This country has a very special, inimitable and charming magic. With every visit, you leave a small part of your soul here and regret that you are forced to go away again. Why do I feel so sad leaving Italy for any other country? (OK, the Maldives is exception). Moreover, why wasn’t I born here?
Look at this picture! This is me beside a Roman citizen who is probably familiar to many of you. (Update: This is Marcus Tullius Cicero. The Cameron Gallery at Tsarskoe Selo, St. Petersburg, Russia.)
Don’t you think our profiles look very similar? Is it possible that my distant ancestors were Italians? Oh, my dear relatives, why in hell did you leave your motherland? Why did you go to the cold North or mysterious East? Didnt you give any thought to your descendants? Did you not understand that you have sentenced me to a life NOT-IN-ITALY?!
There are plenty of good things in Italy, but its cuisine is a genuine God’s gift! Every time we fly to any European country via Rome, we eat at the airport at Fiumicino, Rome. We did it when we traveled to Provence, France. Do you want to hear about our most vivid gastronomic impression during the trip to Provence? It was the lasagna at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino, Rome.
Let’s take our trip to Spain, to the regions of Castile, La Mancha, Leon, Avila, and Madrid. What was our most vivid gastronomic impression? Guess? Yes, the lasagna in the Rome Fiumicino airport, and Mozzarella made from buffalo milk, again in Italy. What about the Spanish cuisine? It also has some wonderful meals, but all in all, it loses to Italy on all counts.
Why is everything so yummy in Italy? Is it the sun? Spain is also a sunny country. Is it the warmth? You wont freeze in Spain or Provence either. Italians are always relaxed and smiling. Is it a consequence of, or the reason for perfect food? But why do Spaniards always frown despite the brightly shining sun?! By the end of lunch in Fiumicino, the Italian waitress was like family—we laughed and joked, and even hugged farewell. Is such a scenario possible in Spain? No way! Moreover, there are no waitresses there, only waiters—frowning men of very advanced age. Why?
This is unique cheese—a fresh Mozzarella di Bufala—from the Italian region of Puglia. Burrata is prized for its special textures and rich milky flavor.
Excuse me, my friends, but I don’t have answers to all these questions. Maybe you have? You can help me by providing your own opinion.
Night view of Vatican City from the room 601 of the Hotel Nazionale, Rome, Italy.
P.S. I should tell you more. In our family, I am not the only one who loves Italy. My suitcase liked flying with Alitalia so much that it is still flying while we are waiting for Alitalia to find it. 🙂
More about Italy:
What to See in Rome?! Are You Serious?
Decorated Ceilings of Vatican Museums or Interview with God
Museo Borghese, Roma: 100 percent Concentration of Beauty
April 22, 2013 at 11:09 am
Beautiful post!
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April 22, 2013 at 11:22 am
🙂 Thank you, Anneli.
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April 22, 2013 at 11:35 am
These photos are amazing! Italy is such a beautiful place.
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April 22, 2013 at 11:42 am
Maybe the most beautiful place of the world.
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April 22, 2013 at 11:46 am
My God…this post is amazing…
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April 22, 2013 at 11:56 am
Because this country is amazing! 🙂
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April 22, 2013 at 12:27 pm
Wow! 🙂 You know how to put words to my feelings, wonderful writing and awesome pictures. Italy will always be missed until next time! 😀
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April 22, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Welcome to the community. 🙂
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April 22, 2013 at 12:50 pm
One country I must visit
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April 22, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Why one? There is also France. Another one beautiful country.
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April 23, 2013 at 1:03 pm
The entire ‘Europe Basket’.
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April 23, 2013 at 1:42 pm
France and Italy are the best.
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April 22, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Italy is an amazing place, food, architecture, people. Love your photos.
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April 22, 2013 at 2:16 pm
And weather.
Thank you, Donna.
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April 22, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Victor I think you must be Italian. That statue looks just like you! I love Italy too, which is why we bought a house here and why I spend 6 months every year here in Tuscany.
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April 23, 2013 at 4:49 am
Debra, you and Liz have realised my dream, and I am very glad for you, and jealous a little.
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April 22, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Maybe you are descendant of some Italian architect who moved to Russia to help in designing St. Petersburg!
