Giancarlo Fadin

I remember the first time I visited the Colosseum in Rome. There were hundreds of people all around me, but as I walked in the gate and looked down onto where gladiators and wild beasts had fought, I forgot about the crowds around me and felt the vibrations of the past. It was an amazing moment and one I will never forget.

Venice is another place that swarms of people could not distract me from the beauty that surrounds me. Summer is the busiest time to visit as many people flock here. I took a group here one summer, and while we would have enjoyed it more in a cooler, quieter season, we were still enamored with the beauty of the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square and the wonder of venturing out and crossing the many small bridges as we strolled around the city at night.

Venice is a destination for all types of travelers. Whether Luxury or Price Savvy, each traveler will enjoy their journey through the Grand Canal. My 2 favorite nearby islands are Murano and Burano. Murano, the small island known for creating quality hand-blown glass objects, and Burano, where you will still be able to find the hand-crafted lace using century-old techniques by the local women. 

Heading north, I like to visit Verona and Padua, two lovely cities with fantastic medieval buildings. Then, I head into the Tyrolean Alps, where you can see the Austrian influence in architecture surrounding you. I am once again awed by the towering rock and peaks of the Tyrolean Alps.

Sicily is one of my favorite destinations. Here you witness the perfect marriage between the old and the new. Along Corso Umberto, the main shopping street of the hilltop town of Taormina, is an ancient Greek Theater that still hosts operas, concerts, and other shows. Enjoying cocktails with friends on the terrace of a restaurant in Taormina gave us a perfect view of the Ionian Sea and Mt. Etna erupting in the distance. A memory that I will forever cherish. 

Every region of Italy brings back memories of wonderful moments. Allow me to suggest iconic experiences that will create treasured memories for a lifetime.