I think that everyone at some point in there life dreams fo going to Italy, that Holy and Mystical boot, home to both the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church - Two of the most influential forces in the Western world. And yet i do not think that any amount of preparation or imagaining can prepare you for the realities of the Italian culture and lifestyle. Italians are unmistakebly, people of passion . There is a sense of drama and chaos in daily Italian livig which is both Jovial and frustrating. I kickstarted my Italian adventure with a train from Milan to Venice. Venice is an intricate and utterly unique labrynth of 117 Islands interconnected through canals and pedestrian bridges. At first I decided to walk across the city to the exclusive touristc suburb of San Marco which has an impressive square and golden mosaic Basilica, or Cathedral. But far from the madding touristc crowds, as you get lost in the winding streets of Venice, that is when the magice overcomes you. That is when you truly awaken to the uniqueness of this city. And so it was as if in a trance that i wandered into the halls of the Peggy Guggenheim musem, where the famous heiress and art patron is buried amongst her many poodles. She was the lover and companion of Jackson Pollock for much of his life so naturally the musem houses an extensive collection of his work, as well as the work of Francis Bacon.
From Venice I found myself in the very different yet equally magical and antiquated Town of verona. The town has an ancient Roman arena at its centre as well as several other well preserved ancient buildings. I was lucky that at the time of my visit the operatic version of Rome and Juliette was on its last night in the Arena. The story of Romeo and Juliette is actually based on a factual story about two young lovers who lived in Verona. It was later turned into a short story which eventually became the basis for one of Shakespeare´s most famsous plays. It was a magical experience and a unique way to experience itlalian culture by watching families, friends and young lovers on this extroadinary outing.
Napoli and Pompeii are considered a road less travelled on the touristic route of Italy, but to be honest, in June, July and August I do not think that any part of Italy is left untouched by the summer time frenzy. On the train to Napoli, which is in the very South of Italy, I was more likely to overhear people speaking English than Italian. (especially in loud boisterous American accents which made it difficult to sleep.) Italy is a truly diverse country and indeed epople seem to identify mroe with the region or city than with the notion of being Italian. It is also easy to understand when you learn that it was not always a unified state and fairly blatant to see when you travel to different parts of the country. Napoli is noticeably poorer thant the cities further up north and even an first time traveller like myself can notice the different intonations in language, the more relaxed dress sense and the dirtier streets. But amongst many other things, it is the birthplace of one of Italy's most famous exports - the Pizza . Pizza made in Napoli however has a signature thick soft crust in comparison with the roman pizza which is paper thin and crispy. My stay in Napoli was highlighted with an excursion to the ruins of Pompeii, the once prosperous Roman town which was destroyed by the erruption of Mt. Versuvius. It was a fascinating trip because the story behind the ruins was something which echoed throughout my childhoos, and the view of Versuvius is stil as impressive as I am sure it was back then.
The unexpected highlight of my trip to Itlay was its current cultural hub and capital - Roma. I have my own reservations against much of Roman history and particularly the Catholic Church therefore the idea of Rome was not something which enthralled me. The reality however, was captivating beyond my wildest expectations. Roma is a city with historical wealth that is incomparable. There is the lesser known pre-Roman Etruscan Period, Thge Early Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Mediaval and Gothic Art and Churches, the Baroque Period, the Renaissance and The Vatican to behold and compare.Apart from all that weighty history the cities is just filled with beautiful architecture ( more churches than any where else int he world i am sure), great food and a pleasant, helpful people.
Equally impressive, but a little too touristy is the legendary Florence, home of the Renaissance. Florence undoubtedly has some of the most impressive art collections in the world the most famous highlights being - Michelangelos David and Botticcelli's birth of Venus ( which I waited three hours in a line to see at the Uffizi musem. ANd just a quick train ride away is the exquisite town of Pisa with its eually famous leaning tower. Unfortunately at this point my cameras battery had run out and the only images of that real hot hunk David I manages to caputre on virtual celluloid is a replica.. *sigh* 
