Honest review after 8 days — mostly great, a few gripes

Visited Italy for 8 days. The positives are real: Vatican Museums is every bit as impressive as advertised, and the food scene around Florence is genuinely excellent — try osso buco if you haven't. passionate locals was an unexpected bonus.

That said, overcrowded sites in peak summer. It's not a dealbreaker but worth knowing before you go. I'd still recommend Italy to most travellers — just manage your expectations on those specific points and you'll have a great time.