Italy has 60% of entire world’s artistic heritage. Such a concentration of art may be a reason to love Italy for many people…
Isn’t Mediterranean cooking the best in the world?
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April 22, 2013 at 10:13 pm
It is, of course, and the most healthiest.
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April 22, 2013 at 2:51 pm
One more place on my to-do-list! 🙂
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April 23, 2013 at 5:35 am
You have not been to Italy, have not you? It is awfully 🙂 Correct this mistake immediately!
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April 23, 2013 at 8:22 am
Actually I was in a little town outside Genua to visit a dive equipment factory for three days many years ago. We went for a day to Porto Fino and it was really beautiful place, so I’d love to go back and travel around more.
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April 23, 2013 at 10:03 am
This is a very wise decision.
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April 22, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Great post and great pictures (especially the food!!) – I know!! I’m Italian!!! best food in the world!!! 😉
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April 23, 2013 at 5:34 am
Not only food 🙂
Thank you.
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April 22, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Oh my goodness. That food… !!!
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April 23, 2013 at 5:40 am
🙂
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April 22, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Italy is wonderful but will always come behind Spain and Greece for me!
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April 23, 2013 at 4:43 am
I know, Andrew, but with all my love to Greece I can not compare it with Italy.
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April 22, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Oh my! I am going to travelocity right now and looking for cheap flights. My husband has been there a couple of times before we got married and he’s promised me we’d go soon. I think we need to have a talk now!
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April 23, 2013 at 2:14 am
Show him this post as a strong argument.
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April 26, 2013 at 9:07 am
Good idea!
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April 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Absolutely gorgeous! Had no idea – need to go!
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April 23, 2013 at 2:16 am
And right now 🙂
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April 22, 2013 at 10:57 pm
Hmm, there is a striking resemblance between those profiles…great images, Victor! I think I could spend months in Italy and still not see everything I would like to see.
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April 23, 2013 at 2:19 am
You are right, this is one big museum.
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April 23, 2013 at 2:30 am
Your photos, as always, are sublime Victor and from that portrait you must be descended from the mighty Caesar.
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April 23, 2013 at 5:43 am
Are you sure this is a bust of Caesar?
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April 23, 2013 at 6:03 am
It looks very much like other representations of the man
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April 23, 2013 at 10:07 am
I’ll think about to ask the Italian government for at least a tiny part of his inheritance. Ha-ha 🙂
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April 25, 2013 at 1:12 pm
I understand exactly what you mean about the food quality differences and the comment about old frowning waiters in Spain made me a laugh. Sad but true. The only food and tastes close to the amazingness we experienced in Florence/Firenze we have found staying here on the beautiful island of Kefalonia where it was like being on a health farm with such delicious food served every dinner- http://hungryglutenfreevegetarian.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/gluten-free-paradise-in-greece-with-vegetarian-options-trapezaki-kefalonia/. I recommend it most highly to you. My husband suffers being a celiac and also various unknown digestive ailments but eating here every day he felt just great. Coming home he bought more Greek cookbooks and organic ingredients and used the Greek oil we brought home with us, but the food did not taste a patch on what we enjoyed there.
After the revelation of Florence we visited every Italian restaurant in our town of Bournemouth but left disappointed each time. It has to be the produce. Italy and Greece have something special going on for sure with their sun ripened produce. You have not eaten good food until you have been to Florence or the Trapezaki Bay Hotel in my opinion.
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April 25, 2013 at 11:37 pm
I don’t say about Greece islands, but we did not like the cuisine on the mainland.
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April 26, 2013 at 5:13 am
I was looking at the map. Kefalonia is near Italy-ish – perhaps that’s why 🙂 I also might have been spoilt in this particular hotel by a very good cook. Certainly in Florence every meal was phenomenal – more so than other places in Italy like Rome or Venice where food was just okay. Sorrento really disappointed me for food but it is a terrible tourist trap. My stomach wishes to retire to Tuscany for sure. Do try Kefalonia though if you can muster up some enthusiasm for it. I’d love to see your photos of it.
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April 26, 2013 at 7:21 am
I am always missing Tuscany, and you are very right about a cook. This is number one point in any cuisine or country. One of the best food we had on the Maldives, the island of Villamendhoo. The chef was from Germany.
