When in Rome ...

Students, staff and chaperones enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy. The writer is standing center right.

Mary Malloy/Herald

If you were given 10 days to spend in Italy, how would you spend them? Enjoying a delicious cappuccino? Walking along the water of Capri? Or zipping along the narrow roads on your scooter?

I was among the almost two dozen students in grades nine through 12 from East Rockaway High School who were given that opportunity during spring break when we toured the beautiful country of Italy. The trip was coordinated by school’s foreign language teacher, Giuseppe Cracolici.

For those of you who’ve never been to Italy, it’s definitely a place worth visiting. From Juliet’s balcony in Verona (the one on which William Shakespeare based his tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet), to the mind-blowing Sistine chapel in Vatican City, the paintings and sculptures by Michaelangelo were unforgettable.

When in Rome, as they say, can visit the 2,000 year old coliseum that was used and built by the Romans — and while your there, don’t forget to throw a coin into the gigantic Trevi Fountain. The belief is that if you do so, you will someday return to Italy. I hope my wish comes true!

You can visit Saint Francis’s Cathedral, located in Assisi, which actually holds the tomb of Saint Francis himself. Assisi has the most breathtaking views of the countryside that I have ever seen.

Or what could be any better than a peaceful gondola ride along the canals of Venice?

Of course the sightseeing is incredible in Italy, but the food is what really gives Italy its flavor! If you weren’t a pasta lover before your trip, you will be afterward when you try all the different variety of pasta dishes. Think you can can you take on the famous two pound Roman steak? I hope your hungry! It is also very rare that you will find ice in your beverage at an Italina restaurant — they hardly ever use it. Breakfast in Italy is small, so just grab a croissant, a little pack of nutella, a cappuccino and your set. Italy is home to many great Italian pastries, I have never had a better cannoli or tiramisu in my life! My personal favorite was the gelato, which wasn’t hard to find since there are an average of four gelato shops on each street.

Leaving Italy had to be one of the hardest things for me to do. Hopefully I’ll have the chance to go back again one day.

Mi manca l’Italia!