Wow, I have been writing about Italy forever, haven’t I? There is just so much to say and I could probably go on and on (particularly about food), but I think I’ve reached the end of my Italian musings for the time being. Which means it’s time for Best and Worst!
Total Days: 15
Total Days it Didn’t Rain: 11 (Wow, that has to be some sort of record for me)
Places Visited: Rome, Bologna, Milan, plus day trips to Modena and Ostia Antica
Favorite Place: I still adore Rome, but Bologna really struck a strong chord with both Michael and me- strong enough to go on our shortlist of places to live!
Least Favorite Place: Milan didn’t do much for me, but it’s still part of Italy which makes it 1000 times better than most places.
Best Tourist Site: Even so, wandering around on the rooftop of the Duomo was the coolest way to explore a church ever.
Favorite Food: Oh my god, I can not choose. I am having a serious crisis just trying to answer this question. Okay fine: Roman artichokes, pizza we made ourselves, pasta bolognese (which I don’t even like much back home), real gelato, every single kind of cheese and cured meat.
Least Favorite Food: Even the Italians have an off night. Mike and I went out to celebrate a late Valentine’s day at a fancier place near our apartment in Rome and I ended up with an extremely disappointing lamb chop with barely any meat on it’s charred bones. It was also probably the most expensive meal I had in Italy to add insult to injury.
Most Memorable Moments: Eating real gelato outside our homey rental apartment in Rome, discovering Keat’s grave, wandering Bologna late at night with my friend Anna, seeing the Trevi Fountain with Mike for the first time and exploring hidden parts of the Colosseum.
Coolest Discovery: The startlingly different (and yummy) taste of real DOP Balsamic Vinegar, aged 25 years, in Modena. I’ll never go back to the thin stuff.
Biggest Obsession: Food obviously, but more specifically the local markets that can be found in every town and local neighborhood in Italy. The produce was so fresh and colorful it looked like jewels.
Biggest Annoyance: The air quality in Milan was surprisingly terrible! Also, this wasn’t so much an annoyance as a terrifying ordeal, but I’ll probably need sedation dentistry next time because of our horrifying Italian dental experience.
Coolest souvenir: I love love love my little Capuchin monk espresso shot glasses that I picked up at the Capuchin Crypt. Aren’t they the cutest things ever?
Biggest Regret: That dentist of course. Also being too unorganized to go see the Last Supper outside Milan.
Best Advice: When in Italy try every local meat, cheese and pasta specialty you can get your hands on! Learn about food traps and really make the most of being in (at least according to me) the culinary capital of the world.
Would I Go Back? Oh yes, I suspect I will be seeing a LOT more of Italy in the next few years. At least I really hope so!
Oh my goodness! This makes me so much more excited about going to Italy! We will be visiting your favourite and least favourite place (cause as you said it is part of italy!)
I am so excited for all the food! If there was only 1 thing that you should eat in Italy…what should it be?
Also how different is italian pizza vs other pizza?
C.C. from 18nineteen.blogspot.ca
Great quick summary – sorry to hear about that awful dentist visit YIKES!
Looking forward to Bologna – everyone raves about it lately and I’m thinking of dedicating more than 5 nights when I’m there in the spring.
This reminds me of my stay in Venice few years ago… But I´ve never been to Milan so I´ll keep your advices in mind. 😉
Well, Milan is known to be not the best of the italian cities, unless you are looking for shopping. Next time you should definitely add to your list Cinque Terre. You won’t be disappointed!
We were originally going to go there on our last trip to Genoa but missed it. Definitely on the list for next time!
Amazing! I’m so excited to go to Italy in 2 weeks, I will now be reading every tagged Italy blog post you have ever written 😉
Here’s my proposed itinerary for Rome and Amalfi coast. Any suggestions welcome!! http://www.littlelost.co.uk/2013/05/italy-travel-planning.html
Nicola x
Ah, I love the food in Rome!! The meat and pasta in Florence is also to die for. I spent a night in Bologna years ago, but definitely need to go back and I agree about Milano, didn’t do much for me either.
Italy is easily my favorite country to explore in Europe, but I completely agree that Milan is just..lacking. We drove right past Bologna but unfortunately did not stop!! Now I regret it, and it’ll definitely be on my list to visit when I go back again.
Italy really is a wonderful country. You’re right about Milan. It lacks something, but it’s still in Italy 😉
I agree about the markets; the vegetables are amazing! We recently visited Tuscany, again, and were so lucky to have experienced terrific meals. We usually have at least one that leaves a bad taste (pardon the pun), but this time each and every one was terrific! Can’t wait to go back…so many more places to discover.
I love the way you organize your posts on different places; the best of/worst of makes a nice summary, and is really entertaining! Italy is a wonderful place, but I’ve never been to Milan, so I can’t compare my experience at all. 🙂
Awesome review of the best and worst of Italy. We loved our time in Italy and I have to agree with you on so many of your choices, thank goodness we didn’t need to visit a dentist while we were there!! And yes, the Capuchin monk espresso shot glasses are very cute!