Dolce Vita in Roma

First of all, try to push away all those things you have read in newspapers about Italy. Media controlled by the Berlusconi empire, a high public debt, the lowest competitiveness and the lowest-growing big economy in Europe, never ending financial and legal scandals.

All this is true. But once you travel to Italy all these bad news are covered by the famous Italian dolce vita, this easy way of living. Yes, I know, this is mainly a tourist impression, but it is so true.

Lets take Rome for example. It boasts of stunning architecture, larger than life, bigger than nature. Sculptures, fountains, amazing buildings. 2500 years of history, between ancient Rome, Renaissance, Barock. 900 churches. Walk in some tiny backstreets and you discover spontaneously buildings that would have been highlights in other cities. Here its ususal business. Nothing surprising. Very easy to get a sensory overload.

Another phenomenon. The Vatican (see photos). Smallest country of the world. A country on its own inside of Rome. Officially recognized as a country by Mussolini in 1929. Small population, apparently 500 citizens. Why is the population so small? No surprise. Just nuns and priest live there. No possibility to raise the number of citizens, joked a New Zealand guide...