***Dedico questo post a Gaia, la migliora professoressa di lingua italiana. Grazie per tutto, sono davvero fortunata ad averti rincontrata!***

 

I don’t travel because I just want to check a destination on a list. I love to discover places where I will eventually return, where I will create memories, connections and that feeling of familiarity. Italy is one of those places. In the past 6 or 7 years, I went to Italy every year – sometimes in a new place, other times – going back to those I already knew. It was the case for both this year, and you know what is more special for 2017 ? Each time it was a road trip. We just jumped in the car, transited Switzerland and those 5 hours of route seemed like forever until the moment I would finally get the chance to speak Italian again.

So I decided to make a post, mostly a photographic one, with all the Italian places I visited this year together with my husband. I won’t describe them much, as Google is never too far away; still, if you have any questions and you believe I could give you a better answer, just feel free to ask in the comments below and I will be happy to reply.

In chronological order, let’s begin:

It is the capital of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the city where I could see myself living. As for James Joyce and his peers, the main problem would be the bora. But let’s not forget that there is the best coffee and cuisine in the world, which makes me think twice.

Many 500, of different colors and age

I wonder if James Joyce was as tall as his statue in Trieste 🙂

  • CINQUE TERRE

Too beautiful, but too crowded and noisy. Unfortunately, it is not a place where I’m longing to go back.

  • TOSCANA

We spent a whole week here and, besides the well-known places, we got to explore cities, lands, monasteries and vineyards less known to the aggressive tourism.

  • Pisa

 

  • San Gimignano

 

The famous towers of San Gimignano

I have a thing for these old doors – I always try to imagine what could be hiding behind them

 

Beautiful hills with Vernaccia grapes

  • Crete Senesi

…indescribable beauty!

A dream came true: walking in a Tuscan field of sunflowers – so clichĂ© but so beautiful 🙂

  • Abbey of San Galgano

A place that is subject to many myths and stories; and great for hiking and photos

  • Firenze 

Firenze in the morning

admiring Firenze from the Palazzo Pitti

the wild exuberance of the Florentins

…if you ever wandered what is the view FROM the Ponte Vecchio

when you match the Cathedral’s façade

Firenze in the evening

watching the sun set over Firenze from the Piazza Michelangelo

  • Siena 

Siena was getting ready for the palio

pick your favorite candidate

  • Lucca

this image perfectly summarizes what Lucca is: charming gardens & villas with open windows, from where you can hear opera singers rehearsing. Rossini is in the air 🙂

  • Montepulcianno… 

…is all about breathtaking views, exceptional wine and truffle based meals 

this façade is one of the great masterpieces of the Late Middle Age; simply impressive

  • Civita di Bagnoregio

 

  • SARDEGNA

rooftops of La Maddalena

Capo d’Orso

  • BOLOGNA 

  • MILANO

…And many other small towns and villages that I don’t remember the name, neither I have pictures of. In any case, Italy is, for me, the most beautiful country in the world thanks to its complexity and richness and I’m already planning to go back to some of these places and to discover new ones in 2018.

How was your year in travel ?

Thank you for reading and Happy new year, dears! Â