Italian Job: Chapter 1

Prelude

I finally granted a license to get out of Qatar upon the issuance of my Residence Visa. It didn’t take me long to book a flight out of this country. Destination, Italy. What? Italy in winter? You guys must think I was mad eh. But as a first time visitor, winter is perfect. The whole country will be swarmed by tourists in the warmer months. Italy has long been a great tourist destination. People from all over Europe had been visiting Rome, Florence and Venice since 1700s as part of ‘The Grand Tour’.

I started my trip with a stop over in Dubai where I meet up with Aidid, my travel companion for this trip. He played a role of ambassador and tour guide showing me around Dubai. We went to Dubai Mall, Madinat Jumeirah, Festival City and a stroll at Al Diyafa where he lives. I took the chance to buy some more winter clothing at this shopping mall of the Middle East.

Italy welcomes visitors with open arms as big as the Colloseum. The immigration and custom clearance was a breeze with no question asked. The officer just look at you, your passport, stamps it then you are well on your way to discover this amazing corner of Southern Europe.

We spent three days in the capital, Rome, a day trip to the renaissance birthplace, Florence and Pisa in Tuscany. Two days in the economic and fashion capital, Milan and three days in the enchanting city of Venice.

All Roads Lead to Rome

The city was quiet when we arrived on Christmas morning. It exudes a feeling of a lost deserted ancient city. But all that changed in the evening when everybody took to the streets and transform the entire city into a festival arena. The weather was tolerable. The mercury stays around 10 degrees Celsius making it great for walking. But it can be chilly when the wind blows and even worse when it rains. Yes it rains a lot when we were there.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. It was continuously inhabited since Romulus founded the city 9 century BC. You can literally find remnants of historical remains at every turn in this once capital of the world. It amazed me how the modern civilisation can coexist with the past, moving forward without losing its values and heritage. It has one foot in the past and another in the present. I felt like I was taken back and forth in a time machine wandering the maze of cobbled street and piazzas of Rome. The Malaysian government should learn from its Italian counterparts and stop bulldozing the very little historical troves we have left.

Three days was not enough to cover everything Rome has to offer. So we just went to the top attractions on every tourists list.

Largo Argentina – The place where Julius Ceasar was assassinated

Piazza Novona – Rome’s most beautiful Baroque piazza

Pantheon - The best preserved building of ancient Rome with its spectacular dome

Collosseum - Ancient Rome's huge amphitheater. It was built in between 70 and 82 AD as a venue for gladiatorial and wild animal fights. One of the best and most popular monuments of Ancient Rome

Palatine Hill - Home to Roman emperors and aristocrats

Roman Forum - A huge complex of ruined temples, basilicas, and arches, was the ceremonial, legal, social, and business centre of ancient Rome.

Capitoline Hill - The piazza was designed by Michelangelo and the museums are the oldest in the world.

Trevi Fountain – Rome’s most famous fountain

Vatican City - St Peter’s and The Vatican Museum

Piazza de Spagna – the most exclusive area in Rome with Via Condotti, an elegant shopping street, place if you want to see and be seen in Rome

I left Rome with a heavy heart. My visit to this Eternal City surely won’t be the last. By the way All Roads Lead to Rome, I will definitely find my way back.