From India to Italy: how a journey turned into a lifelong love

Some places stay with you, long after you’ve left. For Ishita Sood, that place was Italy. What began as a simple trip turned into something much more: a deep, personal connection to the country’s culture, language, and everyday life. 

Since then, she’s returned again and again to explore regions beyond the usual tourist trail and learned Italian to connect more meaningfully with the people and the culture she admires so much. And now she shares her love for Italy on her blog, Italophilia, where she writes about travel, language learning, and the moments that make Italy feel like home.

Ready to hear more? Ishita’s here to tell us all about her love for Italy and how it’s shaped her journey!

Hi Ishita! Thank you for taking the time to do this. Could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

Hello to whoever is reading and thank you for making me a part of your community. I’m Ishita and I’m an Indian living in Delhi. I belong to the mountain city of Shimla and currently work as a content creator and cultural storyteller deeply drawn to the space where India and Italy meet.

When did your love for Italy begin? Was there a specific moment when you felt that connection?

My love for Italy began about 12 years ago, when I was a 20-year-old on my very first trip to the country. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but it was a slow, deep unfolding where I felt this sense that I wasn’t just visiting, I was returning to something familiar. Italy didn’t feel foreign. It felt like the home I hadn’t met yet.

What was your first impression of Italy when you visited for the first time?

I was overwhelmed in the best way. The streets, the light, the monuments, the language, the chaos and calm of everyday life… It all felt too much, but it was also very grand. It changed something in me.

You decided to learn Italian, which is amazing! What made you take that step, and how did you start studying the language?

After my first visit to Italy, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wanted to understand it from the inside. And language was my way in. A lot of my friends and my husband (who I was dating then) motivated me to enroll in a course in Italian with the Italian Embassy in New Delhi. I’ve loved every minute of the journey since then!

What’s your relationship with the Italian language now? Has it changed the way you experience the country?

Completely. Language isn’t just communication, it's a way of connecting with a culture I love. Knowing Italian has made me open to new experiences, helped me make friends with locals, and opened doors. I just feel like I know a little bit more about the Italians because I know the language. Of course it’s a lifelong journey, but it is an experience I love immeasurably.

You’ve traveled a lot across Italy. Are there any places that really stayed with you? And any you’re still dreaming of visiting?

So many. Some of the places that have stayed with me are Perugia (the first place I traveled solo outside of India), Modica in the South, the entire belt of Northern and Central Marche, Turin, Puglia, and Lake Orta. My favorite is Rome—despite being so busy, there’s something about it that always takes me back. It’s very, very special and will always be a favorite. As for the list of places I still want to visit, there are too many to count! But off the top of my head: Sulmona, Matera, Ferrara, Tropea, and more places in the north of Campania… the list is endless, to be honest!

For someone visiting Italy for the first time, what’s your best advice to truly enjoy the experience?

A lot depends on the kind of traveler you are. But remember that you’re not in a rush. Slow down and don’t rush through a checklist. Italy reveals itself when you linger, stop over for a conversation, or just breathe. Let the country surprise you.

And for those who are thinking of learning Italian, (maybe even inspired by your story!) what tips would you give them?

If you’re waiting for a sign, just don’t. Stop trying to be perfect. Don’t hold yourself back because Italians (at least in my experience) are incredibly kind and patient with your Italian.