Buongiorno, cari lettori! It’s your favorite gnome, Oliver, reporting from the sunny shores of Cervia, Italy!

Now, let’s take a moment to talk about the 49.6 kilometers I had to cover to get here from Pennabilli. My tiny feet grumbled, but my gnome-heart soared as we journeyed through the verdant Italian countryside. But, among the vast vineyards and ancient olive groves, one sight struck me the most.

As I was making my way through a small village, I stumbled upon an elderly Italian man, his weather-beaten hands expertly crafting a wooden puppet. He was whistling an old Italian folk tune as he worked, ‘O Sole Mio’ it was. The locals call him Geppetto, after the character from Carlo Collodi’s Le avventure di Pinocchio. He showed me his craft and I was so moved by his passion and skill that I stayed with him for the rest of the day, learning and laughing.

Moving on, in my 134 days on the road, I’ve covered a whopping 3775.1 kilometers. My journey has taken me through the charming streets of Urbino, the rustic beauty of Pennabilli, and now basking in the coastal glory of Cervia.

As I roam through these beautiful cities, I can’t help but reflect on a famous Italian saying, “Chi viaggia vive due volte” – He who travels, lives twice. And I, my dear readers, am living a thousand lives, one city at a time.

So, stay tuned for more tales from the road, and remember, as the Italians say, “La vita è un viaggio” – Life is a journey.

Arrivederci!

Cervia, a city filled with storia e cultura (history and culture), has two fascinating features that are absolutely worth mentioning. First, there’s the Salina di Cervia, a vast salt pan that’s been in operation since the Etruscan era. It continues to produce salt according to age-old methods, preserving a piece of living history. As the Italian composer Verdi once said, “Ritorna all’antico e sarà un progresso” (Return to the old, and it will be progress).

Secondly, there’s the remarkable MUSA, a museum of salt and sea that offers an immersive journey into the city’s salt production history. This museum is as captivating as a sonnet by Petrarch, Italy’s famous poet, and it’s filled with artifacts, stories, and interactive displays that will make your visit “un viaggio indimenticabile” (an unforgettable journey). Cervia is not just a city, but a rich tapestry of Italian culture, history, and natural beauty.