Sign Me Up Sunday: Italy

Ever since I was a young girl, I've wanted to go to Italy. I'm not sure what the exact draw was. Perhaps it was as simple as my love of pizza and pasta. :)

Image courtesy of cescassawin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There wasn't ever a particular place or thing I wanted to see, but it was more of a feeling that I knew I needed to go someday.

I've never really thought of making it a reality, but since today is Valentine's Day, and Italy is known for being romantic, it seemed like a fitting place for our first Sign Me Up Sunday post.

I think I'd start a trip to Italy with a visit to Venice. We'd spend a few days exploring San Marco (the basilica, the art, the music), eating gelato, and, of course, taking a trip down the Grand Canal.

If you've read our Who We Are page, you know how much Jeff and I love road trips! So, after leaving Venice, we'd take a road trip through the country.

Our next stop would be Verona, the setting of Romeo & Juliet. We'd walk through the Giardino Giusti and maybe take in an opera at an ancient Roman arena.

Image found at theguardian.com

From Verona, we'd continue on to Milan. With all the shopping and fashion and art, I feel like we could spend at least a week here. But at the very least, we'd visit the Milan Duomo - particularly, the spires, the statues, and the views from the roof.

Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After Milan, we would find ourselves in the historic port city of Genoa, birthplace of Leon Battista Alberti (the original Renaissance Man, and a favorite historical figure of Jeff's). Genoa seems like the kind of city that you could spend days just wandering around.

From wikitravel: Genoa is a sort of decayed glorious port town, whose decay, however, is what makes it so interesting and pretty. The facades of grand palaces are hidden in scruffy, yet enticing alleyways, and there are really curious treats for anyone in virtually every alley. The city is your "typical" Italian one - quite sunny (during summer), with Mediterranean-looking houses topped by grey slate roofs, filled to the brim with outdoor cafes and bars, with lots of tiny and quirky alleyways, elegant designer shops, and restaurants. Today, also, the old port has been renovated, and currently contains some funky avant-garde modern architecture, a delightful marina, and several seaside bars and shops.

From Genoa, we would head to Florence, but first, we would stop in Portofino.

By Blackfalcon - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

And Pisa, of course.

Image courtesy of Matt Banks at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Finally, we would finish our road trip with a stay in Florence.

Image courtesy of cescassawin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We would definitely be staying here awhile, in order to even begin to take in all of the museums, churches, monuments and piazzas.

Obviously, this little road trip of northern Italy wouldn't even begin to scratch the surface of all there is to see and do throughout Italy, but who's ready to sign up to go on this adventure with us?

Clarinda

If Italy is on your bucket list, what would you most look forward to seeing or doing?
Or, if you'd already been to Italy, what was your favorite place to visit, site to see, or thing to do?