Falling in love with a person is all well and good, but have you ever fallen in love with a country?
It’s a very all-consuming affair; the kind you’d fly across the world for, learn a new language for, put up with consistent public transport strikes for. I should know because I’ve been in love with Italy for quite some time now.
At the moment, it’s kind of a summer fling situation, but I think the build-up makes for quite the romantic reunion. After four long years since my first trip, I returned for a spritz-soaked soul-searching sojourn this past July (although I’m not sure how much soul-searching was actually achieved). Italy welcomed me with open arms, kissed me on both cheeks and then seemed to not let me go by way of cancelling my flight out of Rome to Greece. Bit of a toxic boyfriend move if you ask me, but points for passion.
I eventually did end up getting on my flight to Greece a couple of days later, and after two weeks of eating dolmades and drinking cocktails in Crete and Paros, I returned to Italia to spend a month learning Italian in Florence. Throughout August, I inflicted my B1 Italian on locals, saw upwards of a thousand iterations of Jesus’ crucifixion, ate as much gelato as humanly possible and sweated profusely. I loved it.
Although I also spent time in Ireland and London, I dedicated more than two months of my three-month trip to Italy (we’re in the honeymoon phase), visiting seven cities and towns in total. And despite the public transport woes, scorching heat and overcrowdedness, I couldn’t stop gawking at everything. You could be having a small menty b, but Italy goes, “Stai zitta. Go eat some tiramisu and look at how beautiful everything is” and all you can do is wipe your tears and respond, “Why yes, certo” and before you know it, you’re practically skipping along the Tiber, totally undeterred by the countless ‘ciao bella’s’ being thrown your way, thinking, I am the luckiest girl in the world.
And yes, as an overly optimistic tourist, I definitely have le fette di prosciutto sugli occhi or prosciutto on my eyes (the Italian version of rose-tinted glasses which is actually quite fitting considering the colour of prosciutto…). Anyway, Italy has plenty of flaws, of course, but it’s all too easy to allow yourself to be seduced by Italy’s sexy accent, sophisticated style and all-round deliciousness.
So, without further ado, here are just a few reasons why I love Italy.
1. The panini
You might be wondering, ‘What’s so special about a sandwich?’ and this would indicate that you’ve never had a proper Italian panino before and/or your idea of a good sandwich is a soggy meatball sub. To each their own, I suppose, but just know that authentic Italian panini are on another level. In another realm, even. When I say that they have the power to make you look at life like it’s the most magical, wonderful thing ever, I’m not kidding. Just look at these photos. You can’t fake a loving look like that.
2. Aperitivo
Aperitivo is the perfect opportunity to gossip over cocktails and snacks, and is therefore yet another reason why I love, love, love Italy. Not just confined to weekends, aperitivo is undoubtedly a quintessential part of Italian life, especially in the summer when the air is sticky and warm and whispers “Have a spritz, you’ve earned it.” And who are you to say no?
In the name of cultural immersion, I indulged in aperitivo as often as I could and what I learnt is that heaven is sipping on an icy Campari spritz in a crowded piazza and to also never underestimate the alcohol content of said Campari spritz.
3. These biscotti
I could write a sonnet about these biscotti, but I won’t because you probably don’t want to read that. However, what I will say is that Baiocchi are yum, delicious, biscuit perfection. Dip them in your espresso or just whack it in your gob, do whatever you please, but just know that life is too short to settle for an Arnotts Milk Arrowroot or similar when you can get Baiocchi from your local Coles or Woolies.
4. Riposo
If I were prime minister, I’d bring back daylight savings, appoint Troye Sivan as Minister for the Arts and allow everyone to have daily nap time or as the Italians call it, riposo (also known as pissolino and pausa).
A lot of first-time tourists don’t expect to find shops with their roller shutters down and a chiuso sign on a weekday, but the thing is, capitalism hasn’t totally taken away Italians’ rights yet, so a lot of them get to go home to have lunch and rest for a couple of hours. As someone who rests competitively, I think this is the optimal way to live.
5. Damiano David
Need I explain this one? I think not.
6. The weird traditions and festivals
Another thing I love about Italy is the many bizarre traditions and festivals they have. From Ivrea’s Battle of Oranges, which is exactly how it sounds, to Padua’s annual fry-up of a one-thousand-egg omelette, Italy is a firm believer in upholding traditions, no matter how nonsensical.
While I sadly didn’t get to throw oranges or watch a bunch of monks make a giant frittata, I did get to experience Florence’s Feast of San Lorenzo where plates of free pasta and watermelon are handed out to hordes of hangry Italians. While the food is free, you pay by experiencing music festival-level shoving on your journey to the barricade. All part of the fun though.
7. The farmacia
Some find retail-induced comfort from strolling through IKEA or Bunnings, but for me, it’s the farmacia.
Imagine a Chemist Warehouse without the narrow aisles and stimulation overload and just the good skincare and beauty products. Or a world without pain and suffering. That is an Italian pharmacy, because not only are they orderly and quiet, but they’re also filled with five-euro perfume dupes, amazing skincare products, the best sunscreen I’ve ever used and a whole heap of other products from brands I’ve never heard of. What more could you want?