While some people pine for the “dolce vita” lazing around in the Italian Riviera or basking on a beach in Sicily there’s plenty to enjoy here on the glorious Isle of Wight. After all, it was good for the Romans, although back in those days they just called it Vectis. But today it offers so much for the holidaymaker and resident alike, including some very obvious, and not so obvious, links to Italy.
Italy is a sought destination for foreigners who want to move there, get residence and live ”la dolce vita”.
A Strong Historical Connection
For instance, did you know that back in 1897 the inventor Guglielmo Marconi arrived on the island from his Bologna home and set up a radio station near The Needles? This meant that Queen Victoria could communicate with her son Prince Edward while he was aboard the Royal Yacht.
The Queen and her consort Prince Albert had already shown their fondness for all things Italian as can be seen at Osborne House. It features some of the most stunning examples of Italianate architecture in the UK with its bracketed cornices, Italian-style towers, and arched windows which were added by the master builder Thomas Cubitt.
So on a hot, sunny day – and the island has more of these than almost anywhere else in the UK – strolling through the lush gardens with the building in the background, it’s easy to imagine you might be in Tuscany or Umbria.
There are many other facets of Italian life that can be easily replicated and these include the cuisine. The Island is superbly well-served with fresh produce. And let’s not forget just how much of that key ingredient of Italian cuisine, garlic, is grown here. Even the famous festival is like one of the many held up and down Italy all year round celebrating each region’s specialities.
We also have our own world-famous Italian imports with one of the very best being Minghella’s Ice Cream. With more than 80 food awards received over the years for flavours ranging from Nocciola to Cappuccino Coffee Ice cream, the family firm certainly brings the true taste of their homeland to these shores.
Admittedly, glorious as many things on the island may be, we might be struggling to match the vibrant nightlife of our friends in Italy. But there are still ways to enjoy the high life. For example, we have countless Italian restaurants from Cowes to Ventnor serving pizza, pasta and much more besides. And there might not be a casino on the island, but you can still experience the classic games on offer through online casinos and there are numerous guides online to compile all the relevant information based on different regions and countries such as Bonusfinder in Italy. These will introduce you to many different online sites as well as qualifying you for welcome bonuses and offers in the process.
Last, but by no means least, anyone looking for long sandy beaches, the kind that make Sardinia such a popular destination, will be spoilt for choice. Sandown Bay was even named Beach of the Year in 2019 by the BBC’s Countryfile and Seagrove Bay is equally idyllic.
So why not say “arrivederci” to that idea of an Italian break and enjoy a classic staycation instead?
