Oct 03 2022
I am sitting on the train to Sorrento struggling to recap the past 48 hours. G and I have spent our days walking through the streets of Rome and Naples and have become completely captivated. We can feel our Italian roots come to life. The incredible food, precious history, and sophisticated culture has never made us more proud to be Scipione’s.
On day one, we visited the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basicila at Vatican City. The Colosseum was crowded with tourists so we unfortunately only saw the outside of the building’s incredible archicteture. Our friend, Jesse, went with us to St. Peter’s Basilica. Jesse had been in Rome five days prior to us and is joining us on the rest of our travels throughout Italy. St. Peter’s Basicilia is like nothing I have ever seen before. Construction of the Basilica began in 1506 and was completed in 1626. The church’s immaculate structure and divine detail is so remarkable that it is difficult for me to verbalize. The works of Donato Bramante, Michaelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini will leave you speechless. Every inch of the walls has been carefully carved, mosaicked, and polished. It is mind-blowing to think about the brilliance and dedication that went into the construction of the church hundreds of years ago.
On day two, we visited Parco degli Scipioni. The Parco degli Scipioni is one of the smallest and most intimate parks in Rome and was named after the discovery of the tomb, Scipioni, built by Lucio Cornello Scipione Barbato. Scipioni is a branch of the famous Corneli family, dating back to 1614. G and I wandered around the beautiful park and reflected on our family name and it’s history. We thought about how content our grandpa would be sitting in the park. Our grandpa, Robert Scipione, was the embodiment of a true Italian man. He enjoyed reading poetry, playing his piano, and delighting in exquisite food and wine.
Grandpa taught us many lessons in life as kids. He taught us to treat others with respect, encouraged us be curious, and showed us the importance of presence. To be present, you must treat challenges as moments. In a world that is becoming more isolated, presence is now a scarce commodity – something more precious than time. We have to choose presence because time only matters if you’re fully there to enjoy it. Standing in the Parco degli Scipioni reminded us of this. We know Grandpa would be completely present, absorbing the park’s beauty around him. G and I can feel Grandpa with us and won’t forget to choose presence for the remainder of our trip.
We trained from Rome to Naples yesterday afternoon and are now in Positano, near the Amalfi Coast. Naples included a trip to Pompei, massive pies of Napolian pizza, and some new tattoos. The eruption of Vesuvius left the city of Pompeii a catastrophe. Buildings were destroyed, the people were asphyxiated, and the city was buried beneath a blanket of ash. Today, you can walk through the city and explore historically lavish villas, all kinds of houses, and an amphitheatre.
Our long day of traveling called for a quiet night in. However, we are traveling with an Australian now, so there’s always something you cannot expect. Jesse, G, and I found a local tattoo shop in Naples and all got some permanent ink to commemorate our time in Italy. G got the words, “non ti preoccupare”, meaning “no worries” in Italian. I got a small triangle symbolizing challenge and adventure. We will be in Positano for the rest of our time in Italy and cannot wait to swim in one of most beautiful coasts I’ve ever seen.
Bella Scipione 
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