Why Italy?

 

I don't know, for sure, when my "thing" for Italy started. I holidayed at the town of Maiori, near Sorrento, with my parents as a surly teen and it certainly didn't do a lot for me then. But then I visited Venice, and was captivated. I loved the way you could get lost so easily, and all you'd hear is the sound of your own footsteps...no cars or horns beeping. It's a very romantic city, not just if you are with someone you love, but also romantic in that lovely whimsical old fashioned way when you can easily imagine ghosts pursuing you in the mist, or find it easy to conjure up images of star crossed lovers meeting on bridges. Hmm, yes I know the star crossed Lovers are from Verona, but give me some artistic licence here.

I didn't go back for years and years after that trip. I was either doing the uber trendy backpacking must sees of Thailand, Oz etc, or pottering around France on family holidays. And then I saw Hannibal, set in Florence, and my longing for Italy began once again. So much so that my second honeymoon was a trip to Florence centred around the locations of the film.

There are many reasons I adore Italy so much - the culture of course, but also the food and wine, the passionate character of its people, the lyricism of its language and the beauty of its buildings. I also love siestas...my body naturally wants to sleep in the afternoon: what other sign could I need to tell me I should have been born Italian?