, enter random churches and boutiques, enjoy long lunches, and sit in a piazza to watch daily life.

Read at Travel + Leisure