Italy is a country which indulges in the pleasures of life warmly, not guiltily. The Italians are people who can take pleasure even in doing nothing.
Doing nothing!
Doing nothing does not necessarily mean doing nothing. It just means taking pleasure in what you do without taking notice of time, such as enjoying the sunset while sipping a glass of wine, taking a nice stroll in the evening and appreciating the things around you – whether it is the night sky or the streets. There are no chores or meetings to rush to – just the magical and wonderful present.
Ravello, located on the hilltop of the Amalfi Coast, is a quiet village where you can easily achieve such a calm state of mind. Bellagio, located on Lake Como, offers the same pleasure. Whether it is wandering aimlessly through the majestic gardens or watching the boats sail by against the Alps’ shadow, Bellagio lets you indulge in your choice of activity.
However, there is nothing more charming than a ride in a gondola along the canals of Venice. You can look at the buildings surrounding the canals and observe the lifestyle of the people as you sail by.
Exploring the back roads
Usually, the roads of Italy are associated with disorderly motorists and noisy traffic. However, that is because not many people tend to look beyond the obvious. If you ride along the back roads of Italy that run through the suburbs and rural area, you will find that the scene is much more relaxed.
As you explore through the region, you might want to photograph an old farmhouse, enjoy some coffee in a hill town where time seems to have frozen, or indulge in a delicious lunch at a rustic agriculture-based set up, which cannot be accessed by public transport. If you want to see the best of Italy and enjoy your holiday, drive.
Although the country is home to numerous enjoyable drives, there are three routes that are absolutely spectacular. The Grande StradadelleDolomiti on SS48, is a legendary route that follows the ascent of a mountain; it takes you right through the centre of the Dolomites, and brings you to the Val Gardena after passing unforgettable peaks. The Via Aurelia on the SS1 stays on the Italian Rivera’s coastline, passing vineyards, valleys and sparkling seas that are a treat for your sight.
The StradaChiantigiana on SS222 is between Siena and Florence; it wanders through the splendid landscapes of Tuscany, pleasing your sight. However, before you start off on your drive, keep in mind that the markings on Italian roads are poor; the signs show which town the road leads to, but does not show the road number. So, it will be in your favour to get familiar with its geography.
Hiking
Even if Reinhold Messner (the first climber to reach Mount Everest, without having any oxygen) does not inspire you, you will see that there are numerous opportunities for hiking during the summers all over the country.
The Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies once forged trails through Trentino-Alto Adige’s mountains, known as the Vie Ferrate. It is a great track to hike.
Along the Italian rivers are five villages hanging from the cliff. Known as the Cinque Terre, they are magnificent and are connected to each other by hiking tracks that give spectacular views of the rocks, the Ligurian Sea, and the towns. You can walk the Paths of St. Francis, which are outside the Assisi in Umbria.
A hike of 30 minutes will take you to Piand’Arca from Cannara. The former is the site where the birds were given a sermon by St. Francis. If you make the effort to walk a little more, you can reach the EremodelleCarceri and eventually the top of Monte Subasio that offers beautiful views in every direction.
Wine
The Italian Renaissance of wine is happening now as vintners are striving to make wine that has a quality better than ever before. You can have a sample of their efforts at restaurants and wine bars throughout Italy. In many regions, you can go to vineyards themselves to see the source from where these drinks are made of.
Made in Italy
Whether it is Maserati automobiles or high fashion, ‘made in Italy’ means style, craftsmanship and quality of the highest standard.
Every area specializes in a certain item. Venice is home to the production of lace, velvet, and glassware. Como and Milan specialize in silk. The mountains of Sicily and Calabria, and the Dolomites are known for their wooden objects that are carved with hands.
Parma and Bologna specialize in the production of cheeses and hams. Modena produces balsamic vinegar. Florence is home to gold jewellery, leather, paper products, and straw goods; even some of the notebooks are handmade. Assisi is well-known for its embroidered items. Deruta, Vietri, Gubbio, and various towns of Sicily and Puglia are well-known for their ceramics.
Milan is Italy’s fashion capital, where Quadrilatero’s streets welcome serious shoppers, who are interested in the latest trends in fashion. Piazza di Spagna in Rome is fashion-conscious people’s haven. Via delCorso, which is just a few steps away, has stores that contain all kinds of varieties to choose from.
Tamburini, located in Bologna, provides local delicacies that you can take home in vacuum packages. The legendary food of Emilia-Romagna will tantalize your senses with its aroma.
Museum or Church?
Thinking of Italy mainly brings the image of churches and architecture to mind. Italy is decorated with sculptures and architecture that took ages to build. Duomo, derived from Latin, refers to a region’s main church. The bigger a city is, the more spectacular its duomo is.
There are splendid churches in unlikely places such as in the towns of Orvieto and Assisi in the Umbrian hills.
Basilica di San Marco is influenced by the Byzantine and is located in Venice. The Duomo in Milan is the country’s biggest and most stunning cathedral. Florence’s Duomo is a spectacular work of engineering. The grand Basilica di San Pietro is the Catholic Church’s seat and is located in Rome. With columns of a Greek temple of the 6th-century BC, Siracusa’sDuomo displays the classical past of Italy.