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April 30, 2013 at 8:40 am
Italy is a great country. I was there some time ago but your post make me want go there one more time 🙂
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April 30, 2013 at 9:03 am
I have not met anyone yet who would not want to go back to Italy. 🙂
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April 30, 2013 at 9:05 am
I agree 🙂 it’s a magical place!
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April 30, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Another beautiful place I would love to visit again someday! Rome was my favorite city that I visited in Italy, Venice too! Italian people are so friendly and charming. The food looks so delicious 🙂
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June 21, 2015 at 10:02 am
Exactly. That’s why I would like to be born and live in Italy.
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May 1, 2013 at 5:46 pm
I feel exactly the same way about Italy, visited there 4 times now and each time I leave I want to go back again and again.
Lovely post, love your photos and your sentiments 🙂
Andrea
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May 1, 2013 at 10:27 pm
Mybe it is time to migrate?! 🙂
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May 2, 2013 at 12:49 am
I think you might be right 😉
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May 2, 2013 at 8:40 pm
I just love Italian cuisine 🙂 awesome pictures!!! Cheers!!!
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May 2, 2013 at 9:47 pm
Ha-ha. Show me a man who doesn’t like Italian cuisine and I will show you a man who never tried it.
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May 12, 2013 at 6:05 pm
It’s simply not possible to get a bad meal in Rome . . . or most of Italy, for that matter.
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May 12, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Without any doubts.
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May 13, 2013 at 12:33 pm
I totally love Italy, too. Every change I get I head on down there. And the food – the more to the south you go, the better and more Mediterranean it gets. Every sleazy bistro in Rome has pizza that will send you directly to palatine heaven…
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May 13, 2013 at 1:46 pm
We just returned from Pompeii, and I must tell you the cuisine of the middle and the north of Italy is better.
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May 28, 2013 at 7:26 am
hmmm… perhaps because of the “tourist trap” phenomenon. Have you tried Puglia? My Italian teacher always bragged that’s where the best food in Italy is.
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June 21, 2015 at 10:06 am
I will remember your teacher’s advice. Thank you.
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May 24, 2013 at 11:16 am
Great article and pictures! I have always wanted to travel there ever since I was young. Recently my family and me were able rent out of those amazing Villas in Tuscany Italy for a week. Have you ever been there? If so I really would like to hear about your experience!
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May 24, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Yes, I have been to Tuscany. This is very nice region of Italy, I’d say one of the best. However, I yet have not rented a villa there.
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January 23, 2014 at 7:44 am
Amazing post. ha ha…i could relate to the frowning Spaniards. It was mostly in Madrid where i noticed this. The locals seemed friendlier the further away we got away from the capitol. Maybe it helped that I speak Spanish.
Italy is my destination this summer. I hope to come back with as fond a memory as you did. And i know what you mean about not wanting to come home. I felt this way when i went to France last year…altho I felt a special kinship with the Spaniards. I do believe you must be Italian descendant; your soul reveals it by wanting to keep you there..
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January 23, 2014 at 8:01 am
I am not missing Madrid. I am missing Andalusia.
Will it be your first visit to Italy?
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January 23, 2014 at 8:02 am
yes. we would like to visit Rome and take a couple of short side trips.
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January 23, 2014 at 8:05 am
I am glad for your. You else have not been to the best country of the world!
In a month, we fly to Venetian Carnival. :-):-):-)
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January 23, 2014 at 8:09 am
:)..
Cant wait to see your fotos. 🙂
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January 23, 2014 at 8:29 am
We too.
We have very nice costumes of 14th century.
Update: This is our first carnival outfits.
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October 29, 2014 at 10:34 am
Notice where Italy is located on a world map. The Italian boot is sticking out there in the middle of the shipping lanes of major bodies of water; Mediterranean, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and surrounded by a host of countries on the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe.
Yes, I can understand your enthusiasm for Italian food with all the influences it has and throughout history. Even the Italian pizzerias in my country are better than anyone’s especially as you go northeast. I’m sure there are other reasons for the food being fabulous but just by observance location seems obvious.
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October 29, 2014 at 1:11 pm
I will add: history, weather, clothes, nature, design, architecture…
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