Are you consumed by
the power of wanderlust which takes you to places unknown, where you immerse
your soul in the ethereal fantasies of Nature and discover the art of passion?
I was led by my intuitive sense of adventure which took me to seek the treasures
of history, culture and revel in a
journey of the most talked-about cuisines of the world. With all roads leading
to Rome, I was captured by the spirit of wanderlust as I ventured into the
realms of Rome to seek hidden treasures surrounded by
myths, mystery and mesmerizing facts of the much-visited tourist destination of
Italy.
I was totally
overwhelmed by Rome which is the capital of Italy with a history of almost
3,000 years of art, architecture and a haunting background of the Roman Empire.
As a much-anticipated trip and a dream vacation, I set out on my Italian
Connection tour by taking the sights and sounds and sensations of Rome with St.
Peter’s Basilica which was first on list followed by the eye-opening artistic
Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel was a glorious entrée into the architecture
of times gone by and an eternal ode to the celestial and captivating art of the
1400s. After a filling and satisfying ‘prima colazione’ which consisted of
fette biscottate, caffè latte and cookies, I joined
the merry band of adventurers to explore the treasures of Rome.
The
City of Rome Makes an Offer You Can’t Refuse
I just loved the
atmosphere and the warmth of the sun as it filtered through an ambience of
immortality and filled the traveler’s soul with all things everlasting. I
absorbed the Roman environment at the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Spanish
Steps, the Palace of Justice and the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio
Emanuele II which reverberated with the culture of a charismatic time. I was
just waiting to explore the taste of a Roman holiday and revel in the
much-talked of Italian dishes. I enjoyed the famous Bruschetta which is a popular
antipasto or appetizer, Supplì or fried
rice croquettes stuffed with mozzarella and beef ragout and a pasta
dish called Bucatini all'Amatriciana
and of course, who could resist trying out the delicious gelato, Tiramisu and
Panna Cotta?
While
Rome had cast a spell over me, I was still raring to explore the romance and
the dream-like sequence of gliding through the canals of Venice. Yes, I did try
out the gorgeous gondola ride which was every bit like the guide books said
they were. Being every traveler’s dream, Venice unrolled spectacular sights and
experiences as I walked in awe through St. Mark's Cathedral,
San Marco Square and the Doge Palace. The islands of
Murano, Burano and Torcello held a special interest for me with their
incredible glass making crafts while displaying the lifestyle of the Venetians. Fascinating
and ethereal, the gorgeous canals of Venice rendered a surrealistic feeling and
it was natural to try out flavors of seafood being surrounded by water. I
relished the delicious Sarde in saor, a sweet sour dish with fried sardine
fillets, Risotto al nero di
sepia, a seafood based rice dish and Baccala mantecato or
creamed dried cod including other fabulous specialties which consisted of game
meats and the famous wines of Italy at the osterias and trattorias.
Delighting the Palate with the Flavors of Italy
Created for the fashionista, Milan as I expected was as fashionable as ever and chock full with famous boutiques and high-end designer outlets. I had read extensively about the historical sights of Milan and made it a point to visit the much-talked of grand Gothic Duomo. My gastronomic journey went on a flavorsome tour with Risotto alla Milanese textured to perfection, Cotoletta alla Milanese or veal cutlet, Cassouela made with pork and Savoy cabbage stew and many other delicacies.
I discovered tranquility and peace at the picturesque and picture
perfect, Cinque Terre which
means Five Villages and was transported into an ambience that was centuries old
with colorful houses and vineyards clinging precariously to the sides of rugged
cliffs. With harbors which were chock-a-bloc with fishing boats and trattorias
with seafood cuisine, I marveled at the famous pesto which is a sauce from the
Liguria region.
After visiting Pisa with its unique Leaning Tower which is also known as the Piazza dei Miracoli", or the "Square
of Miracles", I
traveled to explore the tourist destination of Sorrento,
taste the famous Limoncello, relax
at the Marina
Grande and absorb the bustling downtown which seemed like an everyday carnival.
Being an adventurer at heart, I had decided to explore the ruins of Pompeii
which had been destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Crafting the Art of an Italian Romance
Known as a popular backdrop for films and a great tourist
destination, the Amalfi Coast delighted me with its pastel-colored fishing
villages, sheer cliffs with lemon groves and dotted with appealing beaches
which stretched across a rocky shoreline along the Tyrrhenian
Sea.
My taste buds were raring to go and I sat down to experience a combination of
seafood and other great dishes with Scialatelli, a pasta in seafood sauce, ’Ndunderi, a type of pasta,
Sarchiapone made with stuffed pumpkin, Pigniatello all’ amalfitana, a blend of
seafood, Colatura di alici, a fermented fish sauce and a delicious dessert,
Sfogliatella.
I just loved the dashing town of Positano
with its dramatic yet luxurious ambience. Painting a picturesque sight with its
cliff-side village which cascaded with terracotta and pastel colored houses,
this great tourist destination displayed fabulous shopping outlets, hotels
shaded with hanging wisteria and awesome restaurants. Bringing the rich harvest
of the ocean to satisfy the taste buds, the restaurants in Positano served an
amazing array of the local dishes and I reveled in a feast of seafood fit for
Neptune. Delighting the palate with a wide range of both gourmet and local
tastes, the cuisine of Positano ranged out mouth-watering Spaghetti with mussels, Boiled
Octopus dishes, Tubetti with Totani which squid, Linguine with Fresh Prawns,
ravioli, Gnocchi, pasta and spaghetti with flavors divine washed down with Chianti Classico, Rosso di Montalcino, Falerno del
massico and other great Campania wines. cheese and liquors.
As my Italian sojourn drew to a close, I was determined to bring alive the flavors of gorgeous Italy to tickle the taste buds which you will be delighted to read in my next adventure posting.
Binoy
Nazareth Invites You to Delight the Taste Buds with the Flavors of Italy
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