Italy has become an annual event for me. I fell in love the very first moment that I came up from the metro station and saw the Coliseum in front of me. Since then, no matter when in the country I am, or what I may be looking at, I still have that sense of wonderment.
Sunflowers, Tuscany 2009
In no particular order, here are some of the things that I’ve come to love about Italy, and why I’m looking forward to a return trip next year.
- Sunflowers
- Gelato – at least twice a day
- Lake Maggiore
- Isola Madre
- Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top)
- Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for)
- Brunello wine
- Giuseppe and La Montalla
- Florence (so much beautiful art)
- Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return)
- Vatican (history and art, religion and politics)
- Fashion and fashionably dressed men and women
- Cafes and cappuccino
- Hill towns in Tuscany
- Beautiful churches (every town has a dozen)
- Pecorino cheese
- Stopping the car to let sheep cross the road
- The beautiful language (that I must learn)
- Limoncello
- Fresh tomato and onion salad
- Wild boar pasta (actually, any kind of pasta at all!)
- Vineyards and olive orchards
- Cypress trees
- Internet access (yes, in the middle of a vineyard, there’s still wi-fi)
- History and a sense of how very young the U.S. is
What do you love about Italy?
Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares
I suggest to visit Tuscan Archipelago… Capraia island (not in summer) is my favorite.
I’ll put that on my list for my return visit — which is in the planning stages righ tnow. Thanks for the tip!
I have several favorite things about Italy.
1. Driving the Amalfi Coast.
2. La Maddalena Archipelago located between Sardinia and Corsica.
3. The friendly people of Napoli.
4. Watching World Cup soccer in a public place.
5. The charm of small mountain villages such as Obi.
6. The ruins of Pompeii.
7. The Italian Alps – especially driving through Brenner Pass.
@Brad Ritzenthaler,
I didn’t actually drive the Amalfi Coast, it was scary enough in a bus, but the scenery is beautiful. And I was mesmerized by Pompeii. These are some great additions to the list!