Look at a map of Europe. Look at where Italy sits on that map, with its boot-like shape, Sicily at its toe, Sardinia floating freely near its knee and surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea.
Now, imagine Italy wiped out. No more boot-like shaped mass and islands, no more Alps and Apennine Mountains, no more Italy, just water, just water.
If Italy never existed, what would the world be missing? Think about it? What would the world be missing? I’ll give you some time to think, maybe jot some things down on a piece of paper…what’s on your list? Now, as I continue, I do not want to imply that one country alone is the sole contributor of the following and if Italy did not exist, other countries would have given the world these things (maybe, not in the same way) yet as you read on, read again, and truly absorb what Italy has given the world…
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Rome footage at Veni, Vidi, Vinci: Roma, the Eternal City, Indeed! Part two: Assisi and Siena Assisi I mentioned that Naples was one of my favorite cities in all of Italy. My all-time favorite city in all of Italy (now, mind you I haven’t seen EVERY city in Italy) yet my favorite city still is Assisi. It is the first city I have ever visited that literally brought me to tears. The sense of pure peace from its hill-top heights with the most mesmerizing panoramic views of yellows, greens, and blues can move the most cynical and jaded of individuals to cry or at least smile a little. Assisi is in the region of Umbria, known as the Green Heart of Italy—its simplicity is purifying and awe-inspiring. A day visit is all you need and it will stay with you for a lifetime. http://www.assisionline.com http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/art-and-history/assisi-city-of-saint-francis.html http://www.assisiretreats.org
Generally, first time tourists do not visit the Southern parts of Italy and their cities as often as Central and Northern Italy. Yes, if you’ve never been to Italy, I highly recommend seeing Rome, Florence, and Venice—they are a must. However, what I have observed is that many returning tourists will return to these very cities and do not explore south of Rome. I wonder how one’s experience of Italy would change if their first visit began in Puglia or Calabria, or Sicily? How would their perception of Italy be different, if at all?
There is a distinct difference between the North and South of Italy. I find the South of Italy to be more raw, real, not as industrious yet still lively, full of history, and a chaotic feel that is purposeful and freeing. Much of Italy has somewhat of a chaotic feel, with city congestion, traffic, and geographic make-up—mountains down its center and top and surrounded by waters. In the South there is an unstructured feel unlike its northern counterpart. All of Italy has a movement of time that is unlike that of America. It’s a little slower, a little less frenetic, and more moment-to-moment even in its bigger and more modern cities like Milan. This moment-to-moment feel is much more evident in the South of Italy. It is what brings a sense of peace to the chaos. I highly recommend visiting the bigger, more touristy cities; yet, I stress strongly that the south of Italy must be seen, otherwise Italy’s true essence will be missed. |
Ciao, io mi chiamo Anna
E' un piacere conoscervi. Nice meeting all of you. I am an Italian teacher in the States and have been teaching for almost 20 years. I love teaching Italian yet Public Education has changed since I started; or it may be that I have changed since I started--maybe a little bit of both. I was granted a sabbatical year to work on a project about my family that metamorphosed into something bigger than my family. It developed into a website called the Story of Silence. It speaks about seven women and the stories they tell about their personal experiences during WW2. I am hoping it can develop further into a resource for teachers of all subjects and for life-long learners in general who believe in the power of Storytelling and its capacity to connect us in the most human of ways. Storytelling lead me to create For the Love of All Things Italian as well. I love Italy and thought this would be another way of sharing Italy with others who have the same passion and love for this breathtakingly beautiful yet unabashedly flawed and enigmatic country--it is what makes Italians so very human. You'll find stories from different areas of Italy I have had personal experiences in; however, I highlight Sicily. It's where I go every year and where a little piece of my heart remains until I return. Archives
July 2017
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