Trip to Italy
Well I’ve seen most of Europe so far, but not Italy. I was looking forward to it for such a loooong time and finally made it! Planning is a serious step.
Milan was our first stop. Though people are not very fond of this city, I like its art cafes, design galleries, parks, and of course the spectacular cathedral. We climbed on the roof and the view was so worth climbing.
Don’t forget to visit Monumental Cemetery (Cimitero Monumentale di Milano), it was such a suprise to us to find such an artful atmosphere on the north of the city, the business district full of suits. You’ll be speechless as you walk among the trees and feel so overwhelmed by the love people gave to their loved ones!
And the Sforza Castle, that makes you feel so tiny! 
It is set in a picturesque landscape on top of a green hill in the scenic Parco Sempione, my another favorite location in Milan. The 47-hectare green area makes you feel lost inside the city.
Como was our second stop and our first weekend getaway. Amazing scenery, even a tree has an artful touch! Got on a boat and just stared at the beautiful houses by the lake. Photo by Serkan Aldis.
Don’t forget to take the funicular ride. Take the cable car (funicolare) to the tiny village of Brunate perched on the hills overlooking Como.
Third stop and the one that I was looking forward to seeing most: Venice. Fairytale like city everyone says, so true. You can’t avoid feeling trapped surrounded by all that canals, though.
Having lunch in a traditional cosy Italian restaurant, my boyfriend is literally studying the citymap. Home-made wine is cheaper than water in most restaurants btw, we chose seafood to pasta this time. I had my first oyster, too.
A cute old couple we saw in the railway station on the way to Venice, adorable. They still got the romantic mood on!
And the road trip to the north of Italy, Liguria. Monterosso al Mare is our first stop after getting lost inside Amazon-like roads thanks to Google Maps! One of the five villages of Cinque Terre, Monterosso al Mare is all worth it!
Nothing can show better how happy I felt when we were about to descend the mountain to reach the small village. No cars allowed btw for Cinque Terre is protected by UNESCO.
Next stop is Rapallo. We stayed only a night in a small hotel overlooking the harbour. Not much to see to be honest, only the castle There are some nice restaurants though where you can enjoy both the food and the scenery.
Portofino, OMG! I’ll pack my things right now to go there once again. From Rapallo to Portofino, we drove half an hour enjoying the beautiful road by the sea. It’s like a painting: trees, sea, and the most artistic houses I’ve ever seen. At some points, the road is so narrow that, you have to stop and wait for the green light to move on. (The traffic lights are also too small, so be careful not to pass them by)
And they sang “I found my love in Portofino” not in vain! My boyfried instantly fell in love with this old Fiat, no jealousy on my side, honestly.
Our biggest achievement was to take a boat trip from Portofino harbor, though. We picked a random route “San Fruttuoso” and hit the jackpot! I don’t know how many people are living there, but it can upmost 100, maybe. I believe it is reachable by only sea. A church, some houses, 3 restaurants tops, and sand. That’s all to describe that little heaven.
Seriously, words and pics are not enough to tell you about this amazing trip! Hope to go there again really soon and explore the south this time. Save money, pack, and leave asap because “la vita รจ bella” in Italy.
