A great trip, but there’s no place like home

Originally Published:  March 16, 2014

My parents are avid travelers and commemorate milestones with travel. Attaining a “milestone,” my mom took me to Italy to celebrate.

SouthtownStar bosses learned of my departure, and I was (jokingly) informed of newspaper policy — “if freelancers travel to Europe, they must bring an editor with in case there are questions on anything they submitted.”

Since I was not able to smuggle an editor in my luggage, I’d like to share my experiences and bring you all along on my travels.

We began in Venice in the northern part of Italy’s “boot.” Vanni, our tour guide and 40 of us — couples, cousins, sisters, parent and son/daughter combinations — made up the group that became “famiglia” for the duration of our trip.

We traveled by boat from the airport to our hotel. Venice is comprised of 117 islands, divided by lagoons, and is connected by more than 400 bridges. Imagine a city in which all the “roads” are waterways, and the only “vehicles” are boats! Buses and taxis are all on water, transporting people around the islands. Everything brought in to Venice is via water, meaning everything is more expensive.

We toured the remote, self-contained island of Murano, which is dedicated to making beautiful glass objects. From small pieces of jewelry to intricate chandeliers, there’s something for everyone. After touring the factory and seeing a glass-making demonstration, we went to the Doges Palace, which is now a museum dedicated to the artwork and history of Venice.

We walked the “Bridge of Sighs” where people had their last view of freedom before being brought to prison. We toured St. Mark’s Basilica and heard tales of how the bones of St. Mark were “borrowed” from Alexandria, Egypt, by Venetian merchants in an effort to have a named saint as their patron. Each site had a guide who provided us with history, stories, and intrigue. Whisper technology allowed the guides to speak in our ears without shouting over other visitors.

Leaving Venice, we boarded a boat, which took us to a bus — our “home” for the next few days. “Get to know you” games and music passed the time, while our guide, Vanni, weaved tales of art, architecture, history and battles, which were as intricate as the Italian roads we traveled.

The first stop, Fattoria Il Poggio, is a breathtaking farm in the countryside. Dedicated to production of olive oil, balsamic vinegars and wine, this was a treat for us weary travelers. Vanni’s “cousin” (he seemed to have many) gave us a tour of the grounds and explained the production of olive oil, before inviting us to stay for dinner.

We then headed to Pisa, home of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Anyone who has been there tries to capture the perfect photo — “holding” the structure in your hand or “pushing” against it trying to correct the leaning building.

Next destination was Florence, the land Michelangelo and his famed statue of David, the Duomo (Florence Cathedral) and so much shopping that it’s impossible to get through it in the few days we were there. The “David” is simply remarkable. Seeing the works that Michelangelo sculpted and hearing about how he approached each block of stone “knowing” what was inside, yet often not “finishing” (sanding) the product after uncovering the subject within, was inspiring.

Then it was on to Assisi, where we learned the history of Giovanni, a rich French boy who wanted to help the church, thereby gaining the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Hearing the lesser-known story about the aid the church there gave during World War II — sheltering 300 Jews within the levels of the building and providing them with false documents to ensure their safety — was simply amazing.

Or last stop was Rome and its awesome history, home to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon and Spanish Steps (yep, I climbed them). At the Vatican, we toured the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum and Gardens, St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica. All are lush with history and priceless art — tapestries, mosaics and seemingly endless hallways housing the most amazing artifacts.

Our guide gave us insights into some of the stories of the Vatican and pointed out many of the important details to look for when inside its buildings, where you must observe silence.

Roaming Rome on our last day — sipping macchiato, enjoying gelato, wine and pasta — we vowed to return and tossed coins into Trevi Fountain, which ensures our return.

It was an unforgettable trip, however I was reminded upon returning that there’s no place like home!