5 joyful Italian things that we miss in the pandemic

2020 saw Italy being ravaged by COVID-19 as the country saw a shocking number of casualties and then, extended lockdown. It looked nothing like the Italy that we knew, its people confined to balconies, still strong and as warm as ever. Now, as the nation reopens restriction-free travel to international travellers from a number of countries, here's a look at the most joyful Italian experiences that we miss indulging in.Read more - Italy opens restriction-free international travel for some countries

We don't know anyone who doesn't love gelato! A dessert-lover's delight, gelato originated in Italy's Sicily. Even as Italy is shut for Indian travellers for now, owing to the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, we can't take our minds off the time when scenes like this were true.

We know this one is as cliched as cliche can be, but we are still not over it. That's the fun of Venice, one can never stop missing even its touristy experiences. Of course, Bollywood too gave us a very fair dose of the city and its boat rides too, making us fall for it all the more.

Evenings in Cinque Terre are nothing less than magical, and travel enthusiasts around the world are definitely missing those. Right from its stunning sunset points and the old-school charm of Portovenere to the festival that Madonna Bianca Festival is and the perfect Italian meals at Fuori Rotta, Riomaggiore.

This one makes for picture-perfect Italian moments. The sight of Vespas and Lambrettas always succeed to make us feel nostalgic, for these scooter rides were less about sightseeing and more about the charm of something essentially old-school.

Tuscany has some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world. If you are not a fan of wine, you would still love a vineyard tour for the experience and the postcard-like vistas they offer. While we still cannot visit Italy and bask in its glory like the pre-COVID days, here is wishing the country hope, resilience and the return of its good, old days.