Enjoying the ‘True Italy’
Monica Pappas, UC Davis

After living in the Sacramento area for over 30 years and retiring from UC Davis I was ready to “reinvent” myself and have one of those “life changing” experiences.  My ancestral village is not far from Trento, Italy and I am a dual US/Italian citizen. My husband and I both already felt “at home” in this region of Italy after having led commercial bicycle tours here for our company, La Cima Tours, since 1998.

But this isn’t the well known Italy with Coliseums, leaning towers and statues of David.   This is the hidden Italy, what I call the “true” Italy. Trento is a small city with the feel of a very vibrant village. The river valley that Trento is in is full of lush vineyards and is surrounded by high Alpine peaks.

We live in Trento’s beautiful pedestrian city center in a recently renovated palace. Living in the city center allows me to walk among the Roman ruins that still remain and to enjoy the frescoed palaces that were built during the Renaissance. Each morning I awake to the bells ringing from the bell tower in our cathedral which was home to the Council of Trent in the 1500’s.  

My husband and I are still passionate in our love of the sport of bicycling and the surrounding Alps, Dolomiti Mountains, valleys and lakes provide plenty of opportunities for exploration, adventure and fun.
 
My recommendation for people coming to visit Italy is to make sure that they include “off the beaten path” locations such as ours in their travels. Although there are wonderful things to do, see, and explore in the tourist centers of Rome, Venice, Florence and Pisa, the true Italy -- our hidden Italy -- waits with open arms.

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