La Dolce Vita! Northeastern Italy

We knew we needed a taste of la dolce vita for ourselves after hearing friends describe their recent trips to Italy.  They raved about the delicious food, rich wine, unforgettable attractions, and romantic ambiance.  We concentrated our sightseeing to northeastern Italy with visits to Trieste, Venice, and Milan, promising to return some day to explore southern Italy’s treasures.

Not long after crossing the Italian border from Slovenia we approached spectacular views of Trieste and our excitement increased.  For us, Trieste is the perfect size.  It displays wonderful character in its small winding streets, lovely squares, waterfront promenade, and impressively diverse houses of worship, each with its own unique architecture.  We enjoyed gelato in the Piazza dell’Unita d’Italia and paid a visit to the Miramare Castle on the Adriatic coast.  We could have lingered longer in this delightful city by the sea, but Venice beckoned.

Venice is one the most surreal places we have visited, possessing a beauty that is difficult to put into words – It is something that truly must be seen to be believed.  We stayed in a 15^th century palace (which Jenn believes to be haunted), watched the sunset over the water, and explored the city on foot getting lost in the little nooks and crannies that don’t find their way onto a typical visitor’s itinerary.  We were traveling outside of the town’s traditional tourist zones and loving it.

Our final night in Italy was fashion-focused Milan.  With only one evening to spend in this influential metropolitan area, we hopped on the subway and headed to the historic center to see the Milan Cathedral (Duomo) and its impressive piazza.  We ventured away from the crowded square in search of quieter quarters and ended our evening with an indulgent multi-course meal.

As we boarded the train towards Switzerland and bid “arrivederci” to Italy we acknowledged that we had merely sampled what this impressive country has to offer.  Our return is certain, and it’s great to have something like that to look forward to.