CIAO CAFE! Espresso in Four Italian Cities

If I can say one thing, it's that I understand why Starbucks is shunned in Italia. Because I am an espresso fiend, I had to cafe my way through Naples, Rome, Florence and Venice. With a strong shot in each city, these photo shots don't do them justice. You can only imagine: dark, bold, and viscous. There can now be no other way. My sampling:

NAPLES

Naples is known as the top-notch town for coffee (according to the Neopolitans). I can now confirm they are not wrong. They even have a procedural method of consumption:  a sip of mineral water to cleanse the palate with a subsequent sip of chocolatey cafe. Repeat until you can sip no more. Replenish if necessary.

VENICE

This shot capped off an al fresco meal of many pizza pies. Perfect in this picturesque city on water.

FLORENCE

Quickie caffeine stop following an impressive visit to the Statue of David, en route to Pisa to see that Leaning Tower! I can credit this fuel for my successful sprint to the train station.

ROME

A stroll to the Colosseum presented this tiny sandwich cafe, where a standing shot was all I needed to sustain me on this full sightseeing day. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain down; the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basillca to go.

Even on my craziest days, simultaneously running around like a chicken with its head cut off, snapping photos left and right, and trying to take it all in, I can always find time for a coffee break - especially in a city where in the same sip, it is regarded as both a ubiquitous commodity and a precious treasure.