Our sojourn to Italy...
....began with the Mother Nature vs. Nafisa special of cold and wind... lots of wind. But we were not deterred as we traipsed our way through the streets of Florence and villages through Tuscany. Despite the alleyways transforming into wind tunnels, we managed to take in the sights, pop into tiny Italian shops for pastas and herbs, and grab the requisite evening gelato. By the time we reached Milan and Lake Como, the sun was ready to give us a proper Spring Break treatment. Here are the places we went, some memories we will hold onto, and recommendations if you're interested:
Firenze (Florence):
-Shop the souvenir and leather stalls near the Mercato Centrale. Inaya bought a cute saddle bag that you simply can't find anywhere else. Top notch quality too.
-Have breakfast at the Ala Grande Caffe. The line is long, but the staff seat you quickly and attend to you fast. They also give guests a free pistachio croissant.
-Walk around the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge still standing from the destruction of World War II. I loved marveling at how it still stands after all these years. The best way to get around the city is walking, so pack some good walking shoes.
-Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens - we couldn't make it to the gardens, but I really wanted to check it out, so let me know how it is if you make it there!
-Make a reservation at Trattoria Zaza. We didn't. But after a ONE HOUR WAIT, we were seated and it was worth it. I ordered a Florentine steak, which was a little more rare than I'd like (they would not cook it medium well), but it was quite flavorful, so if you like a red steak, you should absolutely go for it. Inaya and Nehan ordered a ragu and pesto pasta, respectively, and both were exquisite.
Villages of Tuscany (Pienza, Siena, San Gimignano, and Monteriggioni):
-We stayed at the Borgo San Luigi. One of the best decisions, hands down. The accommodations were fantastic - immaculate grounds (yes, with the cypress trees), a yummy breakfast spread, Netflix in your room after a long day, and a pool we couldn't use because it was too cold. The drive up to the property alone made me want book it.
-Pienza has a glorious view. Grab a gelato, head to the outer border of the walled city, and sit down to enjoy the Tuscan hills.
-Have lunch at Bar Il Caffe in Pienza. I swear to God, their black truffle pizza is the best pizza hands down! Just have it and thank me later. Their lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs are also perfection.
-San Gimignano is fun to walk around and shop. Pastas, cheeses, herbs, risottos, candles, soaps, and leather goods. It's a fun place for shoppers, just ask Inaya.
Lake Como (Bellagio):
-Getting to Lake Como can be hard. The trains get packed and you can't always reserve a seat, so get to the station early. Ferries have long lines, so buy your ticket at the ferry booth, then plan to walk around nearby. When the ferry arrives, you can get in line to board.
-Purchase tickets to enter the gardens of Villa Melzi. It won't break your bank and I think it's truly worth it. Pristine gardens right on the water. We roamed around, sat down, stared at the water, chit-chatted with no purpose... it was truly heaven on earth. It's also an easy walk from the ferries.
-Avoid holiday weekends. We were momentarily brainless when we planned and went during Easter weekend. There were even heavier crowds than normal, which made getting there and back more challenging. Plus, walking around among a sea of people kind of killed the vibes a bit.
Milan:
-Whether you're a shopper or not, you should go to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It's beautiful. Period. And the way it cascades into the Duomo di Milano, is stunning. So for those who love history, architecture, and art, you will love it. And then there's a little something for the shoppers too.
-For my fellow Bengalis who hope to grab some jerseys. Some of the alleyways at the Galleria have stalls owned by Bangledeshis. If you engage in some friendly haggling, you could snag a decent-ish deal on a jersey set or two. Nehan came home with some goodies.
-Their public bus systems are fab! Kids under 14 are free and all you need to do is tap your credit card to ride. Use it to see the city while getting to your destinations.
-Brera is a fun neighborhood. Vibrant and lively, it gives "Charming Italian neighborhood vibes." There's live music, stalls the sell jewelry, handmade art, and even rugs, and restaurants line the streets.
Anyways, this was long, and if I haven't put you to sleep, congrats - you now have a bunch of recs for your trip to Italy. Ciao!
