The Italian Spirit

Explore Italy through the eyes of an Italian American and escape into the romantic nature of travel. Unearth the essence of Italian culture and spirit with wit and a bit of Italian wisdom. Seek adventure on a vicarious voyage, hear voices singing an opera aria, feel the pull of mountain roads winding up to villas, and soak in soothing Roman baths. Close your eyes to hear the church bells ringing across the valley and monastery monks chanting. Taste the sweet gelato on your tongue and capture the aromas from the cucina of Mediterranean cuisine. "The Italian Spirit" sings of the Italian creative genius, family, faith, and community. The author recalls, "my fascination with Italy began as a 6th grader in the little school library at Saint Pius X Catholic School in a suburb of Denver. Our class assignment was writing a term paper on any subject. The day I passed down the library aisles of shelves in my brown plaid skirt, without a clue as to what my term paper would be, I found a particularly large volume of Italian Renaissance Art leaped off the library shelf like divine destiny. The stunning pictures of art and sculpture became my inspired subject at 12 years of age. Years later as a high school teen, I realized the narrow views of Americans for Italian culture, providing me the fuel to help undo Mafia stereotypes after seeing 'The Godfather.' Fast forward twenty years to watching 'A Room with a View,' a romantic love story set in the artistic beauty of Florence. Just eight months later, I was traveling solo and landing in my own room with a view not far from The Arno River. I was not a woman of independent means, just doggedly determined to reach my destination. The greatest feeling in the world was arriving in my room in Italy. There in my thirties, I awakened, wrestling between career and motherhood, afraid of guilt at both ends. I danced away from family tradition off the beaten path, discovering adventure through cultural connections in Italian ancestry, influence, and inventions. Italian family and cultural values eventually transformed my life to treasure traditional roles." The author takes a leap of faith in search of ancestry, and discovers a mosaic of Italy's twenty distinctive regions. Follow an escapade to an Opera in Rome. An escape from Albanians aboard a train to the Mediterranean and Italian Riviera. The influence of Italian faith in the Divine, family, and values creates a sense of belonging. Their genuine graciousness and generosity are like a warm embrace. Steep yourself in Italian traditions, nurture their influence, and carry their values into every day.

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