These first two weekends I’ve been exploring Italy and this amazing country. (Added bonus: It’s warmer in Italy than it is in the rest of Europe!)
Tuscany
My first Italian trip was to the Tuscany region with my school. They made us arrive AT SCHOOL at 7am (left my apartment at 6am…) on the first day to get on our bus. It was a three hour drive to our first stop, Pisa. In Pisa, I saw with my own two eyes that the leaning tower does, in fact, lean a lot. Surprising, right?
I tried to kick the tower and I wasn’t quite flexible enough… Disclaimer: The grassy area in front of it is now closed, and you have to stand on these posts with round tops to really get a photo, which isn’t easy!
I tried to kick the tower and I wasn’t quite flexible enough… Disclaimer: The grassy area in front of it is now closed, and you have to stand on these posts with round tops to really get a photo, which isn’t easy!
The school provided a guide and we had a small tour of the city, where he explained the history behind it (history: it used to be very close to the sea but since then sediment has piled up, in the 1200s it was one of four sea-faring empires along with Genoa, Amalfi, and Venice). We saw the duomo and the tower, and I was surprised to learn that there is much more to the town than this area! I had always assumed that there really wasn’t much but it was a very quaint northern Italian town. After our tour, we wandered the streets and checked out the riverfront. Some friends and I had a nice sit-down lunch and opted to eat outside and enjoy the great weather.
After lunch, we checked out the street full of tourist stands. The items were pretty funny–anything you ever wanted could be purchased in leaning form! We also had a pretty fun time going to every single vendor and trying to bargain.
Our hotel wasn’t in any of the cities we visited but rather was in the middle of all three, so we headed there for dinner and to settle in. Dinner was a four course meal with everyone, which was pretty nice! It only took three hours each night though!
After lunch, we checked out the street full of tourist stands. The items were pretty funny–anything you ever wanted could be purchased in leaning form! We also had a pretty fun time going to every single vendor and trying to bargain.
Our hotel wasn’t in any of the cities we visited but rather was in the middle of all three, so we headed there for dinner and to settle in. Dinner was a four course meal with everyone, which was pretty nice! It only took three hours each night though!
Day 2
The second day of the trip was Florence, which I was looking forward to. The same tour guides met us in the city and we learned briefly about them. Shockingly, there were no lines for any attractions but my friend Jess and I opted out of going to see the David because I am planning on seeing it over Thanksgiving with my mom. The tour ended at the Ponte Vecchio, which is the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one that survived Nazi bombing in WWII.
We went to lunch at supposedly the best sandwhich shop in Florence (shout out to Ariel!) and it didn’t disappoint–we also somehow missed the line down the street for that as well! Jess and I met Lanie at the Ufizi Gallery and spent almost three hours looking at the amazing art. And of course, it wouldn’t be Europe without an amazing ceiling to match!
Afterwards, we went to another of Ariel’s favorites and this time it was gelato that was AMAZING. I thought I was too full/cold for gelato and I learned that no is seriously never an option. Finally, we headed to the leather market. I was planning on buying stuff when I return, but I couldn’t turn down some of the items I saw.
Backstory: On my previous trip to Villa D’Este outside of Rome, my Longchamp bag was slashed open in an attempt to get (I’m assuming) my wallet and probably my phone. So, when we found large leather bags with zipper compartments inside for only 15 euros, I was so down! I was also able to get some presents for friends back home at the market. Lanie did some impressive bargaining and got gifts for her boyfriend and her dad for cheaper than I would have thought! The shopkeepers were even more aggressive than any I’ve seen in Rome or other Italian cities; and you didn’t even have to acknowledge them for them to start talking to you. Luckily, we made it out in one piece and with (almost) everything we had come for!
Then, we headed to the hotel and had yet another four course meal. Not bad!
Backstory: On my previous trip to Villa D’Este outside of Rome, my Longchamp bag was slashed open in an attempt to get (I’m assuming) my wallet and probably my phone. So, when we found large leather bags with zipper compartments inside for only 15 euros, I was so down! I was also able to get some presents for friends back home at the market. Lanie did some impressive bargaining and got gifts for her boyfriend and her dad for cheaper than I would have thought! The shopkeepers were even more aggressive than any I’ve seen in Rome or other Italian cities; and you didn’t even have to acknowledge them for them to start talking to you. Luckily, we made it out in one piece and with (almost) everything we had come for!
