Italy is a country that many women have put on their bucket list of dream destinations. Lucky for many people Italy is an affordable and safe country to visit. I went to Italy in the winter but these tips are good year round. This guide will be for all women who want to travel to Italy but is specifically tailored to Black Women in Italy.
You can find my post about travel safety for Black girls right here. I also have a post that is specific to Rome right here.
Black Women in Italy
What kind of Black women are you looking for because Italy has them from almost all regions. Just within the country there is a lot of diversity. There are parts of the country when the people have darker skin and while they are not Black they share many similarities.
Italy has immigration from several African countries. This provides a diverse group of Black women who can serve as references for the Black female tourist. It is important to know that if one of your fears of traveling abroad is sticking out or being mistreated then fear not. Not only is Italy incredibly diverse but they also have a Black population made up of Caribbean and African nationalities.
Don’t forget that you aren’t the only Black woman who is out here living here best life. I ran into several North American singles and couples. A good portion of these people were Black or people of color. You are not going to be alone. Even if you are alone, you will be safe and treated with kindness. I know that I was.
What to do with your hair
This is a very easy solution, cut it all off. I’m joking! I happened to have had a buzz cut when I went but that was a personal choice that had nothing to do with travel. You really have several options when it comes to hair care abroad.
You can buy some of the local products. The great thing about many European countries is that they grow a lot of the items that you can find in the products that you use. If you use olive oil, shea butter, avocado, or coconut oil, then you should have little trouble finding products in the open markets, local shops, or farms. Not only are you supporting the local business people but you may learn some new places to eat or tips for traveling the country.
Protective styles are a great way to take care of your hair if you are going for a week or more. I have worn Marley twists, box braids, faux locs, and other braiding styles during my travels. Other than having the TSA put their hands all in my hair it definitely will make your life a lot easier.
Similar to America you will more than likely be able to find an African braiding shop that can do your hair. Remember when I spoke about all of the immigrants? They have established businesses abroad just like they have in America. Take the time to consult google and see if you can find one in the area you are located. Your best bet will be in the major cities and less in the country side though.
When Racism arrives
I am going to be completely honest here: Italy is known for being one of the more racist countries in Europe. Racism for sure exists but in truth it should be very, very low on your list of concerns. In no way was I harassed or felt that my safety was in danger. I was never followed around stores, called names, or felt that I was overall unwelcome in the country or many of the sites that I visited.
My one instance with Racism is when I went to buy a cannoli. The woman at the counter tried to deny me service. She thought that I was trying to steal. She refused to take the money from my hand and insisted that I put it on the counter. I was only able to buy the item after another employee spoke up for me. That is the extent of racism that I have experienced and have heard about from other Black women in Italy.
It is an easy fix though. When you bring attention to the worker or the issue that you are having another person will step up to help you. If your service is slow, you can simply call over the waiter and make a polite inquiry as to why you are waiting. In 99% of the experiences that I had, the people were kind and the service was fast and pleasant. My only advice is to be mindful of your surroundings. This has very little to do with race and more to do with overall safety.
How to Travel
Don’t miss the train! Let me tell you of a story of a girl named Khadijah. Khadijah thought that a “shared ride” app she used in Rome could be used in all of Italy. It could not. This resulted in Khadijah walking almost a mile, at 5:00 am, to the train station. After dragging all of her luggage for 30 minutes she missed her train. She missed her train by less than 5 minutes. She ended up having to spend $76 to buy another ticket. The original ticket cost $11.
There are several ways to travel Italy but I definitely suggest the train. I originally traveled to Italy from Greece for about $50 via flight. I stopped in Rome, Florence, and then Naples. The train is often the quickest and most efficient way to get from city to city. On a train you don’t have to worry about any sort of carry-on fee or checked bag fee. The biggest benefit is that the train is always on time. I never had to worry about missing a connection or not getting to my destination on time. You can literally set your watch to the train schedule
I did take a Flix bus from Naples to Rome in addition to couple of other buses. My only concern with promoting the bus is that it wasn’t completely on time. The app also didn’t work like it should have so I wasn’t sure that my bus was going to arrive when it said it would. The bus however is necessary and very economical for getting from the train station. I also took the bus into Vatican city. Make sure that you get your tickets before getting on the bus. You don’t want to pay extra.
There is a taxi system and some “ride share” apps but they can get very pricy. You may get stuck in traffic and they will often charge by the amount of bags that you have. Even your small bags could be counted as a bag that you need to pay for. Unless you really need it, I would suggest sticking to public transportation or walking whenever possible.
Where to spend your money
Buy the first class train ticket. One of my few regrets concerning my Italian trip is not putting more money into my travel expenses. I would often buy the middle range tickets and truthfully I was very comfortable. I would think: why spend an extra $20-30 on a first class ticket? The truth is that it is worth it. Train travel in Italy was incredibly affordable. I was able to get a majority of my tickets for under $20. My trip was in January and I bought most of my tickets in mid October and November. When I got to the train station and was actually able to see the trains I saw the error of my ways.
The first class cabins had so much more room, they had these large leather seats instead of cloth seats. There were only two seats per section instead of four. Some of the trains had personal tables. There would often be workers who would bring carts of food buy where snacks could be purchased. If you are on a strict budget and don’t want to spend the extra money for a few hours then that is understandable. However, if comfort is important to you then I would suggest spending the extra money if you have it.
See the Duomos. One of the greatest joys of being in Italy is the architecture. If you are able to walk the hundreds of steps (I know… 500+ steps sounds ridiculous but I did it and so did hundreds of others) then pay the $10 or so Euros to be able to see the cathedrals. The views from the top of these structures and also getting up close with the painted ceilings are well worth it.
Buy the desserts. The Italians really know what they are doing when it comes to dessert. The $4 euro cannolis are to die for. Authentic Italian gelato is so rich and creamy. Even in the winter the temperatures were warm enough that the gelato was relaxing after a long day of walking.
There you have it. A few tips and tricks for Black women in Italy. Please subscribe or reach out with any questions.
Sounds like a lovely place to visit. I mean, I would go just for the dessert! 😉