(A truffle farm and winery in Florence)
By Angelin Brewer
We have returned home from Italy. And I have one word for you: GO!
And guess what? My husband of 30 years, who swore he did not want to travel that far on a plane, agrees with me. His words: “It was a trip of a lifetime. Italy is a country rich in history, culture and scenery,” and we are already on the hunt for our next adventure.
Here’s what we loved:
The history!
We visited the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, the statue of David, countless churches, and Pompeii. We were looking at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Century artifacts, paintings, and sculptures that were over 2,000 years old. I think our mouths literally fell open when we rounded the corner and saw the tower of Pisa leaning in front of us. We learned that Michelangelo was forced into painting the ceiling and wall of the Sistine Chapel by the Pope. And, as an insult to the pontiff, Michelangelo snuck in a set of bare butt cheeks in the painting. We saw the bodies of the people who died below Mount Vesuvius, even a dog and children who were suffocated following the eruption of the volcano in 79 AD. We touched actual chariot indentations along the stone streets of the Appian Way, where soldiers steered their horse-drawn carts. Each day was magical and breathtaking.
The food!
An interesting fact about Italian pizza: Each city or region has its own type of pizza (crusts all vary), and each was absolutely amazing. One of our favorites was the Pizza Margherita, a dish seasoned with hand-crushed peeled tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil. Simple but amazing! Our other favorites included Truffle Ravioli, Spaghetti Alla Gricia, Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, Zuppa di Pesci (fish soup) and our absolute favorite: Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Steak), a thick-cut, tender T-bone steak sourced from Tuscany’s prized Chianina cattle, traditionally grilled over hardwood charcoal to a charred exterior and a very rare interior. It’s typically 3-4 fingers thick and is served simply with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Perfection.
The gelato!
This dessert is simply spectacular. It’s a dense, rich Italian frozen dessert made from milk, sugar, and cream. The better stands make their gelatos fresh each day. Our favorite flavors included pistachio, lemon, red cherry, snickers, salted caramel, hazelnut and the winner: dark chocolate gorgonzola. We were told the best way to eat gelato is to first add a large spoonful of whipped cream, then your favorite gelato flavor and a final scoop of whipped cream, topped off with a pizzelle, a traditional Italian waffle cookie that is crisp, light and flavored with vanilla. Perfecto!
The scenery!
We visited a truffle farm and winery in Florence, drove along the stunning Amalfi Coast, stood in open piazzas dotted with fresh flowers, cheeses, and Italian leather goods. We took a rowboat into the Blue Grotto in Capri, a renowned sea cave known for its electric-blue waters created by sunlight reflecting through an underwater cavity. Our hotel in Sorrento overlooked the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the sunrises there were spectacular. We saw snow-capped alpine peaks, pastel-colored villages, and cypress-lined hills, along with a lush truffle farm.
We were ready to return home when the trip was over, but a part of Italy remains with us. I would give the trip a 10 out of a 10, and I hope this leads others to go and visit this beautiful and magical country.
