It's the Little Things

Week 2 is done here in Viterbo, and I can't believe I've been here that long! There have been so many amazing experiences already, and I've had a blast recently exploring. There is literally so much to see and do - it's overwhelming lol!

What stuck out to me this weekend is enjoying the little things, the little places, and the little moments that sometimes, are even more meaningful than the "big deal stuff." What do I mean by that?

Well, for starters, think about Italy and what lures people here. Cities like: Rome. Milan. Venice. Florence. Sicily. Places like: the Colosseum. The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Vatican. Huge sites of culture and history - and tourists. And don't get me wrong, all of these are certainly incredible to see, and I plan to check out a few during my time here!

But this weekend, I got to visit several much smaller places. Some I'd never heard of before. Others definitely attract tourists, but not in nearly the same throngs as the aforementioned locations. And in visiting them, I've seen some of my favorite spots so far and thoroughly relished them to my traveler's delight!

Villa Lante (Thursday)

I mean the pictures speak for themselves, right?! The garden at Villa Lante is definitely in my top favs for Italy so far, tucked away in the tiny town of Bagnaia only a short 15 minute train ride from Viterbo. The villa dates back to the 1500s and still is an architectural beauty with all of the fountains flowing into each other down the hillside garden, beginning with the waterfall at the top (row 2, leftmost photo) and ending in the big pool at the bottom (see bottomost right photo).

This place wasn't anywhere I had heard of before, but was well worth the few Euros to get there! While places like Rome are certainly attractive to visitors, these gardens were honestly enchanting and to me, nearly as good as the more well-known attractions of Italy. I never wanted to leave. It was so peaceful, and I was happy to just sit on one of the walls and listen to the water flow through the fountains. Cheesy or not, it felt like being in a magical grotto.

I'm quickly learning one of the "little things" I love about Italy are its fountains. So I'm on a one woman mission to get a photo with every fountain I find. Clearly, it's going well so far. But all jokes aside, I'm not sure what it is that draws me to them, but I'm utterly enthralled by the fountains I see - how each one has its own style and character. Some have vibrant teal water, and others are darker, more natural. Some are covered in moss from age while others are striking with their white carvings. Maybe it wouldn't be a big deal to some, but these fountains at Villa Lante stole my heart. I'm already dying to go back...

Orvieto (Friday)

Orvieto is a city that definitely brings in a good share of tourists - however, it's still a lesser known one of Italy's wonders. At the very least, I don't see it appearing as one of the top cities to see, but our few hours there were hardly enough. The Duomo (cathedral) of Orvieto is quite a marvel as you can see from the photos above!

The striped columns and walls were so intriguing to me - like nothing I've ever seen and I just couldn't stop snapping shots of them. The contrast of the dark and light stone is just so striking, and I love the variety of color! Even the stone paths leading up to the church are cool too, so I had to get a shot of me there. It's hard to believe sometimes that I'm actually standing in these places, and the views aren't just photos, but real things I'm seeing! So much to take in and so little time to do it...

Civita di Bagnoriego (later Friday)

Where do I begin to describe such a gorgeous panorama known as the "dying city." Civita di Bagnoregio sits majestically on a hill with Italian valleys full of luscious greenery dipping all around it. Yet as the years go by, this city on a hill is slowly eroding - already some parts of the town from hundreds and thousands of years ago have been lost over the edge of the cliff.

Visiting Bagnoregio truly felt like an adventure. For starters, while being perched on a hill offers a great view, it makes for a somewhat exhausting hike up to the city gate. We earned our photos in steps and sweat, but at least it made my mango and strawberry gelato that much more refreshing ;).

Anyway, back to the city... It is surreal being there in person. Like I'm even looking at my own photos and can hardly believe it's real. You get off a shuttle, lean over a railing, and there's this incredible view of the city rising high above the valleys. Walking the long bridge builds the anticipation while you soak in the natural beauty around you. Each step carries you higher - and further back in time until you're wandering the old streets of a town doomed to eventual collapse. It's dramatic. And I loved every minute of it!

I can't believe this place isn't one of the first mentioned when people talk about visiting Italy. It might be tucked away in the hills, but how often do you experience living history like this dying before your eyes??? It's thrilling and one of the "little places" I'll cherish from my time here.

Lago di Bracciano (Saturday)

After a whirlwind past few days, I spent Italian Republic Day (when they abolished the monarchy) chilling at a nearby lake with a bunch of friends from my study abroad program. We soaked in the Italian sun (quite a bit of it - only a couple of us walked away unscathed by sunburn... and my red back is painfully reminding me of yesterday's heat as I write) and enjoyed time in the water. It was relaxing and refreshing to kick back in the lovely Mediterranean air.

Oh, and by the way there was a castle right by us too... just another casual day in Italy lol!!! The first photo is literally a view from the restaurant where I had my salad (look at that - I don't just live off gelato ;). That's one thing that amazes me about Italy. You can be doing something so normal - like swimming or eating out, and right beside you will be these incredible structures that are hundreds and thousands of years old. It's a wild experience after coming from a country that didn't exist when most of this stuff was built.

All in all, I've had the best few days in Italy! As I relax in bed today after my weekend adventures, I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had and the places I've seen. It's given me a fresh perspective on travelling too. Never be afraid to go off the beaten path and check out lesser-known places for yourself because to me, they've been the most rewarding so far. It's great to do the tourist-y classics, but it's when you get lost in the corners and alleys, hills and valleys of a country that you discover its real beauty and character.

It's the little things that truly are the most wondrous and breathtaking...