Then, we headed to the hotel and had yet another four course meal. Not bad!
Day 3
We woke up at 6am to go….wine tasting. But of course, it’s Italy so we really didn’t leave on time. The vineyard was two hours away, and they told us that it was actually an estate as large as central park.
We started with a pasta making demonstration, where we learned to make long thin noodles whose names I completely forget, but it definitely wasn’t spaghetti or fettuccine! Then, the nice Italian lady put us all to work making the pasta and even with 30 people it took quite a long time.
We started with a pasta making demonstration, where we learned to make long thin noodles whose names I completely forget, but it definitely wasn’t spaghetti or fettuccine! Then, the nice Italian lady put us all to work making the pasta and even with 30 people it took quite a long time.
After we finally exhausted all of the pasta dough, we took a tour of the estate and the houses on it. It was super gorgeous and classically Tuscan, and was built in the 1600s. She explained that we were at the edge of the Burnello region, and that they also produced Chianti. We saw the wine making equipment and then went to the cellar to try their wines, where she also explained that it was a completely female-operated winery. It’s rare to have a female in charge of the winemaking process let alone have a vineyard completely run by women!
There was a beautiful room with glass walls overlooking the vineyard where we had lunch (again, 4 courses), and the most amazing peach cobbler I’ve ever had. There was, of course, more wine involved in this!
Finally, we had some free time to wander and my friends and I went to explore the estate and walk in the vineyard. The leaves of the grape vines were turning brilliant yellows and oranges, even though it was almost 75 degrees. But it was a great end to a fantastic weekend! We didn’t get to spend much time in each place, but I’m glad that I’ll be revisiting some of them when my mom comes to Italy!
There was a beautiful room with glass walls overlooking the vineyard where we had lunch (again, 4 courses), and the most amazing peach cobbler I’ve ever had. There was, of course, more wine involved in this!
Finally, we had some free time to wander and my friends and I went to explore the estate and walk in the vineyard. The leaves of the grape vines were turning brilliant yellows and oranges, even though it was almost 75 degrees. But it was a great end to a fantastic weekend! We didn’t get to spend much time in each place, but I’m glad that I’ll be revisiting some of them when my mom comes to Italy!
Sicily - Siracusa
Mount Etna Volcano from the plane
A few days later, I hopped on a plane to go to Siracusa, which is a historic port city on the island of Sicily in Italy’s south. My friend Simone, who graduated from Emory in May, is there for a year to teach English on a Fullbright scholarship. I was very excited to see her town and her Italian experience! She also speaks Italian, so it was going to be a much easier weekend than usual!
I met her at a cafe on the main street in town after she was done with her day at school. From there, I got to see her apartment and her neighborhood. She lives on the historic Island of Ortygia, which was beyond charming and I honestly tried and failed to capture in photos. As we walked around, we found people she knew–major small town vibes!
For dinner, we met up with Simone’s friends and had some excellent Pizza. They all spoke English and were teaching English in various places on the Island. Aside from one girl who was local, the rest were from the UK, and we had a lot of fun hanging out with them!
I met her at a cafe on the main street in town after she was done with her day at school. From there, I got to see her apartment and her neighborhood. She lives on the historic Island of Ortygia, which was beyond charming and I honestly tried and failed to capture in photos. As we walked around, we found people she knew–major small town vibes!
For dinner, we met up with Simone’s friends and had some excellent Pizza. They all spoke English and were teaching English in various places on the Island. Aside from one girl who was local, the rest were from the UK, and we had a lot of fun hanging out with them!
Temple of Apollo in downtown Siracusa
Day 2
On Saturday, we were going to go to the Greek Theater with them but since they were running on Italian time, decided to head over to the castle/fortress that is right next to Simone’s apartment. It was on the very tip of the island and had amazing views of the surrounding water. I loved how it smelled like the sea :) The fortress has been used continuously since the Greeks were in Syracuse, but was also used by the Romans, Spanish, Moors and about 10 other empires that conquered the area.
One of the more exciting things of the day: Simone bought a bike! The buses on the island are really unreliable but her schools are an hour walk from her apartment. It was electric too and went super fast!
