Well, we did it. We went to see Angels & Demons on Saturday. Both of us had read Dan Brown's book and loved it. We wanted to see the movie just to revisit one of our favorite places on Earth, Rome. I had read that Ron Howard was not allowed to film inside St. Peter's Basilica or the Sistine Chapel, and couldn't imagine how he could possibly recreate sets that would even come close to seeing these two historic places in person. But, he did!!! We've been to Rome four times, and would go back year after year if we could. It is magnificent!!! Here are things I love about Italy:
Twelve years ago in April, I fell in love. Not with Charlie. That happened thirty years ago. I fell in love with Italy. You know, when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…. That kind of love!!
It has been said that you cannot be all things to all people. Perhaps that is not true about Italy. To some, Italy means sunshine, music, food and romance. To others it is history, art, culture or religion. Italy has inspired generations of writers, painters and musicians. At one time, Italy was the focal point of the “Grand Tour” – the rite of passage for young, wealthy Europeans and Americans to experience the culture of Europe. Today, Italy is one of the top five destinations for Americans. Whether it is a seaside holiday, summer lakes and mountains in the Italian Alps, winter-skiing, fashion shopping or religious pilgrimages, Italy remains the wellspring for la dolce vita – the good life.
Separated from Northern Europe by the Alps and surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean, the fertile land of Italy is one of the finest and most important agricultural settings in the world.
In one of my previous lives, I must have lived in Italy. Just stepping off a plane into this wonderful country feels like coming home. The Italian lifestyle is a huge attraction, unlike the more reserved attitudes of Northern Europe. I remember driving from the Black Forest in Germany, through Switzerland, into Italy on one of our trips. We had to literally go through an 11-mile long tunnel – the Gotthard Pass – which was dug out through one of the mountains in the Alps. As we entered the tunnel on the northern side, all of the people looked Germanic, spoke German, the food was German. When we came out on the southern side, everyone looked Italian, spoke Italian, and the food – well, what can I say about the food? It was fantastic.
Italy became a unified country only in the 19th century and still today great regional differences in cuisine, dialects and culture are evident. Italy has an excellent rail and road system and is easily accessible from the rest of Europe. The rail fares are some of the lowest in Europe and a terrific way to travel the country. But, beware. The trains can and do go on strike at the drop of a hat. This happened to us three times on a 10-day trip.
Italian ports have become important to the cruise industry and represent major ports-of-call on Mediterranean itineraries. Many Italian hotels are small, family run operations. Italian villas, some costing many thousands of dollars a night, are in high demand.
It is easiest to think of this country as broken into three regions: The North, which includes the Alps and Northern Italian Plain; Central Italy, encompassing Tuscany, Rome and Umbria; and Southern Italy. To the north, the Italian Alps are a favorite destination for world-class skiers from Europe and elsewhere. Large lakes dot the area and provide a summer resort setting.
Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. Built on a lagoon, there is no vehicular traffic in the city. The canal system is not for tourists only – it is an important transportation option. At times, the city floods as merchants and hotels calmly pick up furniture and rugs, moving them to a higher floor until the ground level water recedes.
Some of the finest art collections in the world are housed in Italy and the architecture of its major monuments are immediately recognizable. From the Uffizzi Museum to Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia in Florence, from the Pantheon to the Colosseum in Rome, from the Rialto Bridge to St. Mark’s Piazza in Venice and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy has some of the most beautiful sites in the world.
Did you know that the cab drivers in New York City train in Rome? Rome is a big city with more history than you can ever remember. The tour guides must go to university for four years and study the history of this great country so the information they impart to tourists is accurate. Rome, the “Eternal City”, has been a center of Western civilization for more than 3000 years. Enveloped in the city is a country – Vatican City – home of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Of course, Rome is the setting for Angels & Demons, and the reason for my writing this blog today.
So, the next time the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, think Italy!!!
Twelve years ago in April, I fell in love. Not with Charlie. That happened thirty years ago. I fell in love with Italy. You know, when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…. That kind of love!!
It has been said that you cannot be all things to all people. Perhaps that is not true about Italy. To some, Italy means sunshine, music, food and romance. To others it is history, art, culture or religion. Italy has inspired generations of writers, painters and musicians. At one time, Italy was the focal point of the “Grand Tour” – the rite of passage for young, wealthy Europeans and Americans to experience the culture of Europe. Today, Italy is one of the top five destinations for Americans. Whether it is a seaside holiday, summer lakes and mountains in the Italian Alps, winter-skiing, fashion shopping or religious pilgrimages, Italy remains the wellspring for la dolce vita – the good life.
Separated from Northern Europe by the Alps and surrounded by the waters of the Mediterranean, the fertile land of Italy is one of the finest and most important agricultural settings in the world.
In one of my previous lives, I must have lived in Italy. Just stepping off a plane into this wonderful country feels like coming home. The Italian lifestyle is a huge attraction, unlike the more reserved attitudes of Northern Europe. I remember driving from the Black Forest in Germany, through Switzerland, into Italy on one of our trips. We had to literally go through an 11-mile long tunnel – the Gotthard Pass – which was dug out through one of the mountains in the Alps. As we entered the tunnel on the northern side, all of the people looked Germanic, spoke German, the food was German. When we came out on the southern side, everyone looked Italian, spoke Italian, and the food – well, what can I say about the food? It was fantastic.
Italy became a unified country only in the 19th century and still today great regional differences in cuisine, dialects and culture are evident. Italy has an excellent rail and road system and is easily accessible from the rest of Europe. The rail fares are some of the lowest in Europe and a terrific way to travel the country. But, beware. The trains can and do go on strike at the drop of a hat. This happened to us three times on a 10-day trip.
Italian ports have become important to the cruise industry and represent major ports-of-call on Mediterranean itineraries. Many Italian hotels are small, family run operations. Italian villas, some costing many thousands of dollars a night, are in high demand.
It is easiest to think of this country as broken into three regions: The North, which includes the Alps and Northern Italian Plain; Central Italy, encompassing Tuscany, Rome and Umbria; and Southern Italy. To the north, the Italian Alps are a favorite destination for world-class skiers from Europe and elsewhere. Large lakes dot the area and provide a summer resort setting.
Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world. Built on a lagoon, there is no vehicular traffic in the city. The canal system is not for tourists only – it is an important transportation option. At times, the city floods as merchants and hotels calmly pick up furniture and rugs, moving them to a higher floor until the ground level water recedes.
Some of the finest art collections in the world are housed in Italy and the architecture of its major monuments are immediately recognizable. From the Uffizzi Museum to Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia in Florence, from the Pantheon to the Colosseum in Rome, from the Rialto Bridge to St. Mark’s Piazza in Venice and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy has some of the most beautiful sites in the world.
Did you know that the cab drivers in New York City train in Rome? Rome is a big city with more history than you can ever remember. The tour guides must go to university for four years and study the history of this great country so the information they impart to tourists is accurate. Rome, the “Eternal City”, has been a center of Western civilization for more than 3000 years. Enveloped in the city is a country – Vatican City – home of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. Of course, Rome is the setting for Angels & Demons, and the reason for my writing this blog today.
So, the next time the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, think Italy!!!
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Enjoyed reading your post! I havent seen the film yet but am a big fan of Rome...
ReplyDeleteDan
http://www.qualityvillasitaly.co.uk