INVIRONMENTALISM 🌷

Tonight is a special night. For as I sit waiting expectantly for my best friend’s phone call, I know that he is going to tell me about the moment he proposed(!) and I can’t wait to hear the story. 

So let’s take a moment to reminisce… A few summers ago, I took a trip to Italy with my dear friend, Alex. We stayed in Regello in deepest Tuscany, described as “one of the cool and shaded towns closest to Florence; loved by Florentines who are looking for a little relief from the city during the Summer months” and this is exactly what this charming town offered. Guessing what time the local bus would come by to take us into the main town in the area was always an interesting if nail-biting affair, but we made it every time ~ the locals were very friendly and embracing of Alex’s (good) Italian.

From Regello you can explore several beautiful Tuscan towns and cities. We visited Arezzo and highlights from here include the Cattedrale dei Santi Pietro e Donato (Arezzo Cathedral) and having a picnic on top of the hill in Parco Il Prato, overlooking the Tuscan hills.

Next, we were on to Florence ~ I particularly recommend the Uffizi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens, as well as Santa Maria del Fiore and Basilica Santa Maria Novella. We also had a lovely bottle of wine in Serre Torrigiani in Piazzetta so I would say if you are looking for a garden hideaway and a glass of something fresh, have a little wander here as well.

Lastly, we took on Rome(!) and I have to say that Alex’s favourite moment from the trip was watching me run hell-for-leather shouting with joy towards the Colosseum when I glimpsed it from the top of the street we were staying in. He said he had never seen such excitement ~ I studied Classical Studies for my Bachelor’s degree in London but I had never been to Rome, so this was a very special sight for me. 

Close to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum and it is definitely a must to complete the grandeur and fascination of Rome’s ruins.

If you do go, keep a look out for the Arch of Titus ~ I have a funny story about this arch. When I was in the first year of my Bachelor’s degree and struggling with work, I had to sit an exam for an Art & Archaeology module but I had only revised one topic out of six and yup ~ you guessed it ~ that topic was the Arch of Titus. If it hadn’t come up, I would have failed the entire exam… but it did! And by Jupiter, I passed!

I still remember that one of its most noticeable features is the Jewish menorah being carried from the temple, as plundering the conquered people’s religious artefacts was one of the ways Roman emperors showed dominion. This can still be seen on the arch today and it was surreal when I could point it out and explain its meaning to Alex too.

I’ll just leave you with a couple of restaurant tips…

And try Enoteca Chirra next Rome Station if you’re waiting for your train 😉

Perhaps we’ve given you a little inspiration for an Italian Summer of your own…

In Love&Light,

FS XOX