What shoes should I bring? I've been told that sneakers will immediately single me out as an American, so I should bring leather shoes that are comfortable to walk in instead. I've also been told to leave behind heels because they will make it hard for me to chase after someone if he steals my bag (and also aren't the best for cobblestones). But what else do I need to know when packing shoes?
Note: mintybunnies is studying abroad in Rome for the fall semester.
The idea that “sneakers" automatically equals “American" when traveling in Europe is pretty commonly circulated in the US. However, it’s not entirely true. Europeans also wear sneakers (I have many travel pictures of my own attesting this), but they just don’t wear them as frequently as we do. So, sneakers won’t automatically single you out, but they might suggest that you are a more likely candidate to be American than anyone else nearby.
Overall, your sneakers are unlikely to draw that much attention as long as they’re relatively fashionable. Converse are going to be a lot more subtle than Nikes, for instance. Just make sure you choose something in which you could spend eight hours walking and standing and not be in agony. Something with good cushioning and arch support is therefore favorable.
But really, I’m sorry to say that you’re going to look American no matter what. Even after I’d been living in Italy for 8 months, I was still regularly addressed in English by complete strangers. All kinds of things about us - our shoes, our clothes, our hair, our faces, our walk - give off clues as to where we come from. If you’re going to be more comfortable wearing sneakers as opposed to leather shoes, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I remember my mom insisted that I not take any jeans to Italy, because she’d heard that Italians didn’t wear jeans. I never wore jeans the entire time I was there, but it sure didn’t make any difference aside from the fact that all my favorite pairs of pants were on the other side of the globe.
As for heels, the relative difficulty of running after a bag thief is a very specific reason to not bring them. : ) Of course, it’s also a pretty good reason to never wear heels at home either, and I’m never very keen on automatically equating a foreign location with rife thievery. Just like at home, it’s a calculated risk. Would you wear heels in the city at home?
The cobblestones, however, are a much more solid reason for leaving the heels out of your suitcase. Cobblestones can be hell enough in sneakers due to both their unevenness and their slippery worn surfaces. Personally, I would never wear high heels on cobblestones, although I’ve definitely seen women in Europe do it.
So, for dress shoes, I tend to go the route of ballet flats instead. They’re light and more portable than heels (since you can flatten them) and your feet will last longer in them.
For a semester-long study abroad in Rome, I would recommend:
one really solid pair of basic shoes, whether they be sneakers or made out of leather
one good pair of flip-flops with some kind of traction on the bottom
two pairs of ballet flats (or other nicer shoes) but make sure they have good traction
