Eat, Pray and Love – Eating, Pray and Love, as the title of the Dutch translation is – is the 2006 bestseller and memoir by the American Elizabeth Gilbert. In it she describes her search as a woman through Italy, India and Indonesia after her divorce, supplemented with what she discovers during her travels. After this biographical novel spent 187 weeks on the New York Times bestsellers list, Columbia Pictures released the film adaptation starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem in theaters in August 2010. In the first part of her memoirs she describes the period she spent in Italy… At the age of thirty, Elizabeth Gilbert has everything a modern woman could wish for: a house, a husband and a successful career as a writer. But instead of being happy, she is overwhelmed by panic, sadness and confusion. Two years later, after a bitter divorce and severe depression, Elizabeth decides to take a radical step: she travels alone for a year. On her quest for balance and happiness she visits three countries. In Italy she gets to know la dolce vita (eat), in India she immerses herself in meditation (pray) and scrubs temple floors, and in Bali she discovers the balance between seriousness and light-heartedness and meets her great love (love). / love).
Food: la dolce vita by Liz Gilbert in Italy
The first part of the memoir Say it like you eat it describes the four months that Elizabeth spends in Rome.
Below are the cities and places that Liz visited during the four months that she was mainly looking for herself in Italy, but ultimately also enjoyed la dolce vita. She learned to speak, eat and live Italian.
If you want to experience Liz Gilbert’s la dolce vita, you can combine all her visited destinations into a tour with a logical itinerary, but you can also divide them into a number of separate city trips, fly-drives and/or base trips.
Rome: the eternal city
Rome is not wrongly called the eternal city. In classical times it was the superior capital of the Roman Empire. Since Christianization, Rome became the center of the Christian world, the city of the popes, and since the beginning of the nineteenth century the capital of a finally united Rome.
From the airport, the shuttle bus will take you to the center of Rome in about 45 minutes. If you have arrived with a rental car via another Italian destination, it is best to return it in Rome. This way you don’t have to deal with traffic chaos and you also save on parking costs of an average of 25 euros per day. The hop-on/hop-off bus is ideal for discovering Rome. This takes you past all the Roman sights and you can decide for yourself where you get off and where you don’t.
The Colosseum is perhaps the most impressive building in Rome. Gladiators still roam in this enormous amphitheater where the emperors used to organize free performances. Also special are the catacombs, the ancient tunnel systems with underground cemeteries under and near Rome; there are at least forty in total, some of which were only discovered in the second half of the twentieth century. The Trevi Fountain is best known for the many coins that are thrown into it: one coin represents a return to Rome one day, two coins will find love in Rome and tossing three coins predicts a marriage or divorce. The Spanish steps are located on the Piazza di Spagna and on the Angel Bridge you can admire beautiful statues of, how could it be otherwise, angels. The St. Peter’s Church on the square in front of it and the square of the same name are known from the pope’s televised speeches, but there is really something about walking around there yourself. Moreover, you simply must have seen Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and a Vatican City stamp in your passport is also fun for non-children. Italian cuisine is known for the tastiest pizzas, pastas, paninis and ice creams. It’s a shame not to enjoy this. In Rome you can find a lovely spot at Santa Lucia restaurant, where Julia Roberts ordered a festive banquet as Lizz in the film. Santa Lucia Ristorante is located near the Pantheon, at Piazza Navona, Largo Febo number 12.
Naples: a must see before…
First see Naples and then die, goes a well-known saying. A bit of an exaggeration perhaps, but Naples is labeled as the most Italian city: pizzas, operas, football (Maradona defeated the Northern Italian clubs with Napoli and is a god here, just like in Buenos Aires), busy markets, family and narrow streets full of people . laundry. However, a visit to Naples is not suitable for everyone, because it is sultry, quite poor and chaotic. The best way to experience the Neapolitan atmosphere is during a day trip; You can travel there by ferry in about 30 minutes through the Gulf of Naples and get off in the center. The most visited attractions in Naples are Duomo: the cathedral with the chapel of San Gennaro and patron saint of the city, the Castel Nuovo that recalls the time when Naples was the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily, the Archaeological Museum of Naples with an impressive collection objects from antiquity, Teatro di San Carlo: the oldest opera house in Italy and, according to experts, with the best acoustics, Napoli Sotterranea or the underground Naples and Piazza del Plebiscito: the most beautiful square in the city with the Royal Palace on one side, on on the other side the San Francesco church and the winding streets of the working-class district of Santa Lucia nearby. Liz Gilbert already agreed, the best pizza in the world can be eaten in Naples and the classic is Pizza Napolitana with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and herbs.
