In June 2019 my family took me and my boyfriend around Europe to celebrate our high school graduation. By far, my favorite place we ventured was Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy. It felt like walking through a town stopped in time. The main street is cobblestoned and goes up and up and up past castle-like buildings. This small city sits on a hill and is surrounded by valleys as far as the eye can see. The moment we drove into this town to get to our AirBnB, I felt something incredibly deep in my soul. It felt like this place had been waiting for me, I had a sense of belonging, though I was in a foreign place. From that minute on, my spirit continued to lift higher than those Tuscan hills.
After a while of unpacking in our quant townhome, we all got a craving for a good meal with a great view. As we wandered up the streets looking for the perfect place for dinner, the buildings suddenly parted and opened to the most gorgeous view…I swear it was a literal glimpse into heaven. It was golden hour and the sun was soft, the rays illuminated the rolling valleys and it was like standing in a dream. I have never seen anything like it. The five of us stood there for at least twenty minutes, entranced by the place we would call home for the next three days.
To top the night off, we found a small restaurant with outdoor seating, the balcony showcased the view as if we were looking at a painting. There were fresh flowers and vines tangled along all four walls and the rails of the balcony. We watched the sunset and filled our tummies with delectable Italian food and filled our souls with great conversation.
The next day we decided to explore Tuscany a bit more, we drove to another city on a hill. I don’t remember the name but it was much smaller than Montepulciano. As soon as we got there we noticed very quickly that we were the only ones around… Everything looked closed and we couldn’t figure out why. Was it a holiday or some special celebration? I still don’t understand why the whole town felt like a ghost town that day. We continued to wander and stumbled across the one restaurant that looked open, and it was packed! I guess that’s where everyone was! There were at least 30 people packed into this small restaurant (ah, remember the time before COVID?), and most were speaking in loud Italian. Everyone was enjoying pasta and wine and I can recall there being so much laughter amongst everyone. People were talking to one another across tables, it was like one big family.
We were instantly welcomed and recommended their specialty dishes, so of course, that’s what we ordered. It was the most amazing pasta I have ever had, it felt like I was eating true Italian food; as if my bowl of pasta came from a recipe that has been passed down for generations from Italian grandmother to Italian grandmother. The noodles were perfectly al dente, the sauce was creamy and flavorful, the meat and cheeses blended beautifully with the sauces and noodles. Every bite was better than the last, and it was obvious how much the men working there took pride in their dishes. They continued to come over and ask us how we were doing, they patted us on the back and gave us huge grins when we told them how much we were loving their food. The food was impeccable but what made the whole experience even better was the people. The old and the young gathered into this charming space with the intention to not only eat but chat across tables and welcome the notion of the new and the regular walking into their familiar establishment.
I realized something in Tuscany, and throughout Europe: they love family. Meals around one big table are the best place to create a sense of community. Italians especially take pride in their cuisine, it’s like sharing a piece of their heart, their families, their history. The fact that they are so open to everyone, even some American tourists, goes to show how much they value that sense of home everywhere they go. As someone who felt at home in this small town, I wholeheartedly appreciate that the people were as–if not more–stunning and welcoming as that first sunset I got to witness while in Tuscany.
