Italy – Where Travel Becomes Therapy (Day 2)
After an action-packed Day 1 in Italy, we began our second day, which was filled with so many adventures. We start day 2 with lunch from the beautiful Laqua Countryside Restaurant.
Cannavacciuolo Countryside Restaurant :
Laqua Countryside, also known as Cannavacciuolo Countryside, is one of the 4 resorts in Chef Antonino’s Collection. In the Michelin-starred restaurant within the intimate resort on the Sorrentine peninsula, Cannavacciuolo’s chef and kitchen will guide you on an extraordinary culinary journey in his homeland, Campania, with a menu that will retrace its path through Italy from South to North. We reached Ticciano, a mountain hamlet of Vico Equense that almost overlooks the Gulf of Salerno, and the restaurant is located here.
Every detail of the Palazzo, which covers nearly a thousand square meters, has been meticulously cared for, and the experience offered here is comprehensive, global, and all-encompassing.
As soon as you walk in, you’ll notice the open kitchen, which has been transformed into a painting, with Tonino’s father’s shepherds speaking with their hands all over the place. The dining room is elegant, and the pool in the garden is a place where anyone can relax. The concept of this restaurant is to create a retreat where guests can enjoy Cannavacciuolo’s cuisine along with the bliss of nature. To us, Laqua Countryside was experiencing the best of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Positano Italy :
Positano truly embodies the Italian words ‘la dolce vita’ which means ‘sweet life’, this a picturesque town nestled between a beach and the cliffs of Italy’s iconic Amalfi Coast.
If your time allows you to visit only one place on the Amalfi Coast, then I would suggest you choose Positano. Positano is just stunning, with all of the old-world charm and glamor it has to offer. Travelers will be drawn to return here again and again just to see the views of the pastel-colored town and the Mediterranean Sea.
Positano is built on a steep slope and so, inevitably, a large number of steps are involved in getting around. For those who are intimidated by the idea of climbing all those steps, I would recommend taking the bus to the top of town and then going back down at your own leisure. If you’d like to shop for local cuisine, homemade souvenirs, or Italian fashion, then you must visit the shops on Via Cristoforo Coloumbo, Piazza dei Mulini, Via del Saracino, and Viale Pasitea.
The Ruins of Pompeii :
Since it was rediscovered in the mid-eighteenth century, the ruins of Pompeii, an ancient Roman city in Southern Italy, have piqued the interest of popular culture and world travelers.
The story of Pompeii’s destruction has been told numerous times through art, literature, film, and other media.
What happened on that fateful day nearly two thousand years ago when Mount Vesuvius erupted may have taken the lives of all of the city’s inhabitants, but the city lives on today as not only one of Italy’s top tourist attractions, but also as a site of ongoing archaeological research and discovery.
Pompeii is thought to have been founded around 2600-2700 years ago. It was originally an independent city before falling under the influence of Rome in the 4th century BC.
Prior to its destruction in 79AD, the city had a complex water system that served all of its residents, it also had giant amphitheaters, gymnasiums, hot springs bath rooms, elegant houses, paved streets, and a shipping port.
It was in 79AD, that the nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted, killing all of Pompeii’s people and burying the city beneath tonnes of volcanic ash.
Scientists have mentioned that the eruption released thermal energy which was 100,000 times greater than that of modern bombs.
After the city was destroyed, all traces of its existence vanished for over 1500 years before being rediscovered in 1748 by Spanish engineer Rocque Joaquin de Alcubierre.
The ruins of Pompeii and its inhabitants have since been an archaeologist’s dream job, with efforts to uncover the entire city continuing for over 250 years.
Enjoying The View Of Mount Vesuvius :
This is where it all started for Pompeii. Mount Vesuvius, located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southeast of Naples, Italy, is one of Europe’s few active volcanoes. It is part of the Campanian Volcanic Arc, which also contains the Campi Flegrei caldera / geothermal field west of Naples at Agnano and Mount Etna in Sicily.
Naples has a population of 3 million people, with 800,000 living on the volcano’s slopes. This makes Vesuvius one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes.
Some Interesting Facts About Mount Vesuvius :
- The mount is 4,203 feet tall.
- The last eruption happened in March 1944.
- It was formed due to the collision of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, roughly around 25,000 years ago.
Could what happened in Pompeii happen again?
Yes, Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano. It is possible that it will erupt again. It sits atop of a massive layer of magma that extends 154 miles into the earth’s surface.
Finishing Our Dinner In Style At Taverna Estia :
Our last dinner in Italy was from the only restaurant that was awarded two Michelin stars in Naples, it was none other than the iconic Taverna Estia.
As we took our seats, we were greeted with trays of freshly baked grissini and flatbreads, followed by bowls of crunchy local vegetables, lightly fried.
There are three tasting menus available: land (4 courses for 130 euros, wine pairing 60 euros), sea (4 courses for 140 euros, wine pairing 60 euros), and chef’s choice (4 courses for 140 euros, wine pairing 60 euros) (mano libera, 8 courses for 170 euros, wine pairing 90 euros).
We had a wonderful evening at Taverna Estia. The food was delicious, and the service, wines, and wine pairings were incredible. It was also very affordable. I will definitely visit this place again.
Off To Rome & Visiting The Colosseum :
If you’re visiting Rome for the first time, one of the most important things you’ll want to do is to visit the Colosseum. The Colosseum is one of the world’s seven new wonders in the world, and this ancient place is definitely a must see when you travel to Rome.
Eating a slice of Italian pizza and sipping an espresso while admiring the beautiful Colosseum is the best thing you can ever do.
The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built during the Roman Empire and was used for public displays and gladiator contests.
Back in 80AD, up to 80,000 people would visit the Colosseum to watch live shows of artists from around the world.
The Colosseum was heavily damaged by an earthquake in the 14th century, and many of the stones that were damaged or crumbled were used to build churches, hospitals, and other structures throughout Italy.
Some fun facts about the Colosseum :
– The Colosseum is the world’s largest amphitheater, measuring 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and 50 meters high.
– Before the games began, the arena had 36 trap doors for special effects, as well as many underground passages and rooms to house wild animals and gladiators.
– Emperors organized and paid for events in the Colosseum themselves to gain popularity. All ancient Romans were admitted free of charge, and there was sometimes free food served throughout the spectacles.
– It is estimated that over 400,000 people and over a million wild animals died as a result of the games over the centuries.
– It is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
