While in Roma

Visso

This past weekend I took a trip with friends to Visso, a quaint mountain town nestled in the valley of Nera, which is located in the Italian Region of Marche (a 3 hour drive from Rome). I have heard that the cities in Italy become more beautiful the farther north one travels, and I admit this is true. There was no graffiti to be seen anywhere and the streets and houses were kept very clean. The town was peaceful and quiet, with a lack of tourists and an abundance of fishermen; it was a nice escape from Rome. There, we stayed in our friend Stefano’s family mountain house. It was a cozy home complete with bunk beds and a fireplace, and the best part was that we stayed for free.

We went on two very short hikes (if they can even be called that), to take in some breathtaking views of the mountains around us. We also got to see a little bit of a Carnivale Festival in a neighboring town which was a good cultural experience. But aside from seeing the beauty and enjoying the peacefulness of the mountains, the best part of the trip was getting to know our sweet Italian friends better. I knew most of the group, but this was a good opportunity for me to see new faces, strengthen existing relationships and practice Italian. It was a wonderful trip filled with good conversations and fun times. I recommend visiting Visso if you ever get the chance.

Elizabeth and I on the drive up