I have loved Italy since I stumbled into Firenze in the off-season when in college, in approximately 1997. I fell head over heels in a trip that year to Cinque Terra, before (I think) Rick Steves caused it to be overrun with tourists; the friendly waiter at Gianni Franzi in Manarola introduced me to one of the best meals of my life. That same year, I went to Lake Como on a budget, so my trip memories are a beautiful hike with mountain goats. I wasn't able to visit between 2003 and 2019 and much changed, but I could still conjure the beauty of small villages and towns not overrun. I must admit, I struggled learning how to be in Italy with a more robust budget, because I wanted to return to the beautiful memories of my youth. I did share Cinque Terra with my children in 2019, even though it was not the same place. We did enjoy another meal at Gianni Franzi, but (and maybe this was because I had been separated from my family for a few weeks and they were starving when they finally arrived) that meal was topped by a take-away meal on the balcony of our Air BnB in Riomaggiore. I am almost scared to know what it is like in 2024, and I hope it retains the magic and was not too destroyed by the economic destruction of the intervening years. Thank you for following me and I look forward to learning more about your beautiful country.
💖 Thank you Jennifer so much for sharing! 💖 You mentioned the very basis of real travelling, not the surface but those invisible little inside experiences and the meaning they conveyed to you. I share the hopeful feeling that everything has remained the same in that corner you loved. This are right what I would love to emerge through this space, which I titled Projects because it takes the road of getting involved and being open to listen more with the heart. Florence is dreamy (I moved there in 2018 from Turin) but would you say it can also be a door to discover more? I bet on it !!
Florence of off-season will always be one of my favorites and I am so glad my first visit was not a the height of he summer. When I did return for several weeks one summer, I already knew the small magic places that I could share with my American classmates. Another favorite meal memory is fresh pasta and cheese, all prepared in our student apartment after a visit to Florence's beautiful stall market. But that first trip to Florence was absolutely the gateway to further explorations of Italy. I eventually discovered that my favorite places are the smaller places, but to know Italy you must also know her beautiful cities.
Yes, I think a city is the best gateway both for foreigners and strangers, when 2 years ago I went to Apulia for the first time, it was logical to settle in Bari. From there I then organized my trips at the sea and in the Valle d'Itria countryside.
I wonder why Florence attracts so many Americans... is it linked with their own image/ideal of Italy?
Guida mini, mini, mini 😘 E' il tipo di città in cui vai se c'è un evento, e si lega all''offerta di zone limitrofe, come Cesena, di cui non so ancora nulla, Rimini e Ravenna da un lato, mentre dall'altro c'è Faenza e a 10 minuti di treno la fiabesca Brisighella, uno dei borghi più belli d'Italia. Interessante confrontarle, ma la mia sensazione è che, belle o non belle, le urbi romagnole hanno tutte vita propria 😎
Love some of the Pre-Raphaelites paintings. Especially ‘Ecce Ancilla Domini’ and ‘Proserpine’ by Rossetti. Evelyn de Morgan’s paintings are wonderful too. My latest novel, Topsy & Co, is centred on the life of William Morris by the way. https://amzn.eu/d/0179rU1
Appena uscita dalla stazione ho trovato subito la mappa, mi sono stupita che ci fosse così poco. Non so Cesena... di certo non è come Ferrara, che giri e ad ogni angolo trovi qualcosa. Ciò nonostante uno ci può andare lo stesso, forse però meglio per visitare la Rocca o un museo 😘
I have loved Italy since I stumbled into Firenze in the off-season when in college, in approximately 1997. I fell head over heels in a trip that year to Cinque Terra, before (I think) Rick Steves caused it to be overrun with tourists; the friendly waiter at Gianni Franzi in Manarola introduced me to one of the best meals of my life. That same year, I went to Lake Como on a budget, so my trip memories are a beautiful hike with mountain goats. I wasn't able to visit between 2003 and 2019 and much changed, but I could still conjure the beauty of small villages and towns not overrun. I must admit, I struggled learning how to be in Italy with a more robust budget, because I wanted to return to the beautiful memories of my youth. I did share Cinque Terra with my children in 2019, even though it was not the same place. We did enjoy another meal at Gianni Franzi, but (and maybe this was because I had been separated from my family for a few weeks and they were starving when they finally arrived) that meal was topped by a take-away meal on the balcony of our Air BnB in Riomaggiore. I am almost scared to know what it is like in 2024, and I hope it retains the magic and was not too destroyed by the economic destruction of the intervening years. Thank you for following me and I look forward to learning more about your beautiful country.
💖 Thank you Jennifer so much for sharing! 💖 You mentioned the very basis of real travelling, not the surface but those invisible little inside experiences and the meaning they conveyed to you. I share the hopeful feeling that everything has remained the same in that corner you loved. This are right what I would love to emerge through this space, which I titled Projects because it takes the road of getting involved and being open to listen more with the heart. Florence is dreamy (I moved there in 2018 from Turin) but would you say it can also be a door to discover more? I bet on it !!
Florence of off-season will always be one of my favorites and I am so glad my first visit was not a the height of he summer. When I did return for several weeks one summer, I already knew the small magic places that I could share with my American classmates. Another favorite meal memory is fresh pasta and cheese, all prepared in our student apartment after a visit to Florence's beautiful stall market. But that first trip to Florence was absolutely the gateway to further explorations of Italy. I eventually discovered that my favorite places are the smaller places, but to know Italy you must also know her beautiful cities.
Yes, I think a city is the best gateway both for foreigners and strangers, when 2 years ago I went to Apulia for the first time, it was logical to settle in Bari. From there I then organized my trips at the sea and in the Valle d'Itria countryside.
I wonder why Florence attracts so many Americans... is it linked with their own image/ideal of Italy?
Non sono mai stata a Forlì ma semmai ci andrò userò questo articolo come “guida”. Grazie!
Guida mini, mini, mini 😘 E' il tipo di città in cui vai se c'è un evento, e si lega all''offerta di zone limitrofe, come Cesena, di cui non so ancora nulla, Rimini e Ravenna da un lato, mentre dall'altro c'è Faenza e a 10 minuti di treno la fiabesca Brisighella, uno dei borghi più belli d'Italia. Interessante confrontarle, ma la mia sensazione è che, belle o non belle, le urbi romagnole hanno tutte vita propria 😎
Love some of the Pre-Raphaelites paintings. Especially ‘Ecce Ancilla Domini’ and ‘Proserpine’ by Rossetti. Evelyn de Morgan’s paintings are wonderful too. My latest novel, Topsy & Co, is centred on the life of William Morris by the way. https://amzn.eu/d/0179rU1
Rossetti continues to be my favourite, and Evelyn now goes along 😍
Never been there but it looks a nice place to spend the day in ☺️
——
Non ci sono mai stata ma sembra una città carina per spendere una giornata ☺️
La cosa bella è che è piccola e quindi se ti prendi un giorno, hai tutto - ma proprio tutto - il tempo del mondo!! 🤓
Ah vedi, io me la immaginavo grande!
Appena uscita dalla stazione ho trovato subito la mappa, mi sono stupita che ci fosse così poco. Non so Cesena... di certo non è come Ferrara, che giri e ad ogni angolo trovi qualcosa. Ciò nonostante uno ci può andare lo stesso, forse però meglio per visitare la Rocca o un museo 😘