A Splash of Italian Summer

More and more Americans are discovering Italy as a delightful tourist destination, especially in the summer.  But when do Italians take their vacations? Where do they go?  And most importantly: what do they eat?

On average, Italian workers get more vacation from their jobs than their American counterparts, usually about a month every year.  Summer is the season of choice for trips away from home, with a whopping 44 percent taking their major vacation of the year in August, according to “Where Italians Go on Holiday,” a 2005 research study by Sociometrica and Trademark Italia.  Most Italians do not travel too far from home – 72 percent say they will vacation in Italy this summer – and 55 percent say that they will take a seaside vacation, most likely returning to the same spot they visited last year.

And why wouldn’t they?  There are so many spectacular beach spots throughout the country. Beautiful blue seas surround Italy: in the west, the Mediterranean, the Ligurian, the Sardinian and the Tyrrhenian; in the south, the Sicilian and the Ionian; and in the east, the Adriatic.  The beaches of Sardinia and southern Italy on the Mediterranean are especially popular, as are the many small beach towns on the Adriatric coast and famous seaside resort areas like Vi areggio and Forte dei Marmi on the northern coast of Tuscany.

Add the fresh water Lake District in the north and private and public swimming pools everywhere, and it’s as clear as the azure water that Italy is a swimmer’s, snorkeler’s, and sunbather’s paradise.

Beyond the availability of great beach spots, Italians escape to their sometimes sandy, often rocky shores for a simple reason: the heat!  The country can get very hot and humid in the summer, especially in the city, and air conditioning is not nearly as widespread as it is here.  Anyone who has visited, for example, Rome in August can tell you that the city virtually “shuts down” then, as urban dwellers flee to the seaside to get away from the sizzling heat.

Going to the beach in Italy is a bit different than in the U.S, where many fine beaches are free and open to the public.  Italy has public beaches, too, but most often they are used by foreigners and not as well maintained.  Italians flock to private beach areas, which are impeccably kept up, charge an admission fee, have services like lockers and showers, and assign beachgoers specific lounge chairs in specific locations on the beach. And, of course, there is a usually a restaurant on the pr emises and many others in the surrounding area.

That’s where Italians can indulge in another of their favorite summertime pastimes:  eating al fresco.  Whether it’s simply drinking a refreshing limonata or dining on a multi-course meal, there is no better way to get a taste of summer in Italy than dining outdoors.

Gathering around the pool or the lake with family and friends and enjoying a spread of delicious Italian tidbits is a great way to while away a summer’s day.  When choosing your menu, look for dishes that are quick and easy to make, don’t require you to heat up the kitchen, and offer your guests all the freshness of the season. 

That means lots of vegetables from the garden or market, easily transportable (and fun-to-eat) pasta salads, sandwiches, and fresh fruit.  Our poolside picnic menu is a classic Italian take on a moveable feast, inspired by summer’s bounty of tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and arugula.  Don’t skimp:  get the best, most garden-fresh tomatoes, a good-quality balsamic vinegar, and imported Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for our Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinegar and Shaved Parmigiano  – you’ll taste the difference!  And don’t forget plenty of refreshing drinks:  chilled white wine or asti spumante, iced tea or coffee, and juice for the younger set.

So if you can’t make it to Italy this summer, take a dip in the pool and then relax as you dip in to some authentic Italian tastes.  Just close your eyes, feel the breeze on your face, and pretend you’re sunning yourself on the Amalfi coast or the Italian Riviera. Now, that’s a vacation!