Speaking very generally, there are two Italies. The first is the Italy of the great oases of tourism, where people from every corner of the world have flocked for centuries to step back into ancient history, re-live renaissance splendors and the enjoy the flavors of the modern culture.
Today, one can stroll the ancient streets of Rome, medieval urban masterpiece cities of Florence and Venice or wonder at the amazing natural beauty of Cinque Terre, Capri or the Amalfi Coast. At the same time, while taking a stroll or dining out, it is common to hear bits and pieces of conversations in all the World’s great languages. While there is something great to be said about the places that have become confluences for people originating in all parts of our world, such internationalism can pose a challenge for the visitor wishing to experience the local culture. When the crowds of internationals are at their densest and pushiest, the experience can harken to thoughts of standing in front of Caesars or the Venetian casinos in the Las Vegas.
For people traveling to Italy, I always recommend spending a day or two in one of the many, many great places in the nation that do not get the same concentration of tourists. After a pair of days on the Amalfi Coast, it was a great pleasure to find the Autostrada, and weave south between the jagged hills, through ancient olive groves and along the rocky coast of Campania, a tiny sliver of Basilicata and into the mystical province of Calabria, where we were to make our next stop.
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