The Charms of Italy

Vibrant cities, magnificent landscapes and food so pleasurable it will make you cry — these are just some of the reasons I have found myself enamored with Italy. While some may argue that Paris is the city of love, I differ in this opinion. Paris can be romantic, but I believe the entire country of Italy to be a playground of enchantment. 

As an American, I may speak with some bias about my passion for all things Italian. Hollywood has been drawn to Italy as a muse for decades. Here are just a few mentions of popular films: ‘The Godfather’, ‘Roman Holiday’, ‘Letters to Juliet’ and ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. It would be hard not to be captivated by stories set in these cobble-stoned streets and rustic, small towns. 

The thing that I most appreciate about some of these films is how right they feel in capturing the essence of the country. Regardless of the level of believability of the plot, the pleasure is in the backdrop details. One doesn’t necessarily need to step foot in the country to get a hard glimpse at what life is like. Long before I visited the ancient cities and rolling hills, I knew I was captivated. 

North Americans often get a reputation around the world as being especially smiley, chatty, painting things as overly special. I am not here to argue against this claim (I think it adds to our appreciation for life). North Americans in Italy, however, tend to embody this cliche more intensely. 

When faced with a native Italian, this gushing excitement for the smallest details of their everyday life may evoke an eye-roll or skepticism. It’s just pasta — just a vineyard — just another pile of Roman ruins — just a beach. 

This may be a knee-jerk response to over-tourism. This is not to say by any means that Italians aren’t proud and patriotic. Rather than telling them what they already know about the greatness of their tradition/food/town, consider letting them be the ones to share it through their eyes. They’re proud parents of their homeland and people. It’s their grandmother’s pasta recipe — their family-owned vineyard — their city’s ancient ruins — their beautiful beach. 

When I travel to Italy I enjoy when someone opens up about the details about a family business, often passed down generationally. I want to support the local restaurants, artists, craftsmen, etc. I derive pleasure from lingering over the street musicians advertising their latest album.

When the evening approaches and the sounds of the town dampen, I linger in the intimacy of strolling past cozy residences on tucked away streets. Occasionally an open window gives a glimpse into another world — a widow reading with her cat, a family with young children playing, a couple sharing a bottle of wine. These moments are often enhanced by facial expressions and hand gestures, clues of the dialogue being shared. It is this expression that is so innately and wonderfully Italian.

One of my first lessons from traveling is that all Italian towns are not the same. A nation built from many small kingdoms, Italy’s union was weaved together with a complexity unlike that of other European nations. The regions share similarities, but the differences are numerous. For example, food is a central part of the country’s culture and sense of community, but can be prepared completely differently regionally.  

Another difference are the language dialects from each former kingdom. The acquisition of the modern Italian language is composed of words from these different dialects. 

This concept is difficult to explain to an English speaker. For example, there are different words and phrases to express the same thing or concept from British English to Scottish English. Aside from country specific idioms and metaphors (and the accents), the people from these two regions on average can understand each other well. This is not the case between dialects within Italy which can be so dissimilar that people from one region to the next cannot understand what is being said at all. 

One of my favorite passages in Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, is when she discusses how Italians decided on a common language. She writes, 

“This Italian peninsula needed an Italian language, at least in the written form, which everyone could agree upon. So this gathering of intellectuals proceeded to do something unprecedented in the history of Europe; they handpicked the most beautiful of all the local dialects and crowned it Italian.” 

The whole chapter can be read here: Eat, Pray, Love, ch. 15 

This language, with its purring and rolling, is something that I find delightful. Just the sound of the language is every bit as beautiful as a well-crafted piece of music. Coupled with the picture-perfect atmosphere and scenery, Italy is a difficult place to leave.

From north to south, mountains to beaches, cities to small towns, the possibilities for comparison are diverse. The natural features are another of my favorite things about the country. The northern parts are home to the Italian alps and the Dolomite mountain range, a paradise for hikers and skiers. There are also many lakes, the better known being Lake Garda. Throughout the center of the country runs the Apennine mountain range. In Tuscany, travelers can explore vast countryside peppered with the iconic, pencil conifer trees. These are often in combination with rolling hills of grapevines and olive trees. Further south, one can visit intimidating but beautiful volcanoes. The infamous Vesuvius volcano, better known as the destroyer of Pompeii can be found on the southwest coast. Finally, I would be remiss to leave out mention of the many beaches, which cover more than half of the Italian coastline. To put this in perspective, 15 out of 20 regions of the country have beaches. 

Needless to say, there is something for everyone and every hobby. Tourism reigns supreme as an industry in Italy. If sports aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to do. Lying on the beach, visiting a vineyard or museum, cooking classes to explore the local cuisine, etc. Anything is possible. 

While not all Italians speak the best English, a tourist won’t usually have to look far to find someone who does. This makes visiting the country easy to navigate for both new and experienced travelers. 

If you do make a trip to Italy, make sure you take time for long meals. The Italians are masters of enjoying the little joys in life, especially when it comes to food and coffee. One of my favorite afternoon pastimes is sitting outside a cafe or gelato shop and people-watching. 

In everyday-life we don’t always take time to intentionally sit and observe the present moment. I have found this to be essential to my travels through Italy. Enjoying a long meal or aperitivo (in the afternoon) is an easy way to set aside time to appreciate the beauty around me. 

While no country is perfect, and Italy certainly has idiosyncrasies, there is power behind a society structured around prioritizing happiness. Italians’ focus on family, well-being, satisfaction in the day-to-day and preservation of culture, has attracted travelers from around the world. Even more significantly, the Italian way of life and diet frequently land them on the world’s top lists for citizens living longer than average, far into their 100s. 

This special combination of magnificent nature, tradition, cuisine and lifestyle is reflected in the beauty and passion of the people. There is a reason that travelers keep returning here. People seek to understand and rest in this seeming utopia. Beauty in the mundane is around every corner.

That is how I view Italy: a place that challenges us to return to the basics, be present and appreciate the little things. For all of these reasons, this country will continue to be one of my favorite places in the world.

I will now close out with a final question to the reader: Do you believe Italy to be more romantic than other countries? Why or why not? I’d love to hear your opinion.