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Travelogue - Things you MUST do in Italy
The country that brought you pizza and Pavaratti can bring you much more
Original posting: June 2003 Issue


by PATTY HUNG, staff writer

1. Take a water taxi to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the hub of Venice’s city life and one of the world’s finest squares. The Piazza is especially beautiful at night, when singers, string quartets, and other musical groups set up portable stages outside the shops and restaurants to perform for passers-by. The lively, festive atmosphere is relaxing and exciting at the same time.

2. A country orchard around you and a glass of Italy’s special blue wine – can life get any better? The wine is so extraordinary that the Italians refuse to export it, so Italy is the only place in the world where you can get a taste of this unique drink.

3. Visit Vatican City, an area with its own currency, military, and flag. Want to survive that killer Engineering class next quarter? Touch the foot of St. Peter’s statue for good luck. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must-see. Michelangelo did his Biblical ceiling paintings in such a way as to make the sharp corners of the building seem rounded – you actually feel like you’re standing in a dome.

4. Getting sweaty and thirsty from the heat and humidity? Grab some gelato – Italian ice cream. Gelato is whipped with less air than your regular American ice cream and therefore has a denser texture. For those of you who are weight-conscious, gelato is low in butterfat and greasiness. If you’re having trouble deciding between macaroon, apricot, vanilla bourbon, or a variety of other exotic flavors, no worries. You’ll be sure to want another one very, very soon.

5. Take a motorboat to Murano, an island which has been the center of the Venetian glass industry for centuries. Watch the fascinating craftsmen in the glass-blowing workshops. They have glass cups that stand back upright on their own when you spin them on their sides. The glassware is extremely sturdy – it would not break even if you dropped it from a foot high.


6. “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” Since almost all of us were forced to read “Romeo and Juliet” in high school, it might be pretty interesting to see with your own eyes the Casa di Giuletta (Juliet’s House), located in the city of Verona. You will have the opportunity to take pictures on the famous balcony where the lovers spent precious moments together.

Although the family whom I interviewed and who provided me with these wonderful pictures wished to remain anonymous, I would still like to express my deep gratitude for their contribution to this article.

Additional picture source: Baedeker's Italy - a tour book