Living in Italy - A Few of My Favorite Things: Part 1.
It's hard to believe nearly three years have come and gone since my family and I moved to Italy. We've just over a year left and though I'm excited for our next adventure there is a very big part of me that will be sad to say "Arrivaderci" when the time comes. Over the next year, I will be sharing all the little things I love about living in Italy (and perhaps some of the things I don't.) because living in a foreign country as opposed to visiting one on vacation allows one a rather unique perspective.In years to come, when I think of Italy, I'll think of their amazing coffee. It truly is a major part of the makeup of this land. Coffee bars, cafes, and even vending machines can all provide a delicious cup of caffeinated dreaminess.
The quintessential cappuccino, sprinkled generously with unsweetened chocolate or as it's often referred to "cacao" Is one of my most favorite things about Italy. I don't think I've traveled, or toured, or simply experienced any place more aware of art. Everywhere you go, even in the most humble of places there is some form of art, or at the very least a beautiful natural landscape. Italians enjoy beauty, and even when they don't mean to, they make things beautiful. From the way they package gifts you buy, or box sweets from a bakery, or go for a picnic. Which isn't how you or I would. No, these can be large affairs full of multiple course meals, and of course wine and things to beautify a picnic table...
I encountered this simple flower bouquet at a park one summer afternoon, a previous visitor, had left it to be enjoyed by the next person to dine. I'd be remiss if I were mentioning coffee, to not remark about gelato. Gelato is delightful any time of year, but especially in the summer months. When I visit my local gelateria, I may, take home one of these other - non "ice cream" deserts. My favorite - the meregata. If you've ever the chance to try this desert. Go for it! It's meringue, whipped cream, and a fruit, usually a berry. Yum!
Italian deserts, aren't they pretty?All of these photos were shared on my Instagram- follow me!
Cinque Terre, Italy Is As Charming As You Think It Will Be
Libreria Acqua Alta: Quirky Venice, Italy Bookshop
Living in Italy certainly has its perks... A short train ride to Venice is unquestionably one. Last week, while meandering over canals and waxing poetic, I remembered this book shop I'd read about when I knew I'd be moving to Italy. Prior to researching the area we were to live in, or anything of significant importance, I Googled, "bookstores in Italy" or something equivalent because visiting every single "must see" bookstore or library in Europe is on my bucket list. Yes, friends, I know where my priorities are.On previous excursions to Venice, my husband and I had no plan, except to "get lost". In the excitement of being in Venice, I forgot about this shop. I don't know if it was the just bloomed wisteria which dappled balconies, the murky turquoise water sparkling in the afternoon sun, the memory of a novel that took me to Venice long before I set foot on its cobbled streets; which contributed to my remembering. Or my desire to walk into a bookshop and find a treasure... Preferably in English, because despite my six-year study of the Italian language, when I read in Italian, it is slow going.A not-so-quick Google + map search provided me the address to la "Libreria Acqua Alta" which means "Library of High Water", and my husband a mission: to get me to this book shop. A few hours and ninety percent of my iPhone's battery life later, I was there.
The Liberia Aqua Alta, calls itself the "most beautiful bookshop in the world". I wouldn't vote it "most beautiful", but it is a welcoming, eccentric, dusty store which makes it's guests feel as though they've stumbled into a place that could only be found in a story.
Upon entering, visitors are cocooned in a cacophony of books, welcomed by feline guards who are remarkably tame and take no notice of all the store's patrons. You will find a motley crew of genres ranging from new publications to old second-hand books. I like to imagine how the books came to be at La Libreria "Acqua Alta" were they left behind by tourists in gondolas, found underneath hotel room beds, or left by distracted café goers? Oh, the stories they could tell...
You will find books in many languages, mostly in Italian of course, but don't let that stop you. A book from this shop is a perfect memento of your visit to Venice. Pick a book that speaks to you and take it home as a special treasure. I discovered two books. The first was The Allegory of Love by C.S. Lewis. It is a yellowed, 1958 copy, with notes by a former owner who was called Brigitte Rü-something. I can't really read her handwriting, but she wrote Friuli, 1961 on the inside title page. The second treasure I took home was Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady, published by Penguin in 1074. It too is delightfully yellowed but in otherwise excellent condition. I couldn't help but wonder where these books have been, or how long they sat piled on the shelf waiting for me to find it.
