San Gimignano: Authentic Italy

On a normal weekend here I was able to escape reality and enter Italy. This was the Italy that you see in movies, as cliche as that sounds. It was the Italy where no modern concepts on life have interfered, it was simple and it was beautiful.

I found this Italian oasis in San Gimignano, in the heart of Tuscany.

San Gimignano is composed of stone towers and narrow roads, all tucked inside the countryside. The town is small and one could easily walk through it within an hour. But making your way through it is the difficult part. Tiny alley ways mixed make the city a maze. But with every turn there was a new surprise. Whether it was an olive oil store, or a cafe with the local wine, there was always something unique around every turn.

Once we navigated our way through the cobblestoned streets, there would be an opening to the outside world. The view this opening brought could only be described as breathtaking. It was miles and miles of rolling hills lush with shades of green. When seeing it for the first time I stood and stared for minutes without saying a word. It was a time to  stop and soak in the view in front of me. I thought the feeling this sight brings would only happen the first time, but every time we went to the overview the sense of aw was relived.

The views weren’t the only thing to enlighten my senses. Complimenting the sights were the tastes. When thinking of Tuscan food Olive Garden comes to mind. Yet as many people know, this is a simple American fabrication. The real Tuscan food included a juicy, thick steak and a side of potatoes dipped in olive oil. This was a nice change of pace from the usual meal of pasta and bread. To top of the meal was gelato. At this point I was at a fork in the road. One gelato shop to the right claimed it was the best gelato in the world. The other shop to my left stated it was the world champion gelato shop. I figured both valued the art of exaggerated advertising and I went to the closer shop. Although their marketing methods may be extreme, they weren’t far off. Since my time in Italy I have had my fair share of gelato, as well as other sweets, but this was much more. The second my lips touched the creamy blueberry gelato it melted perfectly in my mouth. It provided the perfect mixture of fruit from the berries and sweetness from the cream. I finished my day completely satisfied, and completely full.