My Weekend in Caserta, Sorrento, and Capri

This trip was planned by IES Abroad Rome, and it was one of my most memorable parts of my time abroad. This trip combined pasts, historic buildings, and a beautiful coastline. 

Starting the Weekend with Buffalo Mozzarella
Our adventure began much earlier than I would have liked—at 6:20 A.M. in the morning. We headed to Torre Lupara, which is a farm in the province of Caserta and it’s very famous for its mozzarella di bufala. I expected to simply eat some cheese and move on, but the visit ended up being one of the most unique experiences I’ve had in Italy. We watched mozzarella being made from scratch, fed baby buffaloes with bottles of milk, and even saw the buffaloes relaxing in giant pools of water. Of course, the highlight was tasting fresh mozzarella and ricotta that had been made right there on the farm. I can confidently say that they will never taste the same again. 

The Palace of Caserta
After lunch, we went to the Royal Palace of Caserta. The palace itself was beautiful, but the gardens were something else. The grounds seemed endless, with fountains, pathways, and views that you won’t see anywhere else. Walking through rooms filled with elaborate decorations and paintings, it was hard to believe that people had actually lived there. 

A Night in Sorrento
That evening, we arrived in Sorrento and checked into our hostel. After a long day of traveling, there was something special about wandering through the town with my friends, stopping at little shops, and taking in the views of the coast. Sorrento somehow manages to feel both lively and peaceful at the same time. Everything about that city makes you fall in love with it, from the breeze of the sea to the lemon-themed everything. 

Capri
The next morning, we got on a hydrofoil to Capri. I had seen a lot of pictures online, but nothing compared to seeing the island in person. One of my favorite parts of studying abroad has been discovering places that seem too beautiful to be real, and Capri definitely belongs on that list. My friends and I spent the day exploring, taking photos, and enjoying everything about the island. Everywhere we turned, there was another breathtaking view waiting for us. Of course, no trip to Capri would be complete without trying some of the local food, which was amazing. 

Looking back, what stands out to me most are not the famous landmarks or even the stunning scenery. It is the small moments like hating to wake up early to get on the bus, or trying to brave a heatwave and still have fun, and realizing that a random weekend trip had somehow become one of the highlights of my summer. Studying abroad is often about the places you visit, but it is also about the people you experience them with. This weekend gave me beautiful photos and unforgettable memories, but it also reminded me how lucky I am to be spending my summer with people who started as strangers and quickly became friends. As exhausting as the early mornings and long bus rides were, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. After all, these are the kinds of adventures that make studying abroad unforgettable.