Palermo to Venice by Fiat 500 (2012)
I’m a proponent of the novelty road trip. In this case novelty came in the form of our choice of vehicle - a Fiat 500 coupe. We picked our little cart up at Palermo airport and nicknamed him Salvatore after a lunchtime encounter with a mafioso of that name.
Salvatore carried us up the spine of Italy, from the caves of Matera to the harbour at Trani and through blizzard conditions on the Apennine plateau near Campobasso.
Our trip culminated in Venice, where a 40th birthday pilgrimage to the home of the Bellini ended in failure. Not to worry - the lagoon in midwinter was black glass and Venice enjoyed a foggy stillness free of tourist and cruise ship crowds.
I’m not sure my lower back has ever fully recovered from the Fiat driving position though…
