My first trip out of North America was to Italy. I was in college and my (overly kind) mother booked us a 10-day trip through Venice, Florence and Rome. Sure, I had seen plenty of movies, but I still didn’t know what to expect when I arrived in Italy for the first time. In fact, it is probably those very movies that color so many expectations for first time visitors. Italy is indeed a beautiful country full of art, history, food and wine, but it is still somewhat different from the Hollywood version.

Some of the “Italian” menu items you love are not actually Italian. I arrived in Italy dreaming of perfectly fresh pesto coating my pasta. What I didn’t realize is that Italian food is incredibly regional and unless you find yourself in Liguria, you probably won’t find much pesto on the menu. Also not on the menu? Classics like spaghetti and meatballs.