Back from Italy

Back from an amazing trip to Italy, as we fully absorbed the rich history of the country.

Started in Milan, the financial and fashion capital. My most memorable takeaways : The San Bernardino alle Ossa chapel made of skulls and bones and the L.O.V.E sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan, a middle finger to the establishment/bankers.

Then to Venice, the city of love and beauty where we last visited during our honeymoon 22 years ago. Had a wonderful sunset drink at the Piazza San Marco.

Florence to me was the most intense, as we immersed into the beginnings of the golden Renaissance period led by the masters of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, visiting the Duomo and Uffizi. We had dinner at the Mercato Centrale and caught the first Euro 2016 football match that Italy played with Belgium, winning it by a 2-0 score.

Finally, it was back to Rome to experience its 2,700 years of history. Starting from the Pantheon, we headed to the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) and Palatine Hills to relive the 1,000+ years of Roman glory. The Vatican City was as amazing as I remember it – still astonished by the Sistine Chapel and the St Peter’s Basilica.

Got my son to throw a coin into the Trevi fountain and promise to bring us back again 😉