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Italy, First Impression

Our first impression of Italy! As a young schoolgirl, I had read about Roman Civilisation in my history classes. I was always in awe of the way they had conquered and established one of the largest empires in the ancient world. It was my dream to visit Italy to see for myself, imagine and feel what Rome was like in its heydays.

Finally, it happened and Raga, my parents, and I landed in Naples on a fine sunny morning. As soon as we stepped out of the aircraft we were hit by a blast of warm, moist air. After a quick immigration check, we took a taxi to the hotel, dumped our luggage, and set out to explore the city. During the next couple of days, we visited Capri Island, Positano, Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Tuscany, and Pisa (in the same order). Each day was packed with lots of things to see and do, yet we could not cover every place we wanted to. Ten days is too short to even meaningfully cover and do justice to the most historical and beautiful cities built over about 2000 years by the great Roman Emperors. 

Just chilling in front of 2000 years of history!

 

Itinerary Planning

While planning for a tour no doubt, one takes into consideration the usual aspects such as children’s holidays, seasons, availability of leave, etc. We need to consider a few additional aspects so that we can get the best –

Exploring Asciano, which is probably heaven on earth!

 

Exploring the streets of Naples…

 

First Impression of Italy: People

During our trip we came across lots of people – some helpful, others impatient and a few couldn’t care less. Yes, that variety itself is the spice of life and added up to our first impression of Italy. Most Italians we met were warm, friendly but are not chatty. They spoke when spoken to with a smile but I found them business-like, unlike Indians who go out of their way most of the time if anything is needed.

The view of Capri Island, as seen from the Sea.
The most beautiful sunset in Capri.
This is what a leisurely evening walk in Positano looks like!

 

Off-Beat Things To Do

If you want to add that zing and make the trip more memorable, then you need to do some offbeat things which will help create fond memories whenever you think of Italy. Of course, the off-beat activities that you could engage in are highly personal. In our case, it left a lasting first impression of Italy.

Rent a Car

One could always rent a car in Naples and drive down Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Pisa. This, apart from giving you flexibility, would help you take in the countryside at your pace. You only need a driving license, and Indian driving licenses are acceptable. So, no need to worry about International Driving Permit. However, we need to remember that it is a right-hand drive in Italy, unlike India, UK, and Ireland. You might need a bit of time to get adjusted. Also, like everywhere, driving in the cities and finding a suitable parking space can get a little challenging.

We drove from Chianti to Asciano, which was an amazing experience.

 

Rent a Boat

It would be worthwhile to rent a motorboat in Capri, which is available starting from 90 euros for a boat for two hours. You can zip off feeling the cool wind on your face, anchor at any place for a swim in the sea, visit the Blue Grotto cave, go round the Faraglioni (these are stacks – a coastal and oceanic rock formation eroded by waves). It is a great experience and safe too. All you need is an id proof or your regular driving license and you are set. This experience contributed the most to my memorable first impression of Italy. 

 

Rent a Villa

You could consider booking accommodation in any of the Casas in Tuscan vineyards. We stayed at Casa Sola Fattoria and it was so amazing. We got a great traditional place which was a well-furnished complete unit consisting of two bedrooms, a drawing-room, and a kitchen. It made us feel right at home. We bought groceries and wine from a local store and enjoyed cooking and eating tasty pasta with lots of Chianti wine. Early morning and late evening walk in the vineyard, a swim in the pool, and a road trip to the beautiful and breathtaking Asciano, made our trip memorable. Also, plenty of panoramic photographic opportunities along the way.

 

 

Cost of our travel

In our first impression of Italy, probably because of the places we chose to visit, we felt that Italy isn’t as cheap as they say it is. All of the destinations we visited were highly touristy and hence expensive. For the complete 10 days tour, excluding the flight tickets, you can expect to spend around 1500 euros for two people. We chose low-budget hotels, ate takeaways, and cooked a lot during our trip, but the experiences, entry fees, and restaurants were a bit on the higher side. We will provide a detailed cost break upon our city postcards, so stay tuned!

Beautiful Positano at dusk
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