Subhamoy Das
The Mediterranean reveals itself slowly, like an ancient scroll unfurling its secrets one harbour at a time. Come on board with me on a luxury cruise ship and let me take you on a journey to Italy’s coastal jewels, a symphony of history, natural beauty, and epicurean delights.
Dawn breaks over the Ligurian Sea, a watery canvas of liquid gold, as our ship glides into La Spezia’s embrace. This port, nestled in the crook of Italy’s arm, serves as our gateway to the artistic splendours of Florence and the architectural wonder of Pisa.
Florence: Meeting David!
In Florence, the morning air is already thick with history, it seems. The Gothic spire of Santa Maria del Fiore pierces the sky, its marble façade telling stories (in stone) that began in the 7th century. Florence, the city of art and history, boasts an impressive ‘collection’ of Michelangelo’s iconic sculpture, David. Indeed, one of the reasons for me to visit Florence was to be face to face with him.
With three extraordinary installations of this masterpiece, the city offers a unique opportunity to admire and appreciate the genius of Michelangelo. The original sculpture can be found in the Accademia Gallery, while the second copy stands proudly in Piazza della Signoria, opposite the Palazzo Vecchio. The third is situated in the picturesque Piazzale Michelangelo, presenting a breathtaking view of the city.
Here, we learn that Michelangelo’s David emerged from a damaged and discarded Carrara marble block that no other sculptor dared to touch. In a remarkable display of skill and courage, Michelangelo accepted the challenge, transforming this seemingly ruined piece into an eternal magnum opus that continues to captivate and inspire generations.
Pisa and its accidental miracles
From Florence, we journey to Pisa, where the famous tower leans into its mythology like a dancer frozen mid-bow. The Campo dei Miracoli or ‘Square of Miracles’ unfolds as a vast carpet of green, where the Tower, Baptistery and Cathedral create a trinity of white marble against the Tuscan sky. Beyond this iconic tilted beacon, Pisa reveals itself as a city of quiet dignity, its medieval flavour and jovial squares speaking to a legacy that transcends its most famous architectural accident.
While we drive back to our ship anchored in La Spezia, we’re greeted by a gentle drizzle that makes the Italian marble quarries on the horizon look even more magical. And lo and behold, a clear and complete rainbow appears before our eyes—the brightest I’ve ever seen.
When in Rome…
In the evening, as the ship glides south toward Rome’s ancient port of Civitavecchia, the coastline becomes a blur of terracotta and green, revealing the dramatic cliffs and azure waters of the Cinque Terre. The air grows warmer, the scent of pine mingling with the sea breeze. We have arrived in Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome.
The Eternal City beckons with promises of grandeur and glory. Here, I walk in the footsteps of emperors, marvelling at the Colosseum, rising from the modern sprawl like a titan from another age, its weathered stones whispering tales of gladiators, triumphs, and tribulations. In the Roman Forum, fallen columns and broken arches create a sublime geometry of decay, each fragment a chapter in the empire’s epic story.
Vatican City: A cosmos of faith & art
The Vatican, a microcosm of a nation, is a world apart! Here, faith and art intertwine in an endless dance. The Sistine Chapel’s ceiling above me becomes a universe unto itself, Michelangelo’s vision so vivid that even the most jaded traveller finds themselves lost in its celestial drama. Time moves differently here, measured not in minutes but in centuries of accumulated wonder.
Napoli: Birthplace of the pizza
The night passage to Naples feels like crossing a threshold into a different Italy, one where life is lived with passionate intensity. Napoli, a symphony of senses, greets us with the aroma of wood-fired ovens preparing the day’s first pizzas, the dough still carrying secrets passed down through generations. With a bounce in my steps, I navigate the vibrant streets to reach the pizzeria to savour the legendary Neapolitan pizza. Here, every meal seems to be a celebration and every moment an affirmation of life’s sweetness.
Pompeii: Losing it in the lost city
From Naples’ vibrant chaos, we venture to Pompeii, where Mount Vesuvius looms like a watchful guardian over the city it once destroyed. Walking these preserved streets feels like trespassing through time—the cart-worn stones, the frozen moments of daily life, the haunting plaster casts of citizens caught in history’s cruel amber. It’s a poignant reminder of the fragility of human existence, suspended in time by the eruptions of the fabled volcano.
‘Twas goodbye on the Isle of Capri’
The day’s final act unfolds in Capri, where the afternoon light turns the Mediterranean into a mirror of heaven. Yachts bob in the marina like precious jewels scattered on blue velvet, while the island’s limestone cliffs rise from the sea in defiance of gravity. I’m reminded of Frank Sinatra’s classic ‘The Isle of Capri’ that our Kishore and Asha adapted for their Dil Dil Se Milakar Dekho in Mem Sahib (1956).
Bidding adieu to the carefree island, we take a ferry to the Sorrentine peninsula, our last stop. In Sorrento, lemon groves perfumed the air, and narrow streets winded their way through a coastal town that seemed to have emerged from a collective dream of what Italy is all about—la dolce vita.
Addio, Italia!
As our ship weighs anchor for the final time, the coast of Italy becomes a memory even before it fades from view, each port, each encounter, adding a unique note to the symphony of our Italian sojourn. We carry with us not just images but sensations: the cool touch of ancient marble, the taste of sun-ripened tomatoes, the echo of church bells across timeless piazzas. This is more than a journey through space—it is a passage through layers of time, every port a different chapter in the continuing story of human achievement and aspiration.
In these waters, where empires rose and fell, where art was born and reborn, where nature and human creation achieve perfect harmony, we find the true meaning of la dolce vita: It’s not just the sweetness of life, but the profound appreciation of every moment, every taste, every view that makes existence not just beautiful, but sublime.
