CIAO, BELLA! ♥ Italy SERIES: weekend in campania

ciao, bella!

Back in January I had the opportunity to travel to Campania, a southern region in Italy known for its coastal beauty and rich history. The region features major cities such as Naples, Agropoli and Paestum. Because my travel group visited during the off-season, it was so freezing that it began snowing, much to my dismay. Fortunately, we were still able to take in the beauty of the region.

The Second Temple of Athena (pictured above) is Greek and is the oldest surviving temple in Paestum. Our local guide informed us that while it was initially dedicated to the goddess of war and wisdom, it was later used as a Christian church. We also visited the historical Roman amphitheater (now in ruins) and the Archaeological Museum. Agropoli, situated on the Cilentan Coast, hosted marvelous sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea. The area was stunning - the perfect lovechild between historical architecture and natural beauty. 

Perhaps my favorite part of the trip was the visit to a buffalo farm called Tenuta Vannulo where we watched fresh mozzarella being made. The staff was proud to announce they treat their mammalian guests to a "massage," a grooming technique used to relax the buffalo in order for them to produce the highest quality milk. We then toured a local vineyard known as the Azienda Agricola Vini Marino and did some wine tasting. Although red wines tend to be much richer in flavor due to the skins being left on during fermentation, I highly enjoyed and preferred the sweetness of the white wine. The owner was hospitable enough to offer us some focaccia and bottles for purchase while serenading us!

Stay tuned for a post about my trip to Florence in the coming weeks!

Tua,
Ciara ♥

Archaeological Museum

Azienda Agricola Vini Marino

Focaccia and white wine

Fresh mozzarella

Inside the museum

Freshly-made gnocchi

Agropolesi sunset