Category: Europe

An Italian holiday: Wanderers Travelogue

Tuscany by sunset

 

 

“The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo.”
– Mark Twain

I call it a veritable open-air museum.

From the impressive Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals of northern and central Italy to the ancient religious architecture in the Southern regions, Italy has it all.

Sicily - Cathedral

The splendor of Baroque architecture runs throughout the country, in the grandeur of the buildings and the richly decorated churches of Naples and Sicily. The unique and fascinating valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the mysteries of Pompeii and Herculaneum in Campania all the way to the Etruscan civilization around Tuscia in Lazio – the splendid architecture holds me mesmerized in its silken threads.

“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”
– Giuseppe Verdi

The Glorious Mt. Etna

The Wanderers’ Italy

The Wanderers’ flavor has always bordered on being unique and one of a kind. It’s not just about packing in the destination –  but about nudging the traveler to explore the far and beyond  – unraveling  the myriad layers, the exotic culture, the people  and more…

It could be as simple as spending a relaxed afternoon sipping wine in a street side cafe outside The Pantheon in Rome or in front of the many piazza’s that form the heart of every city in Italy.

Or moving away from the traditional ‘villas’ and ‘boutique hotels’ – exploring the gorgeous city in a houseboat.

 

The gorgeous Tuscany vineyard

A stay in a farmhouse in the heart of the Tuscan countryside with a spa treatment is what a holiday is all about.

A full day horse riding safari in the hills with a picnic hamper is what picnics are meant to be about.

A trip down the Grand Canal to Mark’s Square in a private boat followed by a Gondola ride followed by a dinner in one of the restaurants on the way back to Venice station or your hotel holds the promise of bringing back the romance.

 

 

The sheer cliffs of the sensual Amalfi coast

A drive down the Amalfi Coast; an evening walk through Florence…

Lake of Barrea in Abruzzo

And whilst in Florence – climb the soaring cupola of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo, for views over red rooftops to Tuscany’s undulating hills beyond.

Captivating is Michelangelo’s David which stands proud behind the doors of the Galleria dell’Accademia, only rivaled in scale and splendor by the Uffizi Gallery where Boticellis, da Vincis and other Italian Old Masters hang out.

Landscape of the City - Abruzzo

Traverse the River Arno via the medieval Ponte Vecchio to picnic beside statues and fountains in the regal Boboli Gardens.

Head out to our favorite Tuscan village: San Gimignano, which I believe, is one of the most splendid examples of medieval towns.

It’s a whole new world which awaits you…

Gourmand’s delight

Learning all about olive oil

A trip to Italy without immersing yourself in its gastronomy isn’t a trip to Italy! This is a land where food is made out of nothing but pure love  – so what better place for lovers to share a meal?
Whether it is the pesto sauce of Genoa or the ‘original’ pizza from Naples, the delicious mozzarella di bufala, or the porcetto in Sardinia, each of the regions have unique cuisines that makes Italy an epicurean’s paradise.
Take up a cooking class – learn how to make Appetizer Sicilian style, Pasta Norma Style (with eggplant, tomato sauce and salted ricotta cheese), Breaded veal rolls or meat-balls Sicilian style, Cassata Siciliana with Mrs Eleonora Consoli in her La Cucina del Sole (The Sun’s Kitchen)

And for your sweet tooth – sample the exotic struffoli from Naples, caggionetti from Abruzzo, and panforte from Siena along with Italy’s Christmas cakes from Milan and Verona – panettone and pandoro.

And how can you ever forget Italy’s love affair with wine and cheese is well known. Amarone from Veneto, Barolo from Piedmont, Chianti Classico from Tuscany are but a few that you must savor on your journey.

Whether its white, rosé or red, this country boasts a huge number of the world’s best wines.

Head out on a wine tasting trip  – Visit  the cellars and wine tasting in Tenuta San Michele, an ancient estate located on the slopes of the Etna Volcano.

Or simply spend a week in Tuscany to  explore the vineyards and savor the rich taste of the wines.

It’s a journey of pleasure – wandering through beauty, discovering gastronomic delights, rediscovering history and more…

– Meenakshi Shankar

 

Image Credit – Fototeca ENIT (Tourism Italy)

Tales of my sojourn: Gallivanting around Europe – Italy and Switzerland

Jungfrau – A must do in every Wanderers List

My yearly vacation – which like every Wanderer, I really look forward to – heading away from the daily rigors – the stress, the constant emails, deadlines and more – and this time around, it was in the midst of rolling hills of Switzerland and the warm smiles of the Italians that held the promise of working its way into creating a whole new chapter in my travel diary.

