VICENZA, ITALY

Local Sights

We live in downtown Vicenza, which is in the country’s Veneto region that includes Venice and Verona. Vicenza is home to a few major must-see places including the oldest indoor theater in the world, and the Olympic Theater. This theater was built in the 16th century and still holds performances today!

The Basilica of Saint Mary of Monte Berico is a notable sight, as it sitson top of a hill that overlooks the entire city. Andrea Palladio’s Basilica is also a must see - it’s located in the city center, making it impossible to miss! Bars, restaurants, and shops are located around and underneath the basilica, providing residents and visitors with ample places to dine and shop.

Getting Around

Biking, walking, or taking the bus are great ways to travel around Vicenza. The closest major airport is Venice Marco Polo, which is located in Venice Mestre. If you choose to road trip through Italy, you can rent a car with a U.S. driver's license. Another option is to apply for an internal driver’s license through AAA, which costs about $30 for a year and requires a passport photo to attach to the document.

Pro Tip: Watch out for Zones of Limited Traffic (ZTLs) while driving, as you will get fined for both entering and exiting a ZTL. Small cities like Vicenza, and large cities like Florence, all have ZTLs!

While Italian is the primary language, many Italians speak English, making communication easier for visitors. Most Italians appreciate guests who try to use their language, so don’t be afraid to try out some common phrases!

Italy uses the Euro for currency. Prior to travel, you can receive Euros from your bank or AAA. You can also convert dollars to Euros with an ATM after you’ve arrived.

Pro Tip: When using an ATM, press “DECLINE” when the machine asks you to accept the conversion rate. The conversion rate from your personal bank will be used instead, which is cheaper!

Must-do Day Trips

One of my favorite parts about living in northern Italy is the accessibility to so many surrounding areas! The train is one of the easiest ways to travel around the Veneto region and is great for visitors who don’t have access to a personal car. You can purchase train tickets directly through apps like TrainItalia, TrainLine, or Mooneygo, or at a kiosk in the train station.

  • (~1 hour drive): Lake Garda is huge and has about 20 little towns all around the edge. You can ferry between different towns or spend the day biking or looking at castles! My favorite town is Sirmone!

  • (40 minute train ride): Steeped in history, Verona is known for Romeo and Juliette, and has a preserved Coliseum. Verona also has a daily downtown market and wonderful high end shopping!

  • (45 minute train ride): Every time I visit Venice it is a new experience and I love traveling there in the off season, when it’s less crowded. Be sure to eat cicchetti ( a dish that’s similar to bruschetta), and take a gondola ride for the best views! If you have time, ferry to the Islands of Murano and Burano! Murano is known for glass blowing and has free demonstrations throughout the island. Burano (one of my personal favorites) is a fishing village with colorful homes, which were used to help fishermen find their way back home when it was foggy. Burano is also known for lace.

  • (25 minute drive): Italian ceramic heaven! Shops in Nove sell brands that make ceramics for premier home & design companies including: Williams and Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, and Tiffany & Co.

  • (1 hour drive): PROSECCO! Need I say more? This town is filled with prosecco wineries and is the most picturesque day trip. Go on a prosecco tour and tasting, rent a vespa, sit outside and enjoy prosecco - the possibilities are endless!scription

  • (1 hour drive): Valpolicella is home to the famous wine of the Veneto region! I recommend reserving wine tastings and tours in advance, as they can get booked up quickly. This area is known for red wines Amorne and Ripasso! Cin cin!

  • (~2.5 hour drive): I highly recommend doing a parmigiano, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar tour, with my favorite tour guide, Angelo! Book your tour with Angelo here! FWT - The very best Parma Food Tour (foodnwalktours.com)

    • Marastica (famous for cherries)

    • Bassano Del Grappa (famous for Grappa)

    • Asiago (famous for cheese)

    • Treviso (created tiramisu)

    • Soave (known for white wine)

A Day in the Life

Daily life in Italy is a bit different from the U.S., as their schedule and routine differs from ours.! Breakfast is from 7-9 a.m. and consists of a brioche and a cappuccino. Lunch falls between 1-3 p.m., followed by midday ripaso or pausa pranzo, where Italians break for the day to pick up their children from school or complete other tasks. Most small stores will be closed during this time. Following the pausa pranzo, is my favorite time of the day - Aperitivo time! My favorite place to have an aperitif in Vicenza is at the cafe on top of Monte Berico, which offers a view of the whole city. Aperitivo generally begins around 4 or 5:30 p.m., where you can enjoy an aperol spritz and small snack as an afternoon pick-me-up. Dinner usually begins around 7 p.m. in Vicenza. Following dinner is dolce time, where popular dessert items include gelato or tiramisu with an espresso. Another thing to note: stores and restaurants are usually closed on Monday, or will only open in the evenings. Monday is their reset day, since restaurants and shops are open all weekend long!

The Food

For dinner in Vicenza or the Veneto region, I recommend ordering bigoli or baccala. As one of the region’s famous dishes, baccala is a cod that can be found throughout Venice and Verona. Bigoli - a thick noodle dish - is my husband’s favorite dish! Bigoli noodles have tiny ridges that hold the sauce, allowing for maximum flavor. While bigoli is traditionally served with duck sauce, it can also be served with tomato and rabbit sauces, too.

Attending a cooking class is one of my favorite activities and a great way to become familiar with the local cuisine. Lucas is my favorite cooking instructor! Follow the link for more information! Cooking with Lucas.

Insta: mckenzie.c.fowler

Email: fowler.mcb@gmail.com

Meet McKenzie

Ciao a tutti! My name is McKenzie Fowler and Italy has been one of my top travel destinations since I was young I fell in love with the country when I visited in college, and am fortunate to now be back as a resident!

I moved to Vicenza, Italy in the fall of 2022 with my husband, Chris, and our corgi, George. .Chris is in the United States Army, which allows us to experience life all over the globe! Italy doesn’t stop at the Coliseum, the David, or even at spaghetti - there is so much charm and so much to experience in the entire country. From the culture, history, food, wine, shopping, and the people, there is something for everyone here. We truly are living la dolce vita (the sweet life).

Italy is extremely child friendly and dog friendly! The only difficulty parents might come across is having to use strollers on cobblestone roads!

Italy has quickly become our home away from home and means so much to our little family. I hope you plan a visit to Italy and specifically to my little city of Vicenza. While visiting, remember to treat everyone with grace and kindness and be mindful of the history that surrounds you at every step! Follow along all my European adventures at @mckenzie.c.fowler on Instagram.

Ciao ciao!

McKenzie