My Bucket List Trip to Italy
By Thad
We all have bucket lists for travel. I have shared my Australian bucket list trip and now I am thinking about my number one travel bucket list destination, Italy. Maybe Italy is not on your travel bucket list, or if it is it may not be number one. If you are lucky, you have already marked Italy off your list of places to visit.
Even though there is absolutely no Italian DNA in my makeup, I think I have always wanted to see Italy. It is probably because of Italy’s spot in world history that I so want to visit. After all, the Roman Empire pretty much had an effect on all the countries of the world in one way or another.
sistine chapel by sailko via wikimedia commons
My plane ticket is going to be for a flight into Rome. While Rome is not Italy, it is the spot most of us think of when we think of Italy. Rome is the capital city of Italy and has the largest population. The city of Rome has been around for about 2500 years.
"Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubbleAncient footprints are everywhereYou can almost think that you’re seein’ doubleOn a cold, dark night on the Spanish StairsGot to hurry on back to my hotel roomWhere I’ve got me a date with Botticelli’s nieceShe promised that she’d be right there with meWhen I paint my masterpiece Oh, the hours I’ve spent inside the ColiseumDodging lions and wastin’ timeOh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see ’emYes, it sure has been a long, hard climbCopyright © 1971 by Big Sky Music; renewed 1999 by Big Sky Music"
I will definitely want to visit Vatican City. St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are sites I don’t want to miss. I will of course head to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. I will definitely stop by the Spanish Steps. I’m not sure if I will be brave enough to rent a little scooter, motor bike or car. I think my best plan is a tour bus or sometimes a taxi.
I suppose the second city I will have to visit is Venice. Canals, gondoliers and romance are the things one pictures when you think of Venice. Will there be more or less than that when I arrive? I hope I get to find out.
leaning tower of pisa by Johann H. Addicks via wikimedia
If I am going to be a tourist, then I may as well search out the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower has been leaning for hundreds of years. Many attempts have been made to keep the tower from falling. Because it is a major tourist attraction there is no attempt to straighten the tower. Since 2008 the tower has been stabilized to the point where it is no longer moving. Engineers say that it will remain stable for the next 200 years.
Since this is a bucket list tour, I am going to plan some far reaching trips inside the country of Italy. I will of course be touring some of the wine regions of Italy. I will need to head toward the northwest portion of Italy if I am going to visit the Tuscany region. I suppose this is my region of choice solely because of a certain book and movie. I haven’t read the book, but I did see the movie.
Italian_Alps-by Kasjanek21 via wikimedia commons
There are several mountain ranges in Italy. The one I plan to visit would be the Alps. I would want to visit the Aosta Valley to see the alpine glaciers. I probably won’t be enjoying the downhill or cross country skiing available and I probably won’t do a lot of hiking or bike riding either. That will not keep me from enjoying to views provided by my trip to the Alps.
I’m sure there is much more to see and do in the country of Italy. I have not even touched on where I would find the best Italian foods or wines. I have not talked about the places I would want to stay for the night. I guess planning a trip to Italy would best be done if one were actually going rather than just listing it on your bucket list for travel.
Next: My Bucket List Trip to Australia