I know that my reasons for loving Italy, and some very specific regions within Italy, are based on personal experiences/perceptions and family links (which I will share later when I am not at work), and am curious to know what yours are.

As everyone here has a link and/or interest in Italy - can you describe 'your' Italy?

Where is it?

What is it that makes it special to you?

What is your link/relationship to it?

Hi Robert
This is one specific memory I have about my one and only visit to Italy in early 1970.
My husband with me and our ( 4 children -all under the age of 9yrs) went to stay with relatives for 4 weeks in the Prov of Frosinone. We travelled by rail and ferry. We had a marvellous time visiting Atina, VillaLatina, Sant'Elia, Monte Casino etc. and meeting my husband's relations. Dont know about train strikes these days but in 1970 it seems they just made up their mind there and then to have a strike without warning. After our 4 weeks were up we travelled by taxi to Casino to get the train only to discover they were on strike for the next 7 days !!--Oh no I'm not complaining -we had to go back my husband's aunt house and we had to have an extra weeks holiday!

What makes it extra special to me is I've found out where my father's family came from - Sant'Elia Fiumerapido and Acquafondata and I would love to go back and visit there some day.(when I pluck up some courage )

Every time I smell the smoke from a wood burning fire I feel I'm back there in Italy walking on the road from Atina to Villa Latina.

Sorry if I've gone off the topics you asked

Emmy