The Best of Italy - Italy - page 8

village where you can dine on fresh lake trout at a table not 1.5m (5 ft.) from the
water. See p. 416.
HEAD TO THE TOP OF EUROPE (THE ALPS) Ride a series of cable cars
up snowy slopes and ski gondolas dangling high above glaciers to arrive at
Europe's highest peak, Monte Bianco—and then continue on down the French
side (call it “Mont Blanc” now) to the chichi resort of Chamonix and take a bus
ride back to Italy through one of the world's longest tunnels. See p. 440.
CLIMB MT. VESUVIUS (NAPLES) You may never again get this close to a
natural disaster in waiting. Climb to the top of Mt. Vesuvius and stare down into
the crater created in A . D . 79 when it destroyed Pompeii. Then turn to look out to
the bay of Naples across the crusty lava fields overgrown with vineyards and dot-
ted with houses and the Naples suburbs. All of it is smack in the path of the lava,
should another major eruption occur . . . an event that's long overdue. See p. 508.
ATTEND A PERFORMANCE IN AN ANCIENT THEATER (SICILY) The
ancient theaters of Taormina (Greco-Roman), Siracusa (Greek), and Segesta (Greek)
all host summertime series of concerts, operas, and ancient plays under the stars—
and, since they're all set atop hills, if you arrive before dusk, you get to watch the
sun set over the Sicilian countryside (or, in the case of Siracusa, the city). See p. 568.
PICNIC (ANYWHERE) Some of your most memorable meals will undoubtedly
be picnics, with wonderful (and cheap!) ingredients culled from the alimentari
(deli/grocery store), panetteria (bakery), fruttivendolo (fruit-and-veggie shop), and
vineria (wine shop) that line the streets of every city and village. Just pick an
appropriate venue—church steps, stone wall around an olive grove or vineyard,
bench by the beach, even just the terrace back at your hotel room—and get ready
to have a feast fit for a king on a pauper's budget. (Just don't forget the corkscrew.)
THE BEST OF THE “OTHER” ITALY
SHOP THE PORTA PORTESE MARKET (ROME) Join the crowds of
locals who religiously flock to this massive flea market each Sunday morning in
search of elusive bargains or just to meet friends. See p. 83.
GET CAUGHT UP IN CALCIO (TUSCANY—OR ANYWHERE) Share
the locals' passion at a professional sports event—Florence and Siena have top
division Serie A (first division) soccer teams, and Siena's pro basketball team is a
champion. See p. 178.
VISIT THE OLTRARNO ARTISANS (FLORENCE) Head to the Oltrarno
neighborhood to see fifth-generation craftsmen at work in ceramics, woodcarv-
ing, goldsmithing, mosaics, cobbling, and other specialties. See p. 134.
TAKE COOKING LESSONS IN A TUSCAN VILLA (TUSCANY) You could
simply rave about the food in Italy when you get home—or you can learn to
re-create it for your jealous friends. Try your hand at a cooking class in a Tuscan
villa or Florence restaurant—or stick around for a couple of weeks and attend a
formal culinary school. See p. 166.