Bella Vista! Is the phrase we found ourselves repeating time and time again, as we vacationed in the Northern Italy. The itinerary was perfect a blend of all that Italy is famous for.
The pristine Mediterranean in the Liguria region, one of the country's most dramatic coastal settings, was our start. Collectively know as the five lands "The Cinque Terre" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, blending gorgeous scenery and the world-class hiking. Originally, fishing villages accessible only by boat or footpath these five colorful tiny villages hug the dramatic coastline, while steep terrace vineyards, lemon, cherry and olive trees grace the rugged landscape. We enjoyed all this area had to offer, fantastic hikes, lovely food and company along the way.
An excursion by boat to Portofino gave us the chance to view the costal landscape in a different way. An unexpected treat was a pod of dolphins that had come to join us along the way. Portofino is one of the loveliest waterfronts anywhere in the world; swank villas and glamorous 150-foot yachts adorn the harbor. An easy hike to the lighthouse offered us a spectacular a view of the Italian Riviera.
Pisa was an enjoyable day excursion. The Tower is just one of the historical landmarks at the "Field of Miracles" which encompasses the Duomo, baptistery and famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was mid-summer and the crowds were thick, we found it the perfect place to snap photos and people watch.
A perfectly preserved Renaissance wall surrounds the beautiful town of Lucca. Where we were able to stroll the 3-mile uninterrupted oak-shaded path and view the village below. Ending our day with a beautiful drive along the mountain range, white marble resembling snow was a remarkable site and quaint hamlets dotted the autostrade.
Chianti, the well-known wine-producing region of Tuscany, was just as beautiful as we imagined. We enjoyed a lovely hike though forests and vineyards, our hilltop views were spectacular, overlooking all of Tuscany. We spent our days driving from one medieval town to the next, enjoying the sites and surroundings of each village, such as Siena known for the Palio (horserace) and San Gimignano famous for its fourteen medieval skyscrapers dating back to the 12 th and 13 th centuries.
Vignamaggio a historic vineyard and home of Mona Lisa was a fantastic venue for our wine tasting experience. They have been producing wine for over 600 years, the grounds are pristine and gardens stunning. Sandro was a fantastic guide sharing his love for the area, the vineyards and, of course, the wines as he went over each in detail.
Florence famous throughout the world, the birthplace of the Renaissance, few cities in the world can boast such treasures, the perfect end to our journey-a little art history and culture. A training ground today for artist from around the world just at it was in past centuries. As we walked the cobblestone streets we could just imagine the Renaissance period where poets, painters and sculptors must have spent their afternoons in cafes arguing, sharing their techniques and passion, a time of great revolution.
The "Uffizi" houses some of the finest collections in all of Italy. A few of my favorites were the Botticelli's
The Birth of Venus and
Primavera, both with a fair-tale charm. It's amusing to see the artist looking back at your from many of his pieces. Fifteen 15 works of Leonardo da Vinci's several unfinished, I think of him as a darker artist and a wonderful painting by Michelangelo
Holy Family. The Uffizi is the perfect place to learn about the different periods Medieval, Renaissance and Mannerist. We also spent time at The Galleria dell' Accademia where the status of
David by Michelangelo stands as exquisite piece of fine art.
It's not just museums that graced our presence in Florence the Duomo is the fourth largest in the world, a magnificent site. The views of the city and surrounding hills from San Miniato al Monte were dazzling and Ponte Vecchio (OldBridge) a lovely site. One of our favorite squares, Piazza della Signoria the most striking in all of Florence, an outdoor museum, Neptune fountain and fantastic statues adorn this area.
We found this the perfect way to visit this region, truly a taste of everything. A lovely getaway from start to finish, I hope that I have tempted you to visit for the first or return for one of many adventures to this beautiful county of Italy. Please give Peggy or Jan our resident Italy experts a call 303 442-2340, www.travelpoints.com.