6.4.21 // Tivoli, Italy

When I first came to Italy, I was completely overwhelmed.
.
Simply existing in Italy on some days felt all-encompassing, like there was this intense weight on my shoulders.
.
I've spoken about my struggle with the language barrier, but adjusting to Italy was so much more than that. Rome was hospitable enough (as much as it could be during the last lockdown), providing me with places to run along the river, a bakery to get the best bread I've ever had, and endless beautiful streets to walk down.
.
However, I struggled to feel at home there. As the temperature started to rise, even my refuges started to fade. My river runs became overrun with the bugs who were happy to come home for the summer, the lines at the delicious bakery grew longer, and the streets became more crowded with each passing day as restrictions were lifted.
.
I started to grapple with my new existence, trying to find silver linings and make do with what beauty Rome still had to offer.
.
However, it wasn't until a day trip to Tivoli that I realized that while I love Rome for many reasons, big cities aren't home. But home in Italy was achievable.
.
Tivoli is a tiny town nestled in the foothills 45 minutes east of Rome by train. It has the most stunning natural waterfalls that fall under the town. You can hear them throughout the day, an ambient reminder of your proximity to nature.
.
The town looks like it is out of a storybook, especially the old part of the city with the waterfalls, and the trails up into the mountains start right in town. The trails are endless and loop with elevation gain, sweeping views, and dense forest. All of these within a moment's grasp.
.
Now, Tivoli is also known for its estate and its gardens, but to be honest, I haven't been able to pull myself away from the trails long enough to explore even those beautiful features.
.
Tivoli isn't for everyone, but neither is Rome. When I tell people I've relocated to Tivoli, often I'm greeted with confusion from those who live in Rome. Ultimately, this confusion comes from a difference in needs, neither one of us is right or wrong in our specific needs, but the fact that each of us can have our needs met within an hour of each other is incredible.
.
And while I'm a big fan of finding the silver linings, sometimes taking a step back, looking around, and listening to your intuition on what type of place meets your unique needs can be the catalyst for incredibly positive change.
.
I never would have thought a tiny town outside of Rome would feel this good, but I'm grateful for this humble spot!
.
Come visit!