LA BELLA ITALIA – THAT’S AMORE !

About two months ago I wrote an article about the 20 things I love about living in Paris. This didn’t go over too well with my Italian friends who reminded me that I am fully Italian on my father’s side of the family. So, after spending a glorious week’s vacation in la Bella Italia, I am reminded of my heritage and what is so near and dear to my heart. I can’t rank my list so it’s simply alphabetical!

1.      ACQUA DI PARMA: One of my all-time favorite fragrance brands, ADP captures the soul and spirit of Italy in a bottle. Founded in 1916 by a nobleman from Parma, the company continues the tradition of fine craftsmanship and still affixes the labels to the bottle by hand. One whiff of the classic Colonia makes me think of an elegant Italian gentleman. 

2.      APERITIVO: Italians like to meet in a café or bar after work for a drink and a bite to eat. Who wants to cook after a long day anyway? Drinks are accompanied by a small plate of nibbles or in some cases you can fill a plate from a generous buffet. Seriously, you have no appetite for dinner after an aperitivo!  Italians take the concept of “happy hour” to the next level!

3.      ART: Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo were all household names when I grew up and led to my lifelong appreciation and passion for art. From Primitives like Giotto to Renaissance masters to Baroque geniuses I love it all. Last year a friend and I visited the Palazzo Borghese in Rome. When we saw Bernini’s incredibly life-like marble statues, both of us had tears in our eyes. 

4.      CARS: Italy produces some of the sexiest, sleekest cars around. When I was a teenager my Dad had a Maserati Bora, an absolutely beautiful piece of Italian machinery, so I know what I’m talking about. Even Fiat’s Cinque Cento (500) elicits praise for its cuteness. Ever hear the story about how the rivalry began between Ferrari and Lamborghini? Read it here.

https://www.kissfromitaly.com/en/blog/how-the-ferrari-lamborghini-rivalry-began

5.      COFFEE: Italy has made me a coffee snob. Whether you take a thimbleful of espresso at the counter or you linger over you morning cappuccino, no one does coffee like the Italians. 

6.      DESIGN: The Italians have had an eye for design since the time of the Romans.  The list of master craftsmen in furniture, leather goods, tableware and fashion reads like an alphabet from Alessi to Zegna. The prestigious Made in Italy label was created to assure the consumer that the product’s provenance is legitimate and not counterfeit. 

7.      DOLCE FAR NIENTE: This is a state of mind. Meaning “sweet to do nothing”, it’s kind of like being on vacation all the time.

8.      GELATO: Stracciatella, Nocciola, Gianduia…. these are just some iconic flavors of Italian gelato. Made with less fatty ingredients than its cousin, ice cream, gelato actually tastes richer and more intense. Gelato shops are also a colorful feast for the eyes, displaying an assortment of undulating waves of sweet bliss behind glass.  

9.      GRAND DAME HOTELS: I have been fortunate enough to stay in several over-the-top, luxurious hotels in Italy. The word “Grand” is often part of the name, perhaps because they were recommended to 19th century travelers making the “grand tour” of Europe. These properties have enough gold-leaf to rival Versailles, they use the finest linens, and decorate the interiors with inlaid woodwork and Murano glass chandeliers. Among my favorites are the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento and the one I refer to as my princess hotel, the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées on Lago Maggiore. I never want to leave.

10.  HOTEL BREAKFASTS: Regardless of how many stars your hotel has, breakfast is always included in the room rate. Sometimes it’s a simple roll, juice and hot beverage of choice and sometimes it’s a luxurious spread of fruits, pastries, meats, cheeses and hot dishes.  Seriously, you could fuel yourself until Aperitivo time!

11.  LA FAMIGLIA: With the risk of sounding like a Corleone, family is everything to Italians. We work to support the family, we don’t do anything that will shame the family, we spend a lot of time with our family. We also honor the family after death: it is mandatory to visit the cemetery, bring flowers and do regular maintenance to tend to the family plot. Some think we are a patriarchal culture, but I would disagree: la mamma has the power. My grandmother was one of 13 and my grandfather nicknamed her “parona” (boss lady).

12.  LA PASSEGIATA: After dinner in the summertime before the sun has set, Italians like to go for a walk. It’s a moment to cross friends and family, to share stories, to gossip and to digest the meal you just had. A perfect gathering point are the beautiful piazzas in the center of town or the boardwalk if you’re near water. I remember first seeing this tradition in action when I was in Rapallo on the Italian Riviera. It was a great opportunity to check out the locals and flirt using my basic language skills.

13.  L’ELEGANZA:  Italians take pride in their appearance and in their manners. They have an innate elegance that oozes from their pores. The Italian gentleman is always impeccably groomed and pays attention to details from his hair to his cufflinks to the shine of his leather loafers. I’m sure he’s wearing Colonia (refer to #1). He speaks with respect and is gracious to those in his company. The women are stylish, and they know how to make the most of their best features. 

14.  OPERA: I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother when I was little. Frequently we passed the afternoon together listening to opera records, reading the libretto and imagining the scene. She started me off with Puccini’s La Boheme, progressing to Verdi’s Rigoletto and culminating with Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. Sometimes love stories, sometimes tragedies, sometimes full of vengeance, the stories were always full of passion, emotion and beautiful music. Now when I attend performances, I can’t help but shed a tear or two thinking back to those treasured childhood moments.

15.  ROMANCE, PASSION & EXPRESSION: Italians learn to be passionate at a young age. They express their emotions easily and dramatically, and they enjoy romantic gestures. Italians are in love with love, the passion could be fleeting or long term, but it’s irresistible. Italians speak with passion and emotion which can be misconstrued. We let it out amongst ourselves and sometimes voices are raised. My sister-in-law is not Italian. She told me she was never taught to express her feelings or opinions. It was a big shock when she came to the first holiday dinner and we were all talking politics. 

16.  SCENIC BEAUTY:  I have travelled the length and breadth of this country and have found amazing beauty in every region. Mountains and lakes in the North give way to the hills and valleys of Tuscany and Umbria as you ultimately descend to the beaches at the Southernmost tip. With Roman ruins, churches and palazzi from every century plus parks and green spaces, this country never fails to take my breath away.

17.  SHOES: Italians know how to create a shoe that is comfortable and sexy. It doesn’t even matter if it’s from a big designer or made by a local cobbler: they understand how to make a shoe that gives great support while looking fabulous. And it’s not just for women: the finest men’s shoes are Italian. Why do you think Ferragamo was the shoemaker to the stars?

18.  THE 3 P’S (PIZZA, PASTA & PROSECCO): I don’t think this requires much explanation: I could eat pizza or pasta every day. I think I have tomato sauce in my blood. And as much as I love my French champagne, a nice glass of Prosecco goes down very easily.

19.  TRADITIONS: I love the rituals and traditions. For Italians, many are related to food and to religion. My friends make cappelletti (hat-shaped filled pasta) every year at Christmas. We eat Panettone at Christmas and Colomba at Easter (aside from shape, not sure how different these sweet breads really are). And when it comes to religion, there is nothing like the Easter processions in Southern Italy to make you feel the gravity of the moment.

20.  TRAINS: Italian trains run on time, are super-efficient and relatively inexpensive. My grandfather used to say it was the one positive contribution attributed to Mussolini.

I’m proud to be Italian and I’m proud of my heritage. I leave you with a few quotes from others who share my love for la Bella Italia.

You may have the universe if I may have ITALY.

-Giuseppe Verdi, composer

Open my heart and you will see, Graved inside of it, “Italy”.

-Robert Browning, poet and playwright

The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo.

-Mark Twain, author and humorist