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
- 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!) – Why not consider taking a cooking class in Italy?
- 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
(I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return)
What do you love about Italy?
Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares