Kelsey Shannon

Hi! My name is Kelsey Shannon. I’m from Coppell, Texas, and I’m a fifth-year senior studying professional writing. I wanted to come to Italy to experience the culture and food, and Aperitivo has been my favorite Italian custom since I’ve been here. Who wouldn’t enjoy a pre-dinner happy hour with snacks? This is what inspired me to write this article.

Zest for Life

A sprawling view of green Tuscan hills is laid out before me, complemented by streaks of pink and purple across the horizon. Despite the inescapable presence of mosquitoes, Parco Arezzo at sunset is gorgeous.

It was a sight to behold.

At the end of a gravel path in the northwest corner of the park, a small clearing is nestled between a children’s playground and a statue of the Italian poet and writer Francesco Petrarca.

It is there, tucked under a canopy of poplar trees, that a humble and warmly-lit stall in Parco Arezzo serves a variety of refreshing aperitivo cocktails. This is Chiosco del Prato, which directly translates to “Kiosk of the Park.”

I struggled through my drink order to the woman behind the counter. My Italian is unfortunately terrible. My original request was an apple martini, but the woman thought I wanted an Aperol martini. But an Aperol Spritz sounded equally tasty, so I decided to settle on that. After I paid, I sat myself in a nearby lawn chair and soaked in the view of the Tuscan countryside farther down the hill.

When my drink arrived, it was a striking pomelo orange color. I squeezed the garnish, a fresh slice of orange, into my spritz and absentmindedly stirred my drink with the plastic straw I was provided. This was the first Aperol Spritz I had ordered in Italy, and it did not disappoint.

A bright, fruity and fizzy delight; the flavor matched the vibrant appearance of my drink perfectly.

After I had finished my drink (and slapped three enormous mosquitos off of my body), I discarded my cup. Renewed for the evening by the view and my spritz, I went on my merry way.