Coming out of the subway station and walking right smack into the Colosseum. Then seeing it from the far end of street, cars zooming all around this ancient arena.

The relaxed attitude that Italians have about children. We couldn't walk three steps without hearing "bella, bella bambina" about our sweaty, grimy kids. "Bella, bella! Relax, have some wine, the children will play."

The rolling hills and vineyards. Gorgeous.

Venice - San Marco and the Grand Canal at sunrise.

Hard to decide between 2 wonderful memories:

Venice in December - wandering in and out of the fog, deliberately getting lost, finding magical sights and shops in the least expected places.

Positano in October - croissants and espresso macchiato on our hotel terrace in the morning, enjoying the spectacular view and the sun reflecting off the sea.

Art, and the art of living, very old and very new. Italians have an extra gene for art and everything beautiful and enjoyable. They understood aaages ago that you only live once, that you "cannot take anything with you" and that life is to be enjoyed in the present. Carpe diem.

anoukaimee
Maybe they understood that you live more than once and that beauty and great art should endure so that it can be enjoyed for a long time. One can always come back and see it lifetime after lifetime.

Once in Rome I saw an elegant women in her 50s hike up her long skirt and hop on a Vespa in high heels driving away with a smile.
Brava!

Thus far it would have to be the Isle of Capri. I spent the day with a tour company, visiting the blue grotto, bus to Anacapri, chairlift to lookout ontop, Lunch, and view from the lookout encompassing the port of Capri.
The day was clear with blue skies and scenary was fantastic!

You are right, Ahotpoet! The Medici family was an example of such enlightened mind.

Two things, the food and the people. Especially the people, who else would invite a total stranger out to thier farmhouse to make dinner for them and six of thier friends? A day I will NEVER FORGET!!!

Tom

www.pbase.com/trsw/image/69340474

For me, seeing the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvious and visiting my mother's family home in Torre del Greco.

a sunset gondola ride in venice

the duomo in florence

the view from montalcino

the bernini statues in villa borghese

(i'm sorry it's hard to stop)

the FOOD

adventureseeker....as you walk the path from Vernazza to Corniglia the little wine bar is on the way out of town...you can't miss it. It's a wonderful spot...we happened upon it after a long walk from the first town of Rio Maggiore...to Manrola...to Corniglia...on a warm day so we were quite tired. The local white wine was cool and refreshing and the view absolutely stunning!! Take a look at this web page as it shows some shots of Vernazza from that angle.

http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/villages.htm#vernazza

seeing the country through my daughter's eyes Her enthusiasm & knowledge of the places we went & also of the art OH the ART! bella

we were traveling companions & it was a trip I will always treasure

Have to go with 2...

Christmas Eve mass at the Pantheon (and I'm not religious)

Paestum at sunset with an almost full moon over the temples

dave

The people.

Venice: exiting the train station and seeing the Grand Canal for the first time. This was in 1978, and I still can remember the emotions it brought.

Venice: sitting at a table in San Marcos listening to the dueling orchestras on a beautiful night.

Orvieto: there was this amazing pasta -- very thin lasagne noodles wrapped like roses, filled with cheese and honey.

San Gimignano: saffron gelato.

Lake Como: touring the villas. At the Villa Monestaro I was the only person there and it had a calming effect.

Italy in general: thinking about the history everywhere I went.

Hmmm....laying in bed on the Amalfi coast with the balcony doors open watching the moon shine on the Mediterrean....ahhhh; My first glimpse of Venice....love at first sight!; a sunset gondola ride while being serendaded; an incredible lunch from the rooftop restaurant at the Hotel Danieli....great food, wine and the best views possible in Venice!; All of Rome....one big WOW! ALL of the wonderful people in Sirmione on Lago de Garda who treated us like royalty....they all remembered my greatgrandparents and grandparents who had a summer villa there; watching the World Cup with all the locals in outdoor cafes set up with huge tvs; Gelati!; Ok...EVERYTHING impressed me! I LOVE ITALY!!!!!

p.s. sorry for the typos......see, just thinking about Italy and I can't type! :)

Those first few moments after exiting the station in Venice and crossing the bridge is like stepping into the Land of Oz. I was utterly unprepared for it, and I can't tell you how thrilled I was. 16 years later, I still have goosebumps.

Similarly, I defy anyone to stand in the middle of St. Peter's basilica and not be impressed. Or in the Sistine Chapel, for that matter.

Also in Rome, walking down the Sacre Via through the heart of the Forum was nearly overwhelming for me. So much history in such a small area.

And the multi-colored marble exteriors of the Duomo and Campanile in Florence are rather impressive, too. As is the view from the top (of either).

I could go on and on, but I'll stop there for now.

Something that I glad I did was going to Pompeii. It's very memorable and can't be seen elsewhere.