5 best experiences in Italy

Here is the ranking of my best experiences in Italy.

5. Chianti Vineyards
Chianti region is one of the most beautiful in all of Italy with its lush green hills, vineyards and olive groves. It is a pleasure to just drive by looking at the natural beauty all around. We went to one of the wine estates in the region where we were a part of a guided tour of the wine cellars. Our host for the afternoon was a charming gentleman who gave us an insight into the various stages of wine production, taught us the right way to hold the wine glass, the best way to sip the wine to get a taste of all the flavors, with numerous anecdotes all along. We tasted various wines and olive oils that the winery produced. It was an amazing experience.

4. Piazza del Popolo
The Pincian Hill which is a part of the Villa Borghese offers a breathtaking view of the Piazza del Popolo and the city. We were lucky to get a sunset view of Rome from here. The atmosphere was made even more romantic by the cool breeze and musicians playing in the background.

3. San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small walled town in Tuscany known for its medieval streetscapes and towers. It is known as the ‘Town of Fine Towers’ and is known for the preservation of a couple of its tower houses. I have never ever seen a town as fascinating as San Gimignano, it makes you feel that you are in a different world.

2. Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo provides a magnificent panoramic view of Florence. Our first visit to this Piazza was a rushed one. However, it was a place which did not leave our mind over the next 3 days that we were in Florence. We knew that our stay in Florence would be incomplete without another relaxed evening in Piazzale Michelangelo. So, on our last day in Florence, despite being exhausted after a full day city tour of Pisa and Lucca, we headed straight to Piazzale Michelangelo. The atmosphere was beautiful with a lot of people around, all with the same intention – to watch the sun set over the beautiful city of Florence.
We spent almost 2-3 hours here sipping beer and watching the sky change its hue from light blue to orange to grey, and the city being gradually lit up. To summarize the experience in a single world – Breathtaking

1. Venice at Night
What is it about this city that makes you fall in love with it the moment you set foot on it? What is it about the beautiful structures and palaces along the Grand Canal that make you gape in awe? What is it about the tiny little streets that make you keep walking despite your aching legs? There is something magical about this city, Venice, which makes it one of world's most romantic cities.

Just as Venice is magical by the day, it is even more dream like at night. As the sun sets and the city is illuminated, the atmosphere turns even more romantic. It is less crowded and the streets, canals, bridges have a different feel to it. The water in the canals glitters with the reflection of the lights, the buildings are beautifully lit up...to know it, you have to experience it.

This was a list of my top 5 experiences in Italy. However, our entire trip to Italy was a very memorable one. When we started our trip, we were under the notion that Italy is all about history and ancient architecture. But we were so wrong. In addition to the historical aspect of it, Italy has so much more to offer - its countryside, beautiful cities, delicious food. Italy would always remain one destination very close to our hearts.