I had one wish this Christmas, and it was to spend the holidays in Italy. Well, I got my wish (also an anniversary present) because our daughters and their families were out of town.
Italy…I always say that it’s God’s gift to humans.
The beauty, the food, the people. It’s the usual list of wonderfuls. But add Christmas and New Years to the mix, and it becomes a feast for the senses!
Rome will always be my first love. The ancient quality around every corner; the casual lifestyle that demands gelato every day. You might drop into an outdoor chair for a quick coffee and end the day in that same chair ordering three pastas and a few cocktails.
At Christmas, every door is dressed in splendor. Every street boasts different glistening highlines. The stores are bustling, and streets are crowded -not with tourists – but Italians!
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Piazza Navona has a medieval air about it — small food booths, Punch and Judy shows, endless outdoor cafes, merry-go-rounds, and hawkers with magic balloons.
After saying goodbye to Rome, we took in the Ferrari museums in Maranello and Modena, then headed toward Bologna. Although I’d never been to this city, we decided to spend New Years there. It’s another walking town – no cars allowed around the main piazza and surrounding streets. Its unique style of buildings offers arcades over every walkway, so shops are a little more obscure and door decor isn’t as common. But the food displays — fabulous!
The huge piazza was humming for the holidays. Rock and folk concerts, light shows on the cathedral, and on New Year’s Eve, a huge bonfire to burn last year in effigy. The most glorious Christmas tree was the highlight of the square. This is where Bolognians gather at midnight to welcome in the New Year and hug a few strangers…
After mixing prosecco, negronis and wine that night, we slowly made our way to Florence on New Years Day.
Florence was draped in her holiday splendor.
I had forgotten how elegant Florence is, since I hadn’t been there in more than 10 years. The old part is made for strolling – no cars – just decor and happy Italians. And that beautiful afternoon sun shining on the pale terracotta buildings…it makes a traveler swoon.
Our hotel was quite unique – a former palazzo owned by the Niccolini family (relatives of the Medicis). It was also decked out for the holidays in every room and hallway, offering bowls of chocolates and white orchids in profusion.
It was here, over breakfast, that I became totally hooked on panettone, Italy’s answer to GOOD fruit cake (sorry, Mom).
Heading for the main piazza to see the festivities, I realized that as Americans, we have lost the art of strolling. No one does it better than huge Italian families with several generations and babies in buggies present, strolling across narrow streets, arm-in-arm, blocking the crazy Americans behind them who are in a hurry to go nowhere…
We could learn a lot about celebrating the holidays from the Italians.
Next year, if I’m in town, I resolve to make my food more exciting, my house more elegantly decorated, and my attitude more relaxed. Especially when I’m strolling on Michigan Avenue for last-minute purchases…
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