After the bike, we were able to check out their weekly market. I think I’ve been to a lot of European markets; but this one was different because of the variety of fresh fish. I’ve been struggling to find fish in Rome but here there was no shortage. She told me that they catch them right off of the coast and bring them in whole–I’d never seen whole Swordfish before, and that was not something I ever though I would see!
For lunch, Simone took me to a very well-known place where this old man who is the “sandwich master” makes each sandwich on the fly based on the person he sees in front of him. It took forever but was pretty interesting to watch. Eventually, the line stopped moving because some lady ordered 15 sandwiches, so we just had ours made in a less exciting way outside. But, I had a blast watching him and trying to take photos that captured the experience.
While we waited in line, it got pretty cold and windy so we retreated back to her apartment for some snacks and cozy blankets. I talked to my parents (shout out to mom and dad) and Tylar (made it on the blog!!).
For dinner, we went to a typical Sicilian place where they of course, knew Simone. By the end of the weekend I had the routine down, they would ask all about her, she would explain who I was, they would start trying to ask me a question and I would have to embarrassingly explain that I don’t speak Italian. Then, it would go back to Simone and they would explain that i was visiting from Rome while I nodded and smiled.
Saturday night is the night to hang out and go to dinner in the area, and we could tell because town was insanely crowded with people of all ages. Simone saw many of her students as we walked on the Lungomare, which is a path along the water. It was a really fun and festive atmosphere, the only weird thing was that it was almost 60 degrees and they were wearing full winter jackets! Eventually, they all just sort of stood in a piazza and hung out which we didn’t really quite get, so we got cannolis and left.
After the bike, we were able to check out their weekly market. I think I’ve been to a lot of European markets; but this one was different because of the variety of fresh fish. I’ve been struggling to find fish in Rome but here there was no shortage. She told me that they catch them right off of the coast and bring them in whole–I’d never seen whole Swordfish before, and that was not something I ever though I would see!
For lunch, Simone took me to a very well-known place where this old man who is the “sandwich master” makes each sandwich on the fly based on the person he sees in front of him. It took forever but was pretty interesting to watch. Eventually, the line stopped moving because some lady ordered 15 sandwiches, so we just had ours made in a less exciting way outside. But, I had a blast watching him and trying to take photos that captured the experience.
While we waited in line, it got pretty cold and windy so we retreated back to her apartment for some snacks and cozy blankets. I talked to my parents (shout out to mom and dad) and Tylar (made it on the blog!!).
For dinner, we went to a typical Sicilian place where they of course, knew Simone. By the end of the weekend I had the routine down, they would ask all about her, she would explain who I was, they would start trying to ask me a question and I would have to embarrassingly explain that I don’t speak Italian. Then, it would go back to Simone and they would explain that i was visiting from Rome while I nodded and smiled.
Saturday night is the night to hang out and go to dinner in the area, and we could tell because town was insanely crowded with people of all ages. Simone saw many of her students as we walked on the Lungomare, which is a path along the water. It was a really fun and festive atmosphere, the only weird thing was that it was almost 60 degrees and they were wearing full winter jackets! Eventually, they all just sort of stood in a piazza and hung out which we didn’t really quite get, so we got cannolis and left.
Day 3
Sunday was an action-packed day to make use of the time I had left. We walked to the Greek Theater, which is one of Siracusa’s most famous ruins. It was GIANT and very impressive. You could walk through it and we sat in the seats as we took it in. We also tried to read the faded Greek on the seats, but they were too faint to see. From the top of the theater, there was a great view of the sea even though we were almost 2 miles inland. These were my first Greek ruins in a semester full of Roman ruins so I was really excited about it.
There was a park that was next to/sort of below the ampitheather that we also explored. There were large rock formations, and a system of huge caves. We went into this cave called the ear, and didn’t expect it to go very far. However, we kept walking and soon heard some noises overhead that was a giant colony of bats…needless to say we ran out really quickly!
I had my last Sicilian cannoli on the way back, and I have to say they are loads better than the ones in Rome. Then, I was on my way back to Rome for another week!
Ciao,
Alyssa
I had my last Sicilian cannoli on the way back, and I have to say they are loads better than the ones in Rome. Then, I was on my way back to Rome for another week!
Ciao,
Alyssa
