Last week we asked you, via social media, to tell us the very first thing you thought of when you think of Italy. Not surprisingly the overwhelming response was “FOOD!” We’d have to agree, but there were some other wonderful answers too.
Remarkably, a lot of you responded with “Tuscany”. Perhaps because the perfection of the Tuscan countryside is one that’d depicted in the media and associated with romance, an idyllic life or running away from the rat race. Whatever it is about Tuscany that captures your imagination, we completely agree. Tuscany is indeed all of those things and so much more.
How To Live Life! This was another response we loved, and we’ve written about before. The Italian’s certainly do have this little ol’ life thing all figured out. Priorities are in the right places with family firmly at the top and food probably a strong second. We’ve often said that every day in Italy feels like Sunday and that’s exactly how you should feel.
COLOR – yeah this is one for those that really like to take everything in. You’ll notice that colours and indeed the light in Italy is different to anywhere else in the world. It must be the curvature of the earth and reflection of the Mediterranean Sea where she sits that causes it but it is different and it makes colours seem more vibrant, smells more intense, sounds more crisp and feelings flow freely. Yes it is romanticism but it is Italy we’re talking about.
VINO – of course! Whether it’s a lovely Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Corvino, or Sangiovese Italy certainly produces some amazing wine varieties and what better place to drink them than an Italian vineyard! My grandfather once tried to convince me that he was the one that brought the idea of growing grapes out to Australia. The story goes that when he boarded the ship bound for Sydney he smuggled a single grapevine in his jacket pocket and managed to keep it alive and plant it once he settled on his farm in Victoria. Of course that vine grew and so did the Australian grape industry. Of course I now know that we could spin a story as well as Roald Dahl.
Whatever it is that you think of when you think of Italy, you really should think of going, and when you think about going, you should only think of Avanti Italy.