A Trip To Italy

The Amalfi Coast. This stunning area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Verona, the setting for Romeo & Juliet.

Italy is a very beautiful country with a great history, not to mention the FOOD!!
From the monuments left from the Roman Empire, through the stunning countryside and coastline, to its rich cultural heritage. Italy has so much to offer!!

Rialto Bridge, Venice.
What could be better than a nice romantic trip down the canals in a gondola? A Cornetto firmly in hand, of course!!

Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

Italian wines are affordable and can accompany any meal. The best known varieties are probably Chianti, Barolo, Pinot Grigio, and the sparkling wine, Prosecco.

Now, did I mention the food?
Pasta is a staple of Italian cuisine. There are two types of pasta: fresh, made with egg, and dried. Both of these come in various shapes: strands, ribbons, sheets, tubes, twists, cut shapes, etc. Different shapes go better with different sauces - creamy, chunky, etc. - and the trick is to match them up correctly to make the most of the sauce.
Spaghetti, lasagne, fettuccine, fusilli, gnocchi, macaroni, penne, rigatoni, tagliatelle, cannelloni, ravioli, tortellini, farfalle, vermicelli, and linguine are probably the pasta varieties that we are most familiar with.
Traditionally, pasta is always a shade of yellow, although commercially made pasta can be different colours. Green pasta is coloured using spinach or other herbs, black is made using squid ink, and red using tomatoes. Some people also dye pasta for fun into a rainbow of colours using food colouring.
The use of garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, fish, cheese, cured meats, as well as fresh fruit and other vegetables make traditional Italian food very tasty as well as a very balanced diet.
And who doesn’t love a slice or two of pizza?

The Colosseum, Rome. Although it has seen damage from earthquakes and stone-robbers over the centuries, the Colosseum still stands proud. During the times of the Roman Empire, it was used for shows sponsored by the rich and powerful in which there were gladiator fights and wild animal hunts.

The famous leaning tower of Pisa!!

Beautiful Tuscany!!

The Ancient Roman city of Pompeii, with its buildings and people frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Vesuvius is still a dormant and not extinct volcano and 3,000,000 people live close enough to be affected by any eruption with 600,000 in real danger.

So, have you ever been to Italy? And if so, what was your favourite place or thing to do while you were there?
Or would you love to go? If so, what places would you most like to go to?
And let’s not forget the food!! Do you like Italian cuisine? Italian wines?
Let’s share thoughts and things on all manner Italian!!

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