Piacenza

Perhaps one of the most beautiful places, for me, in Italy is the Pianura Padana.

 I am so glad it isn't famous because then it would become trampled by tourists and journalists. There it is peaceful and serene in ways a lot of chaotic Italy isn't. The fields are flat and long with incredible casales (typical farms) emerging in the horizon like a mirage.

 In those casales, they make some of the best food: prosciutto, parmigiano, cotechino, and dozens of varieties of salt cured hams.

Aperitivo: an afternoon calorie rich snack that comes with your wine. This is meant to enjoy before dinner.

 Of course, the smell is unbelievable too...it smells like a farm! The air is filled with scents of cattle, musty hay and of course the smell of pigs.

The cities in the Pianura Padana region are nothing to sneeze at. Some of the most notable family lines in Italy, such as the Gonzaga family (who built famous abbeys and monasteries across Italy) are from this region. The architecture of these cities is unique in that they use bold citrus colors to paint, and are in this rustic rural form that still breathes life. One of my favorite cities there is Cremona. However, Piacenza, its neighbor is larger, more  urban but still has that rural taste that I love.