Just outside Naples, you should not miss one of the most famous disasters in history, the destruction of Pompeii by the Vesuvius volcano. The ruins of this lava-buried city are one of the best-kept secrets of the Roman Empire. It is a very large area with streets, temples, fountains, brothels and frescoes. Mount Vesuvius, which towers above the city, is the only active volcano on mainland Europe. Once at the top you have a majestic view of Pompeii, the Gulf of Naples and the southern Italian hinterland. For a real Southern Italian lunch you can go to trattoria Lucullus at Via Plinio 129. To escape the city, visiting the islands off the coast is recommended. Capri is the most famous, not least because of the beautiful blue cave, and is easily accessible by boat.
Venice: city of romance
Although Venice has nicknames such as the city of water and the city of bridges, it is also considered one of the most romantic cities in the world. Because Venice is located on 120 islands and is connected by 150 canals, traveling by public transport is the best option. From the airport you can easily travel by bus to the beginning of the city. In the center of Venice you travel by vaporetto, the water bus, between the various boat stops through the waterways.
The most appealing option is to sail through the canals of Venice in a gondola, but most gondoliers charge around 80 euros for just 25 minutes of sailing. A good and cheaper alternative is the lagentho: a gondola taxi that takes you to the other side of the canal at eight fixed places for 1 euro. There are the most beautiful houses, churches and palaces along the Grand Canal. Here is also the Peggy Guggenheim museum with surrealist art, a patio and a sculpture garden. A very popular attraction is St. Mark’s Square with the St. Mark’s Basilica. On the square, young and old can enjoy watching and feeding the many pigeons that flutter around there. If you want to view the basilica from the inside, it is wise to be on the square before 9 a.m.; Although the doors don’t open until 9:45 am, the first tourists are already queuing at 8:30 am. And the later you arrive, the longer you will have to wait in line. A fun activity is climbing the Campanile tower, from where you have a great view of the five domes of St. Mark’s Basilica, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and the rest of Venice. You can also take a tour of the Doge’s Palace. Under the gates of this former home of the Venetian rulers there are often make-up artists who, especially children, like to have their faces painted in a colorful carnival mask. The Rialto Bridge is a must see, even if it is very busy near the market; You can get the best ice cream here at Millevogloe, one of the best ice cream shops in Venice. Taking a look inside Café Florian is very special, because it was Casanova’s favorite pub. If you want to eat something here, take into account very high prices: a cappuccino costs 7.50 and if the orchestra plays there, you also have to pay an additional 6.00. It is often better to switch to smaller trattorias in the neighborhoods around the center of Venice. In places where it is full of Italians, you are assured that it will be good. Trattoria Rivetta is highly recommended. Popular dishes from Venetian cuisine include seafood risotto, spaghetti with scallops and pasta with beans. A traditional specialty is polenta, a nutritious semolina porridge.
Venice also has a number of wonderful beaches on the Adriatic Sea, including on the island of Lido, which is about ten minutes by vaparetto taxi boat from St. Mark’s Square.
Bologna: the cultural capital of Europe
The university city of Bologna is located roughly southwest of Venice in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. This city is known for the terrorist attack on a train station in August 1980, the worst post-war attack in Italian history.
In 2000, Bologna was the cultural capital of Europe, which underlines the city’s wide cultural offering. The center of Bologna is formed by the Piazza Maggiore and the Piazza del Nettuno with the famous Fountain of Neptune. In an underground passage you can see the remains of the Roman road from Milan to Rimini. From the square you look at the Torre degli Asinelli, which can be climbed, and the Torre Garisenda; two towers that together form the face of the city. Other popular sights include the San Domenico Church with the saint’s tomb and the Santo Stefano, a group of four and previously even seven churches in Romanesque style that are all connected. Bologna is also a wonderful city to stroll under the beautiful arcades or to sit on a terrace and watch the city go by. What you should certainly not miss are the oldest houses in the city, which can be recognized by a very high first floor on large pillars and a wooden supporting structure. More houses were built on top of this: a tradition from the Middle Ages to combat the housing shortage within the city walls. On a culinary level, the city is world famous for its bolognese sauce. However, this sauce, which consists of ground beef, pancetta, onion, carrot, celery, tomato paste, wine and whole milk, is eaten with tagliatelle instead of spaghetti.
