Italy Adventure – Part 1: From Milan to Florence
A Birthday Journey Through La Dolce Vita
There is something special about discovering a new country together, especially when the journey is a birthday gift for the person you love. This time, our next adventure took us to Italy. A country we had been looking forward to exploring, filled with history, incredible architecture, beautiful cities and, of course, some of the best food in the world. We knew this trip was going to be special, but Italy had plenty of surprises waiting for us. And our adventure started in Milan.
Touchdown in Milan
After our flight, we finally arrived in Milan and took the train straight towards the city centre. There was just one problem: our suitcases. Dragging luggage around Milan while trying to explore the city wasn't exactly part of the plan, so our first mission was finding somewhere to store it. Once the suitcases were safely dropped off, we were free.
Cameras ready.
Comfortable shoes on.
Time to discover Milan.
But first…
Food.
And somehow, our first meal in Italy wasn't pizza or pasta. It was Jollibee. 😂 Being married to a Filipina means there are certain places that immediately feel familiar wherever you are in the world, and Jollibee is definitely one of them. A favourite for many Filipinos and, by now, one of mine too. With our stomachs full, the real Milan adventure could begin.
Standing Beneath the Duomo di Milano
Our first major stop was impossible to miss: the magnificent Duomo di Milano. You can see hundreds of photographs of this cathedral online, but standing in front of it is completely different. The enormous Gothic façade rises above the square with countless statues, spires and tiny architectural details. Everywhere you look, there seems to be something new to discover. Naturally, the camera came out almost immediately. We walked around the square, snapped photographs and simply enjoyed being there. Moments like this are exactly why I love travelling. You suddenly find yourself standing in front of a place you've seen countless times in photographs, except now it's real. And now it's part of your own story.
Walking Through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Right beside the Duomo we entered the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. And wow. Even if you're not interested in shopping, this place is worth visiting purely for the architecture. The huge glass ceiling, elegant buildings, decorative floors and grand entrances make it feel more like walking through a palace than a shopping arcade. We slowed down, looked around and took in all the little details. Milan certainly knows how to make even a shopping centre look spectacular.
A Rather Different Milan Landmark
From elegant architecture to something slightly more… provocative. Of course, we couldn't visit Milan without stopping at Piazza degli Affari. Standing in front of the Italian Stock Exchange is the famous giant hand sculpture with its middle finger raised towards the financial world. It's strange. It's controversial. And naturally…
we needed a photo with it.
That's one of the things I enjoy about travelling. Not every landmark needs to be an ancient cathedral or world-famous monument. Sometimes it's the unusual, funny and unexpected places that make the best memories.
Castello Sforzesco
We continued walking through Milan until we reached another impressive sight: Castello Sforzesco. This enormous historic fortress feels completely different from the elegant streets surrounding the Duomo. Walking towards its thick brick walls and towers almost feels like stepping backwards through time. Italy has a way of doing that. One moment you're walking through a modern European city with shops, restaurants and busy streets, and a few minutes later you're standing beneath the walls of a centuries-old castle. We explored the area, took more photographs and continued wandering through the city without rushing too much. Sometimes the best part of travelling isn't racing from landmark to landmark. It's simply walking. Turning down streets you didn't plan to visit. Stopping for something to eat. Having a drink. Watching everyday life happening around you. And realizing…
We're actually in Italy.
But Milan Was Only the Beginning…
Eventually, it was time to return to reality. Our suitcases were still waiting for us, and another Italian city was calling. We collected our luggage and made our way towards the railway station because our next destination was Florence. Even Milan's train station managed to impress us. The enormous architecture makes arriving for a train feel far more dramatic than it probably needs to be. But that's Italy, somehow even catching a train can feel like part of the sightseeing. We found our train, climbed aboard with our suitcases and settled into our seats. Outside the window, Milan slowly disappeared behind us. Our first Italian city had already given us beautiful architecture, funny moments, plenty of photographs and our first taste of this new adventure. But we were only getting started. Because somewhere further south, another incredible city was waiting.
Florence
A city of Renaissance masterpieces, narrow historic streets, beautiful piazzas and one very famous bridge. Our Italian birthday adventure had officially begun. And the next chapter was about to get even better…
To be continued: Florence
Phenomenal Adventures
Travel. Explore. Capture. Remember.
