Endless Beaches, Chocolate-Covered Almonds, and Unforgettable Concerts

Vera, one of our Discover Italy participants, shares her impressions from this summer’s cultural exchange program in Italy:

This summer, I decided to go for round two with the cultural exchange experience. Since I study Italian, I didn’t switch countries, but I did head somewhere new—this time, to southern Italy.

This was her second cultural exchange, and this time around she was located in a completely different region.

Unlike last year when I spontaneously jumped into it, this time came with more preparation and, admittedly, more nerves. Even though I’ve been to Italy many times, the south was uncharted territory for me. A part of me longed to return to Florence where everything feels just right—but even though I’m deeply attached to my comfort zone, I do love shaking things up now and then. So I shook things up and landed in a colorful seaside town in Puglia.

Just like the first time, she fell completely in love with her new home.

What first comes to mind? Endless beaches, their iconic chocolate-covered almonds, and absolutely phenomenal concerts. I spent my days at the beach and my evenings wandering the town—visiting the natural history museum, catching films at the local cinema, and attending Battiti Live, one of the most important summer music festivals in Italy. As is the case with many touristy coastal towns, summer brings the streets to life. I constantly stumbled upon open-air concerts of every genre—from opera and jazz to local cover bands playing hits by Rino Gaetano, Vasco Rossi, and classic European and American throwbacks everyone knows. My sidekick for the trip was Anita, who’s now become a close friend. We had our little routines, favorite spots, go-to pizzeria, and a shared understanding whenever one of us got a wave of homesickness.

She brought home, once again, some beautiful memories and friendships for life.

I came back from Italy with the best tan of my life, new knowledge of local dialects, insights into people and myself, music in my head—and most importantly, a real friendship. I’d say that’s a pretty solid takeaway.