Lucca: birthplace of Puccini
Pisa is very popular in Tuscany, but really only because of its famous leaning tower. Day trippers do not stay that long, but spend more time in the charming town of Lucca further away: the city where the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born.
Lucca was initially a colony of Rome when it was founded in ancient times as part of the Roman Empire. Currently it is one of the richest cities in Northern Italy. In 56 BC, the meeting between Julius Caesar, Crassus and Pompey took place in this city in which they discussed the continuation of their political cooperation. The long history has left sights in the Romanesque style, but the Renaissance also applies to many buildings. The city is completely walled, which adds extra class to the place where Napoleon appointed his sister Elisa as controller in 1805. You can walk or cycle on the intact brick city walls, called le Mura. The tour is 4 kilometers long and you look down on the city and the surrounding area. You can rent bicycles for around 3 euros per hour at Biciclette Poli at Piazza S. Maria number 42. Another option for a beautiful and photogenic view is to climb the Torre Guinigi, the 24th century tower that was the only one left of the many towers that once defined the face of Lucca. To explore the city in peace, it is best to arrive before 10am.
Florence: the art city of Italy
Florence is the Renaissance and art city par excellence, on which the De Medici family, among others, although not especially, once left a major mark. Here you can wander past the statues of Michelangelo, the frescoes of Da Vinci, the stately Renaissance buildings and gushing fountains.
The symbol of Florence is the red-brown dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly known as the Duomo. The Uffizi is the most important museum for Renaissance painting. This attracts an unprecedented number of visitors and it is therefore wise to buy a ticket in advance. What the Uffizi is for painting, the Bargello is for sculpture: here you can see masterpieces by Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini, among others. The Piazza della Signoria is the most beautiful square in Florence and is the center of the city. It is also a square with historical significance, because the heretic Savonarola was once burned at the stake here. A well-known attraction is Ponte Vecchio. Fortunately, this oldest bridge in Florence was spared during the Second World War. The corridor, the walkway above, was built at the request of the Medici family so that they did not come into contact with the plebs, a Roman term for the lower people.
Most tourists only visit Florence as a day trip during their Italy trip, but if you stay a night, you get to know the city from a completely different side. Especially in the evening, when the day trippers are gone, the squares fill up with Florentines and you see a much less hectic and beautifully illuminated art city.
Sicily: island of volcanoes, mountain villages and fishing boats
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and best known for the volcano Etna. The melting pot of cultures that it is, can be seen all over the island: from well-preserved Greek temples and Roman mosaics to Norman buildings and much Baroque.
The capital of Sicily is Palermo, a busy city that is definitely worth a visit. It is most practical to park the car on the outskirts of the city and take a shuttle bus into the center. Romans, Arabs and Normans have left their mark in Palermo: the Palazzo Normanni was built by the Arabs on the foundations of a Roman fortress and later served as the seat of the Norman king and the Sicilian parliament. About an hour’s drive away is the white beach of San Vito Lo Capo, one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. The most popular attraction in Sicily is Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe and, at 3,300 meters, also the highest mountain in Italy south of the Alps. It is possible to climb this volcano with a guide. Because conditions change regularly, it is never known long in advance what the exact climb will look like. There are also Greek temples to admire in Sicily, including a beautiful temple valley in Agrigento, which is more than a two-hour drive from Palermo. Also special are the many mountain villages where you can ride donkeys to a baroque city, for example near Ragusa; Here you have a great view of the cathedral on the terrace of Café Al Borgo, where you can enjoy a delicious meal. In 2000, Ragusa, together with a number of baroque villages in the area, was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also good to spend time in one of the fishing villages where you can learn more about the lives of Sicilian fishermen. Cefalu is such a fishing village where you can sail with a captain at sea and even help the fishermen bring in the nets. If you are very adventurous, you can go island hopping among the Aeolian Islands, including Vulcano and Stromboli, where climbing volcanoes and bathing in sulfur and mud baths are among the highlights. The most beautiful beaches, mainly black lava beaches, can be found on Stromboli. You can of course eat Italian food in Sicily, but the island also has local specialties. A typical Sicilian dish is Arancini with balls that are the size of an orange and are therefore called orange in the Italian style. This snack is available everywhere in Sicily. On Stromboli you can enjoy the active volcano of the same name at LOsservatoria while eating a delicious pizza. The food here is not cheap, but from the terrace you have a particularly good view of the lava-spewing volcano when the weather is clear.