During a whirlwind trip through Italy that covered almost 1300 miles by bus and over 100,000 steps by foot, I gained a whole new appreciation for this ancient European land’s history and people.
Highlights of the 10 days my wife, Noreen, and I spent in Italy earlier this month — a trip that was cancelled in the spring of 2020 and we backed out of the following year because of the coronavirus pandemic — included:
Rome:
- Approaching and stepping inside the ruins of the nearly 2000-year-old Coliseo and imagining it packed with over 50,000 people on a sunny autumn afternoon.
- Looking out over the city from the top of the Castel Sant’Angelo.
- Walking past the Palacio de Justica de Roma and over the bridge just across from it.
- Seeing the Templo de Adriano from the outside and being inside the Panteón.
- Walking down the Escaleras de la Plaza de Espana, across the Santa Inés en Agonia, and past the Trinita dei Monti.
- Tossing a euro coin in the Fontana de Trevi, walking around Los Cuatros Rios and the Fontana del Moro.
Vatican:
- I will never forget being inside the Sistine Chapel, which is a good thing since no photography of any kind was permitted; it was more like a Michelangelo frescoes art gallery than a place of worship.
- The Museo Vaticano hosted a spectacular collection of art.
- Being inside the Basilica di San Pietro and outside in Saint Peter’s Square was very moving.
Montecatini: Dinner at a Tuscany vineyard and olive farm on a gorgeous autumn evening.
Florence:
- Seeing Michelangelo’s huge David sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in this Renaissance city.
- Botticelli’s Adoración de los Magos and El Nacimiento de Venus, Leonardo da Vinci’s Anunciacion, and other centuries old paintings at the Galeria Uffizi.
- Admiring the exteriors of the Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore and Basilica di la Santa Croce.
- The Palazzo Vecchio and Fuente de Neptuno.
Pisa: The Leaning Tower, of course!
Venice Island:
- Riding slowly between old buildings and under footbridges in a traditional gondola on the canals during the early evening, of course!
- St. Mark’s Square and Basilica in the morning, afternoon, and night.
- Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
- The highly skilled and fast-handed glass blower in the shop off Piazza San Marco.
Burano:
- Strolling the colorful streets and alleys of this charming Venetian island.
- Ferry ride past various active and inactive islands on the way to and from on a comfortable afternoon.
Assisi:
- Saint Francis’ Basilica, with its Giotto frescoes, is a magnificently preserved place of worship despite earthquakes.
- Saint Clare’s Church and Templo de Minerva.
Pompeii:
- Walking the streets of this ancient Roman city buried by volcanic ashes from Mount Vesuvius for nearly 19 centuries and realizing, technology and sanitary advances aside, how little has changed in the way people co-exist in a community.
- The small fresco paintings of couples in the ancient brothel that were, well, unlike any we had seen in museums.
Naples:
- Riding through the streets of the city, where I noticed more than one depiction of soccer legend Diego Maradona.
- Overlooking the bay.
- Imagining my wife’s Italian ancestors in this city and the mountains slightly east and south just a century ago.
Capri:
- Approaching the island (albeit in wet fog) and riding a funicolare and van up the steep hill to our hotel overlooking the southern shore.
- Villa San Michelle.
- Scenic cruise on the clear blue sea around the island after the rain.
- Beautiful views up the mountain from below and down the mountain from above.
Sorrento:
- Bustling town across the bay from Capri with well-preserved buildings.
- Sitting in an outdoor cafe in a town plaza as dozens of ultras for the local third division soccer club stage a brief protest rally.
Also wonderful was the food we ate while in Italy, particularly various al dente pasta courses, breads, and desserts. This coffee snob was generally satisfied with what he drank, but had higher expectations.
On the downside, meals often felt rushed, perhaps because we were in a tour group. Taking in so much of Italy in a short time involved too fast a pace and was physically exhausting. In addition to waking up to an early alarm every morning, my wife and I were stressed by having caught colds during this trip.
But I was grateful to have seen so much of this magnificent country in early autumn rather than summer, when crowds are bigger and temperatures higher. Indeed, it was great to have finally learned firsthand just what a wonderful place it is and has been for centuries.
To see the photos I posted on Instagram between October 18-22, after returning home from Italy, click on https://www.instagram.com/charleybruns.
(above) St. Peter's Square
