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Ah, summer in Italy. There is no better time, or place to be. The sights, sounds and smells are enough to make you fall in love. Come, take a walk and share a piece of Italy with me as I recount my travels. I guarantee that you'll be totally consumed by the charm and warmth of this amazing country - with all that it has to offer.
All roads lead to Rome, which is where we began our journey…and where, in parts, time has stood still. Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a modern, active city are the most amazing monuments of Rome's past. We arrived at the airport early afternoon in mid September and began our quest for a cab to take us to our hotel in the heart of the city. Our hotel, The Savoy in Rome, was exceptional - clean & spacious with competent staff. Its accessible location - in the centre of Rome - allowed us the convenience of visiting many area attractions on foot or by a short cab ride. An outstanding and inviting property, the Savoy is located near Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna, The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain - popular stops with interesting historical tales.
After a walking tour on the first day, we bought our tickets for a city tour for day number 2 which was to include the Roman Ruins in the heart of the city. It's truly amazing how modern day Rome has evolved around the ruins which was at one time the centre of political and social activity. The whole experience left me spellbound and speechless. I was in awe from the moment we approached the top of the hill looking down on the Roman Courtyard and at the ruins of Caesar's Forum. My imagination took me back in time and I could hear the echo of the voices of the past and horses hoofs thundering by. The Colosseum is massive and majestic. Touring through its corridors and around the arena, we were greeted by several families of felines that call the Colosseum their home. Over the years it has become a haven for stray cats, and the tour operators and staff of the Arena call them their own. The cuddly critters have become a big part of the tourist attraction.
Famous for the many chariot races it held, the Circus Maximus was built in 326 BC and was never used after the year 549. The types of stone blocks used for this incredible arena are so different from the ruins of the Colosseum or the Roman Forum, I could see by comparison that the Circus Maximus was several centuries older. I could have spent several days sightseeing around the ruins, it was the most fascinating tour I have ever taken, but there was more to explore in this remarkable country!
After 3 days in Rome, and many exceptional meals, we travelled by train on a Euro-Rail pass (the most economical and convenient way to travel between cities in Italy. In no time at all we were in Florence where we would spend the next 5 days as our home base, taking day trips to the medieval towns of Siena & San Gimignano in Toscana, Cinque Terra in eastern Liguria, Milano & Venice.
Florence itself was a wondrous delight. We enjoyed the most delectable meals in out-of-the-way restaurants on the narrow back streets (which is where you'll find the best authentic Italian cuisine). Florence is also the main market for Italian leather goods. We visited their open-air market (a 'must see' when in Florence) and the choices were unlimited and prices were reasonable. We could appreciate the beauty and appeal of the Toscana countryside when we travelled to Siena and San Gimignano. As we travelled by train we passed picture-perfect fertile green rolling hills, rich vineyards, small centuries old farmhouses, and lush pastures with grazing animals - a landscape one can only dream about. Siena is the most charming of cities and boasts a culture all its own. Still very much 'old-world' in tradition its citizens are warm and friendly. We wandered the back streets where we found the most amazing shops and restaurants where we enjoyed the 'best treat in Italy' - a double scoop 'gelato'! This is the best ice cream on earth and I am determined to return to Italy just to enjoy another gelato! We found a charming little specialty market and picked up some superb Italian coffee beans, sundried tomatoes and spaghetti spices. Later we visited the 'Piazza del Campo' which is now the central market place and the venue for Siena's world famous horse races, 'Il Palio' in July & August. We relaxed at one of the sidewalk café's, enjoyed an espresso, and people watched for the remainder of the morning. As we continued our walk through the back streets, we were lead to a wonderful restaurant by the aroma of fresh baked pizza at lunch time - and of course had to indulge ourselves.
We met a friendly, accommodating Siena cab driver who took us to the small town of San Gimignano, just a few miles from Siena, where we would spend the afternoon. Rising from a hill in the Elsa Valley with its towers, San Gimignano is a breathtaking sight. This walled city takes you back to medieval times and has virtually unchanged over the centuries. After a walk around the charming streets, visiting the shops, we sat in the piazza in the centre of town at a small café, enjoyed the sunshine and marvelled at the amazing towers that loom over the smaller structures of the city. The Patrician families, who controlled the city, built some 72 tower-houses (some over 50m high) as symbols of their wealth and power but only 14 have survived. We visited the "Great Tower" (54 metres high) which you can enter from the Civic Museum. We decided this would be an excellent vantage point to take a few pictures of the rolling countryside around the city. We climbed the staircase inside to the top of the tower - the view was incredible!
Probably the most unique of all the towns we visited was in Liguria. The Cinque Terre form one of the most unspoiled areas of the Mediterranean. To visit the Cinque Terre means to visit five villages. Homes are built on cliffs rising from the sea and the streets are lined with shops and small restaurants with the most breathtaking view of the Ligurian Sea. We explored the cliff-side walkway that connects each of the 5 towns. To walk from the first town, Riomaggiore, all the way to the most northern village of Monterosso takes about 12 hours at a steady pace. We walked to the second village, Manarola, where we shopped, had lunch at a small 'Mom & Pop' restaurant (that served the best pizza in the land complimented by their own wine from the family vineyard), and waded in the refreshing waters of the sea. Returning to Riomaggiore late afternoon, we boarded the train for Florence. No roads lead to Cinque Terre - these villages are only accessible by train or by foot, but well worth the adventure.
Our next couple of day trips would take us away from the unspoiled countryside and into the much larger centres where the shadows of history meets a bold, modern metropolis. As we travelled north on the train through Parma, we arrived in Milan close to lunch time. This city is considered the fashion capital of Europe, surpassing Paris, and is the hub of the financial community. People-watching is without a doubt the best fashion show without the price of admission. The most interesting mall called The Galleria in the Piazza del Duomo has a glass-topped tunnel and is one of the world's oldest shopping malls. You won't want to miss taking a few pictures of the 'Gothic' Duomo - a church that took over 400 years to complete!
The next day we boarded the train again from our home base in Florence and settled in for the ride to Venice. This was the one city that I was most anxious to see and experience because of its uniqueness and history. It was more phenomenal than my wildest imagination. Our day was full and exciting with a gondola ride along the Grand Canal, buying fresh figs and fruits at the open air market, lunch at a restaurant overlooking the canal, watching the water traffic - as busy as any freeway - and finally a visit to Piazza San Marco to shop and feed the literally thousands of pigeons that make the square their home. To experience Venice is to experience every pleasure your senses could dream of. We had walked for miles through the narrow streets and across the small bridges that connects the walkways and at the end of the day we waited for the water-bus to take us back to the train station. The sunset over the Piazza was incredible! We squeezed onto the crowded boat watching as the commuters rushed home at the end of their day. This truly remarkable city full of history, friendly people, romance and fine restaurants is one you will not want to miss on a trip to Italy.
Our last day in Florence was sad…we thought our holiday would go on forever. We boarded the train destined for Rome where we would spend one night at the Radisson Airport Hotel making it convenient for our flight the following morning. During our entire trip home, we reflected on what was now a beautiful, lasting memory.
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