Andiamo !
Melancholy is a theme in many of the notes and calls from clients this spring and summer. Regret and sadness that they are not in Italy on a long planned three-generation trip based around a Tuscan villa, on a much anticipated honeymoon, on a 50th anniversary, on an introducing-a-child-to-Italy trip. On a solo trip to look at architecture, on travels based around wonderful food and wine. On a trip to Sicily, to find their roots and explore an island that family left in the 1930s.
Actually anywhere in Italy.
“I can’t stand it that Italy is continuing without me !” said one of our repeat travelers.
And nearly everyone asks me, how are things in Italy ?
Thirteen new deaths in the last 24 hours, 247 new cases, while corresponding American numbers are 1354 and 60,975, alas.
Like Italians, I am following the recommendation of Prime Minister Conte and exploring my own country. My travel stories will fill the next weeks.
What is so deeply clear to me is that when you come to Italy at last, your longer-than-expected absence may make the country seem all the sweeter.
Talking to Italians who have also chosen to travel just in Italy this summer illustrates how they are absolutely blown away by the natural, historical and cultural heritage of their own country. They are marvelling at the opportunity of having so much of Italy to themselves this year.
They are discovering ancient papal residences that are now inns, as below.
A friend described the pure joy of biking around Lucca’s broad, tree-lined wall perimeter, dipping into town whenever she wished, as below. She had never done so before.
“We did not realize what we had just around us !” several Roman friends have exclaimed. This echoes the words in April of my lovely neighbour, Mariagrazia, whose first intention, when lockdown concluded, was “to go and explore every corner of my own remarkable city”.
May these pictures and ideas spur you to chose many of these destinations for your next travels.
And if you are not already, please start to dream about Italy, and take that further by completing our no obligation survey. We’ll have a first set of ideas to you — with no obligation — right away.
A presto !
Marjorie
www.insidersitaly.com