An Italian Affair to Remember.

An Italian Affair: 

What exactly is the first thing that comes to your mind when you read about an Italian Affair? I will allow you to let your imagination run wild and at the end of this post, you will have realized the true meaning of this sentence.

However, before we get to that, let me remind you that I am writing this post, to fulfill a promise I had made last year in January 2017! Yes, you may have forgotten it, but I haven’t.  What promise am I referring to? Check out this thrown back post link: My Roman Holiday

In this thrown back post of My Roman Holiday, I had mentioned that I had tossed a coin in the Trevi Fountain in Rome and was waiting for my assured trip back to Rome. As expected, it finally came true and I am here to post a picture and write about it. I visited Rome with another friend and again tossed the coin! But no, next time I am not going to write about it!

No matter how many times I may visit Italy, I am sure to be awestruck and spellbound by it’s beauty.  This time however, my main focal point of visiting Italy, was to visit the Tuscan region. Oh I absolutely love Tuscany. And I know that I will again visit Tuscany for a longer period of time.

I was first attracted to Tuscany, when I watched the movie : Under the Tuscan Sun ( I know, I do watch a lot of movies!) Let me reproduce what exactly about it attracted me to Tuscany: Frances Mayes Books

Frances Mayes entered a wondrous new world when she began restoring an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. There were unexpected treasures at every turn: faded frescos beneath the whitewash in her dining room, a vineyard under wildly overgrown brambles in the garden, and, in the nearby hill towns, vibrant markets and delightful people. In Under the Tuscan Sun, she brings the lyrical voice of a poet, the eye of a seasoned traveler, and the discerning palate of a cook and food writer to invite readers to explore the pleasures of Italian life and to feast at her table.

The movie was just a tiny window arousing my curiosity. It enticed me into finding out more about Tuscany. I read up about the region, I searched the internet for more information and pictures and that did the trick. I knew I was in love with Tuscany even before I could see it for myself! An Italian Affair!

https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/europe/italy/tuscany

From the glories of Renaissance Florence, with its wealth of artistic treasures, to the golden landscape and hilltop towns of the Tuscan countryside; from the terraces of the Chianti and Montepulciano vineyards to Pisa’s notorious Leaning Tower and Siena‘s scallop-shaped piazza: this is a region that has fed the imagination and delighted the senses of countless visitors for many years.

I had read so much about the rolling hills of Tuscany, that when I finally got to see it, my eyes and my heart couldn’t get enough of it. I was in love! with Tuscany. An Italian Affair to remember!

 

Tuscany consists of many towns/cities like: Florence, Arezzo, Pisa, Siena, Cortona, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Pistoia, San Gimignano, San Miniato, Castiglion Fiorentino, Certaldo, Chianciano Terme, Lucca  and many many more. I have visited a few of them, but my favourite out of all of these is without a doubt: Montepulciano. I shall be dedicating a separate blogpost on Montepulciano.

Then there is also the Chianti region, Tuscany’s Famous Wine Region. Tuscany is located in the center of Italy. In the center of Tuscany, between Florence, Siena and Arezzo is Chianti, a charming hill-covered region surrounded by the main “art” cities in the region.

When one is surrounded by so much of beauty, art, culture, food, music and Architecture, all our five senses are bound to be tingled and activated. In such a scenario, it is absolutely impossible to not fall in love with this beautiful country and that my friends is my Italian Affair 🙂

I read somewhere that Rome is synonymous with romance, it’s all in the name, as if you reverse the word ‘Roma’ (the Italian word for Rome) you get ‘Amor’ – meaning love. But I would go one step further and say that Italy is synonymous with romance. Everywhere you go, you can’t help being mesmerized and captivated by the stunning sights, the busy Piazzas, the splendid sunsets, the panoramic views, the picturesque villages, the sprawling vineyards, the endless Sunflower fields, the colourful market places, the sun-drenched mountains and the ever enchanting countryside. I even heard of  there being ‘The Tree of Love’ somewhere in Lucignano.

After reading my blogpost, what is your conclusion? Tell me the truth, aren’t you too perfectly mesmerized by the beauty of Italy – especially the Tuscan region? This is just an introduction or how to I say it in true Italian style? It is  like an Aperitivo (appitizer, light snacks with drinks) which comes from the Latin word for ‘opener’, signifying that it was open to a meal. More of a curtain-raiser 🙂

This has truly been an affair to remember!

Tell me what you thought about my post and keep sharing your travel stories here! I will be back soon with another post on my Italian Sojourn.

Your TravelMate