Meghan Bucheral, Pitt in Florence Summer 2023
I studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and one of the biggest challenges I faced everywhere I went was the large number of people. Despite going to college in a big city like Pittsburgh, I was not prepared for the massive number of people that would be living/visiting Italy during the summer months. Navigating the central parts of Florence was difficult due to the sheer number of people. I knew there were going to be a lot of tourists since I was in Italy in May and June, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the actual number of people that were there. It was hard to get around and feel safe in super large crowds because it’s easy to get pick pocketed in situations like that. Not only was Florence packed with people, but all the other cities I visited (with the exception of Lucca) were insanely busy as well, especially Venice and Rome. Of course, everyone (including me) wants to see the main tourist sites like the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel, but that comes with being surrounded by thousands of people. It makes enjoying the experience more difficult because you have to worry about not bumping into someone and staying aware of your surroundings.
I get uncomfortable when being in large crowds, so this aspect of visiting a popular tourist destination like Italy was hard for me. Another issue with the large crowds is not being able to get to places on time. I’m the type to leave a little late, but I wasn’t able to continue this in Florence. It’s best to leave with 10-15 minutes to spare because you never know how many crowds you will get stuck in. However, one of the best things that helped me was being with others. I rarely ever went to places with large crowds alone, and this makes it easier to feel comfortable and in control of the situation. Having another person or people with you allows you to not have to worry about every little thing because you are surrounded by people you feel safe with.
Another thing I did was try to focus on the end goal. Sure, I was in a huge crowd of sweaty, noisy people, but I would get to go inside the Colosseum or see the Creation of Adam painting if I saw it through. Similarly, I don’t have the opportunity to travel abroad much, so knowing that this could be the only time I’d be able to see things like the Trevi Fountain or the beautiful cliffs of Manarola made me enjoy the experience much more, and helped me focus less on the overcrowding. However, there are some situations I simply avoided because of the crowds and there’s nothing wrong with that. Instead of crossing the Ponte Vecchio to get to Oltrarno, I would take a less busy way which helped me stay calm, enjoy the walk to my destination, and get there on time.
The best advice I could give someone struggling with the large crowds of tourist cities like Florence, Rome, Venice, etc, is to remind yourself why you are there and remember why you are standing in such a big crowd in the first place. Seeing something like the Pantheon might be a once in a lifetime chance, so even though standing in a huge line is less than ideal, getting to see marvels such as these makes it worth it. As I mentioned before, there’s nothing wrong with avoiding a situation or place because of how busy it is. For example, my friends chose not to go into the Colosseum because of the long line, and that’s okay. They weren’t comfortable being outside in a huge line for that long, and I respected their decision. If you aren’t comfortable in a crowd and go somewhere less busy, that is totally valid. Visiting an attraction that’s so crowded isn’t worth it if it makes you uncomfortable enough that you can’t enjoy yourself.
Something I did to help myself in loud, crowded places was to wear my noise canceling headphones. I was still aware of my surroundings, but the volume wasn’t so loud and I was able to enjoy myself and not become overstimulated. I understand some people may not feel comfortable wearing headphones in public spaces where they need to stay vigilant, but this was something that helped me have an overall better experience, and I’d give this advice to others as well!
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