What more could I ask for…a romantic sojourn with my wife, Kiran had us discovering the quaint and offbeat Italy and Switzerland – (Bellagiom Mennagio, Cadennabia in Italy ) and (Zurich, Interlaken, Lucerne, Lugano, Berne, Geneva, Locarno, Ascona in Switzerland) – a world away from the tourist traps!

Both of us are avid travelers – we love our sojourns to be quaint and unique – learning about cultures, flavors, the exotic – it’s what we believe travel should be all about.

Magical Berne – Rediscovering the old world charm

Switzerland –  to many may seem cliched as a getaway – but what I realized was that it’s a land of much more than mountains, cheese and gnomes.
It’s a revival of the senses.
It’s the crisp freshness of the air, the scent of pine, the riotous splash of wildflowers, and the taste of sweet milk straight from the cow…
It’s the chance to free yourself and seize the most from life, day after challenging day.”

Magical Ascona – a sojourn for every romantic soul

The gorgeous weather – Escaping the Indian summer, the weather was cold throughout between 6-18 degrees. We caught Jungfrau at -1 degrees which actually fell to -8 the next day. The cold winds made for a perfect mixture of snow sights melted into the greens of the mountains.

Stay at the swiss chalet – a must do

My first impression of the country: Diverse and beautiful, Switzerland has something for every traveler. A Must see on every Wanderer’s list, it changes from green to greener to greenest in the most serene ways.
Our first encounter was actually with Bellagio in Italy wherein the lake breeze shook us before we entered a very warm and friendly Italian culture.

Lake Como

And Italy – well, Lake Como was an irresistible choice because of the proximity to Southern Switzerland. But, the vibrant layers that unearthed along the way left us asking for more…

Capturing the essence of the country – When it comes to Switzerland, you cannot miss the fresh air and the pristine picture perfect surroundings. And you cannot help, but fall in love, with the fantastic cities – Berne and Geneva.

What I discovered was a wonderful way of life – which helps you reconnect – a slow pace of life. Walk, stop, look.The little villages – so laid out (a mixture of nature and nurture to be sure) that wherever you are, you can change your mind.  Walk further, linger over lunch, stop to look at the rare mountain flowers, watch the baby marmottes playing, picnic in the sun by a fresh water lake.

Savoring the Swiss icecream

Switzerland is all about feeling free. Within the multi-cultural population, in the air, in pursuit of interests, in variety, there is a smell of freedom within.

The mixture of a German, French, Romensch and Italian makes Switzerland a melting pot of various cultures and actually extracts the best out of them. Wherein we felt that Lugano was in Italy, Geneva seemed completely French.

Swiss chocolates and fondue landed in between our scenic drive between the villages.
And the Italians –

Their warmth envelops you…their loud emotions make you part of their gaiety, their food delights your soul, their fantastic architecture and beautiful lakes mesmerize you and their adventurous streak – ahhh…even before you know, you are waltzing along with them and their way of life. In fact, I’ve always felt the Italian demeanor to be a lot like our Indians.

Especially in Bellagio wherein the people aspect struck us most. From the receptionist to the cook, to the shopkeepers, everyone was extremely warm and with a ready smile.

A must experience:

Stay in the typical SWISS CHALET in Switzerland which is a page out of a fairy tale book.

In Italy, experience the animated conversation – of the people – really loud and very passionate – it is a sheer delight watching them.

Must savor: The Swiss Fondue

Swiss Fondue peppered with wine is delectable. Really delicious and we had it in the perfect setting of a Swiss Chalet in Cold Interlaken. Top it up with an ice-cream and it is the perfect recipe.

Savor the White Wine.
A whole new chapter in my travel diary:

The city walks of Berne and the panoramic view of the city. The Bears of Berne have a heritage and a great story to tell. The UNESCO World Heritage site is a must in any trip to Switzerland. The Berne City square which has the Big Clock is unforgettable

Getting up in the morning in Interlaken, peep outside the window and let the magic of the beautiful Jungfrau envelop you.

Trip into Ascona and Locarno from Lugano  – an off the beaten track – but sinfully beautiful. They resemble the villages of Italy through their beautiful architecture, lakeside walks and adorable city centers.

Visit Lake Brienz which would rank amongst the best lakes ever seen. It is actually the stillness of the lake which makes it absorb a really captivating blue color. An surreal and unforgettable experience.

My two week sojourn came to an end…but the memories still linger. Enjoying the long city walks and gazing up at the snow kissed rooftops in Winter is a sight which holds the promise of luring me back.

– Rishiraj Pruthi

 

 

About Rishiraj Pruthi

Family Man, avid traveler who loves his wife and his car (in that order!) – he believes in Wandering into the off beaten tracks and exploring the local culture and savoring every moment of his Wandering Ways. He celebrates life and believes in living every moment of it to the fullest!