Attempting to summarise a recent Italian adventure in a single story is nearly as futile as mastering the language of Il Bel Paese. But here goes, or 'andiamo' as the Italians say.
From the vibrant energy and captivating bay views of Naples, where this 13-day escorted Collette tour commenced, to the tranquil, whimsical surroundings of Alberobello, a fairytale town in Puglia, the journey was filled with compelling and unforgettable moments.
For almost two weeks, we were treated to displays of stunning natural beauty, artistic and architectural brilliance, and absorbing ancient heritage preserved by generations of inspiring Italians.
Tour highlights are nearly impossible to choose, but here are a few.
Exploring the incredible ruins and mosaics of Pompeii before enjoying an alfresco wine tasting and delicious lunch at a nearby vineyard thriving in volcanic soils, with Mount Vesuvius placidly looming in the background, remains a vivid memory.
The colourfully painted seaside towns and villages of the Amalfi Coast took our breath away, as did the azure waters of Salento, a region on the opposite coast, on the 'heel' of Italy, so close to Greece that you can almost glimpse it across the Adriatic Sea.
Breaking up our coast-to-coast journey was Matera, a unique city in the largely unsung region of Basilicata. We stayed for two nights in a 'cave hotel' in the sassi (stone caves) carved into Matera's labyrinthine, multi-levelled historic centre, one of numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites on our itinerary and a James Bond filming location.
Deliciously authentic Neapolitan pizzas, freshly grilled octopus, and smooth Pugliese wines quickly come to mind when recalling tour favourites, as do the beautiful baroque churches of Lecce, where we stayed for two nights in this city nicknamed the 'Florence of the south'.
As always when travelling, there are characters you meet who you won't forget in a hurry. Like Nando and his mother Cristina, who warmly welcomed us and poured limoncello at their family farm set amid lofty lemon groves above Minori, our pretty, laid-back Amalfi Coast base for four nights.
In Puglia, Pippo was a friendly chap who whisked me around Ostuni, La Citta Bianca (the White City), in his Piaggio Ape Calessino, the Italian answer to a tuktuk. I recall soprano Manuela and pianist Pasquale, who, along with their bandmates in Naples, performed an intimate private concert for our 23-strong Collette group, an affable blend of Australians, Americans, and Canadians.
Some of us (not I) proved to be better singers and dancers than others, as seen during another culturally immersive experience when we were encouraged to join in during a performance of pizzica, a traditional folk dance in Salento.
One man with decent dance moves and an impressive baritone voice was Dario, our big-hearted Sicilian tour manager, who ensured our trip ran smoothly and with good humour. As we travelled from A to B by coach, he delivered intriguing and amusing anecdotes and lessons on Italian language, history, society, and culture, including the national penchant for expressive hand gestures.
At the wheel of our tour coach was Vincenzo, a pleasant, reassuring presence, whether negotiating thronging urban traffic jams, steep winding cliffside roads, or the rugged Apennine mountains that form the backbone of this spectacularly picturesque country.
Journeys were never overly long, and every hour or so we would stop for a comfort break to stretch our legs and, more often than not in my case, fuel up on espresso. Why not? We're in Italy, after all.
Importantly, the tour had just the right balance of organised activities, group meals, and free time. If we spent a morning doing something, such as a walk with an English-speaking local guide, we would often have an afternoon at leisure.
Sometimes I would stroll around town or hike further afield, through those Amalfi lemon groves, for example. I clocked up tens of thousands of steps, the inveterate explorer in me hungry to see what was around that corner or up that rambling stone staircase.
Other times, I would rest or linger over a lunch or dinner, savouring the regional pasta dishes, mood-boosting liquid refreshments, and other addictive aspects of La Dolce Vita (the sweet life). The gelato, in particular, was tricky to resist.
On this April trip, we had mostly dry sunny weather with daytime temperatures from 18C to 23C, with the scent of spring blossoms in the air. Though evenings were typically cooler, a sweater or jacket usually sufficed. Our group was in almost unanimous agreement that these conditions were much preferable to enduring Italy's peak summer heatwaves and tourist crowds.
I have done several Collette tours in Italy, and this was up there with the best of them. It was bittersweet at our farewell group dinner, bidding arrivederci to Dario, Vincenzo, and my fellow travellers, some of whom, especially the Aussies, were sticking around for more European adventures in Sicily, Spain, and Portugal.
I am heading home now and will write more articles about Italy in the coming months. But I wanted to write this now, while the memories are as fresh as the mozzarella we enjoyed for lunch at a farm that is home to 400 water buffalo, around the corner from a magnificent cluster of Greek temples built around 2500 years ago.
'Allora' (well, so, then). It is time to leave Alberobello, which rivals Matera for the quirkiest base of the tour. We have all been staying in the town's trulli, whitewashed stone houses with conical roofs, neatly converted with modern conveniences. It is a fitting final place to stay because, all told, this has been a 'trulli' special trip.
Steve McKenna was a guest of Collette. They have not influenced this story or read it before publication.
Fact File
Collette's Italy: Amalfi Coast to Puglia tour departs Naples on dates between March and December, priced from $7999 per person, based on double occupancy. Meals included are a daily buffet breakfast, three lunches, and three dinners.
To help plan a trip to Italy, see italia.it/en.
