Two months in Italy pass really quickly since Italy is wonderful and that’s why I wanted to make the best of these 2 months in terms of traveling and discovering new things. For instance in these travels I discovered that Italy is divided into 3 areas: the north, the center around Rome and the south (for me it is the most spectacular and you can read that later).
I can start by saying that besides Rome (obvious) I was able to go to Florence and Pisa for 6 days and appreciate the beauty of Florence both during day and night…but above all at night, from Piazza Michelangelo and I lost myself through its streets appreciating and soaking in the culture. It was also impressive to go to Pisa and to see the tower and above all climb up and feel like the slope and the tower gave me an indescribably wonderful feeling!
Let’s talk about what really fascinated me as this weekend I have been to the south and as my friend Pierpaolo, from Avellino, says this is the real Italy since it has everything for me. If we leave aside the famous Camorra, you can discover some really incredible people who all day have a smile on their faces, who without knowing you at all can speak as if you were a friend that you see every day. They also have some beautiful landscapes as in the 60 kilometers that separate Avellino from Naples lies an immense valley where you can see large and small villages and finally arriving in Naples, you are amazed by the famous Vesuvius and later the immense sea. Also you have to talk about its streets that go from modern streets to what could be called suburbs which was the most fascinating for me since this is where the true Italian essence is and if you are lucky enough to see a raw meat stand, for only 2 euros you can have a taste. In the beginning I thought it would be disgusting but it turned out to be very good!
Finally when it comes to Pompeii, a city that unfortunately in the past with its inhabitants suffered a great misfortune but, thanks to that, to this day we can appreciate it and the truth is that it does not disappoint. Being able to walk through Pompeii where everything is practically as before the eruption, to appreciate these petrified people, to enter the amphitheater or to see the intact paintings of the villa of the mysteries makes it worth walking for 5 hours at almost 40 degrees.
In short if you could see the big smile that I have in my face now while I am writing this, you will realize how well I have enjoyed myself and also everything I have discovered -such as the true and false story of Garibaldi (but that one, I’ll keep it for myself) and if you want to know, you will need to come to Italy and discover it yourselves.
I say goodbye with a well-known song that I sang in Pompeii with my friend amidst the looks and smiling faces of tourists…
Fratelli d’Italia,
l’Italia s’è desta,
dell’elmo di Scipio
s’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l’Italia chiamò.
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l’Italia chiamò, sì!
Adrian