Leaving Pieces of My Heart Around Italy

My heart is going to be scattered about Italy. As I prepare to leave yet another place that is so special to me – that I hold near and dear to my heart – I dread it. This Alpe di Siusi region is so stunningly beautiful. I knew when I first saw it in 2011 I would come back. And I did. So as I leave today, I’m vowing to come back yet again. I will never tire of it.

 

 

And yes, I do keep leaving pieces of my heart around Italy, this incredibly diverse country. It has captured my heart, my mind and my soul. As I drive from north to south, I will write more about this diversity, but even in the 10 days I’ve been here, visiting 4 places, I see, and even feel the differences. From food, to language (German is spoken first here in Castelrotto or Kastelruth in German), to landscape to traditions. This is my Italy – the one that never ceases to amaze and surprise me.

 

 

So today I head further north, close to the Austrian border. This will be a new destination for me, Campo Tures, yet still in this Südtirol region (that was once part of the Austo-Hungarian Empire prior to WWI) which is a pretty unique and gorgeous part of northern Italy. Even though my heart is heavy to leave Castelrotto, I know that this fabulous country called Italy continues to beckon me to explore her. I think I’ll take her up on that offer!