Explore Italy in Retirement

We have been extremely fortunate to be able to explore Italy in retirement.  There is so much to talk about it’s hard to know where to begin.  You could focus on the diverse and beautiful geography, explore the wonderful foods that are offered everywhere, spend time tasting the wines from some of the world's most renowned vineyards, make a spiritual pilgrimage to the Vatican or Assisi or study the arts in Florence and never see everything.  If you’re captivated by ancient civilizations, you can’t see enough of Rome and if you’re out for a truly romantic experience then the canals of Venice are waiting for you to visit.

If it sounds like we’re a little infatuated with this beautiful country, it’s because we are.  There’s a reason they call Rome the Eternal City and there’s a reason that Italian cuisine is one of the most popular in the world.  Sure, everyone knows about pizza and when you have fresh pasta you realize how people swear off the stuff out of the box once you’ve been seduced by a wonderful bucatini or spaghetti carbonara.  There is nothing else like it.  The wood-fired pizza is a work of art although, quite honestly, we do an even better job with it in our country.  But it’s worth sampling and visiting the ancient shops in Naples to see how each of the purveyors of this universal delight make their own refinements to one of the great food inventions of all time.  Explore Italy in retirement and you’ll fall in love with the seaside architecture, the beautiful lakes and the glorious wine that is expertly created in each of the regions from north to south. 

There is so much to see that I caution you to not take a casual approach to your trip.  The one thing retirement gives us is the gift of time so extend your visit if at all possible.  Airfares can be expensive and the flights will take hours so maximize the time and trouble it takes to cross the ocean by staying as long as possible.  Don’t rush through the country with a checklist.  Take the time to absorb every aspect of this culture and diverse country.  One of the best investments you can make is to hire a guide who is an expert on what you’re about to experience.  It is not as expensive as you might think, and it is worth every penny.  You won’t find what they offer even in the best guidebooks.  The expertise that they will share is amazing and, if you have a particular interest, your guide will make sure all your questions are answered and that you see everything you came to see.  Our three-hour tour of the Vatican gave us more knowledge and took us behind the scenes in a way that we thought was reserved for those documentaries you see on television.  Explore Italy in retirement but make sure you get a guide.

Make sure you get a guide before
You Explore Italy in Retirement.

My one piece of advice to everyone is to avoid the summer.  That’s one of the underrated pleasures of retirement.  Explore Italy in retirement when it’s cooler and less crowded and much more relaxed.  There’s something to be learned in each region of the country but for those who appreciate the arts, Florence is a must see.  You will really need a guide for a full appreciation of this incredible city.  Most people stop in front of the Statue of David for their “checklist” picture and then wander off without fully appreciating the once in a lifetime experience they just had.  Let’s face it, we rush through life without truly appreciating what we are experiencing.  I am as guilty as anyone else in doing this but my advice to you here is don’t rush through Italy.  Take the time to fully explore Italy in retirement.  Get to know the people and their love for their country, food and wine.  And don’t forget the olives!  They are indeed wonderful, but we always smile to hear a local extol the virtues of this delicacy because you’ll hear the same praise from the locals in Spain and Greece and France because each of them thinks their own country produces the best.  They are all wonderful and so is this impressive country that has so many things to enjoy.

Explore Italy in retirement and I think you’ll be changed forever.  You’ll stop when you see a picture of the Venice canals, or the cathedrals of Rome and you’ll smile.  You’ll close your eyes and savor the taste of fresh burrata, or raviolis made right in front of you.  You think back to your time in Italy and all of its wonderful food.  The next time you see a picture of the Pieta or Statue of David, you’ll recall standing in front of the original and realize what a wonderful experience it was.  Explore Italy in retirement and enjoy the trip of a lifetime.  Book it now.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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