10 Things to Know Before Visiting Italy

I won't judge you if your main prerogative when visiting Italy is to double your current body weight by the means of gelato — I get it, but be sure you're devouring the real stuff. In cities like Rome and Florence, gelato shops tend to pump gelato with air so they can create the illusion of irresistible, vibrant, impossible-to-ignore gelato mountains of tourist temptation. Take a walk down the Instagram-worthy alleys less traveled and look for gelato shops that boast more modest colors and aren't endeavoring to have their gelato displays rival Sistine Chapel ornamentation; less is more.