There are books on Venice, stacked high front and center in a gondola that takes up much of the floor in the center of the shop Yes. You read and see correct. Who needs a shelf when you can store your books in waterproof bins like a bathtub or gondola?
On each side of the gondola that monopolizes much of the main room's floor space, are narrow aisles. You'll have to squeeze by other bibliophiles in rapture to get to the back of the store where you'll discover a staircase made of old encyclopedias.
You know the ones rendered useless by the Internet... They've been given a new purpose. I can think of far worse walls and much sadder ends to a book's life than that of delighting people from all over the world. It is exciting climbing the steps, wondering what you'll discover...Which as it turns out is just a canal. But it is a canal in Venice.
Magic.
If bookshops and libraries are on your "must see" list when traveling, you can find La Libreria "Acqua Alta" on Calle Longa S.M. Formosa 5176, Castello 30122.
Sculptures & Jane Austen in the Galleria dell'Accademia? Florence, Italy
I thought I would take this opportunity to show you another area (besides the David) that stood out for me at the Galleria dell'Accademia or Gallery of Academy Museum in Florence. We weren't allowed to photograph in many parts of the museum, but the one area I would've loved to explore was this room full of statues, called the Gipsoteca Bartolini which unfortunately was roped off the day we visited. I was totally drawn to this room, and probably spent a good 15 minutes just gazing in longingly into it.I later learned (read, I Googled) this room of statues is actually plaster casts of sculptures, all done by Lorenzo Bartolini. Plaster or stone, I would've loved to have spent a ton of time in this room, which was lit beautifully with soft light.
I couldn't help but be reminded of the scene from the 2005 movie version of Pride & Prejudice, where Elizabeth Bennet played by Kiera Knightly tours Darcy's home.
Can you see it too? Or am I just that much of a P&P fan..?Sigh. Photos of Lizzie's Tour of Pemberly, source
Sculptures & Jane Austen in the Galleria dell'Accademia? Florence, Italy
I thought I would take this opportunity to show you another area (besides the David) that stood out for me at the Galleria dell'Accademia or Gallery of Academy Museum in Florence. We weren't allowed to photograph in many parts of the museum, but the one area I would've loved to explore was this room full of statues, called the Gipsoteca Bartolini which unfortunately was roped off the day we visited. I was totally drawn to this room, and probably spent a good 15 minutes just gazing in longingly into it.I later learned (read, I Googled) this room of statues is actually plaster casts of sculptures, all done by Lorenzo Bartolini. Plaster or stone, I would've loved to have spent a ton of time in this room, which was lit beautifully with soft light.I couldn't help but be reminded of the scene from the 2005 movie version of Pride & Prejudice, where Elizabeth Bennet played by Kiera Knightly tours Darcy's home.Can you see it too? Or am I just that much of a P&P fan..?Sigh. Photos of Lizzie's Tour of Pemberly, source
Il Duomo, Florence Italy
I had so much fun sharing Michelangelo's David, I thought I'd continue with a few of my thoughts regarding Florence, which to date, is my absolute favorite Italian city.No trip to Florence would be complete with out seeing Il Duomo, as it's kind of hard to miss. I would describe as it's most magnificent architectural masterpiece. The Florence Cathedral, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (The Basilica of Saint Mary the Flower.) When you first happen upon Il Duomo, your breath catches in your throat at it's sheer size, plus 700 year old buildings will kind of do that to you. For me, one of the best parts of visiting a city like Florence is having the opportunity to witness all of the places I'd till that point, only read about it books. Stories like, Inferno By Dan Brown or The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant.
Michelangelo's David, Florence Italy
Our first trip to Florence, happened on a whim, we'd talked about going, but hadn't made any plans, and a day before we'd set out to leave we made reservations at an Army base nearby and packed up our car. Because of our lack of planning, our intention was mostly to walk around, get a feel for the city, and people watch. On the drive down, we decided we'd pick one famous piece of art that everyone knows is housed in Florence and see it. For this trip, we chose Michelangelo's David.David was once housed outdoors, in front of the Palazzo della Signoria, but is now kept in the Galleria dell' Accademia. The Accademia houses much art, so definitely plan on spending a few hours there at minimum if you want to see more than just David.What most surprised me about the actual statue of David, was it's sheer size. It's huge. At fourteen feet tall it is practically a giant. You can read more about the statue's history on the Accademia Gallery's website.
