How do I begin to describe a pit stop in Milan after a month in Albania? How can I write a paragraph about visiting the Duomo? Can I adequately communicate in print the rich perfection of Sicilian cannoli? No way!

We made the mistake of scheduling very little time in Italy. We didn’t originally plan to visit Italy at all, but it ended up being cheaper to stop briefly in Italy going to and from Albania. So our time in Milan was way too brief. Someday we will figure out how to spend a big chunk of time in the land of amazing food, coffee, history, art, and way too much secondhand smoke.

Although it rained half of our time in Milan we found time for some special outings, especially the Duomo. It’s the largest cathedral in Italy proper, and you just have to see it in person.

Work began on the Duomo di Milan in 1386 and continued for six centuries. Streets radiate out from the Duomo, and as you approach it after first glimpsing it around a corner, it seems too big and fantastic to be real. Incredibly detailed stone carvings adorn every inch of the exterior walls. Statues top each spire, soaring high above the pavement. The scale of it all seems far too big to have been built without modern technology. And just when you feel like your mind can vaguely understand the grandeur, you go inside, and it all seems impossibly detailed and beautiful once again. Each panel of stained glass and piece of art displays incredible workmanship. The days and months and years of work required to construct even a tiny part of the building must have been extensive. The whole thing is truly amazing and awe-inspiring.

We took advantage of the sunny day and climbed the winding stairway up to the terrace and roof. The roof provides some great views of Milan, but it was hard to look away from the building’s details. With hungry kids and Jude’s unpredictable outbursts, we spent less than two hours at the Duomo, but it was a place we will always remember!

We also found time in Milan for some delicious food: panzerotti (from a restaurant recommended by my sister in-law), an assortment of Neapolitan dishes, panzerotti again, and Sicilian cannoli. After the limited food options in Albania, the food here was over-the-top amazing.

The only reason we could bear to leave Italy was that we flew to Belgium to meet up with my parents. But Italy, we will return!